Free Republic

Now for something completely non-political -- and really, quite inspiring. America is about to get another married priest, but one unlike any other. From the Louisville Courier-Journal: David Harris never considered his conversion to Catholicism six years ago to be a rejection of the Baptist faith that nourished him from childhood in Eastern Kentucky. But as a married man, Harris did think the switch meant he would leave one thing behind -- his status as an ordained minister. He was wrong. Early next month, he'll make history as the first married, former Baptist minister to become a Roman Catholic priest...

THE GREATEST REVIVAL IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICA You may not believe this, but the greatest revival in the history of America, a story of unparallel success and Holy Ghost power, is known by only a handful of Americans. I am talking about the profound revival of the Separate Baptists of North Carolina, Virginia, and South Carolina. That revival began in 1755 and did not relent for 100 years. The Separates went out from North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia, and were the first to preach the gospel in Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, and Illinois. Their legacy is responsible...

23rd Annual National Unregistered Baptist Fellowship Meeting Monday Wednesday – Oct 13-15, 2008 Host Church: Indianapolis Baptist Temple Host Pastor: Greg A. Dixon 4002 E. Southport Rd. (Exit 103 At I 65 South - Go East 2 blocks) Indianapolis, Indiana 317-783-6753 Continental Breakfast and dinner provided each day DVD - “The Day Freedom Died” Presented to all guests who attend Partial List of Speakers Chuck Baldwin – Presidential Candidate – Constitutional Party – Wednesday 7 pm - Schedule permitting Gary Kah – Enroute to the New World Order – Mon. & Tues. 7:45 pm Pastor Greg A. Dixon – Going...

INVITATION BIBLICAL LAW CENTER NATIONAL SEMINAR “THE LORD, THE LAW & THE LIBERTY” Faith Baptist Church, Paris, Texas – August 25 and 26, 2008 The 24th Annual Unregistered Baptist Fellowship National Meeting will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana, October 13-15, 2008. Click Here for more details Dr. Dixon releases new book, The Trail of Blood Revisited: Christ's True Church, Its Past, Present and Future. Order today! Now in an updated 4th Printing! 170 pages, suggested donation $8 for single copies; $7 each for 2 copies; $6 each for 3 or more copies; $4 each for 60 copies (case lot). Includes...

HOME SCHOOLERS, PASTORS, AND CHRISTIAN EDUCATORS SACRED BETRAYAL? Shall Baptists lose their identity? Baptist Heritage Briefing by James R. Beller, author of America in Crimson Red. “I have had the wonderful privilege to be a part of James Beller’s briefing on two separate occasions. What Pastor Beller gives in this presentation is essential to everyone that claims to be a true independent Baptist. This presentation makes us aware of the pivotal and important role of our Baptist faith and forefathers in American history. I heartily recommend The Briefing.” -----Pastor Kevin Folger，Cleveland Baptist Temple “In the present confusion over how we...

For 23 years, the Rev. Andre Allen has led DuPage County’s oldest predominantly black church and worked to improve race relations in the broader community. But the pastor of Second Baptist Church in Wheaton may be ousted Saturday if a majority of his congregation votes for his dismissal. The special meeting was called in light of Allen’s arrest on charges alleging he committed battery and disorderly conduct Nov. 2. Police said he passed himself off as a self-defense instructor to female clients exercising at Lifetime Fitness in Schaumburg. It’s his second such arrest in 10 years. Leaders of the 101-year-old...

One reason that men abuse their wives is because women rebel against their husband's God-given authority, a Southern Baptist scholar said Sunday in a Texas church. Bruce Ware, professor of Christian theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., said women desire to have their own way instead of submitting to their husbands because of sin. "And husbands on their parts, because they're sinners, now respond to that threat to their authority either by being abusive, which is of course one of the ways men can respond when their authority is challenged--or, more commonly, to become passive, acquiescent, and...

