BRIERFIELD, Ala. (ABP) — An unlikely pair shared the pulpit at Judson College's weekly chapel Sept. 18. Jim Parker is pastor of the Ashby Baptist Church in Brierfield, Ala., the second of nine Alabama churches burned by arsonists in February…
New ‘ex-gay’ study hailed by Right raises methodological questions
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A new study suggesting that religiously motivated conversion from homosexual orientation is possible and not harmful has been hailed by some social conservatives, while others are questioning the study's motive and methodology. The study, funded by an…
FIRST PERSON: Baptist ministry at JMU makes impact
“Preach the gospel at all times and, if necessary, use words.” These words from St. Francis of Assisi encapsulate the passion and drive of the Christian Student Union at James Madison University, a collegiate ministry of Baptist Collegiate Ministries of…
Baptist heritage center recognizes Heritage fellows
RICHMOND — The Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies recognized three outstanding students at the annual meeting of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society in May. The fifth class of Heritage Fellows includes Mattie Patterson, a junior at the College of…
EDITORIAL: The sustaining power of a call
Earlier this month a kind of posthumous autobiography was published: Mother Teresa: Come, Be My Light. Have you ever wondered what in heaven's name God was up to? Of course you have. During the periods of your life when your…
Virginia church partners to restore lives
ATLANTA — It had been two years, and Beth and Joe Weedo still slept on air mattresses on the floor of their Pensacola, Fla., home. Hurricane Ivan had ripped through their community and dropped a tree on the Weedo house…
SECOND OPINION: The ball keeps growing
The ball keeps growing. It's like an avalanche provoked by imprudent and irresponsible people, who don't calculate the transcendence of their acts. No, it's not a snow ball. It is a giant ball of racism and social intolerance. It's a…
VIRGINIA BRIEFS
Fork Union exceeds goal. Fork Union Military Academy completed its largest fundraiser in history 18 months earlier than expected and has exceeded its $29 million goal by more than $2.3 million. A surprise challenge by an anonymous donor helped push…
A man’s world
Jesus had four named brothers (James, Joses, Simon and Judas) and unnamed sisters. Were these siblings among Jesus' followers? John 7:5 says, “For even his brothers did not believe in him.” Apparently what his sisters believed didn't matter. Also, what…
California pastor, seminary president to join SBC presidential contest
SAN FRANCISCO (ABP) — Bill Wagner, California college president and pastor who also was a long-time employee of the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board, has said he will run for the SBC presidency next year. Wagner, who wrote How…
SECOND OPINION: Ministry and money matters aren’t mutually exclusive
For many, the command not to worry about tomorrow is a mandate for ministers to live entirely by faith, especially in financial matters. But the command to be good stewards indicates an equal calling to use resources wisely, which includes…
IMB envisions 3,000 more missionaries on field
RIDGECREST, N.C. (BP) — Many Southern Baptist churches that pride themselves in being “missions minded” might have a hard time convincing an impartial observer, an International Mission Board leader told trustees Sept. 12 at LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center. The meeting…