NASHVILLE — Actor John Rhys-Davies (Gimli in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy) has partnered with the website BibleMesh.com as narrator of The Biblical Story, an online Bible survey course on how all of Scripture points to Christ. Among the Southern Baptists on the BibleMesh editorial team are Greg Thornbury, president of King’s College in New York; Mark Coppenger, vice president for extension education at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., and C. Ben Mitchell, Graves … [Read more...]
On Kirk Cameron’s ‘Unstoppable’ faith
KANSAS CITY (BP) — I’m not sure I could take the slings and arrows Kirk Cameron has had to dodge or endure. Cameron is famous and talented but add devotion to your Christian walk and there’s a huge target on your back. The star of the sitcom “Growing Pains,” the “Left Behind” apocalyptic series, the breakthrough faith-based drama “Fireproof” and the insightful documentary “Monumental” is paying a price for his gifts and resolve. Although I’d already interviewed Cameron three times, during … [Read more...]
Exec. Committee addresses Scouts, Great Commission
NASHVILLE (BP) – Less than three weeks after the Boy Scouts voted to permit openly homosexual youth as members, a messenger to the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) moved that an alternative organization be sought. The motion during the June 11-12 SBC annual meeting called for a special task force to explore “any available youth programs as well the possibility of offering a substitute program for those desiring to find an avenue for their boys to learn leadership skills and moral … [Read more...]
Send connects churches to vast mission field
PLANO, Texas (BP) – More than 4,200 church planters, pastors and church leaders flooded the hallways of Prestonwood Baptist Church, here, for the North American Mission Board’s (NAMB) second Send North America Conference July 29-30. The gathering was marked by masses of participants praying in response to speakers, hundreds of connections between churches and church planters, and individuals seizing their moments to penetrate lostness in North America. Many attendees expressed the belief … [Read more...]
Church returns blessings to Cooperative Program
MARION, Iowa (BP) – A year after Community Baptist Church was planted in August 2009, its members decided to double their giving to missions through the Cooperative Program. Darin Ulmer, who became pastor of the Marion, Iowa, church later that year, said he can’t take any credit for the increase to 10 percent in CP giving. “What we saw was that we had been blessed greatly by the support of other Southern Baptists, and as the Lord blessed us as a church, it was suggested – I don’t remember … [Read more...]
Rick Warren returns to pulpit after son’s April suicide
LAKE FOREST, Calif. (BP) – Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., returned to the pulpit July 27 for the first time since his son’s suicide. Warren, author of the bestseller The Purpose Driven Life, had taken a 16-week absence after Matthew Warren, 27, took his life in April following a long struggle with mental illness. Matthew Warren’s death brought an outpouring of support for the Warren family, including from Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist … [Read more...]
Macedonia Project speeds missionaries to field
RICHMOND, Va. (BP) — You’ve recently finished college — or maybe you’re a mid-career professional -- and you sense an urgent call to follow Christ into long-term mission service. You have the practical skills to make an impact. You have the motivation. You’re ready to respond to the Lord’s call in obedience -- right now, as the Apostle Paul responded when he dreamed of the man pleading, “Come over to Macedonia and help us” (Acts 16:9). But you need the theological training required for … [Read more...]
Gay marriage debate ‘very much alive’
NASHVILLE (BP) – The battle over gay marriage in the United States continues unabated, with activists on both sides engaging in the courts, media and government. “The national marriage debate is very much alive,” said Chris Plante, regional coordinator for the National Organization for Marriage, a group that opposes the legalization of same-sex marriage. Plante noted that while this summer’s Supreme Court decision left states the right to choose whether to legalize gay marriage, activists … [Read more...]
Planned Parenthood investigation launched
WASHINGTON (BP) – A congressional watchdog agency has agreed to investigate how Planned Parenthood and other abortion rights organizations spend federal funds, drawing praise from pro-life advocates inside and outside the legislative branch. “The abortion industry is big business of the most sordid sort. They certainly don’t need a taxpayer bailout,” said Russell D. Moore, president, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. Members of Congress announced Aug. 5 the Government … [Read more...]
Trustees: GuideStone expands participants
SAN FRANCISCO (BP) — O.S. Hawkins, president of GuideStone Financial Resources, reported on the continued growth in the number of the entity’s expanded ministry participants at a meeting of the trustees in San Francisco. Trustees also were updated on GuideStone’s long-range plan and on health care reform efforts. Expanded ministry participants, Hawkins said, help provide stability and strength to GuideStone’s insurance program. “Each year, we see value from our efforts to reach out and … [Read more...]
Book features Cardinals’ testimonies
ST. LOUIS (BP) — A new book by longtime St. Louis sportswriter Rob Rains explores the Christian faith of several members of the St. Louis Cardinals, including second-year manager Mike Matheny. Intentional Walk, published by Thomas Nelson, includes chapters on such players as Adam Wainwright, Matt Holliday, Carlos Beltran, Matt Carpenter, Jake Westbrook, Trevor Rosenthal, David Freese and Jason Motte, as well as broadcaster Rick Horton. Rains said the original idea for the book was to … [Read more...]
Quackin’ good time: What’s with ‘Duck Dynasty’?
ALEXANDRIA, La. (BP) – It’s amusing, it’s quirky, it’s clean and it’s wildly popular. It’s the hit reality program “Duck Dynasty” on the cable network A&E. Duck Dynasty’s fourth season premiered Aug. 14 with 11.8 million viewers, making it cable’s most-watched nonfiction telecast to date. Last season the program averaged 8.4 million viewers. For the uninitiated, Duck Dynasty features the Robertson family who became wealthy from their family -operated Duck Commander business in West … [Read more...]