As a conservative politician, Governor Robert McDonnell leans heavily on the Christian right. But it appears that of late his family values are being trounced by his political values. In answer to the dilemma of providing funding to build needed…
Hispanic evangelicals urge GOP not to alienate Latinos over immigration
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Leaders of the nation’s largest Hispanic evangelical organization warned leaders of the Republican Party Aug. 17 that their increasingly strident rhetoric on immigration puts the party at risk of losing an entire generation of Latino voters. “We…
Richmond churches tackle tasks at Bluefield College
The team after an afternoon outing to a nearby park in West Virginia. BLUEFIELD, Va. — Black enamel paint and a team of 31 inexperienced youth with paintbrushes were an interesting combination as three Richmond-area churches partnered for a week…
Madison Heights teen makes dreams come true for Kentucky students
MADISON HEIGHTS, Va. — Jaime Fitzgerald, a recent graduate of Amherst County High School and a member of Randolph Memorial Baptist Church in Madison Heights, realized many of the girls in the Appalachian town of Manchester, Ky., would be unable…
Baptists in Southwest Virginia assist those needing medical care
WISE, Va. — More than 1,500 people, all of them needing some kind of medical attention, converged on the remote area medical clinic (RAM) held July 23-25 in Wise. Now in its 11th year, the three-day event has become traditional…
Pastor celebrates 85 years of life, 66 years of ministry
CASTLEWOOD, Va. — At age 85, most men have been retired for 20 years. But Lester Ferguson has always done things a bit differently. For the past 66 years he has served the Lord in various ministry capacities, although his…
First home in Haiti to be funded by Virginia Baptists is on its way up
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Six months after the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti, killing hundreds of thousands, a lot has been cleared to build the first permament home using funds raised by Virginia Baptists. And a second lot is being cleared…
From the Eastern Shore to Cumberland Gap
STAFF CHANGES • John A. Duke, to Macedonia Church, Foster, as full-time pastor. • Scott Salsman, to James River Church, Williamsburg, as senior pastor, effective Aug. 29. • Edward G. Powell Jr., concluding his ministry as pastor of Bethel Church,…
MC2 combines Bible study, mission action for 400 attendees
LYNCHBURG, Va. — For the more than 400 people attending the MC2 conference July 19-24, the question, “What was your favorite part?” sparked a variety of responses. Painting houses gave MC2 participants opportunities to share their faith. An 8-year-old responded,…
Impact Virginia and 140 students converge on Bluefield area
BLUEFIELD, Va. — One hundred and forty youth from 13 Baptist churches across Virginia converged on Bluefield College, June 27-July 3, to make an “impact” on Greater Bluefield through service projects in the community. On the Bluefield campus as part…
Georgians learn German, thanks to Virginia Baptist support
TBILISI, Georgia — An eight-day camp in the Caucasus Mountains to learn German may not sound like much of a vacation to some Americans. But for the young Georgians ages 12 to 23 who participated in the camp this summer,…
VIRGINIANS @ THE CONGRESS: Friends gather in Honolulu
John Upton enjoys birthday greetings from fellow Virginians at a reception in Honolulu. Virginia Baptists were hard at work behind the scenes at the 20th Baptist World Congress, enriching the experience of more than 4,000 global Baptists. HONOLULU — The…