A lawsuit filed this week alleges that the head pastor at a local church knew about child molestation taking place and did nothing, a mistake that could end up costing millions. Roy Long was a deacon at the First Baptist Church of Hesperia when he first began to molest two six-year-old sisters in 1996. The girls, scared and embarrassed, did not tell their mother about the abuse until they were 17 and living in New Mexico. Now 88, the former deacon pleaded guilty in January to sexual intercourse with a minor and molesting children under 18. The charges are in...

A Stafford County minister went to jail yesterday after admitting that he molested a teenage boy more than 20 years ago. The Rev. George O. Lowe, 71, pleaded guilty in Stafford Circuit Court to two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child. Seven other charges were dropped. His bond was revoked and Lowe is expected to remain in jail at least until he is sentenced in August. Lowe was the pastor at Mount Hope Baptist Church in Stafford for 43 years until he was removed after being indicted earlier this year. According to prosecutor Eric Olsen, the molestation took...

A former youth minister at a Kingston church is accused of molesting at least two teenage girls who belonged to his congregation. Pastor Brian A. Neiswender repeatedly fondled the girls while playing hide and seek in the dark and teaching one-on-one music lessons, according to arrest papers. The 26-year-old Baptist minister surrendered to authorities Wednesday to face charges of indecent assault and corruption of minors in connection with the alleged sex crimes at Christ Community Church, 100 W. Dorrance St. The two girls, now 17 and 18 years old, came forward in February. They said the abuse dates back to...

Austin Police revealed Tuesday that 32-year-old Shane Flournoy, who is accused of paying a TSD student to expose himself, had inappropriate sexual contact with at least five boys in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. Police say the boys were between the ages of 13 and 16-years-old and the abuse took place in the Houston and Harris County area. Investigators say he admitted to the abuse during questioning. Flournoy moved to Austin in May of 2007 and was hired at the Texas School for the Deaf as a dorm worker. He was also a youth minister at the Solid Rock...

An employee of a Baker County home for troubled youths has been arrested on a child abuse charge by deputies documenting evidence of sexual activity between teenage residents. Deputies also arrested an 18-year-old resident of Camp Tracey on a charge of fondling a younger resident, but said sexual acts between the younger teens weren't criminal because they were consensual. The children's home, located on farmland north of Glen St. Mary, is run by Harvest Baptist Church of Jacksonville. Since 2003, the church has settled a half-dozen lawsuits filed by former residents citing physical and sexual abuse by camp workers and...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Former First Baptist Church deacon Stephen Edmonds was back in court on Thursday asking a judge to change his sentence.  In 2003, Edmonds pleaded guilty to molesting three boys. In return for his guilty plea to three counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child, 10 other charges were dropped and Edmonds was sentenced to one year in jail and five years probation. He also must register as a sexual offender.  The plea deal did not sit well with families of the victims, which wanted the judge to sentence Edmonds to the maximum of six years...

Two years after a woman filed a damage suit alleging Bolivar Baptist Church pastor Dale “Dickie” Amyx molested her as a 14-year-old and impregnated her when she was 18, the suit has been settled out of court. Debbie Vasquez, now 47, sued Amyx and the church in June 2006, alleging that he began having sex with her when he was 28 years old, married and the youth pastor of a now-defunct Lewisville church, Calvary Baptist. According to the court documents, he continued having sex with her after he was pastor of the Bolivar church by threatening her with guns and...

Royden Wood leaves the courthouse with his wife Linda yesterday after being charged with six new counts of sexual assault. (Mike Hensen, Sun Media) Already awaiting sentencing on 12 charges, a former London pastor was back in court yesterday -- charged with six counts of sexual assault.   Royden Wood, former pastor of London's Ambassador Baptist Church, was released after a bail hearing with conditions, a $10,000 deposit and his employer acting as a surety.  Wood declined comment as he left the court, holding his wife's hand and accompanied by his employer, Earl Dunn, owner of a Muskoka-area marina where...

WASHINGTON (Map, News) - District Heights Mayor James L. Walls, also an associate minister at a local church, will keep his jobs, for now, after being charged with soliciting a male prostitute in the District of Columbia early Thursday morning, his colleagues said. The 30-year-old fast-rising black political star — he holds positions with nationwide civic groups and the local NAACP chapter, among others — has been charged with solicitation for lewd and immoral purposes after he allegedly attempted to pick up an undercover District officer who was posing as a male prostitute around 12:30 a.m. at Sixth and F...

