Financial seminars planned. Crown Financial Ministries, in conjunction with the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, will conduct a series of seminars in July on ways to assist families struggling with debt. The seminars are open to pastors and other church leaders. The one-day seminars will be held July 14 in Charlottesville, July 15 in Lynchburg and July 16 in Danville. For more information, contact Don Campbell, director of stewardship development for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, at 1-800-255-2428, ext. 1223.
Pastor receives award. Henry V. Langford of Richmond, a retired Virginia Baptist pastor, recently received the John Jasper Trailblazer Award from Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church in Richmond. The award is named for John Jasper, a 19th-century enslaved African American who became a revered preacher. Langford has been an outspoken advocate for social justice and a leader in drug and alcohol education.
‘Sustainable ministries’ conference held. A conference focused on “Building Sustainable Ministries” was sponsored recently by the Virginia Baptist Mission Board’s stewardship development office. Topics included retirement and annuity issues for ministers, assisting church members with financial issues and opportunities for investments. A similar conference is planned for this fall.
Islamic school revises texts. An Islamic school in Alexandria with close ties to the Saudi government has revised its religious textbooks in an effort to end years of criticism that the school fosters hatred and intolerance. The Islamic Saudi Academy, which teaches nearly 900 students in grades K-12, developed new Islamic studies textbooks for all grades after a 2008 congressional report called portions of the previous editions troubling. School officials say the books are part of the school’s efforts to promote universal values of tolerance and kindness and to modernize some of the lessons.
Buddhists permitted to meet. Virginia Beach has agreed to consider giving a group of Buddhist monks a permit to hold worship services in their home. The monks had sued the city in September after complaints about traffice prompted the City Council to shut down the services.