COMERIO, Puerto Rico – When Jorge Santiago left Puerto Rico as a young man, he never thought he would return. His family sent him to the U.S. mainland in a last-ditch effort to shake him loose from a lifestyle of doing and dealing drugs. “I never thought that I was going to come back to Comerío,” recalled Santiago of his home town, “and I didn’t want to come back.” In 2007, Santiago left behind a community that was struggling economically, whose people wrestled with hopelessness. Santiago … [Read more...]
Baptist promoted to Air Force Deputy Chief of Chaplains
WASHINGTON (BP) – The U.S. Senate confirmed the promotion of U.S. Air Force Chaplain Colonel Ronald M. Harvell to the rank of Brigadier General on Aug. 20. With the promotion, Harvell, a Southern Baptist, becomes the Air Force's 26th Deputy Chief of Chaplains. He has been serving as the Air Mobility Command Chaplain based at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. Harvell will now transition to the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., for his new pastoral leadership responsibilities. "My wife and I … [Read more...]
Army chaplain Squires cleared of all charges
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (BP) – The U.S. Army has dropped its investigation against Southern Baptist chaplain Jerry Scott Squires, fully exonerating the major of all charges, Aug. 24. "This is great news for both Chaplain Squires and all of the military chaplains who are serving our men and women the U.S. Armed Services," said Gen. Douglas Carver, executive director of chaplaincy at the North American Mission Board (NAMB). "It is a significant victory for all who support and defend the freedoms … [Read more...]
Green light given for Puerto Rico relief
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – The North American Mission Board's Send Relief ministry has been asked to manage the disaster response on behalf of the Convention of Southern Baptist Churches in Puerto Rico. "We have officially requested Send Relief to coordinate the disaster relief response in Puerto Rico," said Jorge Alvarez, who leads the Puerto Rican convention. "The needs here are unprecedented, and we need our entire Southern Baptist family to help Puerto Rico during this tragic time." David … [Read more...]