Baptist Press Archive

Friday, May 15, 2015

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  • House OKs ban on late abortions
    by Tom Strode, posted Friday, May 15, 2015 (3 years ago)

    "[T]his is a step in the right direction."-- Russell Moore
    WASHINGTON (BP) -- The U.S. House of Representatives approved a ban on late abortions Wednesday (May 13) in a vote that was postponed nearly four months to the dismay of pro-life Americans.

    The House voted 242-184 for the Pain-capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which will prohibit abortions on babies 20 weeks or more after fertilization based on scientific evidence that a child in the womb experiences pain by that point in gestation. The House leadership canceled a Jan. 22 roll call on the proposal after about two dozen Republicans, led by female members, expressed concerns about the legislation. Read More

  • Association's 'holy discontent' spurs renewal
    by David Roach, posted Friday, May 15, 2015 (3 years ago)

    Nelson Baptist Association photo
    BARDSTOWN, Ky. (BP) -- Ten years ago, the Nelson Baptist Association was "unhealthy and unhelpful," as pastor Matthew Spandler-Davison puts it. The central Kentucky association's 40 churches could only muster 50-60 messengers for annual meetings, and it was a strain to populate the body's 15 committees.

    But a group of local pastors began meeting, praying and dreaming about a more vibrant form of local cooperation. ... Read More

  • Native Americans built association's strength
    by Jim Burton, posted Friday, May 15, 2015 (3 years ago)

    Photo by Alan Oxendine
    PEMBROKE, N.C. (BP) -- In 1881, Burnt Swamp Baptist Association, an association of Native American Baptist churches, was established. From its humble beginnings of three churches in Robeson County, N.C. -- two of which still exist -- the association now includes 70 churches in 10 North Carolina counties and two neighboring states.

    Coharie, Haliwa-Saponi, Lumbee, Pee Dee, Tuscarora and Waccamaw Siouan make up the multi-tribal association's membership, which was distinctively Baptist from its beginning. Read More

  • 'We cannot stop speaking,' Allen tells MBTS grads
    by T. Patrick Hudson, posted Friday, May 15, 2015 (3 years ago)

    Photo by Liz Stack
    KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP) -- Graduates, families and friends gathered in Daniel Lee Chapel for Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's 57th commencement exercises launching newly trained Gospel ministers into service.

    In all, 109 students graduated, encompassing five diplomas in Christian ministry and 27 undergraduate, 58 graduate and 19 doctoral degrees. Read More

  • IMB to align missionary requirements with BF&M
    by David Roach, posted Friday, May 15, 2015 (3 years ago)

    RICHMOND, Va. (BP) -- The International Mission Board's new policy on missionary qualifications -- replacing previous restrictions related to baptism, speaking in tongues and divorce among other matters -- represents an effort to keep basic requirements from going beyond the Baptist Faith and Message, IMB President David Platt told reporters May 14. Read More

  • Serve the 'children of light,' Mohler tells grads
    by S. Craig Sanders, posted Friday, May 15, 2015 (3 years ago)

    Photo by Emil Handke/SBTS
    LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) -- God calls ministers of the Gospel to affirm the church and serve its members faithfully, R. Albert Mohler Jr. said in the commencement address to graduates of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.

    During commencement exercises on the seminary lawn, 297 master's and doctorate students received their degrees May 14. A week earlier, 107 Boyce College graduates received certificate, associate and bachelor's degrees in a commencement that marked the first time a child of a Southern Seminary president, Christopher Mohler, graduated from the institution. Read More

  • Payday loans targeted by ERLC, others in coalition
    by Tom Strode, posted Friday, May 15, 2015 (3 years ago)

    Photo by Doug Carlson
    WASHINGTON (BP) -- The Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission has helped launch a religious coalition seeking an end to the predatory loan industry.

    The ERLC joined with other religious organizations Thursday (May 14) to announce the Faith for Just Lending Coalition at a Capitol Hill news conference. The diverse alliance that includes Baptists, other evangelical Christians and mainline Protestants seeks to raise awareness about predatory lending and to motivate individuals, lenders, churches and the government to help bring an end to the practice. Read More

  • Nepalese Baptist pastor in U.S. aids homeland
    by Diana Chandler, posted Friday, May 15, 2015 (3 years ago)

    BUFFALO, N.Y. (BP) -- As Nepal works to recover from two massive earthquakes within 17 days, a Nepalese Southern Baptist church planter in Buffalo, N.Y. is readying to travel to his homeland to help those in need, including his three sisters left homeless.

