Tuesday, November 17, 2009

• True Love Waits, True Love Stays grow worldwide

  by Don Beehler, posted Tuesday, November 17, 2009 (14 years ago)

  NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--A little more than two years after launching an initiative to expand True Love Waits throughout Africa, more than 15,500 True Love Waits presentations have been made to African youth, and nearly half a million young people have heard its message promoting sexual abstinence until marriage.

        Of that number, more than 200,500 have taken the True Love Waits pledge and nearly 41,500 adults have committed to faithfulness in marriage through the TLW-related True Love Stays.

        In Asia, True Love Waits also is making gains.

        Sharon Pumpelly, lead consultant for True Love Waits International, noted, "In sub-Sahara Africa, AIDS has made people hungry for True Love Waits." Read More

• Somali extremists' toll reaches 13

  by Staff, posted Tuesday, November 17, 2009 (14 years ago)

  WASHINGTON (BP)--A 13th Christian leader in Somalia has been killed by Islamic extremists, according to the Washington-based human rights organization ... Read More

• Drive begins to reverse Calif. Prop 8

  by Staff, posted Tuesday, November 17, 2009 (14 years ago)

  SACRAMENTO, Calif. (BP)--Supporters of "gay marriage" in California began collecting signatures Nov. 16 for a proposed constitutional amendment that would ask voters next year to overturn Proposition 8. Read More

• SBCV adopts long-range plan

  by Brandon Pickett, posted Tuesday, November 17, 2009 (14 years ago)

  NORFOLK, Va. (BP)--The Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia approved a long-range strategic plan at their annual meeting at First Baptist Church in Norfolk.

  More than 1,000 people, including 753 messengers and 308 guests, attended the Nov. 8-10 meeting, which centered on the theme of "Pushing Back the Darkness through Evangelism."

  Messengers unanimously approved a plan that will guide the SBCV as it assists local congregations in their task of fulfilling the Great Commission. SBC... Read More

• Tenn. Baptists honor James Porch

  by Lonnie Wilkey, posted Tuesday, November 17, 2009 (14 years ago)

  JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)--Messengers to the 135th annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention recognized the ministry and leadership of James Porch, who has served as executive director of the convention since 1992 and has announced he will retire in August.

  The Nov. 10-11 meeting at West Jackson Baptist Church in Jackson drew 1,173 messengers from 541 churches, the lowest attendance in 35 years.

  Randy Davis, pastor of First Baptist Church in Sevierville, was elected president by ac... Read More

• Penn-Jersey Baptists celebrate missions

  by Staff, posted Tuesday, November 17, 2009 (14 years ago)

  BUSHKILL, Pa. (BP)--With the theme "'Til the Whole World Knows," the annual meeting of the Baptist Convention of Pennsylvania/South Jersey at Fernwood Hotel & Resort in Bushkill, Pa., Nov. 5-6 was marked by a tribute to the work of international missionaries.

  Peter Yanes, the convention's president, emphasized in his address the urgent need to lead people to Christ. He recounted how a Southern Baptist missionary funded by the Cooperative Program moved to his hometown in the Philippines in 1... Read More

• Nev. Baptists add 7 churches

  by Staff, posted Tuesday, November 17, 2009 (14 years ago)

  LAS VEGAS (BP)--The Nevada Baptist Convention welcomed seven new affiliated congregations and transitioned to a one-day meeting format at its 31st annual meeting at Spring Valley Baptist Church in Las Vegas.

  Thane Barnes, the convention's executive director, said the condensed format was an experiment.

  "We learned how to do some things better and clearly recognized things that need improvement," Barnes said of the Oct. 20 gathering. "The executive board and staff will evaluate the form... Read More

• Calif. Baptists involve CBU students

  by Holly Smith, posted Tuesday, November 17, 2009 (14 years ago)

  FRESNO, Calif. (BP)--Harmony and heritage were emphasized at the annual meeting of the California Southern Baptist Convention, Nov. 10-11 Magnolia Avenue Baptist Church in Riverside.

  Under the theme "For the Generations to Come: Celebrating Four Centuries of Baptist History," messengers approved, without discussion, a 2010 budget of $11,607,958, a 4.8 percent decrease from the current budget.

  From $7,520,000 in anticipated Cooperative Program giving from California churches, the conven... Read More

• FBC Dallas launches $130M build campaign

  by Staff, posted Tuesday, November 17, 2009 (14 years ago)

  DALLAS (BP)--First Baptist Church in Dallas has launched a $130 million fundraising campaign to build a new 1.5 million square foot facility in what one church fundraising expert is calling the largest church building program in modern history.

  On a Nov. 1 standing vote to endorse a unanimous recommendation from their deacon board, church members overwhelmingly approved the capital campaign, which will create a new 3,000-seat, 90,000-square-foot sanctuary, a six-story education building and... Read More

• FIRST-PERSON: Health care & moral schizophrenia

  by Ken Connor, posted Tuesday, November 17, 2009 (14 years ago)

  WASHINGTON (BP)--House Democrats are celebrating a first-round victory in the battle to nationalize America's health care system ... Read More