Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
Religious intermarriage a growing challenge for churches
Recently, out of the blue, our 12-year-old daughter declared: "I'm going to marry either a Greek or a Jew."The obvious "Why?" response brought a simple explanation. Festive weddings of those traditions that she has...
Ghanaian Pastor Tells BWA Workshop That Muslims Protect Baptists
A Ghanaian Baptist pastor told participants in a Christian-Muslim dialogue workshop at the 20th Congress of the Baptist World Alliance, meeting in Honolulu, that the Muslims in his city would protect Christians if...
10 Surefire Ways to Know You Were Raised Too Baptist
Were you raised too Baptist? Here are 10 signs that may indicate that you were. 1. You thought "peacethatpassesunderstanding" was one word. 2. You missed more episodes of "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color" than...
Mountains Hold Physical and Cultural Challenges
Mountains are there to be climbed. Beyond the amazing scenery, there are cross-cultural experiences and challenges awaiting the daring among us. The first time I took an interest in mountain climbing was after reading...
Orthodox Jews Issue Statement in Support of Gays
JERUSALEM (RNS) More than 100 modern-Orthodox rabbis, educators and mental-health professionals in Israel and the U.S. have signed a document that urges respect for homosexuals but stops short of condoning same-sex...
Vatican Blasts FDA Over Stem Cell Ruling
VATICAN CITY (RNS) A top Vatican official has criticized a decision by the Food and Drug Administration to allow the world’s first clinical trials using stem cells derived from human embryos. Despite the efforts...
Evangelicals Condemn Planned Quran Burning
(RNS) The National Association of Evangelicals has condemned plans by a Florida church to burn copies of the Quran on the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The proposed burning of Qurans would be profoundly...
One Thing
A sermon delivered by David Hughes, First Baptist Church, Pastor, Winston-Salem, Nc., on July 25, 2010. Luke 10:38-42 On my fortieth birthday, Joani and I went to see the blockbuster movie, City Slickers. The movie...
First Steps
A sermon delivered by Randy Hyde, Pastor, Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, Little Rock, Ark., on August 1, 2010. Hosea 11:1-11; Luke 12:13-21 Last Sunday afternoon, during the wedding...
Church and Community
A sermon delivered by Wendell Griffen, Pastor, New Millennium Church, Little Rock, Ark., on August 1, 2010. Colossians 3:1-11; Luke 12:13-21 The Scripture lessons today from Colossians and Luke address a three-part...
Anglican Priest Convicted of Sham Marriages
LONDON (RNS) An Anglican vicar has been convicted of conducting hundreds of bogus marriages in a scam aimed at helping African immigrants gain illegal entry into Britain. A jury at Lewes Crown Court, in southern...
Catholic Patriarch Blasts Israel for Allowing Gay Parade
JERUSALEM (RNS) The Catholic Church’s highest official in the Holy Land sharply criticized Israeli authorities for permitting a gay pride march on Thursday (July 29) through the streets of Jerusalem. In a...
Study Finds Strong Amish Growth, Western Migration
(RNS) A new study says that the population of North American Amish has increased by nearly 10 percent in the past two years, causing many communities to turn westward in search of new land. Conducted by the Young...
European Baptist Leader Connects Lord’s Supper with Earth Care
Soviet-styled communism and the Baptist church shared a common denominator a number of years ago – even though the former represented an atheistic system and the latter reflected a theistic commitment. While many might...
BWA’s Coffey: Service Futile Without Holy Spirit
(BWA) – Human effort and creative strategies lead to futility apart from an anointing by God's Holy Spirit, according to British Baptist leader David Coffey during the July 28 opening session of the Baptist World...
Moving Violations: Why Churches Fear Change
Upheaval. That's one of the nicer things we call moving. Our household's recent move has been a journey into disorganization, disorientation and general discord. A genuine necessary evil. More than once during recent...
1,000 Global Baptists Denied Visas to Attend Congress
(BWA) – As many as 1,000 people who had registered for the Baptist World Alliance's Congress this year were unable to attend because they were denied visas by the United States, leaders of the global Baptist...
Baptists listen for the Spirit in Hawaii
Meeting under the theme “Hear the Spirit,” more than 4,000 global Baptists gathered in Honolulu for the 20th Baptist World Congress July 28-31. Congress planners, who have been listening for the Spirit’s leading for...
U.S. dampens BWA attendance
The good news is that more than 4,000 Baptists from 105 countries around the world are meeting in Hawai'i for the 20th Baptist World Congress of the Baptist World Alliance, and they're having a wonderful, uplifting...
Sing it, children
Worship time at the Baptist World Congress is generally well-prepared and impressively offered, often incorporating different languages, which is entirely appropriate for a global organization comprised of more than...
BWA Leaders Lament Christian Vilification of Muslims, Offer Constructive Way Forward
Two Baptists – one a Lebanese denominational executive, the other an American religion professor – shared their concerns about the vilification of Muslims by Christians and mapped out ways for constructive engagement...