Christmas Music & Drama Beaver Dam Church, Troy; “Do You Hear What I Hear?” Dec. 18 at 10:30 a.m. Bethel Church, Salem; “The Love, Joy and Laughter of Christmas,” Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. Biltmore Church, Glen Allen; “Star of…
Women’s ministry brightens Christmas for families of Mexican prisoners
SAN CRISTOBAL, Mexico (ABP) — Christmas 2005 will be a little more hopeful for families of the prisoners accused of the Acteal, Mexico, massacre — thanks to a Baptist woman's ministry. But for the eighth consecutive year, the celebration will…
Addie Davis, first woman ordained as Southern Baptist pastor, dies at 88
COVINGTON, Va. (ABP) — Addie Elizabeth Davis died Dec. 3, in her hometown of Covington, Va., after a brief illness. She was 88. Her ordination to the gospel ministry by Watts Street Baptist Church in Durham, N.C., on Aug. 9,…
Native pastor nominated to lead Baptist Convention of New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (ABP) — Joseph Bunce, 50, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Bloomfield, N.M., is the unanimous choice of a search committee to become the next executive director of the Baptist Convention of New Mexico. A special meeting…
Churches incorporate Narnia theme into Advent celebrations, outreach
HOUSTON (ABP) — Alongside the greenery and candles usually associated with Advent, some churches this year are using lions, witches and wardrobes to help worshipers experience the Christmas story. Drawing on images from Narnia — a mythical world created by…
Conflicting reports on IMB vote tally raise questions about board’s intent
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Conflicting reports about the vote totals for a new International Mission Board policy on speaking in tongues are focusing public attention on what may be a deeper disagreement about the agency's leadership. Associated Baptist Press reported,…
Conservative columnist elected editor of Louisiana Baptist paper
ALEXANDRIA, La. (ABP) –Trustees of the Baptist Message of Louisiana, who last month were rebuffed in an effort to dissolve their independent board, unanimously elected conservative Oregon pastor Kelly Boggs as editor. Boggs, 45, pastor of Valley Baptist Church in…
Louisiana College probation lifted after controversial policies reversed
PINEVILLE, La. (ABP) — Louisiana College will remain fully accredited, school officials learned recently, after the Baptist school rescinded several policies critics said impinged on academic freedom. The Pineville school had been on probation since December 2004 following a visit…
Moncrief, missions pioneer of inner-city, dead at 60
ATLANTA (ABP) — Legendary Southern Baptist home missionary Terry Moncrief died Dec. 7 at his suburban Atlanta home following a year-long battle with brain cancer. Moncrief, 60, was director of Techwood Baptist Center, established to minister in the nation's first…
New issue out of Heritage Seekers
The Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies announces publication of the fourth issue of Heritage Seekers magazine, which is designed for children in 3rd through 6th grades and their parents. The new issue features the story of Lott Cary and…
BGAV is movement of mission, not institution, says new board chair
The Baptist General Association of Virginia is a “movement of mission and ministry,” not an institution, Bert Browning said last week following his election as chair of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board. “Jesus Christ did not found any institutions and…
Updated: Execution deadline nears for Baptist, 3 other Christian hostages in Iraq
WASHINGTON (ABP) — As everyone from Jesse Jackson to a radical Muslim cleric pleaded Dec. 7 for mercy, abductors holding a British Baptist and three Christian peace activists hostage in Iraq reportedly extended the deadline for their demands to be…