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…
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….
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…
Progressive National Baptists pick president, decry war in Iraq
CINCINNATI (ABP) — The Progressive National Baptist Convention has named T. DeWitt Smith as its new president. Elected at the convention's annual summer session, Smith will succeed Major Jemison as leader of the Washington, D.C.-based denomination. Smith is pastor of…
Trustee McKissic endorses prayer tongue during chapel sermon at Southwestern
FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — A trustee at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary endorsed the concept of a private prayer language in an Aug. 29 chapel sermon at the institution, setting off a wave of discussion in the Southern Baptist blogosphere…