Abingdon has long been regarded as one of the most charming towns in Virginia. It sits near the end of the long ribbon of highway known as I-81 and just above Bristol. It is known for historic buildings and houses,…
OUT LOUD
“I’ve collected 370 different hot sauces traveling the globe. The hotter the better. I don’t just believe in hell — I eat it.” Rick Warren The pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., in a tweet posted Nov. 18….
Bluefield sees record growth in traditional student enrollment
BLUEFIELD, Va. — Bluefield College is seeing the largest number of traditional students enrolled on its campus since the fall of 2004. The 440 traditional student total is more than 4 percent higher than the 423 traditional students in the…
Bluefield College, Leland Center to partner on theological training
BLUEFIELD, Va — Bluefield College and the John Leland Center for Theological Studies are partnering to provide students who have an interest in Christian ministry greater access to the theological training they’ll need to fulfill their calling. The agreement between…
A spiritual home: Richmond church partners to reach Karen refugees
RICHMOND, Va. — They were three fairly typical goals for a high school student — to pass government and geometry in summer school and obtain a driving learner’s permit. But for Say Wah, these goals represented escape from oppression, an…
Apostolic movements called key to church’s future, church planter says
SAN ANTONIO (ABP) — Western Christianity’s future depends on its capacity to recover apostolic movements in the present day rather than simply fuel institutions, author and church planter Alan Hirsch recently told a group of church leaders in Texas. Alan…
Faith leaders support including contraception in health reform
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Religious leaders on both sides of the abortion debate called on Congress to include free birth control as a component in health-care reform. Responding to an Institute of Medicine panel considering whether contraception should be classified in…
FAITH DIGEST
Americans cite negatives of Christianity. When asked about Christianity’s recent contributions to society, Americans cited more negatives than benefits, according to a recent survey. The negative contribution cited most was hatred or violence in the name of Jesus, according to…
RIGHT or WRONG? Painful church experience
A Barna survey revealed an extraordinary percentage of Americans no longer attend church because of some painful experience. What has happened to cause the place identified as “a hospital for sinners” or put forward as “sanctuary” to be avoided by…
Fair Trade movement has Christian roots
WASHINGTON (ABP) — In 1946, a faithful Mennonite named Edna Ruth Byler took a trip to Puerto Rico and was shocked by the poverty she encountered — and the seeming hopelessness of the artisans who produced goods that could be…
Q&A with Dave Ramsey on moral decision-making
Dave Ramsey is founder of the Lampo Group and one of the most widely recognized experts on the intersection of Christian principles and personal finance. He agreed to an e-mail interview about ethical financial decision-making for Christians. Q: When it…
Financial decisions have moral implications, experts say
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Even a financial decision as seemingly mundane as where to buy your morning coffee can have profound moral implications. Does the company that produces or sells the coffee collude with corrupt government institutions to exploit the farmers…