Baptist Press

Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain

SALEM, Ore. — Oregon health insurers and taxpayers will soon be paying for abortion, contraceptives, and sterilization under a new law Gov. Kate Brown has vowed to sign.

The newly-passed Reproductive Health Equity Act forbids health insurance plans from imposing “a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement” for abortion, STD screening, prenatal care, post-natal care, and all forms of contraception. [Read more…]

Lifeway news office

NASHVILLE — Jesus warned his followers to keep their good deeds secret, warning them not to seek attention when doing the right thing.

American Christians seem to be following that advice.

According to a new study from Nashville-based LifeWay Research, few Americans are aware of many efforts by local Christians or churches to serve their neighbors.

LifeWay Research’s survey of 1,000 Americans looked at 13 service programs often run by churches — from tutoring kids to teaching job skills. [Read more…]

By David Roach
Baptist Press

(updated)

Eugene Peterson
-Photo from Wikimedia Commons.

NASHVILLE (BP) — Author Eugene Peterson, known for “The Message” paraphrase of Scripture, has clarified his beliefs about homosexuality, stating he affirms “a biblical view of marriage” and would not perform a same-sex wedding.

In a July 13 statement released by his agent Rick Christian, Peterson said he “would like to retract” a statement published the previous day by Religion News Service that he would perform a same-sex wedding if asked to do so. In an interview with RNS, Peterson also appeared to indicate he did not regard homosexual acts as inherently sinful. [Read more…]

By Lisa Sergent
Baptist Press

Lindsey Yoder, right, was surprised to see Christian recording artist Natalie Grant show up to accompany her on the last mile of her 300-mile trek from Arthur, Ill., to Nashville. She walked to raise funds and awareness for human trafficking.

ARTHUR, Ill. — Fourteen-year-old Lindsey Yoder walked 15 miles a day along the dusty back roads of southern Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee in a quest to raise awareness about human trafficking.

She departed from Arthur (Ill.) Southern Baptist Church, where she and her family are members, on May 28 and arrived at Nashville’s Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park on June 24.

Her mother Regina provided support throughout the entire 300-mile journey. She shared how attending a women’s ministry conference in 2015 for teen girls played a role in Yoder’s passion for fighting human trafficking.  [Read more…]

Baptist Press

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) included sample images of cuneiform tablets in its decision to seize the items from Hobby Lobby.
-DOJ photo

OKLAHOMA CITY – Hobby Lobby Stores will forfeit thousands of improperly acquired ancient biblical artifacts and pay a $3 million fine in a civil settlement the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced July 5.

The settlement closed a federal investigation of the store’s 2010 purchase and subsequent importation of more than 5,500 artifacts from dealers who did not disclose the items’ Iraqi origin. Hobby Lobby paid $1.6 million for the artifacts, including Assyrian and Babylonian cuneiform tablets, bricks, and clay bullae used in ancient writings and seals. [Read more…]

By Art Toalston
Baptist Press

Phil Baker, pictured at the Phoenix Convention Center, brings a witness to loading dock workers in each city where the Southern Baptist Convention holds its annual meetings. Baker is building superintendent for the SBC Executive Committee in Nashville and member of The Glade Church, Gladeville.

PHOENIX — Just to the right of a heart defibrillator and fire extinguisher, Phil Baker has set up a plastic-top folding table in the cavernous loading dock at the Phoenix Convention Center.

Baker has placed a plastic box there labeled “Prayer Requests,” along with a supply of blank index cards and pencils and a couple dozen devotional booklets.

Another small stack of cards explains what Baker, the building superintendent at the Southern Baptist Convention building back in Nashville, is up to in Phoenix and every other city where the SBC holds its annual meetings. He is a member of The Glade Church, Gladeville. [Read more…]