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 School of Christian ministry to offer online courses
The School of Christian ministry at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond will offer two four-week online courses, Sept. 11-Oct. 8. “Baptist Identity” provides an overview of Baptist heritage and how it influences current church ministry. Participants study Baptist origins, developments…
Petersburg Baptist Association to celebrate century of ministry
Petersburg Baptist Association, which includes 57 churches in Southside and Tidewater Virginia, celebrates its centennial this year. The celebration will be held on Sunday, Sept. 10 at 3 p.m. at West End Baptist Church, Boydton Plank Road, U. S. 1,…
Moms to pray on ‘First Day’
Moms in Touch International is organizing its first “First Day,” an opportunity for mothers to gather for prayer for their children on the first day of school in Chesterfield County. The mothers will meet in three locations on Tuesday, Sept….
Sunday school summit planned
The Baptist General Association of Virginia's Sunday School Summit, set for Sept. 15-16 at Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center, will be a little different this year. In addition to the always practical age-group workshops, the Summit will offer pastors, staff…
The Word of God as sword or stick?
Perhaps you heard the story on national news or read it on the internet. The pastor and board of First Baptist Church of Watertown, N.Y., fired a Sunday school teacher for being a woman. The teacher, 81-year-old Mary Lambert, received…
Mel Gibson’s acts
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…
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…
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…
Mississippi Baptist team weighs future of Katrina-devastated coastal retreat
PASS CHRISTIAN, Miss. (ABP) — One of the clearest demonstrations of Hurricane Katrina's power as it decimated the Mississippi Gulf Coast Aug. 29, 2005, is the shell of a large three-story steel-reinforced concrete building in the once-charming town of Pass…