DALLAS (ABP) — Divorce is insidious, but time with loved ones is precious, author Mitch Albom told an audience as part of a Dallas church's lecture series Nov. 1. Divorce does terrible things to kids, he says, even when they…
Virginia Baptists assist Europeans in supporting church planters
Virginia Baptists are partnering with Baptists in Europe to support church planters across that continent as well as in war-torn Iraq. Approximately 60 indigenous church planters in 21 countries in Eastern Europe and the Middle East are being supported by…
Return to Straightstone
Last week this column shared some of the history of Straightstone Baptist Church in Pittsylvania County. When the church recently celebrated its 200th anniversary, Rolen C. Bailey, a former pastor, was among those who returned to Straightstone. He served as…
Chaplain Service job seems made to order
When a prison inmate requests a special diet for religious reasons, is it really part of the inmate's faith? It's Randy Myers's job to find the answer. It's the kind of question Myers will grapple with in his new job…
ANOTHER VIEW: As U.S. tops 300 million, what about the church?
The population of the United States soared past 300 million in October, with no signs of declining anytime soon. Only two other countries contain more than 300 million people: China and India, with more than 1 billion each. Like those…
Virginians help dreams come true in African ministry
Nineteen volunteers from Community Heights Baptist Church of Cedar Bluff, Va., went to Kyela, Tanzania, for two weeks in July. Hundreds of churches take mission trips—what makes this one different is that it began 15 years ago. Pastor Allen Jessee…
UPDATE: Probe finds Texas church-starters got up to $1.3 million for bogus churches
DALLAS (ABP) — A five-month investigation uncovered evidence Baptist General Convention of Texas church-starting funds were misused between 1999 and 2005 in the Rio Grande Valley. At a called meeting of the BGCT Executive Board Oct. 31, investigators reported they…
Breakout sessions at BGAV to focus on RASNet
Five breakout sessions at this year's annual meeting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia will focus on the Ray and Ann Spence Network for Congregational Leadership, RASNet's director Bob Dale told Paige Peak, communications officer for the Virginia Baptist…
Pastor named in Rio Grande probe can’t substantiate lavish lifestyle
DALLAS (ABP) — Otto Arango's lavish lifestyle — living in an expensive home in an exclusive neighborhood and driving luxury cars — raised questions among some pastors in the Rio Grande Valley about the sources of his income. Their suspicions…
Evangelical Forum to hold 5th annual meeting
The Evangelical Forum will host its fifth annual meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 8, at the Green Run Baptist Church in Virginia Beach. The meeting is being held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia….
N.M. Baptists report record numbers, new translations at annual convention
CLOVIS, N.M. (ABP) — Perhaps more people attended the annual meeting of the Baptist Convention of New Mexico this year than any year since it was founded 94 years ago. The 2006 convention was the first since New Mexico Baptists…
New issue of Heritage Seekers is released
Sam Houston and Texas Baptists are featured in the new issue of Heritage Seekers, the magazine for children and families published by the Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies. The theme of this issue is on the spirit of individualism,…