Baptist Press Archive

Wednesday, November 07, 2018

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  • Vote splits Congress; judicial outlook called hopeful
    by Tom Strode, posted Wednesday, November 07, 2018 (6 months ago)

    WASHINGTON (BP) -- Voters returned control of the U.S. House of Representatives to the Democratic Party Tuesday (Nov. 6) but seemed to have strengthened the Republican Party's hold on the Senate and on its ability to confirm conservative Supreme Court justices and federal judges.

    Meanwhile, at least two Southern Baptists appear to have won first-time seats in Congress, and two states approved pro-life measures among a host of ballot initiatives that were decided.

    Republicans lost their majority in the House for the first time since the 2010 election during President Obama's first term. Democrats held a 222-199 advantage with 14 races still undecided as of 1 p.m. CST Nov. 7, according to CNN. Read More

  • Abortion, marijuana, gambling win, lose in states
    by Diana Chandler, posted Wednesday, November 07, 2018 (6 months ago)

    Imagen: iStock/Se requiere permiso de licencia.
    NASHVILLE (BP) -- Abortion rights, marijuana use and legalized gambling drew mixed results on state ballots across the U.S. Nov. 6.

    Alabama voters authorized display of the Ten Commandments in public places in a measure that prohibits the use of public funding to support challenges to the state constitutional amendment in court. The amendment, which requires displays to comply with federal constitutional requirements, carried 72 percent of the vote, the Montgomery Advertiser reported.

    Pro-life measures

    Alabama and West Virginia amended their constitutions to proclaim that the states themselves do not recognize a woman's right to abortion, nor authorize the use of public funding to pay for such procedures, the Associated Press reported. Read More

  • Pastors see economic turnaround in 2018 giving
    by Aaron Earls, posted Wednesday, November 07, 2018 (6 months ago)

    iStock
    NASHVILLE (BP) -- The economic recovery appears to have reached the offering plate, according to a new study released today (Nov. 7).

    Today, 8 in 10 Protestant pastors (79 percent) say the total offerings at their church this year are at or above last year's levels, including 42 percent who say this year is ahead of last year. Few pastors (15 percent) say giving is not keeping pace with last year. This latest survey from LifeWay Research was conducted Aug. 29 to Sept. 11.

    Those positive giving numbers have followed the economic upturn, noted Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research. Read More

  • Wyoming Baptists meet their new state missionary
    by Karen L. Willoughby, posted Wednesday, November 07, 2018 (6 months ago)

    Submitted photo
    MILLS, Wyo. (BP) -- Two standing ovations marked a leadership transition during the Wyoming Southern Baptist Mission Network's 35th annual meeting.

    Lynn Nikkel retired after 13 years as state missionary plus five previous years as the state convention's religious education director. He first moved to Wyoming from Oklahoma in 1994 to pastor Memorial Baptist Church in Wheatland, serving there six years.

    Quin Williams, pastor since 1996 of Boyd Avenue Baptist Church in Casper, was approved Sept. 14 by the convention's Executive Board as the new state missionary, effective Nov. 1. Williams came to Wyoming after pastoring in Texas for 17 years. Read More

  • 50 years of movie ratings in the spotlight
    by Lynde Langdon/WORLD , posted Wednesday, November 07, 2018 (6 months ago)

    iStock
    ASHEVILLE, N.C. (BP) -- The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) last week celebrated the 50th birthday of the movie rating scale, which started as an attempt to ward off censors and became a part of the collective consciousness of U.S. moviegoers. The organization released survey results showing that 91 percent of American parents were familiar or very familiar with the G, PG, PG-13, R, and NC-17 classification system, and 95 percent thought it was helpful.

    "We could point to many factors behind the ratings' success," MPAA CEO Charles Rivkin wrote in an open letter. "But the clearest one of all comes directly from its founding mission: to maintain the trust and confidence of American parents." Read More

  • This Sunday: Disaster Relief Appreciation Day

    by Brandon Elrod, posted Wednesday, November 07, 2018 (6 months ago)

    Photo by by Sara Brockmann/NAMB
    ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) -- For more than 50 years, Southern Baptists have been providing disaster relief to the United States and its territories after the gravest of tragedies. Whether it is major natural disasters that affect millions or localized events that hit small communities, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) volunteers regularly arrive to bring help, healing and hope to those impacted.

    On Sunday, November 11, Southern Baptists will celebrate Disaster Relief Appreciation Day, an opportunity to recognize and thank SBDR leaders and volunteers.

    "I want to give a special 'thank you' to all of those who make Southern Baptist Disaster Relief possible," said Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board (NAMB). "To all of our volunteers who give their time so generously and sacrificially, you are amazing people, and we cannot thank you enough." Read More

  • FIRST-PERSON: The photo on my phone
    by Sammi Carby, posted Wednesday, November 07, 2018 (6 months ago)

    On her phone each day, Sammi Carby sees the "the sweet and timeless image" of her 18-week-old still-born son, "one that we will forever cherish and hold dear." Read More

  • Bible Study: Nov. 11, 2018
    by Staff/LifeWay Christian Resources, posted Wednesday, November 07, 2018 (6 months 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