A trial was scheduled Wednesday for an Elgin pastor accused of spanking a 12-year-old girl he thought had lied to him about being molested by a relative. The Rev. Daryl Bujak is set to face a jury starting Sept. 29, in what is expected to be up to a three-day trial in Kane County Judge Allen Anderson's courtroom. Bujak, 32, is accused of battery and failure to report a suspected sexual assault. He is free on bail and maintains he is not guilty of the allegations. The McHenry County girl first came to Bujak, a pastor at the First Missionary...

Thank the Calvinists for one of the most thoughtfully provocative moments of the 2008 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting. (Of course, if you’re a Calvinist, you’ll say: “No, thank God. That moment was preordained from before the foundation of the world.” Just a little theological humor.) The moment happened while messengers considered the sixth of nine resolutions they passed this year. Resolution Six addressed “regenerate church membership and church member restoration.” It exhorted churches and pastors to “implement a plan to minister to, counsel and restore wayward church members based upon the commands and principles given in Scripture.” But Tom...

A Culpeper pastor faces a possible 310-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to felony fraud charges. The Rev. Charles Shifflett, pastor of First Baptist Church in Culpeper and former pastor of Calvary Baptist Church there, pleaded guilty to a total of 20 felonies and one misdemeanor, prosecutors announced today. Nine of the charges involving obtaining money by false pretenses from Calvary Baptist Church from 2002-05, while Shifflett was the pastor. He also pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud involving a workers compensation award, and five counts of obtaining money under false pretenses from two separate insurance companies, and three...

Oh No! The Catholic haters will hate this article! I doubt whether they will be posting their vile remarks on this thread!

Apologizing for his actions in a case where he was accused of having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl, Nathan St. Pierre told a judge on Monday that he stood before the court "broken and contrite." On Monday, Vanderburgh Circuit Court Judge Carl Heldt sentenced St. Pierre, 26, to seven years in the Indiana Department of Correction, to be followed by 10 years as a registered sex offender. St. Pierre previously pleaded guilty to three class B felony charges of sexual misconduct with a minor. He was accused of having a sexual relationship with a girl who was a...

A former pastor at Plano’s Prestonwood Baptist Church now faces six more counts of online solicitation of a minor, authorities said. Joe Barron was first arrested by the Bryan Police Department last month after he tried to meet with a person he believed to be a 13-year-old girl for sex, authorities said. The two had communicated online. Mr. Barron was charged with one count of online solicition of a minor. He later posted $7,000 bail and was released. He was arrested again Wednesday afternoon and faces four additional counts of online solicitation from the Bryan Police Department and two additional...

Previous posts in this series: Introduction - Have we a visible succession of Baptist churches down from the Apostles?Chapter 1 - The Colonial Period, Pilgrims and Puritans THE AMERICAN BAPTISTS II. BANISHMENT OF ROGER WILLIAMS The first Baptist of America., like the first of Asia, was the herald of a new reign; hence it was fitting that he should have a wilderness education, should increase for a time and then decrease, that the truth might be glorified. Roger Williams, according to the general belief, was born of Welsh parentage about the year 1600. While young he went to London and,...

INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER HAVE WE A VISIBLE SUCCESSION OF BAPTIST CHURCHES DOWN FROM THE APOSTLES? On the western coast of India, near Goa, and also in the Mediterranean, springs of fresh water, which do not rise to the surface but are run off by the undercurrent, rush out of the strata at the bottom of the sea. But in the Gulf of Xagu, on the southern coast of Cuba, a wonderful fountain of fresh water gurgles up in the open sea; forcing aside its salt waters, it passes off in the surface-current and is lost in the ocean. From this spring...

