FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (BP) – Voters in a northwest Arkansas city have overturned a pro-homosexual/transgender ordinance that many claimed posed a threat to religious liberty. In a special election Tuesday (Dec. 9), residents of Fayetteville – home of the University of Arkansas – approved repeal of the measure by fewer than 500 votes, with 52 percent (7,523) of voters in favor of repeal and 48 percent (7,040) opposed. The result rescinded a law passed by the city council in a 6-2 vote in … [Read more...]
J.T. Elliff, ‘consumate mentor,’ dies at 97
MOORE, Okla. (BP) – J.T. Elliff, father of Southern Baptist leaders Tom, Bill and Jim Elliff and Sandy Smith who is married to evangelist Bailey Smith, died Dec. 12 in Moore, Okla. He was 97. Tom Elliff, immediate past president of the International Mission Board, recounted in a blog that day, "Just before my father's bodily tent was unstaked from the bed and transported out of the room, we sang his favorite hymn, 'My Jesus I Love Thee.' Though struggling to hold back the tears, we made … [Read more...]
Bible’s Christmas accounts ‘complementary’
NASHVILLE (BP) – A historian named Julius Africanus was among the first Christians to wonder why the stories of Jesus' birth in Matthew and Luke differ slightly. Around the year 200, Julius apparently sought Jesus' living relatives to ask them why the genealogies of Christ in the two Gospels aren't exactly the same. Was one of the accounts in error? Jesus' ancient relatives explained, according to the third-century church historian Eusebius, that the lineage of Joseph, Jesus' adoptive … [Read more...]
ERLC’s race summit set for March
NASHVILLE (BP) – The Southern Baptist Convention’s ethics entity has announced a summit on race relations in the wake of grand jury decisions regarding police killings of black men that have provoked widespread protests and a nationwide discussion. The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission will hold a leadership summit with the theme “The Gospel and Racial Reconciliation” March 26-27 in Nashville, it announced Thursday (Dec. 11). The ERLC previously had announced the topic of its … [Read more...]
Human trafficking targeted by WMU ministry
BIRMINGHAM (BP) – The Woman’s Missionary Union’s WorldCrafts ministry has launched the Support Freedom campaign to help deliver women from human trafficking and sexual exploitation, and has partnered with seven new people groups to expand its craft items for sale. Each year, by force, fraud, or coercion, millions of people find themselves trapped in bonded labor and sexual exploitation. WorldCrafts artisan groups are working to end these evils by providing a sustainable income to people in … [Read more...]
Obama’s actions unwise, counterproductive according to Russell Moore
WASHINGTON (BP) – President Obama’s new executive actions to change immigration policy imperil the growing, widespread agreement on reform, said the Southern Baptist Convention’s lead ethicist. Obama announced in prime time Thursday (Nov. 20) his orders, which include most controversially a plan to protect an estimated five million undocumented immigrants from deportation. The president’s actions came after years of his own contentions that he did not have the legal authority to make or … [Read more...]
Baptisms, outreach drive CP-giving church
EULESS, Texas (BP) – The 235 baptisms last year at First Baptist Church of Euless, Texas, totaled nearly 10 percent of the church’s 2,534 average Sunday morning worship attendance. But pastor John Meador would like the number of baptisms to be much larger. That’s one reason First Euless developed the “Can We Talk?” six-week training program in sharing the Gospel that has already equipped 472 members to share their faith. “Our goal is for 95 percent of our entire adult church membership to … [Read more...]
Spurgeon Center expands MBTS’ ‘For the Church’ vision
KANSAS CITY (BP) – Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s launch of the new Charles Spurgeon Center for Biblical Preaching expands the seminary’s “For the Church” vision by what its president, Jason K. Allen, said will be “an international hub” for Spurgeon studies, biblical preaching, the study of historical theology, pastoral ministry locally and globally “for the church at large.” Calling the events leading up to the center’s announcement and impending construction a “kairos moment” … [Read more...]
IMB’s Platt unfolds five-point strategy
OLIVE BRANCH, Miss. (BP) –IMB President David Platt outlined his five-point strategic plan while presiding over his first trustee meeting as head of the mission agency. In a plan based on five biblical goals which have led to four practical steps and three initial recommendations, Platt offered two important reminders to reach one all-consuming goal: glorifying God. Platt's five biblically based goals for IMB are: exalting Christ, mobilizing Christians, equipping the church, facilitating … [Read more...]
‘I Stand Sunday’ draws 6,000-plus in Houston
HOUSTON (BP) – As pastors embroiled in a lawsuit against the city of Houston rallied thousands Sunday for the cause of religious liberty and with chants of "Let the people vote," their cohorts in the battle also were crying out for the church to repent for its retreat from the public square and its role as the public conscience. Part revival meeting, part civics lesson, the "I Stand Sunday" rally Nov. 2 in Houston drew more than 6,000 people to Grace Community Church, led by one of five … [Read more...]
BREAKING: Former IMB missionary guilty of wire fraud
RICHMOND, Va. (BP) -- Former Southern Baptist missionary Brady Nurse pleaded guilty Oct. 21 in a federal court to fraudulently obtaining approximately $300,000 in mission funds over a period of five years while working as a logistics and business coordinator for the International Mission Board in Portugal. Nurse and his wife Andrea were appointed IMB missionaries in March 2006. His wire fraud activity was discovered earlier this year by the mission board's internal auditing procedures. It … [Read more...]
Reaction: Houston sermon subpoenas
WASHINGTON (BP) – The city of Houston has "no business" in issuing subpoenas for the sermons of pastors who oppose a new homosexual-transgender rights ordinance, says Southern Baptist Convention's lead ethicist Russell D. Moore. Opposition to the ordinance is based in part on concerns it will violate the religious freedom of business owners and others who disagree with the measure. Also, foes think it will make women and children vulnerable to sexual predators by permitting people to use … [Read more...]
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