PAXTON, Ill. (BP) – An Illinois judge has given the owners of a bed and breakfast one year to provide their facility to a gay couple “for an event celebrating their civil union.” The order, part of a decision handed down March 22, also includes an $80,000 fine. In September, Illinois Human Rights Commission Judge Michael Robinson declared Jim and Beth Walder, owners of Timber Creek Bed and Breakfast near Paxton, Ill., in violation of the state’s Human Rights Act, which bans discrimination … [Read more...]
Religious liberty focus of new study
NASHVILLE (BP) – A growing number of Americans believe religious liberty is on the decline and that the nation's Christians face growing intolerance, according to a survey by LifeWay Research. Those surveyed also noted American Christians complain too much. Those are among the findings of a new study of views about religious liberty from LifeWay Research. Researchers surveyed 1,000 Americans in September 2013 and September 2015 and then compared the results. Two-thirds (63 percent) … [Read more...]
CP 6.5% ahead of projection
NASHVILLE (BP) – Year-to-date contributions to Southern Baptist national and international missions and ministries received by the SBC Executive Committee are 6.5 percent above the year-to-date SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget projection, and are 3.09 percent above contributions received during the same time frame last year, according to a news release from SBC Executive Committee President and Chief Executive Officer Frank S. Page. “This report marks the second successive year … [Read more...]
Mississippi adopts religious freedom bill
JACKSON, Miss. (BP) – Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant has signed into law a bill safeguarding the religious liberty of individuals and organizations who refuse to participate in same-sex weddings or gender identity transitions. Bryant, a Republican, announced April 5 via Twitter that he signed House Bill 1523 – the Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act. “I am signing HB 1523 into law to protect sincerely held religious beliefs and moral convictions of … [Read more...]
CP has broad reach for the gospel
NASHVILLE (BP) – Southern Baptist churches are advancing the gospel state by state – and around the world – through their commitment to the Cooperative Program. From national and international mission boards to church-hosted evangelism training, the Cooperative Program plays a key role in introducing people near and far to Jesus. Among those with a grassroots vantage point to see the broad scope of Cooperative Program outreach are state convention leaders. Here are some of their … [Read more...]
Thousands needed at crossover
ST. LOUIS — Missouri Baptist leaders in St. Louis are calling thousands of Southern Baptists around the nation to partner with them in reaching the metro area for Christ during Crossover, a week of volunteer evangelism and service leading up to the Southern Baptist Convention here, June 14-15. “Come help us reach the neighborhoods and the nations in St. Louis,” Jim Breeden, director of missions for the St. Louis Metro Baptist Association, said. One of the most unreached areas in Missouri, … [Read more...]
Guiding our children through election years
What a challenge we have at this time in our nation’s history to teach our children God’s way! A recent cartoon shows a mom and dad looking at their children as each child called the other a liar. The mom looked at the dad and said, “It was your idea to have them watch the debate!” Most will readily agree that children learn much by example. As parents and teachers try to teach children to love and respect their country, how can this be done with the example our leaders are setting … [Read more...]
GuideStone declares 2016 ‘year of influence’
DALLAS (BP) – Referring to 2 Corinthians 10:13, GuideStone Financial Resources' President O.S. Hawkins declared 2016 the "year of influence" at GuideStone during the entity's Feb. 29-March 1 trustee meeting in Dallas. In addition to the annual theme, trustees heard reports from ministry areas and celebrated the retirement of Jeff Billinger, who leaves GuideStone after 22 years of service, primarily as chief financial officer. The verse and the theme are two-fold in importance, marking the … [Read more...]
SBC St. Louis online registration opens
ST. LOUIS (BP) – Registration for the SBC’s “Awaken America: Reach the World” annual meeting, June 14-15 in St. Louis, has opened. Online registration for messengers and local hotels can be accessed at www.SBCAnnualMeeting.net. Through online messenger registration at the www.SBCAnnualMeeting.net tab, each messenger will receive an eight-digit registration code to present at the annual meeting’s Express Registration lane in St. Louis, preferably as a printout for the church’s credential. … [Read more...]
Ga. Governor to veto religious liberty bill
ATLANTA (BP) -- Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal's March 28 announcement that he will veto the state's religious liberty bill has provoked criticism from social conservatives, including Southern Baptists. Mike Griffin, public affairs representative for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, told Baptist Press that Deal, a Republican, "missed an opportunity to stand for Georgia values as opposed to Wall Street and Hollywood values. We certainly respect his right to make that decision, but we also … [Read more...]
NAMB planter sure to ‘brag on Jesus’
INDIANAPOLIS (BP) – Three years ago Barry Rager was the pastor of a small Kentucky church. Most of his days were centered on important church business. Among his many duties as a pastor, he prepared sermons, visited sick members and mediated church disputes. All good work. All important work. All Kingdom work. “I was kind of like the coach saying, ‘Hey, reach the people you are with,’ but I wasn’t actually the one doing it,” Rager says. Today, he would tell you his life looks much … [Read more...]
‘Deadpool’ & dangers of movie sex, profanity
NASHVILLE (BP) – A comic book-based film atop the box office has prompted Christian film critics to warn of spiritual dangers for viewers of movies with nudity, profanity and sexual content. A commentary on the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission’s website cautioned there is “no margin to voice allegiance to Christ and then attempt to justify slipping into a theater to see a movie like ‘Deadpool,’” an X-Men film released Feb. 12 whose protagonist has been described as “a … [Read more...]
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