VENTURA, Calif. (ABP) — Nearly four of every 10 "unchurched" Americans avoid worship because of negative past experiences in churches or with church people, according to new research by The Barna Group. The research firm that tracks the role of…
Petersburg congregation closes, gives buildings to African-American church
PETERSBURG, Va. — In 1957, 30 years after its founding, Elm Street Baptist Church in Petersburg expressed its confidence in the future by building a new 400-seat sanctuary. The following year, as if to justify the church’s attitude, Petersburg was…
OPINION: Closing a congregation: How does it happen?
From personal experience, I can tell you that closing a congregation doesn’t happen without much spiritual and emotional suffering. The ending of a congregation is a death experience both for the remnant of members and for remaining ministerial staff. They…
EDITORIAL: Aunt Ida discovers her voice
Dear Jimmy, I know you will find this almost as hard to believe as your Uncle Orley, but I am speechless. He says that despite his prayers he is confident that it is only a temporary affliction and that I…
From the Eastern Shore to Cumberland Gap
STAFF CHANGES • Samuel Feemster, to Mount Vernon Church, Arlington, as pastor. • Rodney A. Bracey, to Shalom Fellowship Church, Richmond, as senior pastor. • Samuel Feemster, to Mount Vernon Church, Arlington, as pastor. • Joao da Rocha, to Second…
Gospel is both local and viral, say contributors to newly-released book
RICHMOND, Va. — The gospel is universal but it takes new shapes in new settings — and spreads in ways that can only be called “viral.” That’s the assessment of a just-released book featuring the insights of 50 youngish leaders…
Turning a culture of debt into a culture of thrift
(ABP) — A growing number of American Christians and even some secular groups are beginning to believe John Wesley had the right idea: “Make all you can; save all you can; give all you can.” Hard work, thrift and philanthropy…
Culture of Debt: Churches can help poor avoid predatory-lending trap
(ABP) — Payday-loan vendors have grown like kudzu in recent years. Texas has more payday-lending outlets — about 3,000 — than it has McDonald’s and Whataburger restaurants combined. And some churches and pastors are asking how they can equip people…
Nearly 500 accept Christ during Easter celebration at Highlands Fellowship
BRISTOL, Va. — I confess that when I first heard that Highlands Fellowship, a Virginia Baptist multi-site congregation based in Abingdon, Va., was planning to drop Easter eggs from a helicopter in nearby Bristol and then to fill the city’s…
Church-state advocates urge strong successor for Stevens
John Paul Stevens (SCOTUS photo) WASHINGTON (ABP) — With the Supreme Court’s oldest and longest-serving member announcing April 9 his retirement, advocates for strong church-state separation urged that Justice John Paul Stevens’ replacement be as devoted to preventing government establishment…
VIRGINIA BAPTIST FORUM: Misinformation gave false view
I agree with Jim Denton’s reply [Herald, April 1] to the article, “Airlee Court votes to stay the course.” The article was not accurate in the facts of Journey Church’s part in this situation. This misinformation gave an unwarranted negative…
A culture of debt, a culture of thrift: Some Americans alter money attitudes
A growing number of American Christians — and even some secular groups — are beginning to believe John Wesley had the right idea: “Make all you can; save all you can; give all you can.” Hard work, thrift and philanthropy…