The top 100 Baptist General Association of Virginia churches in total gifts to Cooperative Missions in 2010 have been announced. In order to appear on the list, the church must have both contributed to Cooperative Missions in 2010 and have…
Kentucky Baptists cut jobs, freeze salaries
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — The Kentucky Baptist Convention announced job cuts Jan. 31 intended to free up more money for national and international ministries of the Southern Baptist Convention. Five full-time jobs and 19 part-time jobs are being eliminated. Employees…
Clergy abuse cases move through legal system
BENTON, Ark. (ABP) — A music minister convicted of molesting young boys at a Southern Baptist church in Arkansas got a parole hearing two years into a 10-year prison sentence, while a British Baptist minister jailed in Virginia for similar…
Morris Ashcraft, longtime Baptist educator, dies
EVANSTON, Ill. (ABP) — Morris Ashcraft, a longtime seminary professor and administrator who after retiring helped establish a free-standing seminary for moderates disenfranchised by the "conservative resurgence" in the Southern Baptist Convention, died Jan. 29 after a long illness. He…
CBF announces layoffs
ATLANTA (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship announced deep staff cuts Jan. 28, citing lingering financial woes. According to a news release, 13 positions have been eliminated and one reclassified. Two of the jobs will move to contract positions. The…
Morris Ashcraft dies, helped establish Baptist Seminary at Richmond
EVANSTON, Ill. (ABP) — Morris Ashcraft, a longtime seminary professor and administrator who after retiring helped establish Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, died Jan. 29 after a long illness. He was 88. An Arkansas native, Ashcraft taught five years at…
Virginians, Panamanians launch partnership
PANAMA CITY, Panama (ABP) — Twenty-five Virginia Baptists traveled to Panama Jan. 26 for the annual meeting of the Panama Baptist Convention and to sign documents establishing a five-year partnership between that body and the Baptist General Association of Virginia….
Virginians, Panamanians celebrate initiation of mission partnership
PANAMA CITY, Panama — To celebrate the theme “Getting outside our churches,” 25 Virginia Baptists travelled to Panama Jan. 26 to attend the annual meeting of the Panama Baptist Convention and to sign documents establishing a five-year partnership between that…
BGCT displays historic pulpit
DALLAS (ABP) — The Texas Baptist Historical Collection is displaying iconic preacher George Whitefield’s elevated pulpit, one of the top five artifacts of American Christianity and a key tool that helped unite the colonies as well as lay the foundation…
Texas Baptist Men executive director announces retirement
DALLAS—After seven years as Texas Baptist Men executive director and more than four decades holding various leadership posts in the missions organization, Leo Smith has announced plans to retire effective Feb. 28. Smith, 72, has informed members of the TBM…
What makes ministry to older adults more effective?
IRONTON, Mo. (ABP) — Ministry to older adults must take many forms, depending upon the make-up of the group a church is trying to reach. As the U.S. population ages, congregations will have even more opportunities to engage older adults….
Challenge for churches: How to care for caregivers
IRONTON, Mo. (ABP) — As churches minister to the most elderly and infirm among members, some also seek ways to serve their caregivers — often family members — who often labor around the clock. Members of the "Classic 55-plus" ministry…