William E. Hatcher, the popular preacher of the 19th century whose persona this columnist frequently assumes, told the following story in his autobiography. It is a fascinating revelation of a time that is no more. The only part of the…
ANOTHER VIEW: Outrageous and anti-semitic, Gnostics penned more than Gospel of Judas
From all the hullabaloo in the press over the Gospel of Judas, one might easily conclude that something like the plot of Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code had suddenly been demonstrated as historical fact rather than fiction. Much of…
SIDEBAR: The Gospel of Judas: What is it?
The manuscript know as the Gospel of Judas is a series of tattered and fragmented sheets of papyrus in Coptic, an Egyptian script, and is contained in a 66-page, leather-bound “codex” that the National Geographic Society unveiled April 6. Terry…
Upton joins other North American Baptists at meeting to transcend differences
Virginia Baptist leader John Upton was among other leaders of Baptist conventions and organizations comprising more than 20 million adherents in North America who explored “additional opportunities for fellowship and cooperation” in Atlanta April 10. President Jimmy Carter, a lifelong…
IMB missionaries refuse to resign, will face forced termination in May
After receiving an April 15 ultimatum to resign or face termination, Wyman and Michelle Dobbs have refused to resign as International Mission Board missionaries in Guinea, West Africa. The couple was targeted for starting a church in Guinea that isn't…
As collaboration takes root worldwide, focus on exclusion isolates SBC missions
At a time when collaboration and cooperation characterize Christian missions, the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board appears to be moving toward isolation and exclusion, some veteran missionaries and missiologists insist. They point to new IMB policies — prohibiting private…
Driggers to retire from S.C. leadership post
(BP) — Carlisle Driggers will retire as executive director-treasurer of the South Carolina Baptist Convention on Feb. 28, 2007, after 15 years at the helm of the nation's oldest state Baptist convention. Driggers, 68, made the announcement during the April…
FIRST PERSON: There are giants among us
Not that long ago I was talking to a friend who moved to a new pastorate. His predecessor served this “tall steeple” church for 25 years, but unfortunately, the “retired” pastor was having trouble letting go the reins of leadership….
Cooperative Missions CD is available
A new CD detailing Virginia Baptists' mission work is available for churches to use. The GO: Responding to the Signs of the Times CD can be ordered from the Virginia Baptist Mission Board. “Virginia Baptists are a body of believers…
Historical Society to focus on missions
‘It's All About Missions!” is the theme for the annual meeting of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society set for 7:15 p.m., Tuesday, May 16 at Huguenot Road Baptist Church in Richmond. The keynote speaker will be Rosalie Hall Hunt, a…
Classified Ads for April 27, 2006
Baptist Hymnal in Braille: The library at First Baptist Church, Richmond, has a complete 4-volume set of the Baptist Hymnal, 1975 edition, in braille which is available free to another church. Contact David Jackson at 804-370-9896 or [email protected]. WORSHIP LEADER:…
In Iraq, man distributes study Bibles to soldiers facing ‘ultimate sacrifice’
DALLAS (ABP) — As a civilian contractor in Iraq, Brad Blauser has seen a lot when it comes to war. He's lost friends in combat and faces the possibility that more will follow. That knowledge, however, doesn't get him down….