ATLANTA (ABP) -– Leaders of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship approved a $16.5 million budget for the 2008-2009 fiscal year and heard of budget shortfalls during the CBF Coordinating Council's Feb. 7-8 meeting in Decatur, Ga. The council's finance committee reported…
Polls, authors say white evangelicals embracing political independence
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A raft of recent polls and books suggest that the evangelical vote may be turning — or returning — to a more even distribution between the Republican and Democratic parties. A Zogby International poll released Feb. 11…
Texas’ Church Under the Tree reaches disenfranchised youth
ROCKWALL, Texas (ABP) — Commitment is the key to a fruitful ministry, Ron Evans says. He should know. He is the pastor of a church that literally meets under a tree. On any given Sunday afternoon, people of all ages…
Dobson backs Huckabee after Romney bows out
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (ABP) — In a move unprecedented for him, Focus on the Family founder James Dobson has endorsed a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination. In a statement released Feb. 7, Dobson backed former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee…
Randel Everett tapped as Texas nominee
DALLAS (ABP) — Randel Everett, who has headed a seminary and served as pastor of prominent churches in four states, is the nominee for the executive director position of the largest statewide Baptist convention. Baptist General Convention of Texas officials…
Former BGAV leader Ken McFarland Smith dies
ARLINGTON — Ken McFarlane Smith, former president of the Baptist General Association of Virginia, died Jan. 20. Smith, an attorney and member of First Baptist Church of Clarendon in Arlington, was BGAV president in 1977. He also has served as…
Baptist ministry assistants gather for certification
Baptist Ministry Assistants of Virginia (BMAV) will gather in Virginia Beach April 1-4 for professional certification and skillshops at the Quality Inn & Suites — Oceanfront. The theme for this conference is “Teaching by the Seaside” and is taken from…
Essay contest announced
RICHMOND — High school students are invited to enter the third annual Roots & Wings Young Scholars Essay Contest sponsored by the Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies. The contest is open to all 11th and 12th grade high school…
Seminar set on Islam
EMPORIA — Muslim beliefs will be part of the focus of a one-day seminar on Islam presented at Main Street Baptist Church in Emporia on Saturday, Feb. 23, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. “Christians Look at Islam: Islam in…
Huckabee, McCain, Dems left as Romney drops out of race
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Mike Huckabee's Feb. 5 assertion that he is now in a “two-man race” was ratified Feb. 7 when former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney dropped out of the Republican contest for the presidency. With an announcement to Washington…
Victims, Baptists focus on relief after deadly storms
JACKSON, Tenn. (ABP) — Baptist churches and organizations are both suffering and helping in the wake of deadly tornadoes that devastated the Mid-South Feb. 5-6. According to initial National Weather Service reports, more than 60 tornadoes struck Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky…
News about Virginia Baptists and their ministries for February 7, 2008
STAFF CHANGES • Craig A. Sherouse, to Second Church, Richmond, as pastor, effective March 2. • Chuck Price, to New Beginnings Church, Powhatan, as pastor. • Jonathan Geldmaker, to Union Hill Church, Brookneal, as pastor. • Richard H. Pendleton, to…