Christian colleges: Obama trampling freedoms
NEW YORK (BP) — Christian leaders are considering their legal options after the Obama administration announced that many religious-affiliated institutions will have to provide free birth control for employees. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius offered a single concession, saying that nonprofit institutions like church-affiliated hospitals and colleges will have an additional year […]
Court allows ‘Jesus prayers’ to be banned
NEW YORK (BP) -- The Supreme Court will not intervene in a controversy over Christian prayers delivered before commission meetings in Forsyth County, N.C.
FIRST-PERSON: An American hero
NEW YORK CITY (BP)--It seemed like a very normal afternoon in Lyman, S.C., a small southern town in upstate; ...
Steve Green: astronaut Rick Husband was ‘someone who understood his calling’
JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)--It seemed, at first, to be an unlikely friendship. He was a contemporary Christian musician. The man standing in line waiting for his autograph was an astronaut. The musician was Steve Green. The astronaut was Rick Husband. But after that chance encounter, the pair became close friends and spiritual confidants.
Husband was commander of the Space Shuttle Columbia. He and six other astronauts were killed Feb. 1 when their ship disintegrated upon reentering the earth's atmosphere after a 16-day mission. Investigators have yet to determine what caused NASA's oldest space orbiter to crash.
Bush steadfast on disarming Iraq, faith initiatives in State of Union
WASHINGTON (BP)--In a speech filled with religious imagery, President Bush remained steadfast in his threat of military action against Saddam Hussein while delivering sweeping proposals on key components of his compassionate conservative agenda during the Jan. 28 State of the Union address.
"For so many in our country -- the homeless, the fatherless, the addicted -- the need is great," Bush said of his goal to apply the compassion of America to the greatest problems facing the nation. "Yet there is power -- wonder-working power -- in the goodness, and idealism, and faith of the American people."
7,000 worshipers turn out for NFL-sanctioned concert
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| Friends in worship Jacqueline Jackson, left, and Loretta Allen, right, said they were glad for the opportunity to worship together during the Super Bowl weekend. Photo by Morris Abernathy |
O.J. Brigance credits salvation to persistent church matriarch
SAN DIEGO (BP)--When St. Louis Rams free agent O.J. Brigance talks about his faith in Jesus Christ, he fondly remembers Mother Ball, the matriarch of his Baptist church who led him to the Lord in 1989.
Congregations gather to watch Super Bowl, athletes’ testimonies
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (BP)--For football fans, there's no greater day than Super Bowl Sunday. For pastors, there's no greater day in the pulpit than on Sunday. Fortunately, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes came up with a game plan that would allow pastors to present the gospel of Christ and football players to enjoy the big game -- all from the church fellowship hall.
40-plus people turn to Christ at Super Bowl block party
SAN DIEGO (BP)--More than 40 people accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior during a Super Bowl block party Jan. 25 at First Baptist Church in Imperial Beach, Calif.
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| Clowning around Carrol Halowell, known as Jingle Bell the clown, spreads a little paint -- and love -- during a Super Bowl weekend block party at Encanto Baptist Church in San Diego. Photo by Michael Winn |
The block party was one of three sponsored by the San Diego Baptist Association and hosted by three area churches. The churches served free burgers, hot dogs and nachos and offered extreme games for the kids and musical performances -- all designed to let community residents know their local Baptist church cares about them.
But what happened at Imperial Beach is nothing short of a miracle, said Doug Johnson, pastor of the 75-member church. The small Baptist congregation hosted a block party that attracted nearly 700 people at Veteran's Park. More than 40 residents gave their lives to the Lord inside the park.
Teen group brings hip-hop style to block parties in San Diego
SAN DIEGO (BP)--A group of teenagers from a Southern Baptist church about two hours north of San Diego brought their hip hop-style music and dance steps to Super Bowl weekend community block parties sponsored by the San Diego Baptist Association.
