Jerry Pierce

AUSTIN, Texas (BP)–A bill requiring most women seeking abortions to undergo a sonogram at least 24 hours prior to the procedure and to hear a description of the baby’s physical features has passed both chambers of the Texas Legislature and awaits the promised signature of Republican Gov. Rick Perry. House Bill 15 would give a […]

LAREDO, Texas (BP)--They call her "La Santa Muerte," the Saint of Death, whose followers have multiplied rapidly over the last decade as violence has gripped Mexico and spilled across the border, according to missionaries who have witnessed the death cult's growing influence. From Mexico City to border towns such as Laredo, and lately in large American cities such as Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles and Chicago, her cloaked, skeletal icon, usually depicted gripping the Grim Reaper's scythe, is often seen hanging from the windows, entryways and sometimes on the tattoos of her disciples. Her appeal lies in basic human desires -- especially those of the poor and drug runners who entreat her for protection and vengeance. "Healing, money, protection, or they want power," said Orpha Ortega, who along with her husband William serves as a Southern Baptist missionary in Mexico City. The Santa Muerte cult is a growing concern for pastors in border towns such as Laredo, where a meeting hosted by Southern Baptist missionaries in January drew Spanish-speaking pastors, church leaders and at least one concerned police officer whose experiences at a local jail prompted him to attend. (Spanish-language video of the meeting is accessible at www.sbtexas.com/videos. The death cult figures prominently in the surging violence by Mexican drug traffickers known as narcos in interior Mexico and along the U.S.-Mexico border, William Ortega told those at the meeting. For six of the 12 years they've been in Mexico City, the Ortegas have ministered in the Tepito neighborhood, which is notorious for its thriving black market. Poverty, drugs and violence are pervasive, and the largest shrine to Saint Death is an institution there. Of the 28 million people in Mexico City, about 2 million are estimated to be followers of Saint Death, Ortega said, with large numbers of them in Tepito.

BOSTON (BP)--A burn victim whose face was badly marred in an accident suffered while painting a Baptist church in Texas has become the first person in the United States to undergo a full face transplant.

ARLINGTON, Texas (BP)--The Christian conversion of Pittsburgh Steelers' third-year offensive lineman Tony Hills saw the team's practice facility used for something unusual this season -- a baptism. And that on a team that needed new life to begin this storied season.

ARLINGTON, Texas (BP)--In the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl Feb. 6 in Arlington, Texas, at least two North Texas organizations are working to curb the demand for sex trafficking associated with such prominent events.

FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)--Dozens of men stood there hollering, gesturing, trying to divert the Labrador retriever from his master's agenda. Prophet, so named by his master-owner Hank Hough, was indifferent to their pleas. To the dog, the men's clatter was background noise.       Then Hough called his dog's name: "Prophet!"       The dog moved on command.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (BP)–Messengers to the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention annual meeting re-elected Odessa pastor Byron McWilliams as president, approved a $25.4 million budget and passed five resolutions on issues ranging from sex trafficking to racial reconciliation. But for messengers and guests at the closing session, the commissioning of 36 North American Mission Board […]

FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)--Dallas Wiens bears little of his former image -- at least not above the shoulders. But by all accounts, the image of God in him shines brighter than before. Soon, with the help of leading-edge medical science, a new face will adorn the 25-year-old burn victim.

FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)–“Dallas was a pretty rebellious guy,” Scott Cox said. The Texas pastor remembers meeting Dallas Wiens on several occasions, though he didn’t know him well. Dallas’ grandparents, Del and Sue Peterson, prayed for years that Dallas would return to the faith he once embraced as a child growing up under their influence […]

AUSTIN, Texas (BP)--The Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) narrowly passed a resolution on Sept. 24 warning textbook publishers that content "demonizing or lionizing one or more [religions] over others" would be rejected.