Former N.C. pastor accused of stealing money, items intended for hurricane relief
MARION, N.C. – A former pastor has been charged with embezzlement and theft from a western North Carolina church that involves contributions of money and supplies intended for Hurricane Helene relief efforts.
California Baptists feed Los Angeles fire responders and survivors, deploy chaplain teams
LOS ANGELES – California Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) began providing meals at an area disaster relief hub Wednesday, Jan. 15, and deployed two chaplain teams to provide spiritual support to survivors of the fires.
Churches mark 2025 MLK Day on rare concurrence with Inauguration Day
DORAVILLE, Ga. (BP) – The charge to “Let Freedom Run” typically spices Pastor Bill Kelly’s devotion at the annual Martin Luther King 5K Drum Run kicking off Jan. 20 from First Baptist Church of Doraville, he told Baptist Press in advance of the 14th annual community event.
Withdrawn rules changes strengthen religious liberty, show importance of speaking out, ERLC says
NASHVILLE (BP) — The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and partners are celebrating the rollback of proposed Biden administration rules – one set connected to foreign aid grants and the other potentially forcing employers to grant abortifacients against their will.
Project 3000 explorer locates remote people group, discovers the Lord already at work
Sometimes, finding unreached people groups means getting your truck stuck in a riverbed, driving 12 hours and traveling to village after village after village, asking if anyone knows anything about an unengaged and unreached people group.
Southwestern reports ‘objective’ measurement of institution’s financial health
FORT WORTH, Texas – Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary released today the institution’s most recent Composite Financial Index (CFI) score of +3.0, an “objective” metric that “quantifies the significant progress made in the past 28 months,” President David S. Dockery said in a statement.
North Carolina continues to recover from Helene as snow, cold sweeps through
SWANNANOA, N.C. (BP) – The overturned box truck not far from First Baptist Church may be the best example of what it’s like in Swannanoa four months since Hurricane Helene dumped historic amounts of rain on North Carolina, leading to epic flooding and destruction throughout the state’s western region.
Survivors ‘desperate’ as tenuous ceasefire dangles, Palestinian pastor says
JERUSALEM (BP) – Crucial humanitarian aid, the phased release of hostages in exchange for prisoners, and an end to Israel’s bombing of Gaza were among the initial terms of a ceasefire agreement announced Jan. 14 between Israel and Hamas.
ERLC releases 2025 public policy agenda
NASHVILLE (BP) – The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) announced the organization’s policy priorities for the upcoming year through the entity’s annual federal public policy agenda, released Thursday (Jan. 16).
FIRST-PERSON: Reclaiming America’s leadership in global child welfare
As our nation prepares for a new administration, it is impossible to ignore the influence these individuals will have not only on domestic policies but also on the world’s perception of America’s heart and values. The mission of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is one area that offers a profound opportunity for leadership and attention. The department's responsibility to protect the well-being of vulnerable children and families goes far beyond its association with public health. HHS must prioritize child protection.
