Thursday, October 06, 2016

• Study: Pastors prefer 'Undecided' to Clinton or Trump

  by Bob Smietana, posted Thursday, October 06, 2016 (7 years ago)

  

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- Political endorsements by preachers appear to have been few and far between this election season. That may be because the most popular candidate among preachers is "I don't know," a new study shows.

  A new report from LifeWay Research found 4 out of 10 Protestant pastors are undecided about which candidate to vote for. A third (32 percent) plan to vote for Donald Trump. One in 5 (19 percent) plans to vote for Hillary Clinton. Four percent support Gary Johnson. Three percent do not plan to vote. Read More

• DR leaders prepare for Hurricane Matthew response

  by Joe Conway, posted Thursday, October 06, 2016 (7 years ago)

  

  Image from Weather.com

  ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) -- As the first light rains from the outer bands of Hurricane Matthew passed over south Florida Wednesday, Oct. 5, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief leaders were planning their response to the potentially devastating storm. Computer models give a high probability of a Category 4 hurricane with a massive storm surge making landfall late Thursday or early Friday somewhere near Palm Beach on Florida's east coast. Read More

• Pew: Americans divided over religious liberty

  by David Roach, posted Thursday, October 06, 2016 (7 years ago)

  

  Graphic from Pew Research Center

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- A Pew Research Center report suggesting deep division between Americans who support religious liberty and those who support so-called sexual liberty has drawn critique for its framing of issues related to contraception, same-sex marriage and transgenderism.

  At the same time, the report has drawn praise as generally reflective of the cultural moment.

  A survey released Sept. 28 found 67 percent of the 4,538 Americans polled said employers with religious objections to contraception should nonetheless be required to provide it in their employee health insurance plans. Approximately half (49 percent) of those surveyed said wedding-related businesses should be required to provide services to same-sex couples even if the business owners possess religious objections. A similar percentage (51 percent) said transgender individuals should be allowed to use restrooms corresponding with their so-called gender identity. Read More

• Alaska Baptists look ahead with new exec. director

  by Karen L. Willoughby, posted Thursday, October 06, 2016 (7 years ago)

  

  Photo by Adam Covington

  FAIRBANKS, Alaska (BP) -- Alaska Baptists' 71st annual meeting heralded the arrival of native son Randy Covington as the convention's new executive director/treasurer.

  Covington, in addressing the meeting, said Baptists will continue to impact lostness in Alaska and beyond by relying on God's direction and building on the work He has already accomplished, yet with an eye to adapt methods as needed while not compromising the Gospel message. Read More

• Love and cherish in marriage, Gary Thomas advises

  by Diana Chandler, posted Thursday, October 06, 2016 (7 years ago)

  

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- Marriage expert and bestselling author Gary Thomas remembers a time more than 30 years ago when a man spoke "hard truth" into his life.

  "'Gary, I'm praying that God will make you and your girlfriend miserable,'" Thomas recalled, "because it wasn't a wise relationship. And I hated him for saying it. He said 'Gary, there's something better in store; don't settle for this.' And [my girlfriend and I] broke up, and it's good that we broke up. And today I love that man for speaking the hard truth." Read More

• FIRST-PERSON: God is bigger than Hillary, Trump & my vote

  by Daryl Cornett, posted Thursday, October 06, 2016 (7 years ago)

  Pondering the Nov. 8 election, Daryl Cornett reminds, "God is bigger than Hillary and bigger than Trump. His providence over the affairs of men is bigger. His grip on my conscience is bigger. … And our hope will still be in Him as it always has been and always will be." Read More

• Bible Study: Oct. 9, 2016

  by Staff/LifeWay Christian Resources, posted Thursday, October 06, 2016 (7 years ago)

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- 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