Special session ends without passing most hot-button bills
Texas lawmakers passed half of the items on Gov. Greg Abbott’s list of priorities during the special legislative session, and the session ended with lawmakers and some advocacy group assigning blame for why more was not accomplished.
Protecting targets of ISIS’ genocide a religious freedom priority
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson underlined the nation’s commitment to protecting religious and ethnic groups targeted by the so-called Islamic State as he issued his department’s first international religious freedom report since President Trump took office.
Intercultural churches connect people groups to the gospel
The New Testament book of Revelation indicates people of every tongue, tribe and nation will worship together in heaven, but most Christians tend to separate themselves when they congregate on Earth. Some Texas Baptists insist that’s not always bad.
Thousands of faith leaders ask Congress to protect Johnson Amendment
More than 4,000 religious leaders signed a letter urging Congress to maintain the Johnson Amendment—the law that bars churches from endorsing political candidates without jeopardizing their tax-exempt status.
Project:Start helps Kenyan church in North Texas expand refugee ministry
Early this year, members of Upendo Baptist Church in Garland gathered to pray and fast, asking God to grow their church. Only a week later, Pastor Shadrack Ruto connected with 60 people in search of a new church home.
Analysis: Future Shock
Watching my grandkids laugh, explore and have fun, I shake my head and wonder where this culture of ours will take them. Do we realize how fast the future is rushing to meet our posterity, and us?
Voices: Whom Would Jesus Take Out?
When Christians fall short in measuring our theology against the teaching and life of Jesus, then we can be found guilty of using the Bible for our own objectives.
Voices: Colin Kaepernick and the hypocrisy of image
Our positions of power and privilege are to be used to transform society. There must be a willingness to risk it all for what is hard yet right.
Voices: Living in Two Worlds
The people I talked to this week didn’t understand why my wife and I paid more for our groceries. In American society, saving money is a high cultural value. In the kingdom of God, respect for persons and compassion are higher values.
Robert Jeffress on God, Trump and North Korea: A pastor explains his politics
Jeffress sat down for an interview with RNS after his sermon Aug. 13, just days after his words made headlines around the world.
Most Americans believe they are sinners but differ in response to sin
Two-thirds of Americans (67 percent) say they are sinners, a new survey reveals. And most people apparently aren’t too happy about it—only 5 percent say they have no desire to mend their ways.
Commentary: What is wrong with white Christians?
This isn’t meant to simply be a provocative question. A new survey from The Washington Post and the Kaiser Family Foundation offers the latest dispiriting news about the troubling state of white Christianity.
Ken Hall: ‘We are best when we act as a movement of God’
This week’s profile of Texas Baptist ministers features Ken Hall, former president of Buckner International.
Waco-area Christians unite in support of vandalized African-American church
Whoever broke into Willow Grove Baptist Church in Speegleville left behind a Nazi symbol of hate, but through words and deeds, Christians in the surrounding area delivered a message of love.
Dallas minister hopes to continue food deliveries to North Korea
In spite of mounting international tension, a Korean Texas Baptist minister refuses to believe his latest food delivery to North Korea could be his final one.
Commentary: Christian, did the news out of Charlottesville make you sick in your soul? It should
Racist protests are not morally equivalent to counter-protests on behalf of racial equality and civil rights. (Column by Marv Knox in The Dallas Morning News)
CommonCall: Quanah church committed to feeding children
Children don’t understand grown-up problems like unemployment, economic downturns and financial setbacks, but they know when they are hungry.
Why the Middle East?
Student Missions Blog: As I prepared for this mission trip, I constantly was asked, "Why the Middle East?" Of course, it was easy to say, “Well, God said ‘go,' so I’m going.” But at the end of the summer, my answer has changed a bit.
North Korea releases Canadian pastor sentenced to life in prison
North Korea released a Canadian pastor who was convicted of attempting to undermine the regime of Kim Jong Un.
Houston's Joy Mission Center offers sustenance for body and soul
Volunteers at the Joy Mission Center in Houston not only work hard to have food for the families who come there seeking groceries, but also take seriously the mandate Jesus gave to provide spiritual sustenance.
Voices: God’s Still Small Voice
Recently, while sitting on a porch with a calming stream babbling by in the mountains of Colorado, I was suddenly filled with anxiety and fear. My heart was in a battle of faith.
Voices: In Defense of Small Towns
Is it really such a tragedy to use your God-given gifts in service to small communities?
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