ALEXANDRIA, Va. (BP) — Retired Brig. Gen. Thomas C. “T.C.” Pinckney, a leader and longtime stalwart in the Southern Baptist Convention conservative resurgence of the 20th Century, died Monday (Dec. 20) at age 91. As a 1992 member of the SBC Executive Committee from Virginia, Pinckney proposed the successful amendment to the SBC constitution to declare churches condoning homosexuality “not in friendly cooperation” with the SBC. The amendment was adopted after receiving the required … [Read more...]
Trafficking survivors find new life at Mo. Baptist Children’s Home
BRIDGETON (BP) – The debilitating trauma one survivor suffered after being trafficked for sex is emblematic of those rescued through the Freedom 43:19 human trafficking ministry of the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home (MBCH). Freedom 43:19 Case Manager Supervisor Jacqueline Williams told the story to Baptist Press, maintaining the survivor’s anonymity. The trafficker had maneuvered himself into the woman’s life, taking his time and gaining her trust after she became bored with the man who … [Read more...]
41 U.S. cities ban abortion as Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn
LONGVIEW, Texas (BP) – There are 41 local governments across the United States that have adopted ordinances banning abortions and declaring themselves Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn since the grassroots movement launched in 2019, movement founder Mark Lee Dickson said. Dickson was on hand when Mason, Ohio, a town of about 33,000 people 30 minutes northeast of Cincinnati, became the latest city to declare itself a sanctuary for the unborn. The Mason City Council adopted the ordinance by … [Read more...]
For Christians left in Afghanistan, extreme secrecy only option
AFGHANISTAN (BP) – Christian minorities in Afghanistan are either fleeing the country or hunkering down to live in greater secrecy as the Taliban government there draws support from the global community, International Christian Concern (ICC) told Baptist Press. “There are Christians who say we can’t exist anymore in this country. We have to leave,” said William Stark, ICC regional manager for South Asia. “You have kind of this diaspora, if you will, of the Afghan church in a way. But … [Read more...]
9/11 drives two Manhattan Southern Baptists closer to ministry, God
NEW YORK (BP) – Trina Craft is habitually 50 minutes early for most anything. But with a 9:45 a.m. job interview on the 86th floor of the World Trade Center 20 years ago, she was delayed in the rush of getting her daughter Florence Marie to school. “By the time I got her to school and came home to dress for the interview,” Craft said, “I (saw) that the planes had hit the building. … I then found out later that night that my cousin Rodney was in the building.” Craft’s cousin, Sgt. … [Read more...]
Rise of ‘nones’ might be waning, State of the Bible 2021 suggests
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (BP) – The rise of the “nones” or religiously unaffiliated might be waning, the American Bible Society (ABS) said in findings focused on Gen Z in the 2021 State of the Bible report. Gen Z members also haven’t decided whether Scripture can help sustain American ideals including democracy and justice, nor whether the Bible is truer than the Koran and the Book of Mormon, ABS said in releasing the data Tuesday (Aug. 10). Historically a study of how adults interact with … [Read more...]
Haitian turmoil increases hunger for Gospel, Christian workers say
THOMAZEAU, Haiti (BP) — Near anarchy in Haiti surrounding the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse has escalated the risk of starvation but has also increased a hunger for the Gospel in some areas, according to Christian workers in the country. “Persecution in whatever form typically produces faith. And it’s interesting, with the lack of persecution sometimes faith is a little weak,” said David Vanderpool, a surgeon who leads LiveBeyond, a Gospel, medical and humanitarian group … [Read more...]
125 Baptist high school students kidnapped in Nigeria
KADUNA, Nigeria (BP) – About 125 students kidnapped from a Baptist church school in northern Nigeria are especially in danger because of their Christianity and the unwillingness of local authorities to pay a ransom, a leading persecution watchdog group told Baptist Press. “There have been many kidnappings of school children over the past few years,” said Nathan Johnson, International Christian Concern’s (ICC) regional manager for Africa. “In this case it is a Baptist school, so most of … [Read more...]
EC to elect new vice chair after messenger’s failed attempt to retain Tucker
NASHVILLE (BP) – South Carolina pastor Tom Tucker’s reelection, June 14, as vice chairman of the SBC Executive Committee became moot, June 16, when messengers to the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting rejected a motion to nominate him to a second term on the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee elected Tucker to a second term as vice chair during its meeting Monday with the knowledge that while eligible to serve, his term was expiring and he was not among nominees to the Executive Committee … [Read more...]
‘Pray for the peace of Jerusalem’
CHICAGO (BP) – Southern Baptist Messianic Jewish believer Ric Worshill received prayer requests from those in danger as fighting between Israel and Hamas raged earlier this month. “Some of our friends and SBC missionaries over there actually had to leave,” Worshill said. “One of them left, with the neighbors upstairs, and just as they left the rockets started coming again. They’ll go back and they won’t know if their homes are there.” Worshill, a Chicago-area police chaplain who serves as … [Read more...]
USCIRF: COVID-19 used as ‘excuse’ in religious persecution globally
WASHINGTON (BP) – Countries used COVID-19 as an excuse to persecute religious minorities and sometimes blamed certain religions for the pandemic itself, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said in its 2021 Annual Report. USCIRF’s report focuses on religious freedom violations and progress in 26 countries in the calendar year 2020, identifying severe violators of the International Religious Freedom Act and other countries that should be monitored. USCIRF … [Read more...]
MBC’s John Yeats to be renominated as SBC Recording Secretary
NASHVILLE (BP) – Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Director John Yeats has served 23 terms as Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) recording secretary. He'll be renominated as recording secretary during the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting June 15-16 in Nashville. Jonathan Hayashi, lead pastor of the Northern Hills Baptist Church in Kansas City, Mo., announced the upcoming nomination Friday (April 23). “I have had the great privilege of witnessing Dr. John Yeats’ leadership and shepherding … [Read more...]
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