Baptist Press Archive

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

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  • China abuses underscored in religious freedom report
    by Grace Thornton, posted Tuesday, June 25, 2019 (3 years ago)

    Screen capture from YouTube
    Despite "glimmers of progress" in religious freedom globally last year, key concerns in China and elsewhere were noted by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in releasing the 2018 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom.WASHINGTON (BP) -- Despite "glimmers of progress" in religious freedom globally last year, key concerns were noted by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in releasing the 2018 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom.

    Travis Wussow of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission said he looks forward to the report's release each year "because I know how critical American leadership is to advance religious liberty abroad." Read More

  • Every state at #SBC19, first time in 20 years
    by Diana Chandler, posted Tuesday, June 25, 2019 (3 years ago)

    Photo from Wikimedia Commons
    BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP) -- This year for the first time in at least two decades, churches in every state sent messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, the SBC Executive Committee said in official statistics released Tuesday (June 25).

    Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and Guam were also represented among the 8,183 messengers who attended the meeting June 11-12 in Birmingham, Ala., which drew a total of 13,502 attendees, said Bill Townes, convention manager and EC vice president for convention finance. Read More

  • Sutherland Springs finds healing through VBS
    by Joy Allmond, posted Tuesday, June 25, 2019 (3 years ago)

    Screen capture from LifeWay video
    SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas (BP) -- When First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs kicked off their annual Vacation Bible School the week of June 3, it looked profoundly different from two years ago.

    On Nov. 5, 2017, a gunman entered their sanctuary, opened fire, and took the lives of 26 people. Several of those who lost their lives were instrumental in the VBS ministry of the church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Read More

  • Adoption, foster care 'messy' but biblical, panel says
    by Marcia Knox, posted Tuesday, June 25, 2019 (3 years ago)

    Photo by Van Payne
    BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP) -- Adoption and foster care and what local churches can do to help families navigate related challenges were among the topics discussed by a panel of Southern Baptists in Birmingham, Ala.

    The panel was one of many that tackled a variety of topics on the Cooperative Program stage in the exhibit hall of the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex June 10-12. The CP panels were held in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting. Read More

  • IMB's Chitwood receives Union's Dodd Award

    by Tim Ellsworth, posted Tuesday, June 25, 2019 (3 years ago)

    Submitted photo
    JACKSON, Tenn. (BP) -- Paul Chitwood, president of the International Mission Board, was the recipient of Union University's M.E. Dodd Denominational Service Award this year.

    Union President Samuel W. "Dub" Oliver presented the award to Chitwood earlier this month at Union's alumni and friends dinner during the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Birmingham, Ala. Read More

  • Report: Young adults less LGBT tolerant
    by Grace Thornton, posted Tuesday, June 25, 2019 (3 years ago)

    iStock
    NEW YORK (BP) -- America's younger generation is becoming less comfortable with LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) individuals, according to a report released Monday (June 24).

    The Accelerating Acceptance report, conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the LGBT advocacy group GLAAD, showed that respondents age 18-34 were much less tolerant of LGBT people than in the prior two years' surveys. Read More

  • FROM THE SEMINARIES: Haste returns to SBTS as associate professor
    by SBTS Communications, posted Tuesday, June 25, 2019 (3 years ago)

    LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) -- Matthew Haste has been named to the faculty of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary as associate professor of biblical spirituality and director of professional doctoral studies.

    Haste, who holds M.Div. and Ph.D. degrees from Southern, has been associate professor of ministry studies at Columbia International University's seminary and school of ministry since 2015. Read More

  • FIRST-PERSON: Making a connection
    by Doug Munton, posted Tuesday, June 25, 2019 (3 years ago)

    Doug Munton relays suggestions for helping church members connect with first-time guests to make "a real and lasting difference." Read More