Trustees at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary overwhelmingly adopted a policy Oct. 17 that puts the school on record opposing charismatic expressions of the Holy Spirit, including so-called “private prayer languages.” Trustees also heard news of one of the largest donations…
Campbell University icon retires after 60-plus years of work
It was 1943 when Leslie Campbell plucked 18-year-old Diamond Johnson Matthews out of Mabel Powell's English class to be his secretary. The son of Campbell University founder James Archibald Campbell, he needed a bright presidential assistant who was “especially good…
Migrants fuel evangelical growth across Europe
Decked in Sunday finery, the chattering line stretches out the door and up a gritty block of warehouses and homes in this working-class Paris suburb. Inside, the congregation at Impact Christian Center sways and chants to gospel rhythms with an…
Nigerian president challenges African Baptists
“The church is part of the larger society. Its members live in a society that is plagued with all sorts of challenges, contradictions and a penchant for negating all the values in the Holy Bible.” With these words, Olusegun Obasanjo,…
The ideal candidate
I remember, as a child, hearing about the “Yella Dog Democrats” who would vote for a yellow dog as long as it was running as a Democrat. Many of those YDDs were Baptists living in the South. Occasionally, I still…
ANOTHER VIEW: Forgive or die
Few recent tragedies have affected me as deeply as the horrific murders at the Amish schoolhouse in Lancaster County, Pa. It seems that each day brings more mayhem in our blood-soaked country. But this one–this image of 10 little girls…
Cut into the darkness
The sun was setting in the west and the shadows were lengthening when this columnist headed out one Saturday on his way to a Sunday speaking engagement in the country. The destination was Straightstone Baptist Church in the northeast corner…
Dress casual
Last year in this space, I offered several good reasons why Virginia Baptists might enjoy attending the annual meeting dressed in casual attire, and it appeared as if many messengers made the transition to casual in Woodbridge last November. May…
Support Bluefield
We Baileys and Rackleys are proud to have had four generations attending Bluefield College. Dad, David L. Bailey Sr., began the journey in the 1920s; both of my brothers, David and Bob attended; I graduated in 1954. I currently have…
Letters for Dale
As many already know, Dr. Bob Dale has announced his intention to retire from full-time service with the Virginia Baptist Mission Board after 18 years of creative and faithful service. Colleagues and friends of Bob Dale are compiling a book…
MODELING CHURCH: Boston congregation working to be ‘green’
Members of Beacon Hill Baptist Church in Boston, Mass., are striving to be green–when it comes to the environment, that is. And they're doing it with simple gestures like bringing their own coffee mugs to church, instead of using disposable…
Two associations partner in food ministry for Bland
Staunton River and Southside Baptist Associations have been partnering for the past twoyears to provide canned food to the Bland Ministry Center. As a unique aspect of this ministry, Charlie and Violet Brownlee members of Eureka Baptist Church in Keysville…