STAFF CHANGES • Terry Spencer, to Calvary Church, Newport News, as pastor. • Gregory L. Soult, to Mentow Church, Huddleston, as full-time pastor, effective Nov. 14. ‘NEW’ CONGREGATION: Following several years of working together in combined ministries, the congregations of…
Yorktown pastor named director of missions for Peninsula Association
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Chuck Harrison, pastor of Crossroads Community Church in Yorktown, Va., has been elected director of missions for Virginia’s Peninsula Baptist Association, effective Dec. 1. The Peninsula Association, which partners with the Baptist General Association of Virginia,…
Four Baptists arrested in Azerbaijan during raid on worship service
OSLO, Norway (ABP) — Four Baptists in Azerbaijan received five-day jail sentences Oct. 31 after a police raid on a harvest festival in a private home, according to an international news service that specializes in religious freedom. Forum 18, a…
Russian leaders decry arson attacks on Baptist, Orthodox churches
KARACHAYEVO-CHERKESSIA, Russia (ABP) — Political and religious leaders in Russia's mainly Muslim North Caucasus denounced arson attacks on two Russian Orthodox churches and one Baptist church overnight on Nov. 1. An Orthodox church in the village of Ordzhonikidzevsky in the…
Iraqi Baptist pastor says Baghdad’s Christians living in fear after attack
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) — A Baptist pastor in Baghdad told a European Baptist leader that Christians there are living in fear following an Oct. 31 attack on a Catholic church in Iraq's capital that left more than 50 dead….
HERITAGE: On to Hampton
In 1755 some 1,100 Acadians came in exile to Hampton. They remained on their ships while negotiations ensued. Governor Dinwiddie thought that “it was unkind of the Governor of Nova Scotia to send such a number of people here without…
VITAL SIGNS: Everyone needs to go to Arabia
One of the pressing concerns of 21st century individual and congregational spiritual life is the question of depth. To be blunt, there isn’t much. Study after study has revealed the sad truth that much of what we call faith and…
OUT LOUD
“There’s no threat of Sharia law coming to Oklahoma and America, period. It’s just a scare tactic." Saad Mohammed The member of the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City was referring to a Nov. 2 referendum to ban Islamic law…
EDITORIAL: Aunt Ida laments strange Baptists
Dear Jimmy, I’m sure this never happens to you, but sometimes my mind gets to wanderin’ a mite during the sermon. That’s why I can sure understand what happened to this feller who happens to be your Uncle Orley’s cousin,…
150 Bluefield students make professions of faith
BLUEFIELD, VA. — Bluefield College students were invited to trade in their hurt for healing during the school’s 19th Annual Duremdes Christian Emphasis Week, Sept. 29-Oct. 1, featuring the ministry of evangelist Tony Nolan and professions of faith from more…
Richmond seminary starts D.Min. in contextual leadership
RICHMOND, Va. — Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond will welcome the first students in the summer of 2011 to its newly-focused doctor of ministry degree in contextual leadership, the school has announced. “The doctor of ministry is an advanced professional…
Church implodes buildings to make way for $115 million project
DALLAS (ABP) — One of Southern Baptists’ most historic and prominent congregations has officially embarked — with four simultaneous Oct. 30 building implosions — on what it is calling the biggest church renovation-and-expansion project in modern history. Four buildings are…