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  Veteran reporter writes about inmate’s radical transformation

  Rosser McDonald felt compelled to write about convicted felon Rickie Smith because of the stark difference Jesus made in the life of an inmate once characterized as the most violent man in the Texas prison system.

  04/01/2020 - By Ken Camp / Managing Editor

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  Convención employs social media for census effort

  When Texas Counts invited Convención Bautista Hispana de Texas to be a partner in its effort to ensure all Texans are counted in the 2020 Census, neither group anticipated the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

  04/01/2020 - By Isa Torres / Hispanic Beat Reporter

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  Around the State: Hendrick, HSU hold blood drive

  Hardin-Simmons University hosted a blood drive with Hendrick Regional Blood Center. The Mayborn College of Health Sciences at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor donated thousands of personal protective equipment items to the Baylor Scott & White Memorial Hospital.

  04/01/2020 - By Staff / Baptist Standard

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  UPDATED: Baptist Standard’s ‘On the Way’ podcast to launch April 1, no joke

  Baptist Standard to launch “On the Way” podcast on April 1, available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher and Amazon Alexa via TuneIn.

  03/31/2020 - By Eric Black / Editor

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  Civil rights leader Joseph Lowery dies at age 98

  Joseph Lowery, a civil rights leader who worked closely with Martin Luther King Jr. and prayed at President Barack Obama’s first inauguration, died March 27 at age 98.

  03/30/2020 - By Adelle M. Banks / Religion News Service

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  Baptist World Congress postponed until 2021

  The 2020 Baptist World Congress—an international event normally scheduled in five-year intervals—has been postponed until summer 2021 due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

  03/27/2020 - By Ken Camp / Managing Editor

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  Homebound studio musicians video reaches one million

  A video of Nashville studio singers joining together on the hymn “It Is Well with My Soul” reached more than 1 million views in less than 24 hours. The project’s producer says what started as a way to encourage his friends has grown beyond what he imagined.

  03/27/2020 - By Laura Erlanson / Baptist Press

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  Public health crises can lead to religious scapegoating

  Public health crises such as COVID-19—in which people may feel powerless and receive conflicting information—can lead to a flare-up of unsafe religious sentiments, says Baylor University epidemiologist Jeff Levin. Levin cites past persecution of religious and ethnic minorities who were blamed unfairly for spreading disease.

  03/26/2020 - By Terry Goodrich / Baylor University

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  IMB postpones volunteer trips, missionaries shelter in place

  International Mission Board senior leaders have directed missionary personnel around the world to postpone hosting any ministry volunteer groups through June 30. The IMB also urged all long-term and mid-term personnel to follow U.S. Department of State advice to shelter in place.

  03/26/2020 - By Julie McGowan / International Mission Board

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  East Texas church provides groceries during crisis

  More than 100 at-risk families in Longview have had one less thing to worry about in the last few days—how to acquire groceries during the COVID-19 pandemic. New Beginnings Baptist Church plans to ramp up its Grocery Relief Program to help 200 families each week throughout the crisis.

  03/26/2020 - By Baptist Press Staff

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  Chaplains share hope creatively in COVID-19 context

  Chaplains at all six Buckner Retirement Services Communities are seeking creative ways to share messages of faith, hope and comfort in the wake of social distancing measures in response to the coronavirus.

  03/26/2020 - By Russ Dilday / Buckner International

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  National Cathedral donates long-forgotten medical masks

  The Washington National Cathedral donated thousands of medical masks to two hospitals in the nation’s capital after discovering a trove of the much-needed protective equipment just feet from where Helen Keller and other prominent Americans lie in the cathedral’s underground crypts.

  03/26/2020 - By Paul O'Donnell / Religion News Service