Baptist Press Archive

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

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  • Rural Bapt. church sees 900 baptisms in 6 years
    by Grace Thornton/The Alabama Baptist, posted Tuesday, May 23, 2017 (one year ago)

    Alabama Baptist photo
    GADSDEN, Ala. (BP) -- In 1995, Joey Hanner was a trucker who was about to give up on his marriage -- and he was one Sunday service away from giving up on church too.

    "We were going to give church one more try and then we were going to end our marriage," he said.

    They were so mad at each other they hadn't even realized that day was their 12th wedding anniversary, Hanner said. Read More

  • American views of shame, guilt studied

    by Bob Smietana, posted Tuesday, May 23, 2017 (one year ago)

    NASHVILLE (BP) -- Many Americans are more worried about their reputation than their conscience, a new study released today (May 23) shows.

    They worry less about guilt and fear and more about avoiding shame, according to the study from LifeWay Research that was conducted Sept. 27–Oct. 1, 2016.

    Shame has become particularly powerful in American culture in the internet age, said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research. A single mistake ... Read More

  • Trump's Israel trip sparks 'revival of encouragement'
    by David Roach, posted Tuesday, May 23, 2017 (one year ago)

    Screen capture from YouTube
    JERUSALEM (BP) -- President Trump's visit to Israel this week drew praise from some Southern Baptists and led some of them to renew calls for moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

    "For several years the Jewish people in America and Messianic Jewish communities have been pleading with our government to bring back the relationship that we once had with Israel and the Jewish people," said Ric Worshill, president of the Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship. Read More

  • PrayerLink expresses its mission in logo's redesign
    by Roger S. Oldham, posted Tuesday, May 23, 2017 (one year ago)

    ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) -- Calling on the Southern Baptist PrayerLink leadership team to "fan into flame a passionate pursuit of God in prayer," Chris Schofield opened the group's winter meeting as PrayerLink's first executive director.

    "The Lord is not through with what we began years ago," said Schofield, director of the Office of Prayer for Evangelization and Spiritual Awakening for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. Read More

  • TN passes viability test for abortions after 20 weeks
    by Samantha Gobba/WORLD News Service, posted Tuesday, May 23, 2017 (one year ago)

    Photo from Wikimedia Commons
    NASHVILLE (BP) -- Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam signed a bill May 12 that requires abortionists to evaluate unborn babies for their ability to live outside the womb after 20 weeks' gestation.

    The new law bans abortions on unborn babies shown to be viable and requires medical opinions from two abortionists. Violators could be slapped with possible felony charges, sent to prison for up to three years, and have their medical licenses revoked. The law makes exceptions for cases in which carrying a baby to term endangers the mother's life or vital organs. Read More

  • TX governor signs bill to 'shield' pastors' sermons
    by Bonnie Pritchett/Southern Baptist TEXAN, posted Tuesday, May 23, 2017 (one year ago)

    Photo from Facebook
    AUSTIN (BP) -- Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed legislation Sunday (May 21) that prohibits Texas government agencies from subpoenaing the sermons of religious leaders.

    In a ceremony choreographed to highlight the bill's benefactors Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick signed the bill surrounded by Houston area clergy during the May 21 worship service at Grace Church, Woodlands, Texas. Read More

  • FIRST-PERSON: When a good man stumbles
    by Jeff Struecker , posted Tuesday, May 23, 2017 (one year ago)

    There is no such thing as a perfect man apart from Jesus, Jeff Struecker writes. For those who stumble in this life, he notes, Christ's death and resurrection "make it possible for sinful men and women to be made right with God." Read More