Wednesday, January 09, 2019

• Love for Mixtec people leads to surprise encounter

  by Grace Thornton/Alabama Baptist, posted Wednesday, January 09, 2019 (4 years ago)

  

  Submitted photo

  MONTGOMERY, Ala. (BP) -- Lisa Rose said she wishes she had snapped a photo of Terry Long's face when he realized what had happened that day.

  "The look on his face was just incredible," she said.

  The day had seemed pretty typical, she remembered. She and John Halbrook -- both of whom serve in ministry to the Mixtec people of Montgomery, Ala. -- had traveled more than two hours west to Butler to lead a workshop for Choctaw Baptist Association to educate them about the Mixtec people group. Read More

• Jimmy Allen, SBC pres. & 'energetic dreamer,' dies

  by David Roach, posted Wednesday, January 09, 2019 (4 years ago)

  

  SBHLA photo

  BRUNSWICK, Ga. (BP) -- Jimmy Allen, a former Southern Baptist Convention president and entity leader known for his gregarious personality and engagement with cultural issues, died Jan. 8 in Brunswick, Ga. He was 91.

  The last SBC president to serve before the convention's Conservative Resurgence, Allen also was a confidant of President Jimmy Carter and once met with Ayatollah Khomeini during the Iran hostage crisis. Allen led the SBC's Radio and Television Commission from 1980-90 and the Baptist General Convention of Texas' Christian Life Commission from 1960-68.

  During Allen's 1968-80 pastorate of 9,000-member First Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas, the congregation was among the SBC's baptism leaders and established a range of social ministries. Read More

• Sisters, church bond through baptisms, 'revival'

  by Brian Blackwell/Baptist Message, posted Wednesday, January 09, 2019 (4 years ago)

  

  Submitted photo

  ETHEL, La. (BP) -- Donna Rylee and Ruthie Taylor have celebrated many happy times as sisters, but both are adamant that no other moment they have shared can surpass the joy both felt during their joint baptism at Providence Number One Baptist Church in Ethel.

  As pastor Cedric Murphy baptized each in September the two women beamed with excitement about the spiritual journey they have shared.

  "When he issued an altar call the Sunday before, we both walked up without hesitation," Rylee said. "For the first time in a couple of years I have this joy in my heart again. Now, I can look at my family members who are here sitting together on a Sunday, including my grandson Norman who was baptized two Sundays after us, and know we will be together in Heaven one day." Read More

• Evangelist Rick Stanley, stepbrother to Elvis, dies

  by Art Toalston, posted Wednesday, January 09, 2019 (4 years ago)

  

  EUREKA, S.C. (BP) -- Rick Stanley, a stepbrother to Elvis Presley who turned to Christ two months after Presley's death in 1977 and, as an evangelist, spoke at Billy Graham-sponsored events and in a multitude of other settings, died Monday morning, Jan. 7, in Aiken, S.C.

  Stanley returned to First Baptist Church in Eureka, S.C., five years ago -- where he first gave his testimony in early 1978 and was serving as associate pastor and minister of music at the time of his death at age 65.

  John Arthur, pastor of First Baptist since 1963, said Stanley died of liver and kidney failure in Aiken Regional Medical Center's ICU. Read More

• Judge's ruling spotlights tele-abortion fight

  by Samantha Gobba/WORLD , posted Wednesday, January 09, 2019 (4 years ago)

  

  iStock

  TOPEKA, Kansas (BP) -- Pro-life Kansans received a blow last week when a judge ruled in favor of abortions by teleconference, something many reportedly thought was already prohibited in their state.

  Tele-abortions allow a woman to end her baby's life without visiting an abortion center. An abortionist can video conference with a pregnant woman from a remote location and immediately prescribe her abortion-inducing drugs. The arrangement leaves women vulnerable to medical complications without a provider close by to treat them.

  Shawnee County District Judge Franklin Theis ruled Dec. 31 that a 2018 law safeguarding unborn babies from tele-abortion was invalid and the practice had been legal in Kansas since 2011, when a court order in a different case blocked a similar law. But Kansas state legislators passed another law in 2015 prohibiting tele-abortions. Read More

• Bible Study: Jan. 13, 2019

  by Staff/LifeWay Christian Resources, posted Wednesday, January 09, 2019 (4 years ago)

  This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups. Read More

• FIRST-PERSON: A visit to Plymouth, Mass.

  by Paul Kim, posted Wednesday, January 09, 2019 (4 years ago)

  A visit to Plymouth, Mass., stirs Paul Kim to reflect on the Pilgrims' resolve to seek freedom, peace and the right to a pursuit of happiness. Read More