RICHMOND — A crowd gathers on Saturdays before the doors open at 10 a.m., eagerly anticipating what will be found on the tables and racks inside. Some waiting outside will immediately head for the clothing department. Others are hopeful to…
Pakistan-Taliban fighting creates 2.2 million refugees
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (BP) — An estimated 2.2 million people have been driven from their homes by fighting in Pakistan's Swat Valley — raising the specter of a humanitarian crisis rivaling the refugee exodus during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, relief…
HERITAGE: A good place
The yellow line which runs down the middle of State Street in Bristol is the boundary between Virginia and Tennessee. The street itself has had a renaissance with attractive plantings and interesting shops and restaurants now occupying formerly empty buildings….
Baptists minister to war victims in Sri Lanka
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Sri Lanka’s government has declared victory in its 26-year civil war, but a resulting humanitarian crisis is far from over. Leaders of Sri Lankan Baptist Sangamaya (Union) handed out water, milk, footwear and other supplies to about…
VIRGINIA BRIEFS
Ministry assistants at conference. The Baptist Ministry Assistants of Virginia attended the National Association of Southern Baptist Secretaries Conference at Ridgecrest Conference Center April 22-25, held to observe the 25th anniversary of the national association. The theme was “Great is…
India’s elections praised by Christians
NEW DELHI (BP) — Hindu nationalists, who had exercised their clout against India's Christians and Muslims until the centrist Congress Party’s revival in elections five years ago, find themselves further marginalized after this year’s national and state elections. In voting…
Virginia Baptists’ Historical Society celebrates diversity
RICHMOND — Diversity is not a recent phenomenon, according to the Virginia Baptist Historical Society. Choosing “The Swirling Center: Prospect for Diversity in the Church” as the theme for its annual meeting, the gathering attracted nearly a hundred members and…
BAPTIST BRIEFS
IMB cuts back missionary appointments. In response to reduced giving during the current economic downturn, trustees of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board approved suspending new appointments to the International Service Corps and Masters programs and reduce the number of…
Rock band’s gritty gospel, spiritual depth touch hearts
The intersection of faith and culture often looks less like a four-way stop and more like a mix-master. Faith-based messages have made frequent and bold appearances in film, music, art, theater and other forms of creative expression. This invites the…
SBC needs overhaul, says writer of ‘Great Commission Resurgence’ document
WAKE FOREST, N.C. (ABP) — The lead author of a “Great Commission Resurgence” document circulating among Southern Baptist Convention leaders says a major overhaul of denominational structures must occur if the convention is going to engage younger pastors. Danny Akin,…
Tweeting churches discover the gospel according to Twitter
ORLANDO, Fla. (RNS) — Tweeting during church? Isn’t it rude? David Loveless doesn’t think so. Loveless is lead pastor of Discovery Church, a nondenominational congregation that draws about 4,000 on Sundays to three locations in Orlando. The congregation always has…
Former SBC president embraces creation care
DULUTH, Ga. (ABP) — A former president of the Southern Baptist Convention acknowledged to a group of Christian environmentalists that he is a recent convert to the concept of creation care. “We ought to motivate every follower of Christ in…