Monday, April 20, 2009

• Chinese businessman waits for court ruling, exoneration

  by Staff, posted Monday, April 20, 2009 (15 years ago)

  

  WASHINGTON (BP)--Shi Weihan, the Chinese Christian bookstore owner who has been imprisoned for more than a year, appeared in court April 9 and his family reported that he appeared thin but healthy, according to a news release by China Aid Association April 17.

        Shi's attorney spent three hours defending him in court, noting that Shi's acts "did not constitute a crime because he was not engaged in illegal business acts and he did not disturb the social or market order." Shi, jailed since March 19, 2008, has been accused of printing and giving away Christian books and Bibles without government permission.

        China Aid said police reportedly brought no new evidence against Shi at the court appearance, but they frequently referred to the "printing of illegal books." In the past, a judge has ruled there is insufficient evidence to convict Shi of "illegal business practices," but police have continued to hold him in order to collect additional evidence for a conviction.

        Shi's wife, parents and three friends attended the trial, but they were not allowed to speak with him. They have not been allowed much contact with him during the past year and had been concerned about his health.

        The court appearance was a step forward in the family's struggle for Shi's freedom because several previous court dates had been postponed over recent months, China Aid said.

        While imprisoned, Shi signed a confession stating that he had printed books and Bibles without government permission, but he said they were given away as gifts, not sold, ... Read More

• Pro-lifers: Stem cell rules step downward

  by Tom Strode, posted Monday, April 20, 2009 (15 years ago)

  WASHINGTON (BP)--The Obama administration's draft guidelines on funding embryonic stem cell research are not as bad as they could have been, but they appear to be a step toward something much worse, pro-life leaders say. Read More

• Camp changes name, 'goes more in-depth'

  by Chris Turner, posted Monday, April 20, 2009 (15 years ago)

  

  Photo by Kent Harville

  GLORIETA, N.M. (BP)--J.R. Rollinson thought he was committing his youth group to Ski Explosion. What he got was Fuge Winter Camp. Read More

• Glorieta is not closing, director says

  by Chris Turner, posted Monday, April 20, 2009 (15 years ago)

  GLORIETA, N.M. (BP)--Cue the PA system: "LifeWay Glorieta Conference Center is not closing." That's the message Byron Hill wants to communicate in the midst of coming changes at the 56-year-old conference center near Santa Fe, N.M. Read More

• Intern learns to lead at Glorieta

  by Chris Turner, posted Monday, April 20, 2009 (15 years ago)

  GLORIETA, N.M. (BP)--Tessa Morrell is the "head honcho."

  After years of participating in LifeWay Christian Resources' Fuge camps as either a camper or staffer, Morrell, 23, now finds herself in charge, thanks to a new internship program at LifeWay Glorieta Conference Center.

  "It is really cool because I'm getting to serve others and gaining a lot of practical experience in the process," the Decatur, Ill., native said. "I'm getting to be responsible for a lot of things people my age do... Read More

• TRUSTEES: M.Div. Internet work approved

  by Gary D. Myers, posted Monday, April 20, 2009 (15 years ago)

  NEW ORLEANS (BP)--New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary trustees have approved a new distance learning track in the master of divinity program and other initiatives designed to make theological education more accessible to God-called men and women throughout the world.

  Trustees approved a new distance learning M.Div. track during their April 15 meeting that essentially makes the seminary's Online Learning Center an extension center. The result is a fully accredited master of divinity deg... Read More

• 'Hybrid' courses added at NOBTS

  by Gary D. Myers, posted Monday, April 20, 2009 (15 years ago)

  NEW ORLEANS (BP)--New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary announced a new approach to on-campus courses -- "hybrid" courses -- during the April 15 meeting of the board of trustees.

  Hybrid courses combine a limited number of classroom meetings with an enhanced and expanded Internet component. While many regular NOBTS classes already include some Internet components, hybrid courses will utilize the Internet in a different way. Classes will meet once a month on the seminary campus for three h... Read More

• An epidemic within the Western church

  by Todd Stinnett, posted Monday, April 20, 2009 (15 years ago)

  MORRISTOWN, Tenn. (BP)--An epidemic is defined as any communicable or non-communicable disease that affects a disproportionately large number of individuals within a population, community or region at the same time. Read More