WASHINGTON — On a recent Sunday afternoon, I had the opportunity to visit with Aaron Graham, lead pastor of The District Church in Washington, to catch up on the church since its launch in September 2010. Among its partners is…
VITAL SIGNS: The J word
I cannot stand this word and what it represents. I hear it far too often. It represents an attitude that should be banned from local church life. It is the word just. As in, “I’m just a layperson.” Actually, that…
Fatal accident in Bedford County, Va., involved longtime friends, churchgoers
HUDDLESTON, Va. — They had breakfast together, prayed together and shared a few laughs. Then they spent the rest of Saturday morning, Sept. 10, pruning shrubbery, as they regularly did at their small Bedford County church, Mentow Baptist, where all…
What started as a summer sports camp has become leadership training ground
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Nearly 25 years ago Mike Haywood asked the Virginia Baptist Mission Board to send a sports camp team to Temple Baptist Church in Newport News, Va. The following year when he requested another team he learned…
‘Sabbath’ offered for ministers looking for reprieve from hectic schedule
RICHMOND, Va. — Ministers looking for a break from hectic schedules may find it at Pastor’s Sabbath, set for Nov. 14-16. The retreat, to be held at Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center near Lynchburg, Va., is sponsored by the Virginia…
HeraldBeat
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EDITORIAL: Following God’s call to popes and paupers
You probably heard the one about a guy named Rudy who claimed to know everybody in the world. “No, you don’t,” retorted his friend, Benny. “I’ll bet you don’t know the pope!” “Sure I do,” replied Rudy. “Come to Rome…
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: In counseling, depend on Scripture, not speculation
I’ve been a little behind in my reading and just read the Leadership Link article “When God ‘allows’ children to die” in the Oct. 10 Religious Herald. I think your personal openness about dealing with that very issue was very…
OUT LOUD
“Small churches are normal — the typical church has less than 100 in attendance — and can easily reflect the kingdom of God. So, why are so many embarrassed by them? Why do pastors sometimes aspire to leave them and…
Former Norfolk, Va., pastor’s wife describes struggle with breast cancer
RICHMOND, Va. (BP) — Paula Hemphill’s job was to look at cells through a microscope and help diagnose cancer. She never imagined she would one day be on the other side of the microscope as a patient. She and her…
Zoar Baptist Church recovering from devastating tornado hit six months ago
DELTAVILLE, Va. — Six months ago yellow caution tape and small red signs reading “Condemned” and “Dangerous and unsafe” were affixed to the doors of Zoar Baptist Church in Deltaville, Va. A tornado that passed through the town on the…
Former students of Baptist school in Nigeria honor missionary Van Lear
RICHMOND, Va. — Twenty “old girls” got together Oct. 2 at Lakewood Manor, a Virginia Baptist retirement community, to honor a beloved teacher and principal, Marie “Polly” Van Lear, on her 87th birthday. “Old girls” is a term used by…