NASHVILLE (BP) – One of Christianity’s most popular worship songs has been deemed too controversial to be included in the latest edition of the hymnal for the Presbyterian Church (USA) (PCUSA). “In Christ Alone,” a modern hymn written by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend, consistently ranks in the top 20 songs sung in churches of all stripes, according to Christian Copyright Licensing International. Yet it contains one line that the PCUSA’s Committee on Congregational Song did not wish to … [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...]
New name for World Hunger Fund
EDITOR’S NOTE: Southern Baptists will observe World Hunger Sunday Oct. 13, and Southern Baptist congregations across North America will receive offerings for Global Hunger Relief (formerly the World Hunger Fund). NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – When it comes to people in need, big numbers can hide the human faces they represent. Statistics tell us that more than 1 billion people around the world are hungry more often than not, and about 24,000 people – over half of them young children – die every … [Read more...]
Senator’s commission: End prohibition on church political speech, activities
Heavy Southern Baptist participation in formulating final recommendations WASHINGTON (BP) – Preachers should be free from Internal Revenue Service (IRS) scrutiny even when speaking about political candidates, a 14-member commission has recommended in a report released Aug. 14. The commission, created by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability at the request of Sen. Charles Grassley, R.-Iowa, proposed a number of tax-related recommendations to Congress and the Treasury … [Read more...]
Substitutionary atonement debate sparked by editorial on ‘In Christ Alone’ lyrics
NASHVILLE (BP) – The centrality of the doctrine of substitutionary atonement is being emphasized by Southern Baptist leaders after a state newspaper editor wrote that he does not sing certain words of a popular hymn due to its mention of God’s wrath. Substitutionary atonement refers to the belief that Jesus died in the place of sinners, taking on Himself the wrath of God that they deserved. Former Word & Way Editor Bob Terry, now editor of The Alabama Baptist, in an Aug. 8 editorial, … [Read more...]
Church Equip events aid in tackling ethical questions
WASHINGTON (BP) – For one church, it might be homosexuality. For another, it might be adoption. For another, it might be abortion or race relations or pornography or human trafficking. Whatever issue a Southern Baptist church needs to address, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission(ERLC) is seeking to tailor congregation-by-congregation methods of helping them by means of a new initiative called Church Equip. The topics could be anything from the arena of ethics, social and family … [Read more...]
Twin Cities church planter sees God’s faithfulness in SBC support
ROSEVILLE, Minn.-Fue Chee Her thought he understood the faithfulness of God when he started Gospel Hmong Baptist Church in metro Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn., in 2013. But in the past nine months, that faithfulness has become a visible reality as he has seen God meet every need for his new church plant. Her says that Southern Baptists across the country and in his own Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention have been a part of that story through their faithful missions giving. "We've worked … [Read more...]
Engage 24 mobilizes students for campus evangelism
NEWARK, Del.-Before October last year, Allie Murray had never shared the gospel with anyone. What the University of Delaware senior discovered during an event called Engage 24 was that it wasn't all that bad. "I'm not very outgoing so my friend was leading the first few conversations," said Murray. "I was surprised by how open everyone was. We didn't just spring the gospel on them. We asked them questions about their background and guided the conversation toward Christ. From that I … [Read more...]
Partnerships drive effective disaster relief response
ALPHARETTA, Ga.-When Superstorm Sandy approached the northeast coast last October, North American Mission Board Disaster Relief Executive Director Fritz Wilson and state Southern Baptist Disaster Relief partners were in play coordinating the national response. Wilson and his team temporarily set up a command center in Harrisburg, Penn., as they awaited landfall before heading into the region of greatest need. Partnering with local, state and federal governments, the American Red Cross, The … [Read more...]
GuideStone prepares for re-enrollment season
DALLAS – As employers nationwide – including most churches – prepare for 2014, the year that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act becomes more fully applicable, questions are understandably arising from pastors, business administrators and church personnel and finance committees. GuideStone Financial Resources continues in its role as an advocate for church plans in general and for pastors and others in ministry it serves specifically. “Since the enactment of ObamaCare in 2010, … [Read more...]
Southern Baptists seeing like a camera
JACKSON, Tenn. (BP) – “OK, I know it’s here somewhere. I know I took it! I pulled the car over, rolled down the window, and CLICK! The beautiful field, mountains in the background and that fabulous elk standing right there in front of me!” Undaunted, you begin going through your pictures again, and then on the third time through, you find it. But somehow, the elk seems so much smaller. In fact, he’s a tiny little thing, hardly even noticeable in the picture. It’s just not how you remember … [Read more...]
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