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…
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…
Jerusalem mayor navigates sacred city’s religious politics
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…
‘Big Bucket Brigade’ ministers to Africans
RICHMOND — When you think of a “bucket brigade,” you likely picture buckets filled with water and a line of people. On July 12 there was a “Big Bucket Brigade” at Hatcher Memorial Baptist Church in Richmond, but the 23…
Virginia Baptists’ John Upton nominated as BWA president
EDE, Netherlands — John Upton, executive director of the Baptist General Association of Virginia, has been nominated as president of the Baptist World Alliance. If elected at the BWA’s world congress in 2010, Upton will begin a five-year term to…
Baptists on mission in the 49th state
MECHANICSVILLE — Bodenburg Butte Baptist Church is located in Palmer, Alaska, a town approximately 45 miles from Anchorage and 4,700 miles from Virginia. Last month a 14-member mission team led by Don Carter, a member of Hillcrest Baptist Church in…
Bluefield College cottages renovated
BLUEFIELD — More than 100 members of Baptist churches from across Virginia and Tennessee spent part of their summer on the campus of Bluefield College. The Baptist missionaries with skills from carpentry to cooking worked five weeks in May…