It’s been proclaimed from pulpits and blogs for years-Christians divorce as much as everyone else in America. But some scholars and family activists are questioning the oft-cited statistics, saying Christians who attend church regularly are more likely to remain wed….
Controversial Florida pastor presides at burning of Quran
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (RNS) — The controversial Florida pastor who halted plans to burn a Quran on the 9/11 anniversary last year oversaw the burning of the Islamic holy book March 20 after it was found “guilty” during a “trial” at…
BOOK REVIEW: Bonhoeffer’s questions ring true for 21st century Christians
What Would Bonhoeffer Say? By Al Staggs (Parson’s Porch Books) Al Staggs is an itinerant performance artist who has been dramatically interpreting Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Walter Rauschenbusch, Archbishop Oscar Romero, Clarence Jordan and Thomas Merton for decades. He’s a theologian who,…
U.S. colleges adding Muslim chaplains
ITHACA, N.Y. (RNS) — When Jainal Bhuiyan attended Cornell University, he and his fellow Muslim students were mentored and led in religious prayers by a collection of Muslim professors, graduate students and staff. “That was our network that filled the…
From the Eastern Shore to Cumberland Gap
STAFF CHANGES • Doug Davis, to Poroporone Church, Shacklefords, as pastor. • Don Wilson, to Nelson Church, Nelson, as senior pastor. MISSION MOMENT: For Children’s Ministry Day on Feb. 19, the children of Orange Baptist Church in Orange visited the…
EDITORIAL: The unpredictable journey through Baptist life
How are things in the Tarheel state? It depends on who you ask. To basketball fanatics who follow the Blue Devils or the Tarheels, we won’t know until they have recovered enough to respond. We can imagine their outlook on…
States caught in crossfire over guns in churches
The way Jonathan Wilkins sees it, members of his Baptist church in Thomaston, Ga., should have the right to carry guns into worship services to protect the congregation. Wilkins’ Baptist Tabernacle and a Georgia gun-rights association are challenging a new…
Virginia Baptist Foundation awards grants to ministries
RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia Baptist Foundation has awarded grants totaling $20,000 to four Virginia Baptist ministry partners, according to Ronald C. Hall, president and CEO of the Foundation. “This ministry is made possible through the Christian stewardship of others,”…
WMUV, Bluefield training transformational leaders
BLUEFIELD, Va. — Both Woman’s Missionary Union of Virginia and Bluefield College are committed to training leaders who can transform their communities, say spokespersons for the organizations. While working in South Africa, Sara Hubble helped find families for abandoned babies….
Panamanian woman plants new congregation
PEDASI, Panama — When Cristina Sosa de Hopkins closed her medical practice in Costa Rica and moved to Panama, the last thing on her mind was starting a church. She was more concerned that her license to practice medicine earned…
OPINION: Saying goodbye to Robert
Unexpected blessings are the best kind — like finding a $20 bill on the sidewalk, that first word coming out of the mouth of your child or finding the dishes washed and put away when you come home. They’re like…
OPINION: When our eyes are open
Throughout the years, Baptists have affirmed the biblical teaching that the Holy Spirit gives gifts to the members of the church. These gifts are given for the building up of the body of Christ and for the work of ministry….