Baptist Press Archive

Monday, March 12, 2018

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  • Baptists stepping up efforts to help Appalachia
    by Mark Maynard/Kentucky Today, posted Monday, March 12, 2018 (4 years ago)

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    ASHLAND, Ky. (BP) -- In the Appalachians, unemployment, poverty and drug abuse remain rampant. But Southern Baptists are stepping up their efforts to help residents impacted by the stark conditions.

    They are opening an Appalachia Ministry Center that will distribute food and other supplies throughout the central Appalachian region of eastern Kentucky, West Virginia and southern Ohio. Read More

  • Appalachian pastor's 54 years of 'enduring ministry'
    by Rodger Alford/Kentucky Today, posted Monday, March 12, 2018 (4 years ago)

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    PIPPA PASSES, Ky. (BP) -- At a time when the tenures of most pastors is measured in single digits, Lawrence Baldridge is an anomaly, having served Caney Baptist Church in the heart of Appalachia for 54 years.

    "It's been an interesting journey," the 81-year-old pastor said, recounting stories from his years ministering daily to communities in Kentucky's mountain region. "Ministry here, I think, is more personal. The people are real. If they like you, they will tell you. If they don't like you, they will tell you. You have to earn their respect, ... Read More

  • Scientology set to launch TV Network
    by Carol Pipes, posted Monday, March 12, 2018 (4 years ago)

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    NASHVILLE (BP) -- The Church of Scientology announced Sunday (March 11) they're launching the Scientology Network, which will debut today on several streaming services.

    "HELLO WORLD, and greetings from Scientology Media Productions in Hollywood, Calif., read a tweet from @ScientologyTV. "It's TIME for us to tell OUR story …"

    The religion begun by science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard has been the focus of investigative projects such as the documentary film "Going Clear: Scientology and ... Read More

  • Health care conscience protections return to Congress
    by Tom Strode, posted Monday, March 12, 2018 (4 years ago)

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    WASHINGTON (BP) -- The Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and other organizations again are urging Congress to approve legislation to protect the conscience rights of pro-life health care providers.

    The Conscience Protection Act (CPA) -- one of the ERLC's legislative priorities in its 2018 agenda -- would bar government discrimination against health care workers and facilities that object to being involved in abortion, as well as health insurers that refuse to provide coverage of the lethal procedure. The bill will provide victims of discrimination with the ability to defend their rights in court in a first for federal ... Read More

  • Religious liberty ruled no basis for transgender policy
    by Diana Chandler, posted Monday, March 12, 2018 (4 years ago)

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    CINCINNATI (BP) -- Religious freedom provides no legal basis to discipline transgender workers who violate workplace gender policies, a U.S. appeals court has ruled in a groundbreaking decision.

    The March 7 decision is the first to extend Title VII of the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964 to transgender individuals charging discrimination based on sexual identity, and reverses a lower court ruling that had protected the workplace under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). Read More

  • FIRST-PERSON: Are revivals effective?
    by J. Robert White, posted Monday, March 12, 2018 (4 years ago)

    Revivals can yield eternal results, J. Robert White writes, when a church makes a commitment to pray, witness across its community and trust God to do "what only God can do." Read More