News

Human trafficking offenses in the U.S. increased slightly in 2017, according to the FBI’s annual “Crime in the U.S.” report released on Sept. 24.

PALU, Indonesia (BP) -- Baptist Global Response is assessing needs on Indonesia's Sulawesi island after a magnitude 7.5 earthquake and tsunami Sept. 28 killed at least 1,200 people, with the death toll expected to rise. More than 1.5 million people have been affected, according to initial reports.

Amid national media scrutiny, Hannibal-LaGrange University changed its promotional communications for Wednesday’s chapel talk by Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley. Word&Way first reported last week that HLGU, a Baptist school in Hannibal, Mo., could violate the IRS’s political activity ban (also called “the Johnson Amendment”) by hosting Hawley, the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate, a little over a month before the midterm elections.

CHICAGO (RNS) — The biggest reaction Eric Metaxas got from students this week at Judson University in suburban Elgin was when Judson President Gene Crume introduced him as one of the writers and voices on “VeggieTales,” a popular Christian animated series many millennials grew up watching.

(RNS) — Historically, women tend to be the stalwarts when it comes to religion, while men attend religious services less often and are less likely to say their faith is very important to them. But a new analysis shows that black men defy this trend.

WASHINGTON (RNS) — Groups of religious women are speaking out about the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court, citing their faith as they call on lawmakers to investigate allegations of sexual assault raised by Christine Blasey Ford and others, while some conservative faith leaders have continued to back him.

Former superintendent (director) of The Baptist Home, John Burney was affectionately known as “Mr. Baptist Home” by staff and trustees, since he was only a few months older than The Home itself. He died on Sept. 23 at the age of 105.

YANGON, Myanmar (BP) -- Ethnic Wa rebels this month shut down churches or destroyed their buildings and temporarily detained several clergymen in eastern Myanmar (Burma), sources said.

(RNS) — For a sizable number of Americans, agreeing with their partner about sports is more important than agreeing about religion, according to an online survey about relationships conducted last spring.

Republican Senate hopeful Josh Hawley was scheduled, as of press time, to speak during chapel at Hannibal-LaGrange University, a Baptist school in Hannibal, Mo., on Oct. 3 and in doing so might help the school break the political activity ban (also often called “the Johnson Amendment”) that Hawley wants to repeal.