ATLANTA (ABP) — Tom Stocks, the pastor for 17 years at Rosalind Hills Baptist Church in Roanoke, Va., never thought he would need a sabbatical. But in January — after recent staff changes, three church fund-raising campaigns in five years,…
Baptist volunteers make inroads in largely Catholic New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS (ABP) — After serving the homeless for decades in New Orleans, Tobey Pitman is finally paving significant inroads with leaders and homeowners in the predominantly Catholic region. That's not to say he hasn't had noteworthy success with his…
Signs of life rare in New Orleans, but some hardy souls staying put
Robert Marus/ABP Joe McKeever, executive director of the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans, addresses pastors and other church leaders from the association during their monthly support meeting Aug. 2. McKeever has been holding such meetings as a way to…
Alliance of Baptists fined $34,000 for ‘tourist’ activities in Cuba
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The government agency charged with enforcing the United States' ban on travel to Cuba has notified the Alliance of Baptists that it will be fined $34,000 for allegedly engaging in tourist activities while in Cuba for religious…
The first fight
I just read a wonderful review of a new book on the America gospel written by Jon Meacham. It said that America's first fight was over faith. It went on to say that when the Founding Fathers gathered for the…
In the schoolhouse or the church house?
Fifty years ago most children received some exposure to the Judeo-Christian faith tradition in the tax-supported public schools. My faintest recollection is that my school had opening exercises with the pledge to the flag, some Bible verses and a prayer….
News about Virginia Baptists and their ministries for August 3, 2006
STAFF CHANGES Ricky J. Jenkins, resigning as pastor of Pioneer Church, Richmond, to accept a position with the Good News Jail & Prison Ministry. Clayton Sweet, resigning as pastor of New Hope Chapel, Pulaski. He and his wife Wanda, who…
ANOTHER VIEW: The stem cell veto
President Bush's veto July 19 of any change in his stem cell research policy was derided by many as a sop to his conservative base. But the price that the president and his party are sure to pay for this…
U.S. Baptist volunteers safe, thanks to Lebanese leader
As fighting between Israeli forces and Islamic radicals continued to decimate Lebanon July 24, groups of Baptist volunteers from the United States who had been trapped in Beirut were reported safely evacuated. The American Baptist News Service reported that Jennifer…
A Mormon for president?
With one Mormon looking like a serious contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, it may be time to ask the question Americans asked about Catholic candidate John F. Kennedy in 1960: Is the country ready to elect a…
Virginia Baptists join other leaders in plea for peace
Four Virginia Baptists have joined other Baptist leaders in North America and Europe in calling for an end to violence in Lebanon. The leaders are asking prayer for: • “An end to the escalating violence between Israel and Hezbollah.” •…
Record Habitat project grows in 9th Ward with Baptist help
Hannah Elliott/ABP Inman Houston and Andrew Crosby at the building site of the 31 homes First Baptist Church of New Orleans and Habitat for Humanity are building. NEW ORLEANS (ABP) — Last year, New Orleans' Upper Ninth Ward was one…