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…
From the Eastern Shore to Cumberland Gap
CHRISTMAS MUSIC & DRAMA • Alum Spring Church, Culpeper; “The Dawn of Redeeming Grace,” Dec. 20 at 11 a.m. • Ash Avenue Church, South Boston; “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. • Bagby…
EDITORIAL: Think, pray, study, act: Virginia Baptists’ response to ABC privatization
If the new governor gets his way, Virginians will be buying their booze from privately-owned liquor stores rather than from the state-operated ABC stores we have currently. At least those Virginians who buy booze in the first place will be….
RIGHT OR WRONG: Fighting the tyranny of the urgent
Many leadership programs create the tyranny of the urgent, which seems to result in poor decision-making. But the New Testament reveals a correlation between the depth and breadth of spiritual composure and a person’s integrity. Am I off track? And…
Baptists celebrate 50 years in Vietnam
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam (BP) — Shortly before the fall of Saigon in 1975, Le Quoc Chanh, pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City), came with his wife and young son to the home…
Constitutionality of Christian prison planned in Oklahoma disputed
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A church-state watchdog group maintains a Christian prison proposed in Oklahoma probably would be unconstitutional. But the Baptist minister who hopes to open the nation’s first faith-based prison says he is confident it will pass constitutional muster….
Bluefield celebrates annual Baptist Heritage Day
BLUEFIELD — Bluefield College celebrated its history with an annual Baptist Heritage Day ceremony on campus in October, featuring a keynote address from an authority on Baptist life — James M. Dunn, former executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee…
Creating carol for the troops inspires student, prof at Ky. Baptist school
The Chamber Choir at Campbellsville University sings the debut performance of "What is Christmas?" (Campbellsville U.) CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — Thousands of American soldiers will be apart from their families this Christmas, but Campbellsville University graduate student Matt Hodge has…
Former high-profile preacher admits to fathering child
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) — A former pastor once touted by Southern Baptist leaders as America's next great black preacher has admitted to fathering the child of a woman who claims he raped her during a counseling session in 2004. Before…
Clergy drop in poll rating honesty and ethics of professions
PRINCETON, N.J. (ABP) — Americans' views of the honesty and ethics of clergypersons has dropped to a three-decade low, according to the latest Gallup poll. The annual ranking of ethics of various professions found that 50 percent of Americans rated…
Baptist churches encouraged to invite a woman to preach
ATLANTA (ABP) — Baptist Women in Ministry is seeking pulpits for an annual emphasis to promote and encourage women preachers. The organization, which promotes and nurtures Baptist women in church leadership roles, has begun soliciting churches for the fourth Martha…
Baptist churches encouraged to invite a woman to preach in February
ATLANTA (ABP) — Baptist Women in Ministry is seeking pulpits for an annual emphasis to promote and encourage women preachers. The organization, which promotes and nurtures Baptist women in church leadership roles, has begun soliciting churches for the fourth Martha…