Messengers to the Blue Ridge Baptist Association celebrated a century-and-a-half of ministry as they gathered Oct. 23 at Fairystone Baptist Church. Many came dressed in period attire as they looked back in time to celebrate their most significant accomplishments. Guest…
GuideStone Services adds property & casualty insurance
DALLAS (BP) — This fall, many Southern Baptist churches and ministries will have access to property and casualty insurance and risk management services from GuideStone Agency Services. The GuideStone Property & Casualty (P&C) Program will gradually roll out regionally over…
Virginia churches asked to partner after Ike
BEAUMONT, Texas — New Beginnings Church is hoping it can live up to its name, and Virginia Baptists have been invited to help it do so. Hurricane Ike scattered the congregation, sending members evacuating to safer ground. The storm pulled…
Fighting in Congo creates humanitarian crisis
NEW YORK (ABP) — Escalating violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is creating a “humanitarian crisis of catastrophic dimensions,” the head of the United Nations said Oct. 29. U.N. Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon called attention to the flare-up, which…
Special events at the annual BGAV meeting in Roanoke
• African American Fellowship Dinner: Nov. 10, 5-7 p.m., Flat Rock Grille, Valley View Mall, 5033 Valley View Blvd. Contact: Wayne Faison. • Bivocational Pastors and Staff Luncheon: Nov. 11, 12 noon-1:45 p.m., Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre (2nd floor, back…
Missionaries rejuvenate barn in Andean village
EDITOR'S NOTE: This year's Week of Prayer for International Missions, Nov. 30-Dec. 7, focuses on missionaries who serve in South America as well as churches partnering with them, exemplifying the global outreach supported by Southern Baptists' gifts to the Lottie…
EDITORIAL: The gifts of the Spirit
As you have seen, the theme of this issue is the “Holy Spirit.” I first began to think seriously about the Holy Spirit during my childhood. The female relatives on my mother's side became Pentecostals after Mom left home to…
Azerbaijan pastor tried on Oct. 31
WASHINGTON (BWA) — Hamid Shabanov, a Baptist pastor in Azerbaijan who was arrested on June 20, faced trial on Oct. 31. He is charged with the illegal possession of a weapon. Shabanov is the second Baptist pastor in the town…
Baptist World Aid
seeks funds for Congo
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) — The head of an international Baptist relief agency has sent out an urgent fundraising appeal to ease the suffering of victims of civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Just back from a conference…
Obama election victory signals shift, but Religious Right still scores wins
WASHINGTON (ABP) — All religious groups shifted toward Barack Obama, the candidate opposed by the Religious Right's leadership, in his historic presidential win Nov. 4. Still, religious conservatives did manage a few victories. The Democratic candidate garnered about 52 percent…
Obama election victory signals shift,
but Religious Right still scores wins
WASHINGTON (ABP) — All religious groups shifted toward Barack Obama, the candidate opposed by the Religious Right’s leadership, in his historic presidential win Nov. 4. Still, religious conservatives did manage a few victories. The Democratic candidate garnered about 52 percent…
Baylor reports race-related
incidents on Election Day
WACO, Texas (ABP) — Baylor University police responded to three apparently racially related on-campus incidents on Election Day. Late on the afternoon of Nov. 4, officials at the Texas Baptist school were notified a single clothes-line rope resembling a noose was…