Dear Jimmy, Well, I guess you are about as surprised as I am that you are getting an e-mail from me. I never in this world figured me for a computer gal, but here I am big as life sendin’…
HERITAGE: Light in the forest
Virginia Baptists early established relationships with Indians. John Leland, arguably the most prominent of the 18th-century Virginia Baptist itinerant preachers, wrote that in the 1780s he preached in the “royal pavilion” of an Indian chief, John Tohan. Leland said: “After…
VITAL SIGNS: Assessing conflict in churches
So what do we make of the rising tide of conflict in local congregations? First of all, is there actually an increase in conflict? Anecdotally, the number of calls and conversations we are having around conflict seem to indicate that…
OUT LOUD
“For many people who do not understand Islam, Muslims do not appear in the Western media to act in a way that let them believe that Islam is a religion of peace. So there is a certain cognitive dissonance here….
ASK THE ARCHITECT: Surveys are helpful, though optional, homework
At this stage of your church’s building program you are still gathering general information about your mission, who you are as a church, future programs and ministry needs, etc. Workshops with the building committee and architect are underway, and the…
Baptist men’s gathering to focus on prayer, worship, discussion
RICHMOND, Va. — Baptist men from across the state will meet for prayer, worship and round table discussions at the one-day Virginia Baptist Men’s Gathering, set for Saturday, Sept. 25. The free event, sponsored by the Virginia Baptist Mission Board,…
Former Virginia chaplain leads fight to save woman on death row
JARRATT, Va. — Unless the U.S. Supreme Court or Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell step in to stop it, Teresa Lewis will die on Sept. 23, in the death chamber at Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt, Va. Some will say the…
Virginia church disbands but result is $1 million for ministry
ARLINGTON, Va. — A Virginia Baptist congregation has closed its doors after 80 years, but the result will be about $1 million available over time to Christian ministries in Washington’s Northern Virginia suburbs. Trinity Baptist Church in Arlington held its…
CBFVA sponsors Service in September projects
RICHMOND, Va. — Nine locations across Virginia will host this year’s Service in September mission projects, coordinated in the state by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia. Service in September is a national mission project sponsored by Current, the organization…
From the Eastern Shore to Cumberland Gap
STAFF CHANGES • Tom Sepulveda, concluding his ministry as associate pastor/youth/children at Tomahawk Church, Midlothian. SERVING OTHERS: The Children in Action at Chatham Baptist Church in Chatham are involved in mission projects to serve others year-round. They filled baby bottles…
CBF churches take part in Bible-listening program
ATLANTA (ABP) — More than 500 churches affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship participated in a yearlong Bible-listening project, raising more than $185,000 to support translation and distribution of the Bible around the world. The "You've Got the Time" program,…
N.C. Hispanic pastor facing possible deportation over old crime
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (ABP) — Leaders of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina solicited urgent prayer Aug. 27 for a Hispanic pastor facing possible deportation for a 15-year-old crime he committed before accepting Christ. According to media reports, Hector Villanueva,…