Our church is newly organized. We've been advised to incorporate and to adopt a constitution and bylaws. This all seems like a lot of work, and it might negatively impact what we are trying to do. What's the validity of…
The mystery of the call
The Baptist world is divided between two camps—the clergy and the laity. Baptist thought usually admits that both camps are expected to be Christian servants. But one of the mysteries to the laity is the matter of “the call” to…
ANOTHER VIEW: Making evangelism good news again
It's amazing the evangelism lessons you can learn from one day in the airport. Try it the next time you have a long day of travel. Ask the Lord to use the day to teach you more about his love…
ANOTHER VIEW: What would Jesus direct?
There is a lot of buzz these days in both religious and Hollywood circles that a new relationship is being forged between faith and film. Is it for real? Or is it just a lot of hype? Michael Flaherty, president…
RIGHT OR WRONG
A member of our church consistently becomes rowdy—talking too much and loudly—during our business meetings. His behavior is extremely distracting, and some members have quit attending because they know he'll be there. Something needs to change, but how? The issue…
Roanoke pastor named strategist
RICHMOND — Tom Stocks has been named the Virginia Baptist Mission Board's field strategist for the Valley Region, effective Feb. 4. Stocks has served since 1989 as the pastor of Rosalind Hills Baptist Church in Roanoke. He has a bachelor…
Churches hesitant to sue NFL
CHARLOTTESVILLE (BP) — John Whitehead is aching to take the National Football League to court but can't find a church willing to take on the influential pro football colossus. “You go to any bar on Super Bowl Sunday and they'll…
Leader who warned of Islamic takeover hired to aid SBC’s world mission effort
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — David Clippard, the former Missouri Baptist Convention executive who earned national headlines when he said Islam has a plan to “conquer and occupy” the United States, was hired Dec. 10 by the Southern Baptist Convention's world…
Insurer of churches won’t pay disputes
DES MOINES, Iowa (ABP) — One of the nation's three largest insurers of congregations has backed away from covering lawsuits filed as a result of church splits and denominational disputes. Since July, GuideOne Insurance of West Des Moines, Iowa, has…