ATLANTA — Despite the charge that William Paul Young is attempting to undermine orthodox Christianity, the author of The Shack was invited by Catalyst organizers to be interviewed during the conference. The book is No. 1 on the New York…
Does event evangelism still work?
Some observers of church life insist the day of event evangelism has passed. They point to one-on-one evangelism as the only effective way to reach non-Christians today. But does that mean event evangelism is dead? Some evangelists are stepping forward…
Bloomer, others to be BGAV officer nominees
William “Jeff” Bloomer, current first vice president of the Baptist General Association of Virginia, will be nominated for president when the BGAV meets Nov. 11-12 in Roanoke. Bloomer, one of three nominees voted at the fall meeting of Virginia Baptists…
College students reach out globally through Virginia Baptists’ GO teams
GO (Global Outreach) Teams are short-term summer mission immersion projects for college students from across the state. Sponsored by the Virginia Baptist Mission Board and Baptist Collegiate Ministries, these international mission teams also develop leadership skills and build community through…
Lakewood marks 30
RICHMOND — Lakewood Manor Baptist Retirement Community, operated by Virginia Baptist Homes, will celebrate its 30 year anniversary on Oct. 21. The Richmond Baptist Association's dream in 1963 of having a Richmond retirement community has served thousands of residents over…
Virginia Intermont College moves toward its religious roots
BRISTOL — Robert Rainwater, dean of religious life at Virginia Intermont College, will never forget May of 2007. On the 16th day of that month he fell 14 feet from a ladder while doing home repairs and fractured his back….
Baptist Heritage Day celebrated at Bluefield College for ninth year
BLUEFIELD — Bluefield College celebrated its history Oct. 8 with an annual Baptist Heritage Day ceremony on campus, featuring a keynote address from an authority on Baptist life, Joseph T. Lewis, president of the Baptist General Association of Virginia. For…
N.Y. Baptist group says to defrock pastor facing child-porn charge
(763 words) OSWEGATCHIE, N.Y. (ABP) — A statewide fellowship of independent Baptist churches in New York is recommending defrocking one of its pastors arrested on child-pornography charges. Leaders of First Baptist Church in the Upstate New York town of Oswegatchie…
SBU administrator named as Oklahoma Baptist president
SHAWNEE, Okla. (ABP) — David Whitlock, 46, an administrator at Southwest Baptist University, has been named Oklahoma Baptist University's 15th president, OBU trustees announced Oct. 10. "Having been born and raised in Oklahoma, Dr. Whitlock will fit us well," Alton…
Connecticut latest jurisdiction to legalize same-sex marriage
HARTFORD, Conn. (ABP) — The Connecticut Supreme Court Oct. 10 made that state the latest in the union to offer full marriage rights to same-sex couples. The state’s justices ruled 4-3 that the equal-protection and due-process provisions of the Connecticut…
Study: Younger evangelicals less conservative than elders
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A large study of religious Americans suggests that white evangelicals' views on gay rights may be shifting, rapidly, to the left. The survey, which includes one of the largest samples of younger voters' political and religious views…
Little framed in moral terms during presidential debate
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Economic woes and national security dominated a second presidential debate that offered little new information for undecided voters, including those looking for a values-based hook on which to hang their presidential choice. Democratic candidate Barack Obama…