PINEVILLE, N.C. (BP) – Clifford Burton "Cliff" Barrows, who served as music director of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association for more than 60 years, died Nov. 15 in Pineville, N.C., after a brief illness. He was 93. The Marvin, N.C., resident had traveled the world with Billy Graham since the noted evangelist's first crusade in 1947 in Grand Rapids, Mich., the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) reported. Barrows' contributions to the ministry were immeasurable, Graham said … [Read more...]
Columbine martyr film seeks bold youth revival
NASHVILLE (BP) – When two fellow classmates approached Rachel Joy Scott on the lawn of Columbine High School and questioned her belief in Jesus, she affirmed her faith and was shot to death at point-blank range. The story of her martyrdom has been told perhaps countless times in books, sermons and interviews in the past nearly 20 years, but Pure Flix Entertainment hopes its upcoming film of Scott’s 17 years on earth inspires students nationally to accept and boldly proclaim Jesus as Lord … [Read more...]
Lawsuit targets city’s grant to National Baptists
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP) – Atheists have sued a National Baptist pastor and Kansas City government leaders over a $65,000 grant approved for use during the Baptist group's upcoming national convention in the city. The grant to John Modest Miles Ministries, a community nonprofit arm of Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in Kansas City, violates Missouri law that prohibits public aid for religious purposes, American Atheists Inc. and two of its Kansas City members claim in a lawsuit … [Read more...]
Violence brings cry for ‘true way of our Lord’
NASHVILLE (BP) – The collision of fear and mistrust has driven the violence upon violence that killed two black civilians and five police officers in three separate states in as many days, Southern Baptist pastor Lee Wesley told Baptist Press. "There is a fear on the part of police officers when they go into the black community, and that fear heightens their approach to these problems," said Wesley, whose pastorate Community Bible Baptist Church is in Baton Rouge, La., where two white … [Read more...]
Mosque-building satirical rumor exposed as lie
NASHVILLE (BP) – A rumor promulgated by satirical news-like websites and blogs that the Southern Baptist Convention and at least one cooperating state convention are building Islamic mosques is being exposed as a lie. The self-proclaimed "Christian apocalyptic … news satire and parody site" The End Times wrote perhaps the first posting of the false report as early as May 28 when it claimed the SBC had launched a "Mosques Across America" campaign "to build mosques all across the nation in … [Read more...]
Abedini church worker near death in Iran prison
TEHRAN, Iran (BP) – A female Christian convert who worked with Saeed Abedini planting house churches years ago in Iran is on a hunger strike and near death in the harsh Evin prison in Tehran, Iran, the freed pastor told Baptist Press. Nasim Naghash Zargaran, also known as Maryam, was one of the first persons who converted to Christianity under Abedini's counsel [16 years ago], he told BP, and shortly after Abedini's 2012 imprisonment was arrested because of her vigilant evangelism. … [Read more...]
Atheists plan billboards against Ark museum
WILLIAMSTOWN, Ky. (BP) – A leading outdoor advertising company has refused to construct billboards a group of atheists had planned against the Answers in Genesis Ark Encounter museum and park nearing completion in Williamstown, Ky. Lamar Advertising Company refused the project after learning Tri-State Freethinkers planned to call the biblical story of Noah's Ark genocide and incest, Hal Kilshaw, Lamar vice president of governmental relations, told Baptist Press May 12. "We have a copy … [Read more...]
Oregon bakers pay fine, continue appeal
GRESHAM, Ore. (BP) – Christian bakers Aaron and Melissa Klein have paid the state of Oregon a fine of nearly $137,000 after refusing to violate their religious beliefs by baking a wedding cake for a lesbian couple, the Oregonian newspaper reported. The Kleins paid the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries $136,927.07 Dec. 28 with money contributed through a crowdfunding page after the Oregon labor commissioner seized just weeks before Christmas their personal bank accounts which totaled … [Read more...]
Iranian pastor Fathi freed from prison
TEHRAN, Iran (BP) -- Iranian pastor Farshid Fathi has been freed after five years imprisonment in Tehran because of charges linked to his Christian faith, Middle East Concern announced Dec. 22, estimating nearly 100 Christians remain imprisoned there. "We are so thankful to the Lord for his protection over Farshid while in prison," Middle East Concern said in a press release. "It is our hope that the Gospel will continue to spread throughout Iran." Fathi was released Dec. 21 from … [Read more...]
New Muppets ‘too toxic for children,’ PTC says
NASHVILLE (BP) — In a study of “The Muppets,” the Parents Television Council reports that the new TV show includes a preponderance of sexual innuendos and other offensive content not suited for children. The first four episodes of half-hour comedy featuring characters created by the late Jim Henson decades ago included adult-themed content every 3 minutes and 38 seconds, the PTC found. The PTC joins another critic of the series, the morality watchdog group One Million Moms, in saying the … [Read more...]
‘Captive’ shows salvation, hope, redemption
NASHVILLE (BP) – Academy Award nominee David Oyelowo was drawn to his starring role in the movie “Captive” because the true story of the 2005 Atlanta-area murder and hostage saga shows the power of the Gospel to transform lives, he told Saddleback Church pastor Rick Warren. Oyelowo, acclaimed for his role of Martin Luther King Jr. in the 2014 movie “Selma,” in Captive portrays Brian Nichols, an accused rapist who escapes jail, murders four people and injures others before holding … [Read more...]
Abedini prayer vigils set globally 9/26
NASHVILLE (BP) – The wife of imprisoned American pastor Saeed Abedini is on a 21-day “Daniel” fast and is organizing prayer vigils internationally Sept. 26, the third anniversary of her husband’s imprisonment in Iran for his Christian faith. Naghmeh Abedini, in asking Christians to pray for her husband and the persecuted church, also is promoting a letter-writing campaign to ask United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to advocate for Abedini’s release when Iranian President Hassan … [Read more...]