Not long ago the on-air Today Show staff members were asked which holiday was their favorite. Each one said, “Thanksgiving.” Matt Lauer said it is “by far … by far” his favorite. I couldn't help but register some surprise and…
First Church, Coeburn, opens Hope Center to meet needs
First Baptist Church in Coeburn held the grand opening for its Hope Center on Oct. 27. The Hope Center Ministry began as a vision one year ago with a desire to utilize a large empty space in the church that…
SECOND OPINION: An association testimony
The year 2007 is the 300th anniversary of local Baptist associations in America; the founding of that first such association was in Philadelphia in 1707. These associations have spread throughout America and provide many opportunities for churches and individuals to…
IMB trustees define contextualization
RICHMOND (BP) — Making the gospel more accessible to the world's 6,500 unreached people groups is the goal of new guidelines adopted by trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board Nov. 6-7. Trustees outlined five “principles of contextualization”…
Return to Mount Hermon
On a magnificent fall Sabbath earlier this year, William E. Hatcher enjoyed a return to Mount Hermon Baptist Church in his native Bedford County. The occasion was the church's 220th anniversary. The church was packed with members, former members and…
Church building ministry at work in 45 countries
HAMPTON — Dois Rosser claims that his story is not a testimony of what one man can do for Christ. Rather, he says it is a testimony of what God can do with one man. Dois Rosser isn't a preacher….
FAITHSHAPERS: Pitfalls of punishment (1)
Punishment is a touchy topic, isn't it? When I was young, schoolteachers could take a child in the hall and paddle them. I still remember, quite vividly, our assistant principal visiting the class to let us see his large, carefully…
European indigenous mission project expands to 24 countries
WASHINGTON (BWA) — The European Baptist Federation, with the generous help of mission partners, has developed a mission project to facilitate evangelism and the planting of new Baptist churches in Europe and the Middle East. The Indigenous Mission Project, one…
Survey reveals lack of knowledge about First Amendment rights
WASHINGTON — Nearly two-thirds of Americans believe the Founding Fathers meant for the United States to be a Christian nation, and more than half believe the U.S. Constitution establishes a Christian nation, a national survey revealed. The survey also showed…
Who’s an evangelical? Question looms over annual meeting of scholars, theologians in ETS
SAN DIEGO (ABP) — As hundreds of scholars, pastors and theologians gathered Nov. 14 for the opening day of the 59th annual conference of the Evangelical Theological Society, a question loomed over their heads: How narrowly to define who qualifies…
Jezebel: Did the Bible’s bad girl get a bad rap?
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Few historical characters rival Jezebel for negative stereotypes. Today, “she's a household word for badness,” one scholar said. Culturally, she's portrayed as a brash, sexually provocative woman wearing too much make-up, another observed. So in her new…
Florida Baptists say alcohol disqualifies leaders from service
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (ABP) — Only teetotalers will be allowed to serve as trustees of the Florida Baptist Convention's agencies and boards, as a result of a vote at the convention's annual meeting. With no discussion and less than half…