Thanks for your recent editorial entitled “SBC continues its snub of the BGAV.” You are “right on” with your evaluation and comments regarding the SBC leadership's suspcion of the BGAV. Suspicion is usually rooted in ignorance and denial, both of…
Wounded ministers
Ministers' wounds can cause them to question — or even abandon — their call to ministry. But what wounds a minister? “There is a great deal of idealism wrapped up in a pastor's desire to serve people through the church…
SW Center to offer classes this fall
In partnership with the John Leland Center for Theological Studies, the Southwest Virginia Christian Leadership Network will offer college-credit Bible classes in fall 2008. These classes are ideal for ministers, those considering a call to ministry, church leaders or those…
FIRST HAND: How a pastor lost his soul
I lost my soul. Not my salvation mind you, just my soul. Some may say that is unbiblical. I will not argue with them. I have been known to be wrong. Still, I will stick by my statement, because it…
Uncertain times breed anxiety, disrupt churches
RALEIGH, N.C. (BP) — Uncertain times bring anxiety into the church and, as Wayne Oakes has observed, the conflict that often results can be traced to loss of control. Oakes, minister/church relations consultant for the Baptist State Convention of North…
BGAV nominees to SBC committees
I would like to respond to the editorial by Jim White in the Religious Herald, “SBC continues snub of the BGAV,” [July 10] concerning the nomination of individuals from the BGAV. My name is Steve Tyree, pastor of Elon Baptist…
Table talk
The visitor to the Heritage Gallery of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society was ready to leave. He rather intently had examined each of the panels in the religious liberty mural. We knew that he was a professor of law and…
Jesus in MySpace: Churches use social networking sites
(ABP)—Social-networking sites like Facebook and MySpace are redefining the way many Americans build and maintain relationships—and also how their churches communicate. In the last few years, relating to social contacts through such sites has become practically ubiquitous among the under-30…
Pastor aims at half his former self
PINE BLUFF, Ark. (BP)—Harold Chandler ain't half the preacher he once was. Last year, at 349 pounds, he was two cheeseburgers short of 350. Today he is under 190 pounds, well on his way to his goal of 170. He…