ST. LOUIS — When Anglicans and Catholics agreed in May 2005 that Marian dogmas were consonant with Scripture, few guessed the accord would signal a veritable Marian regeneration. Yet, in the nearly three years that have followed, the increasing acceptance of Mary among Christians has been witnessed in everything from theology to pop culture.  The 2006 sleeper hit The Nativity Story, for instance — widely acclaimed by Catholics and Protestants alike — was written by Mike Rich, a nondenominational Christian.  “From the standpoint of ecumenism, the subject of Mary is one we can speak about with a number of groups...

Texas: Plano man Joe Barron, 52, a minister at Prestonwood Baptist Church near Dallas, was arrested after driving nearly 200 miles to Bryan to meet who he thought was a 13-year-old girl he had been chatting with sexually online for roughly two weeks. The girl was actually an undercover agent leading police to Barron and his car, inside of which they found condoms and a web-cam. He had been with the 26,000-member church for 18 months; they said this was the first incident of this type with Barron. Executive pastor Mike Buster said, "We are disturbed and saddened by the...

A Plano megachurch minister was taken into custody Thursday after authorities say he drove to Bryan, Texas, to have sex with a person he thought to be a 13-year-old. Joe Barron, a minister at Prestonwood Baptist Church, is accused of online solicitation of a minor.

Mormons seeking recognition as a legitimate member of the Christian church is self-contradictory because the religion was founded by declaring it is the only existing true church, stated one of America’s pre-eminent evangelical leaders Friday. Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, focused in his second blog entry on how, by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’ own definition, it cannot be considered part of the orthodox Christian church. “‘The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,’ as Mormonism is officially known, claims to be the only true church. As stated in the Doctrine...

SAN ANGELO, TX -- Although Texas officials have taken some criticism for removing hundreds of children from a religious compound, the Baptist agency caring for them has earned praise from the most important people: the children themselves. Baptist Child and Family Services, an agency affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, was charged with caring for hundreds of children removed from the Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saints compound near Eldorado, Texas, in April. They coordinated the children’s care in nearby San Angelo for three weeks, after which 75 moved to the BCFS Youth Ranch near Luling. "You’re nice," a 6-year-old girl...

Even Cindy Sheehan concedes this would be too tacky...but the Westboro Cult has never let something small like tact get in the way. I'm not sure how these attention whores twist a heterosexual marriage into an appropriate place to protest homosexuality, but then I don't see how they twist any of the funerals they protest at as appropriate settings either. Anything that will make a headline, I guess. The crowd from the Crawford Texas Peace House may be sitting this one out, but the sanctity of President Bush’s daughter’s wedding Saturday won’t necessarily stop anti-homosexual protesters from the Westboro Baptist...

'Might our religion be killing us?' That's what a Baptist minister was asking recently in an editorial in USA Today. Rev. Oliver "Buzz" Thomas writes: Be fruitful and multiply," says the book of Genesis, and Lord knows we have. To the tune of more than 300 million at home and more than 6 billion abroad. But as we go about the heavenly task of multiplying, a poignant question arises: Might our religion be killing us? Insert the deep dark foreboding music. We all remember the Aztecs. Some say their religion, with its penchant for violence and human sacrifice, played a...

That the pope should come to American soil is a disgrace. That he should be here during Passover is an insult. The history of the Catholic Church is a history of persecution and oppression. Along with Protestants and Baptists, chief among its victims were the Jews. The pope is the head of this religious system. His stand in defense of human rights and the life of the unborn is a sham. Where were Benedict's predecessors when the church slaughtered thousands of Jews, Protestants and Baptists because they would not convert to Catholicism? What stand on the rights of the individual...

BROWNWOOD—Among Baptist Baby Boomer theologians, at least half of the major authors are committed to Calvinism, an influential Baptist theologian of an earlier generation has noted. James Leo Garrett Jr., emeritus distinguished professor of theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, examined 10 Baptist theologians of the Baby Boomer generation during a plenary address at Howard Payne University’s Christian doctrines colloquy in Brownwood. Garrett identified three as “pronounced Calvinists”—John Piper, Thomas J. Nettles and Timothy George. He listed two—Donald A. Carson and Wayne Grudem—as “moderate Calvinists” and one—David Dockery—as “Calminian,” an amalgam of Calvinist and Arminian theology. Of the remaining theologians...

