Martin Luther King Jr. must have been smiling on Inauguration Day. A dream of nearly half a century had come to pass. A person of color took the oath of office as President of the United States.
QUETZALTENANGO, Guatemala — During a ceremony of hugs and exclamations of “Dios te bendiga” (God bless you), Guatemalan pastors expressed their appreciation for their region’s partnership with the Baptist General Convention of Missouri.
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala — It was set up just like any other Baptist meeting. Pastors greeted each other with calls of “hey brother,” a keyboard player led participants in singing hymns and praise choruses, and food was available at every break.
Some Baptists stress evangelism, and others emphasize the social gospel. Some believe Christ died for all people; others say Christ died only for the elect whom God predestined to salvation. Historically, some defended slavery; others championed civil rights.
Some Christians before 1609 held what many refer to as distinctively Baptist beliefs. Baptists in 1609 practiced believer’s baptism, but they didn’t immerse. Even so, most church historians agree Baptists emerged as a distinct movement 400 years ago.
From their beginning, Baptists have been characterized
Starting a new year causes people to attempt new projects and engage in general self-improvement endeavors. That must be why National Clean Off Your Desk Day, New Years Resolution Week and Family Fit Lifestyle Month all fall in January.
Baptists around the world are celebrating 400 years of Baptist contributions throughout 2009. This issue of Word&Way tips a hat to Baptist significance and heritage over these centuries of influence and service. The New Voice Media Group — Texas Baptist Standard, Virginia Religious Herald, Associated
One word changed Darryl Burton’s life. “Guilty.” Before the word fully registered, Burton was being escorted to the Jefferson City Correctional Center where he spent 24 years studying the law and trying to prove his innocence. “I was one step from death row, I like
