By now, everyone on the planet is aware of Mel Gibson's colossal blunder, which he compounded by tripping over his own tongue. His critics made little of his drunkeness, nor placed much significance on his drunk driving arrest. His anti-Semitic…
On stem cell research
Here is an idea concerning embryonic stem cell research, in vitro fertilization and Plan B. Although there are yet many exceptions, evidence suggests we are increasingly becoming a self-centered and terribly selfish people. This evening while surfing the news, I…
Down by the Old Mill Stream
Virginia Singleton Darnell has done it all in the First Baptist Church of Richmond. She has broken the gender barrier time and again. She was in the “second batch” of women to be elected as deacons about 1979; and in…
News about Virginia Baptists and their ministries for August 31, 2006
Revivals & Homecomings Belmont Church, Charlottesville; 57th anniversary/homecoming on Sept. 17 at 11 a.m.; Suzanne Smith, chaplain at Martha Jefferson Hospital, guest speaker; following a meal there will be an organ concert by Oliver Wolcott. Bethel Church, Midlothian; revival Sept….
Franklin Owen, retired Baptist exec, remembered for vision, integrity
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABP) — Franklin Owen, executive secretary of the Kentucky Baptist Convention from 1972-1983, died Aug. 30 in Lexington, Ky. He was 93. A longtime Kentucky Baptist pastor and denominational leader, Owen was lauded by peers as a man…
Virginia churches help with Caribbean VBS this summer
When Hurricane Ivan pummeled the island of Grenada on Sept. 7, 2004, with winds gusting to 145 mph, 89 per cent of the homes of the 100,000 residents were severely damaged. Thirty percent (10,000 homes) were completely destroyed. In addition,…
Dorothy Hall: 48 years of of Missions Connection
Her knitting needles clicking away, Dorothy Hall of Jarrett, worked diligently on little baby caps and blankets as part of her participation in Missions Connection 2006. For 48 years, Hall and various members of her family have been making the…
WMUV committee solicits comments
Margaret Wayland, chair of the ad hoc committee for Woman's Missionary Union of Virginia, has invited Virginia Baptists who wish to provide information to them to send it in writing to Margaret Wayland, Ad Hoc Committee, WMU of Virginia, P.O….
BTSR’s Graves to retire in 2007 citing health reasons
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) –Thomas Graves, president of Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond since 1991, has announced plans to retire next year. Citing health reasons, Graves, 58, will step down July 1, 2007. He announced his plans during a special called…
McKissic responds to Patterson’s criticism of statement on tongues in chapel sermon
ARLINGTON, Texas (ABP) — One of Southern Baptists' most prominent African-American leaders responded Aug. 30 to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's rationale for partially censoring a chapel sermon he preached there a day before. In an open letter, Dwight McKissic told…
Donations to non-hurricane charities strong despite record Katrina giving
NEW ORLEANS (ABP) — Despite expectations to the contrary, donations to many charities not related to Hurricane Katrina held steady or increased last year, according to reports from Charity Navigator, a nonprofit watchdog group that monitors the financial health of…
Inexperienced charities complicated post-Katrina relief, watchdog says
NEW ORLEANS (ABP) — Although Hurricane Katrina inspired an unprecedented relief response, some of the groups who answered the call were inexperienced and ineffective, according to a charity watchdog group. The deluge of new and inexperienced charities that responded to…