Several years and another lifetime ago (when I was single), I used to attend CBA (Christian Booksellers Association Convention) each summer, to meet with authors. At the first convention I attended, shortly after I joined Servant, I was particularly nervous about one meeting -- breakfast with Elisabeth Elliot and her husband Lars. Elisabeth is a veteran missionary and evangelical radio personality, a revered spiritual icon in evangelical circles (My mother nearly fainted when she found out I had met Elisabeth. "Oh, dear ... you didn't tell her where you go to church now, did you Heidi?") In point of...

The Holy Father addressed representatives of other Christian communities during an ecumenical encounter at St. Joseph's Church, New York, 18 April 2008. Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, My heart abounds with gratitude to Almighty God - "the Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all" (Eph 4:6) - for this blessed opportunity to gather with you this evening in prayer. I thank Bishop Dennis Sullivan for his cordial welcome, and I warmly greet all those in attendance representing Christian communities throughout the United States. May the peace of our Lord and Savior be...

Apr 14 Andrew McNutt Former Baptist When my protestant friends learn that I am a Catholic layperson and no longer a Baptist pastor, the first question they ask is, “What turned you against the Baptist Church?� First of all there is no such thing as THE Baptist Church. Any Baptist theologian worth his salt knows that each local congregation is autonomous (self governed) and part of the invisible, universal Church. Baptists are united through commonly held beliefs and financial support of missions, but those ties are not considered binding. But autonomy didn’t turn me against Baptists. I haven’t been turned...

WASHINGTON, March 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pope Benedict XVI will lead an ecumenical prayer service April 18, at St. Joseph's Church in the Yorkville area of Manhattan. Participants at the service will include 250 national and local Protestant and Orthodox Church leaders. St. Joseph's Church was built in the 19th century by the immigrant German community that settled in the area and today serves a diverse population. A Sunday Mass is still celebrated in German. The pope will address the group after a reading from Paul's letter to the Ephesians (4:1-6) and before the congregation prays the Lord's Prayer. At the...

ANGOLA, La. (BP)--The inmate, seeing a visitor's Southern Baptist nametag, said, "Thank you, thank you, please tell Southern Baptists thank you. "When I see the hands of men raised in worship, I know these are the same hands that held a rape victim, the same hands that held stolen goods, the same hands that held the murderous gun," the inmate continued. "Now these are empty hands -- holy hands lifted in praise to God. We could not experience that miracle of hope without the Southern Baptist seminary in New Orleans. Thank you," said the inmate, a 2005 graduate of New...

Count me among those Southern Baptists who aren't wild about some in the denomination issuing a declaration on climate change earlier this month. While the activists at the self-styled Southern Baptist Environment and Climate Initiative have every right to their opinions, I believe they are overreaching in trying to transform a political question into one of morality. In fact, with all due respect, I think these folks have a lot of nerve, telling their fellow Baptists to jump on the global-warming bandwagon and take action in what may well prove to be this century's equivalent of tilting at windmills, only...

HOT SPRINGS -- Danny Morrison just wanted to find a place where he could worship God. This simple yet overwhelming desire put him on a road that eventually led to the Catholic Church. But he is not alone. His wife Mary, stepson, Steve, and two step-grandchildren will enter the Church with him at the Easter Vigil Mass at St. John the Baptist Church in Hot Springs. His daughter-in-law, Kristy, is also returning to the faith after being away for nearly 15 years. Presence of God Morrison, 56, began his journey when the Southern Baptist church he had attended most of...

Reformed Theology and the Church: An Interview With Dr. Timothy George Dr. Timothy George is a widely respected theologian and church historian. He serves as the Dean of Beeson Divinity School of Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. Among Dr. George's many published works are Theology of the Reformers and John Calvin and the Church: A Prism of Reform. I conducted this interview in May of 2000 and am happy to be able to make it available again. Reformed Theology and the Church: An Interview With Dr. Timothy George May 4, 2000 Beeson Divinity School of Samford University Birmingham, Alabama...

