For Israeli families of deceased hostages, biblical Sitting Shiva mourning finally comes
JERUSALEM (BP) – Tiferet Lapidot had returned to Israel to spend the holidays with her family. But Oct. 7, 2023, was the last time her father Ohad Lapidot would see her alive.
Giving Tuesday offers choice opportunities to support Southern Baptist ministries
Southern Baptists entities and ministries offer numerous ways to support ministry on Giving Tuesday.
Russian/Ukrainian multiethnic church sees Gospel reconciliation as war lingers
TACOMA, Wash. (BP) – As lead pastor of Good News Church in Tacoma, Moscow-born Vasiliy Stupin appreciates the reconciling power of the Gospel among the church’s 800 or so members and attendees from Russia, Ukraine and elsewhere in Europe.
ERLC again commends CPC tag for Nigeria; USCIRF, others turn up heat
WASHINGTON (BP) – The U.S. designation of Nigeria as an egregious violator of religious freedoms has not gone far enough to stem violence there, top persecution watchdogs said amid an intense uptick in attacks on Christians in the African nation.
Judge blocks Ten Commandments in 14 Texas school districts as religion/state battle spreads
SAN ANTONIO (BP) – A federal judge ordered 14 Texas school districts to remove Ten Commandments displays from classrooms by Dec. 1, ruling unconstitutional a new state law that has required the displays since September.
Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela ‘authoritarian triad’ of religious persecution, USCIRF reports
WASHINGTON (BP) – Nicaragua, Cuba and Venezuela form a Latin American authoritarian triad where leaders exert religious persecution to maintain governmental control, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) reported Nov. 18.
State of the Church: Bible use resurges in U.S. with Millennial, Gen Z men in front
BOULDER, Colo. (BP) – Weekly Bible reading resurged 12 points this year in the U.S. after a 15-year low, with Millennial and Gen Z men leading the way, State of the Church researchers said in their November release.
Pastor de Texas con estatus legal regresa a su país natal tras años de retrasos en la tramitación de su visado
GORDON, Texas (BP) – Albert Oliveira, pastor de la Primera Iglesia Bautista de Gordon, Texas, regresó voluntariamente a su país natal, Brasil, el 9 de noviembre, después de que un cambio en la normativa sobre visados y años de retrasos en la tramitación le impidieran renovar su estatus legal.
Former SBC president Luter announces 2026 retirement; son voted to succeed him
NEW ORLEANS (BP) – Noah Lewis recalls a certain fire in the voice of Fred Luter Jr., the first time he heard him preach, perhaps a gift developed as Luter bellowed God’s Word on the streets of New Orleans in the mid-1980s.
ERLC laments SCOTUS pass on revisiting 2015 same-sex marriage ruling
WASHINGTON (BP) – The U.S. Supreme Court’s refusal to revisit its 2015 ruling on same-sex marriage misses a chance to right the matter but doesn’t change God’s Word, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission Interim President Gary Hollingsworth told Baptist Press.