    Purna "John" Tamang, pastor of Saransthan International Fellowship, said his sisters are living in tents in Kathmandu and other communities. Tamang described them as Christians telling others of Jesus Christ. Read More

  • Bible Study: May 17, 2015
    by Staff/LifeWay Christian Resources, posted Friday, May 15, 2015 (3 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

  • CALL TO PRAYER: Is any problem too big for God?
    by David Jeremiah, posted Friday, May 15, 2015 (3 years ago)

    California pastor David Jeremiah reflects on NASA's problem-solving for Apollo 13 as an illustration of the ways God solves His followers' problems. "When we are stretched beyond our human limits, we find ourselves in [God's] limitless domain. He welcomes our cries and loves to provide solutions to our problems," Jeremiah writes. Read More

  • EDITORIAL: Los hombres y padres cristianos necesitan más ánimo
    by Octavio Esqueda, posted Friday, May 15, 2015 (3 years ago)

    Siempre me ha sorprendido el contraste entre las celebraciones del día de las madres y las del día del padre. Generalmente el día de las madres es una gran festividad y un motivo de alegría generalizado en el cual la mayoría reconoce la labor tan ardua y abnegada de las madres. ... Read More

  • Avance enfatiza que lo primero es primero
    Por Luis R. Lopez, posted Friday, May 15, 2015 (3 years ago)

    COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP) -- La reunión de SBC en Columbus, Ohio este próximo mes de Junio destaca la prioridad de la oración en la obra del ministerio. 1 Timoteo 2:1 nos exhorta antes que cualquier otra cosa a buscar el rostro de Dios. El domingo, 14 de junio la reunión de Avance en el Greater Columbus Convention Center reunirá a pastores y líderes hispanos Bautistas del Sur en diversas actividades que destacan el papel de la oración en un despertamiento espiritual. Read More

  • Galardón de inmigración presentado a Duke de ERLC

    Por Tom Strode, posted Friday, May 15, 2015 (3 years ago)

    HOUSTON (BP) -- Recibir un galardón por trabajar a favor de la reforma migratoria demostró ser una doble bendición para el bautista del sur especialista en política pública, Barrett Duke.

    La Conferencia Nacional Hispana de Liderazgo Cristiano (NHCLC por sus siglas en inglés) le confirió el Galardón Robert Gittelson de defensa de la inmigración a Duke el 29 de abril durante su convención nacional en Houston. Read More

  • Pew: Los cristianos declinan mientras que los 'nones' aumentan

    Por David Roach, posted Friday, May 15, 2015 (3 years ago)

    NASHVILLE (BP) -- El número de cristianos en EE.UU. ha descendido casi 8 puntos porcentuales desde 2007 mientras el número de adultos religiosamente no afiliados ha incrementado cerca de 7 puntos porcentuales durante el mismo período. Read More

  • Concilio multiétnico refleja a la 'familia de Dios'
    Por Roger S. Oldham, posted Friday, May 15, 2015 (3 years ago)

    ATLANTA (BP) -- Al escuchar el bullicio de las voces de los miembros del Concilio de Asesoría Multiétnica mientras se reúnen en grupos pequeños, Frank S. Page, presidente del Comité Ejecutivo de la CBS, señaló, "Escucharles hablar y debatir y citar las Escrituras en sus variados acentos y desde sus diversas perspectivas [me recuerda] lo rico que somos como una familia de Dios al tenerles a todos ustedes en la mesa." Read More

  • EDITORIAL: Los hombres y padres cristianos necesitan más ánimo
    Por Octavio Esqueda, posted Friday, May 15, 2015 (3 years ago)

    Siempre me ha sorprendido el contraste entre las celebraciones del día de las madres y las del día del padre. Generalmente el día de las madres es una gran festividad y un motivo de alegría generalizado en el cual la mayoría reconoce la labor tan ardua y abnegada de las madres. ... Read More