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NASHVILLE (RNS) —  Ronnie Floyd, an Arkansas megachurch pastor and former Southern Baptist Convention president has been elected to head the denomination’s Executive Committee by a vote of 68 to 1 electing Floyd in an executive session of nearly four hours.

As with most theological topics, a wide diversity of opinions exists among Baptists on the nature of hell. In fact, Baptist theologians and preachers — much like church leaders in the first centuries after Jesus — have long been found in the various hell camps.

VENEZUELA (BP) -- Venezuela is in darkness in every possible way. Believers often feel helpless because, although they see -- and live -- the need, and have a great desire to help, they are enormously impeded by the electrical outages, their own critical situation and lack of resources.

(RNS) —  Former Southern Baptist Convention President Ronnie Floyd has been nominated to lead the denomination’s Executive Committee, based in Nashville, Tenn.

OMAHA, Neb. (RNS) — In Nebraska, many residents are getting a first look at their homes since floodwaters raged weeks ago. Local churches, national faith-based disaster relief groups, and state and federal officials are stepping in to lend a hand with the recovery.

BEIJING (BP) -- Beijing's Shouwang Church has become the fourth major underground church raided by authorities in China during the past seven months.

ST. LOUIS (RNS) — Emi Belciak teaches third grade in a tough part of suburban St. Louis, where she says her students are exposed to more violence than any child should be. Belciak wanted to do something to help — so she joined a choir.

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (BP) -- Five months after Hurricane Michael's onslaught, dozens of college students descended on Florida. The students came alongside residents like Jean Bartlett, a member of Immanuel Baptist Church in Panama City, who rode out the storm from her home.

(RNS) — As engineers at Israeli nonprofit SpaceIL prepared for the launch of their lunar lander last year, one man's faith played a part in it's launch. quietly modeling for the broader aerospace industry how religion and science work together to reach the stars.

(RNS) — A new survey finds that Americans continue to oppose the idea that small-business owners should be able to refuse products or services to gay or lesbian people due to their religious beliefs.