CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. (ABP) — A Florida Baptist church known for its sometimes-provocative efforts to entice first-time visitors is receiving unwanted attention after the arrest of a staff member on molestation charges. The Coral Springs Police Department arrested Russell Dion…
Raymond Coppenger, legendary Ouachita professor, dies at 100
ARKADELPHIA, Ark. (ABP) — Longtime Ouachita Baptist University philosophy professor Raymond Coppenger died Nov. 24 following a bout with pneumonia, according to the Arkadelphia, Ark., school. He turned 100 in September. Raymond Coppenger Coppenger joined the Ouachita faculty in 1954….
Baptist state conventions feeling effects of economy
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Feeling the effects of a bad economy, several Southern Baptist Convention-affiliated state and regional conventions reduced budgets in annual meetings, held in recent weeks across the nation. The Baptist General Convention of Texas, which includes 4,500…
California pastor drops death wish against Obama; calls for treason trial
BUENA PARK, Calif. (RNS) — Pastor Wiley Drake, the Southern Baptist minister who has publicly prayed for the death of President Obama, has changed his mind — but only because he wants to see the president live long enough to…
Real-life mom talks about portrayal in just-released film, “The Blind Side”
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — In the new movie The Blind Side, Sandra Bullock plays real-life Memphis mother Leigh Ann Tuohy, a woman whose family is turned upside down when she spots Michael Oher — a young boy who has left…
Bucking national trend, Virginia Baptists increase 2010 budget
Outgoing BGAV president Jeff Bloomer leads messengers in voting during the annual meeting. FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (ABP) — Despite a shaky economy, Virginia Baptists in their recent annual meeting adopted a 2010 budget of $14 million — about 1.4 percent larger…
For one Texas woman, love for teaching kindergartners lasts 60 years
DALLAS (ABP) — Some things have changed a bit since 1949 at Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas. Then, the church met in a house. Today, its 9,000 members fill a mammoth sanctuary in multiple worship services. One thing hasn’t…
Ending hunger statewide by 2015 is subject of Baylor summit
Participants sign a poster as part of the Baylor Hunger Summit (Baylor photo) WACO, Texas (ABP) — Federal, state and local leaders met at a Baptist college Nov. 19 to begin a discussion that they hope will lead to actions…
Virginia Baptists increase 2010 budget, celebrate mission at meeting
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — Despite a shaky economy, Virginia Baptists acknowledged their “God-sized” mission task Nov. 18 and adopted a 2010 budget of $14 million, about 1.4 percent larger than 2009’s budget, which is expected to see a shortfall. Next year’s…
EDITORIAL: Times change
Times of economic stress create tensions in religious bodies. I remember so well my first full-time church located in a far western county of Virginia known commonly as Missouri. Our church gave 18 percent to the Cooperative Program and 4…
From the Eastern Shore to Cumberland Gap
STAFF CHANGES • Bill Kittle, resigning as pastor of Rock Hill Church, Stafford, to accept a teaching position in Vermont. • Wellford Tiller, to Calvary Church, Winchester, as intentional interim pastor. • Andrew MacDaniel, to Laurel Hill Church, Verona, as…
Haymarket church finds ministry in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province
HAYMARKET, Va. — Five members of Haymarket Baptist Church traveled to South Africa Oct. 2-16 to work among the varied people of the Eastern Cape. The group was led by Haymarket’s associate pastor of Christian education, Matthew Hensley. Team members…