In the May 16, 1861, issue of the Religious Herald an article appeared noting that the New York Bible Society had distributed 14,000 Bibles to soldiers and sailors volunteering for service in the North. Alfred E. Dickenson, who later became…
HERITAGE: Songs in the night
In April Westhampton Baptist Church in Richmond, Va., celebrated its centennial in grand style and with a packed sanctuary. People were stretched around its narrow gallery peering down upon the floor below. The choir loft was full. Bill Hardison, the…
VITAL SIGNS: A week to remember
Some weeks fade from memory quickly, others stand out for their significance and impact. This year, the week of Easter and following was a memorable week for us to learn some indispensible things about being a vibrant and healthy church…
Roundup of Baptists in the Mid-Atlantic
Got news? Send information for this page to Barbara Francis at [email protected]. Even better — add us to your newsletter’s e-mail list, send a link to your newsletter page or mail it to 2828 Emerywood Parkway, Richmond, VA 23294. STAFF…
Virginian gets disaster relief service award
Marie Lawrence receives a plaque for distiguished service in disaster relief ministry. LYNCHBURG, Va. — Marie Lawrence of Colonial Heights, Va., received a distinguished service award from the Southern Baptist Convention’s disaster relief ministry during an April 25-26 ceremony at…
OUT LOUD
“Look, Mom, Jesus protected our house, but he forgot to take care of his own house.” Gracie ‘Bug’ Briscoe The 6-year-old from Vaughn, Ga., was referring to her trailer home, which was missed by tornadoes that destroyed the United Methodist…
It takes a tractor: Church’s ministry had small beginning
TAPPAHANNOCK, Va. — Ghana is one part of the world where Beale Memorial Baptist Church in Tappahannock, Va., is involved in missions, and it started with a tractor. In the summer of 2006 Brian Toliver, deacon chair at Beale Memorial,…
Multisite fans view approach as good stewardship
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (ABP) — Proponents of the multicampus church option cite flexibility, stewardship and the “spark” that newness can bring to ministry. “You get the big-church bang … but you also get the pop and sizzle of a new…
Church start or church satellite? Decision can be difficult
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Perhaps a congregation has discovered a neighborhood or nearby community with no evangelical or other church presence. Or maybe the church has found a demographic that isn’t being reached with the gospel. Church leaders believe God…
Multisite ministry by any other name …
LEWISVILLE, Texas (ABP) — Before a church launches a multisite ministry, it must select and secure a site, assemble a leadership team, raise funds and work through logistical details. But Northview Baptist Church in Lewisville, Texas, has discovered the most…
Hybrid multisite model uses multiple approaches
HUNTSVILLE, Texas (ABP) — Covenant Fellowship in Huntsville, Texas, functions as a hybrid multicampus church as a means to give birth to autonomous congregations across the state and the nation. While he was pastor of First Baptist Church in Huntsville,…
Multisite multiplication
(ABP) — The term “multisite” or “multicampus” church might first bring megachurches to mind. But as it has developed, the church-growth model has taken on many forms to serve a variety of purposes and ministry contexts. Ministry Some churches use…