JERUSALEM — When Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat decided to open a municipal parking lot that had been closed on Saturdays, the Jewish Sabbath, his office said he simply was being practical. Extra parking is needed to help ease lines of…
RIGHT OR WRONG? Being transparent in church
Few Baptists seem to practice our old adage, “Tell the truth and trust the people.” For example, too much church business goes on behind closed doors. How can our church balance operating on a need-to-know basis and making the truth…
OUT LOUD
“You don’t know what Theotokos means? Get a book and read about it. You have a hard time standing for two hours? Do some sit-ups and get yourself into worship shape. It is the Lord our God we worship here,…
SECOND OPINION: A pan-Baptist council — why not?
In 1895, Religious Herald editor Robert H. Pitt was among the first to urge Baptists to unite in a world organization. He repeated the call in 1900, five years before the Baptist World Alliance was organized in London. Both editorials…
EDITORIAL: Aunt Ida joins the information age
Dear Jimmy, Why bless me, you’ll never believe what your ol’ uncle has gone and done now. We were sittin’ in front of the TV watchin’ the Braves game when one of those computers came on the commercial. Well, I…
HERITAGE: The roar of lions
By any measure, they are old lions. Henry Langford turned 90 earlier this year. Jim Fox and Elmer West are both 86 and counting. But they can still roar. As young lions they challenged the prevailing social order, risking their…
Faith groups begin media blitz for health care reform
WASHINGTON (ABP) — President Obama will participate in a national call-in and audio webcast on health reform with religious leaders Aug. 19. Faith leaders made the announcement Aug. 10 in a conference call with reporters. It is one of several…
After receiving, Baltimore churches give to Dover
Though it may have looked like a typical Vacation Bible School to an outsider, what was going on at Dover Baptist Church in Manakin Sabot last week was one-of-a-kind. Pastor Mike Garner will make sure you know that. Three other…
More than 500 people engage in mission projects in Lynchburg during MC2 event
More than 500 people took on mission projects in the Lynchburg area July 20-25, in conjunction with Missions Connection Celebration (MC2) at Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center. The annual event is sponsored by the emerging leaders team of the Virginia…
Grace Fellowship in Hiwassee grows from handful to over 100
Talk to church planter Doug Ballew about Grace Fellowship Baptist Church in Hiwassee and you will get an enthusiastic earful. But he hasn’t always been that excited about the future of the church he started in December 2006. After 18…
Bluefield gets grant for music program
BLUEFIELD — Bluefield College has received a $25,000 grant to support its new instrumental music program. The Ratcliffe Foundation of Tazewell presented the grant July 27 to school officials. Bluefield launched its new program last spring and school administrators say…
The secret’s in the songs: Musical choice reveals congregation’s theological position
WACO, Texas — Terry York is willing to bet that if he goes into a Baptist church, sits down and listens, he can tell — long before the preacher speaks — whether the congregation is theologically conservative or moderate. The…