WASHINGTON — Many walk the streets of Washington, D.C., with no place to call home. And, for most, it’s something they never planned or a place they’d never thought they’d be. But life threw difficulties their way — a few…
Offering given for churches in financial crisis
I have had the privilege of pastoring seven fine Virginia Baptist churches during the past 45 years. During these years of service I have developed a great appreciation for our Virginia Baptist mission work and a love for our Virginia…
Natural selection not a rejection of God or faith
A friend at the Virginia Council of Churches shared with me the recent issue of the Religious Herald in which John Klink wrote, “We must be careful not to let ourselves be deceived by the lies of the theory of…
FAITH DIGEST
Faith lowers stress, research suggests. Canadian researchers have discovered strong religious convictions can lower stress and enhance the performance of basic tasks. A team in Toronto put 28 students through tests measuring both levels of religious observance and stress caused…
Jimmy Carter: Christians have duty to pursue peace in Holy Land
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Former President Jimmy Carter’s recent book, We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land: A Plan that Will Work, reviews the contributions of past U.S. presidents toward peace in Israel and Palestine, and advances his hopes that…
Religious broadcasters brace for uncertain future
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Digital podcasts and streaming video might bring Christian audiences inspirational messages in the future, but they aren’t bringing in the cash that broadcast ministries need to weather a painful economy. To make ends meet, religious broadcasters are…
Virginia Baptist churches launch Lenten observance
RICHMOND — Many Virginia Baptist congregations inaugurated their Lenten observance Feb. 25 with Ash Wednesday services — a tradition rooted in ancient Christianity and one increasingly common among Baptist churches across the Commonwealth. The service, which dates to at least…
Churches struggle to respond to mental illness
Living with depression — or any other form of mental illness — is like viewing life “through a glass darkly,” according to Jessy Grondin, a student in Vanderbilt University’s Divinity School. “It distorts how you see things.” Like one in…
Well-known Kung Fu master finds Christ while leading martial arts seminar at Bluefield College
BLUEFIELD — Bluefield College’s aim to be a Christ-centered institution took a new twist last summer when a Taiwanese Kung Fu master made a profession of faith following the martial arts seminar he had come to lead at the Virginia…