The Association for Biblical Higher Education, an accrediting agency for Christian colleges, welcomed two universities as members during its annual meeting last week.

At the conclusion of a Feb.19-21 convention in Orlando, Fla., the North American agency announced accreditation to Selma University of Selma, Ala., and Olivet University of San Francisco, Calif.

The universities join other Christian colleges, including Moody Bible Institute, Columbia International University and The King's College and Seminary, in becoming an ABHE member institution. more >>

Authorities should tolerate an initiative to place ads about Islam in New York subway cars, said a Christian theologian with expertise in Islamic strategies.

Several Muslim groups, including main sponsor Islamic Circle of North America, are supporting a campaign to feature 1,000 ads promoting Islam in New York’s subway trains in September to coincide with the Islamic holiday of Ramadan. The ads feature phrases associated with Islam such as “Head Scarf?” or “Prophet Muhammad?” and the phrase “You deserve to know” along with the Web site address WhyIslam.org, according to CNN.

Critics of the ads have accused its backers of having ties with terrorists, and urged the Metropolitan Transit Authority to reject the ads. more >>

The number of persons vying for the top position of the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the country, has expanded to five this week, with Johnny M. Hunt announced as the latest to join the race.

Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Church of Woodstock, Ga., will be nominated for SBC president during the denomination's annual meeting in June. His church has grown an average worship attendance of 6,180 over the last 21 years and church membership increased from 1,027 to 16,495.

The Woodstock congregation has also sent out more than 135 missionaries and started more than 78 churches. more >>

The world’s largest evangelical body will hold its first general assembly in seven years this October and will be presenting many new structures and projects, according to officials.

The World Evangelical Alliance, a body representing 420 million evangelicals, expects 500 to 600 representatives to attend its General Assembly from October 25 to 30. Members will participate in the usual activities of vision building, training sessions, and strategic networking during the event.

“WEA held its last General Assembly in May 2001,” said the Rev. Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe, international director of WEA, to The Christian Post. “Much has changed in the world since that date. We are at critical moment in history when we need evangelical leaders to come together to face some of the most significant challenges and opportunities the Church has ever faced. more >>

The Rev. Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., one of the country's pre-eminent conservative evangelicals, announced he is dropping his bid to become president of the Southern Baptist Convention after a tumor was found in his colon.

Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, says he'll undergo surgery for the pre-cancerous tumor, which was discovered during a routine colonoscopy on Feb. 11.

The surgery is likely to require an extensive recovery period, according to a statement by the Louisville-based seminary on Thursday. more >>

Well-known evangelical scholar and conservative Southern Baptist Albert Mohler is expected to be nominated for president of the Southern Baptist Convention in June.

Robert Jeffress, pastor of the historic First Baptist Church of Dallas announced this week his intention to nominate Mohler, noting that the 47-year-old Baptist provides "the kind of visionary leader Southern Baptists need to communicate a missional conservatism and biblical clarity to the world," according to Baptist Press.

While many do not deny Mohler's affirmation in sound biblical doctrine and his strong leadership at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, some say Mohler isn't the leader they're looking for to lead the 16-million member denomination – the largest Protestant group in the nation. more >>