McCain's pastor a sharp contrast to Obama's By Ed Stoddard Sat Mar 22, 7:05 PM ET HOUSTON (Reuters) - John McCain's Phoenix pastor, Dan Yeary, is a folksy patriotic Southern Baptist who opposes abortion and believes homosexuality to be a biblical sin, but says Christians have an obligation to love such sinners. That puts Yeary, who heads the church attended for the past 15 years by the Republican presidential candidate firmly in the U.S. Southern Baptist mainstream, and in line with the Republican Party. He offers a sharp contrast to Democratic contender Barack Obama's former preacher Jeremiah Wright, who has...

HOUSTON (Reuters) - John McCain's Phoenix pastor, Dan Yeary, is a folksy patriotic Southern Baptist who opposes abortion and believes homosexuality to be a biblical sin, but says Christians have an obligation to love such sinners. That puts Yeary, who heads the church attended for the past 15 years by the Republican presidential candidate firmly in the U.S. Southern Baptist mainstream, and in line with the Republican Party. He offers a sharp contrast to Democratic contender Barack Obama's former preacher Jeremiah Wright, who has stirred controversy with his fiery comments on race and America. Obama had been seen by some...

A federal judge on Thursday dismissed all allegations made by a female professor who sued Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and its president, claiming the school had removed her for gender reasons. Judge John McBryde of the U.S. District Court in Fort Worth, Texas, granted the seminary's motion for "summary judgment" and ruled that alleged causes of action made by Sheri L. Klouda should be dismissed. A motion for summary judgment contends that all necessary factual issues are resolved or need not be tried because they are so one-sided. Klouda filed the lawsuit last year, alleging breach of contract, fraud and...

Dr. Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, says the secular media has erroneously reported the intent of a document dealing with climate change that he and other prominent denominational leaders endorsed. One of many high-profile Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) leaders, Dr. Page signed the document entitled, "A Southern Baptist Declaration on the Environment and Climate Change." The dissertation was written by Jonathan Merritt, a student at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and son of a former SBC president. (See earlier article) The statement challenges the denomination's response to environmental issues, calling them too timid and seen by the outside...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--The mystery is over. The songs going in the new Baptist Hymnal have been chosen. "Amazing Grace" is there, of course. So is "Holy, Holy, Holy." So are "Sanctuary" and "Shout to the Lord." "There is a good mix of hymns, worship music and praise choruses," said Mike Harland, director of LifeWay Worship, a part of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. "We have composers from Beethoven to Fanny Crosby to Travis Cottrell represented in this hymnal." The new hymnal has 674 hymns and worship songs. "About 300 of these songs are new ones to our...

Once a Southern Baptist pastor, Michael Cumbie converted to Catholicism in 2001 and has since been traveling far from his hometown near Pensacola, Florida, to preach his new faith to the nation. At Saint Therese Catholic Church in San Diego for a "renewal mission" this April, he spent three evenings speaking about his conversion, Catholic worship, and the Eucharist. About 200 hundred came to listen the last evening's talk. While he gathered his materials after his energetic presentation, I asked him some questions on the same topics. Can you say something about the experience of the Holy Spirit in your...

JENA, La. (BP)--On Sept. 20 of last year, more than 20,000 people from across the nation gathered in small Jena, La., to protest an outbreak of racial tensions at the local high school, exposing old feelings of racism and hate. Celebrities such as Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton fueled the media's glare on this small community of foresters and farmers. The only thing people outside LaSalle Parrish knew about Jena was the label of "racist" in the newspapers and on TV. What could possibly transform this community torn by mistrust and innuendo? A movement of God's Spirit. On Feb. 17,...

Dr Keyes has been campaigning in Texas for about a month. Join this in-progress event to see and hear him in action.

I know that I was not the first Protestant to learn the truth about the Catholic Church; I am sure that this is a story you could probably hear from countless other people, changing only the names and places. I know that many have walked the road that I have; that road which leads home, to Rome! I was born in 1975 to two God-fearing Southern Baptists in Dallas, Texas. My father had grown up Methodist, but became Baptist when he married my mother in 1968. From what my father has said, his family was mostly Methodist. His father and...