Monday, April 12, 2004

• Southern Baptist Convention statistics for 2003 show growth in membership, churches

  by Polly House, posted Monday, April 12, 2004 (20 years ago)

  NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--The Southern Baptist Convention reported a record membership of 16,205,050, with 67,314 additional members, a .42 percent increase over 2002, and grew to 43,024 churches, an increase of 249 new congregations, according to statistics released in the 2003 SBC Statistical Summary. Read More

• American hostage Thomas Hamill attends SBC church

  by Staff, posted Monday, April 12, 2004 (20 years ago)

  MACON, Miss. (BP)--The one known American hostage in Iraq attends a Southern Baptist congregation in a small Mississippi town where hundreds are holding vigils and praying for his safety.

  Read More

• Frist signs on as co-sponsor of Federal Marriage Amendment

  by Staff, posted Monday, April 12, 2004 (20 years ago)

  WASHINGTON (BP)--Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has signed on as a co-sponsor of the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment, adding momentum to those hoping for a vote on the amendment this year.

  Read More

• Poll: Most Americans say homosexuality is 'against God's will'

  by Michael Foust, posted Monday, April 12, 2004 (20 years ago)

  NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Most Americans believe that homosexuality is “against God’s will” and that same-sex “marriage” will degrade the institution of marriage, according to a new Los Angeles Times poll.

  Read More

• Golden Gate celebrates 60 years of preparing ministers

  by John C. Eagan, posted Monday, April 12, 2004 (20 years ago)

  MILL VALLEY, Calif. (BP)--With a grateful look to the past and optimism for the future, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary has marked 60 years of preparing ministers for churches in the West.

  Read More

• Patterson calls for evangelism school, undergrad college

  by Gregory Tomlin, posted Monday, April 12, 2004 (20 years ago)

  FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)--Citing a strong commitment to preaching the Gospel in North America and abroad, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Paige Patterson called for the establishment of a school of evangelism and missions and an undergraduate college during the April 6 trustee meeting at the Fort Worth, Texas, seminary.

  Read More

• FIRST-PERSON: Jimmy Carter & 'freestyle evangelicals’

  by R. Albert Mohler Jr., posted Monday, April 12, 2004 (20 years ago)

  LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)--Will America's evangelicals turn left in the coming presidential election? That's the fervent hope of the liberal press; The American Prospect, for one, is counting on "freestyle evangelicals" to swing conservative Christians toward the Democratic Party and its agenda. But don't hold your breath on this one. The magazine's analysis turns out to be full of holes and wishful thinking.

  Read More

• FIRST-PERSON: ‘The Passion’ for your family

  by Claude Thomas, posted Monday, April 12, 2004 (20 years ago)

  EULESS, Texas (BP)-—Beyond its $350 million-plus in box office receipts, “The Passion of The Christ” has influenced our culture. But I want to ask a question that hasn’t been raised: “How does The Passion impact our families?”

  Read More