Baptist Press Archive

Friday, May 01, 1998

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  • Hundreds being saved through FAITH evangelism initiative
    by Chip Alford, posted Friday, May 01, 1998 (26 years ago)

    NASHVILLE, Tenn.(BP)--It's been only four months since leaders from 28 Southern Baptist churches were trained in how to carry out a new strategy that "marries" Sunday school and evangelism. But early reports from the "FAITH Originator Churches" indicate hundreds are already coming to Christ as a result of the initiative.

    "It's going phenomenally well, beyond what any of us really expected," Steve Cretin, director of the leadership and evangelism department in the Southern Baptist Sunday Schoo... Read More

  • FAITH luncheon, exhibit planned during SBC meeting
    by , posted Friday, May 01, 1998 (26 years ago)

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Messengers to this summer's annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, will have a chance to learn more about FAITH, a joint initiative of the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board and the North American Mission Board that "marries" Sunday school and evangelism.

    A FAITH Awareness Luncheon will be held June 9 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. in Ballrooms B&D of the Salt Palace Convention Center. The featured speaker will be Bobby Welch, senior ... Read More

  • Clinton confirms opposition to religious persecution bill
    by , posted Friday, May 01, 1998 (26 years ago)

    WASHINGTON (BP)--President Clinton has reiterated his opposition to a congressional measure designed to thwart religious persecution overseas.

    The president reinforced his position on the Freedom From Religious Persecution Act to a group of about 60 evangelical Christians at a White House briefing sponsored by the National Association of Evangelicals. In an address of about 15 minutes to the group, Clinton said legislation that calls for automatic sanctions, like the religious persecution pro... Read More

  • House sends first voucher bill to president; veto expected
    by Tom Strode, posted Friday, May 01, 1998 (26 years ago)

    WASHINGTON (BP) -- The U.S. House of Representatives approved school vouchers for children from the District of Columbia April 30, marking the first time Congress has sent voucher legislation to the White House.

    The bill, approved nearly along party lines in a 214-206 vote, would permit 2,000 students from low-income families to receive vouchers of as much as $3,200 to pay for tuition at area private schools, including religious ones. All but 13 Republicans voted for the bill. Only six Democr... Read More

  • ‘Round-robin prayer time’ helped them weather tornado
    by Jason Skinner, posted Friday, May 01, 1998 (26 years ago)

    COKER, Ala. (BP)--Climbing over fallen trees and beating through mounds of debris, TV news crews followed the trail of destruction in their search for Bethany Baptist Church in Coker, Ala., near Tuscaloosa.

    The massive carnage of the wooded area left the reporters no doubt they were on the same path as the devastating tornado that had swept through moments before. Finally, after a frustrating search, they knew they were close.

    "They told us they heard us singing," said Melissa Franklin, w... Read More

  • Church focused on people after tornado’s destruction
    by Laurie A. Lattimore, posted Friday, May 01, 1998 (26 years ago)

    ODENVILLE, Ala. (BP)--Chris Burns had no plans of changing his Easter message -- even though everything else for Easter services at Bethel Baptist had changed.

    A tornado that swept through central Alabama with no abandon April 8 demolished the existing sanctuary plus a nearly completed $3.25-million sanctuary and family life center of the Odenville church.

    About 100 choir members practicing for the Easter pageant were sent home when word of a tornado sweeping through several communities ou... Read More

  • 'Church within prison walls' focus of student-faculty ministry
    by James A. Smith Sr., posted Friday, May 01, 1998 (26 years ago)

    LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)--"I was in prison, and you came to me."

    Jesus' words to his disciples are taken to heart by Southern Baptist Theological Seminary student Barbara Wilson and professor Chuck Lawless. For them, ministering to the "church within the prison walls" is a tangible way Christians can follow his teaching.

    "I really believe that the God I serve is powerful enough to change lives, even in a prison. And I believe if I'm faithful and others are faithful in reaching out and meeting ... Read More