ATLANTA (ABP) — Baptists need to recover their commitment to evangelism, preaching and pastoral leadership, which were de-emphasized during the conflict over fundamentalism in the Southern Baptist Convention, said historian Walter Shurden. “Baptists will not see a new day until…
Religious liberty panel observes 50th year
The Baptist General Association of Virginia's religious liberty committee marks its 50th anniversary this year. The BGAV is the only Baptist state convention with a standing committee focused on religious liberty, according to Fred Anderson, executive director of the Virginia…
Schiavo’s parents ask judge to let her divorce husband
TAMPA, Fla. (ABP) – In another attempt to keep their daughter alive, Terri Schiavo's parents asked a judge in Pinellas County Feb. 28 to allow her to divorce her husband, effectively taking away his right to make decisions on her…
Baptist Extension Board Inc. 2004 Year-End Summary
Total Income for 2004: $2,990,408.53 Distribution of Funds for 2004: $935,428.93 Cooperative Program Income: $29,999.83 Interest Income-Loans: $629,479.27 Principal Income-Loans: $2,122,394.47 Interest Income-Investments: $184,024.86 Rent Income: $5,000.00 Trust Fund Income: $19,510.10 59 New Loans Paid in 2004: $896,223.00 Other Expenses…
Virginia Baptists’ response so far
Contributions from Virginia Baptists for the Indian relief project through Feb. 24 with the following designations: • Southern Baptist Convention (IMB): $69,941.82 • Baptist World Alliance (BWAid): $16,549.36 • Cooperative Baptist Fellowship: $49,408.42 • Virginia Baptist Mission Board: $82,148.70 –…
INDIA & VIRGINIA BAPTISTS: Fisherman’s luck
By J. Murphy Terry There is a Midwest saying or idiom: “Fisherman's luck, wet butt and hungry gut.” Many of my friends are sportsmen, hunters and fishermen. They are serious about their interests. In fact, they are not pleasant to…
FIRST HAND: ‘There is so much to be done’
Volunteer describes experience among destroyed homes in Florida. By Alice Banks Our experience with the Virginia Baptist disaster relief team was our first mission trip but not the last. We served on teams that cooked for everyone, shopped for groceries…
Virginia Baptist volunteers return to area hit hard by Hurricane Charlie last Au
Some 130 Virginia Baptist volunteers spent the week of Feb. 7-11 on a disaster relief recovery trip to Punta Gorda, Fla. The group ministered in an area hit hard by Hurricane Charlie last August-and which they had visited just days…
Georgia churches look to Virginia for affiliation by ‘affinity’
By Robert Dilday First Baptist Church of Rome, Ga., is considering ending its affiliation with the Georgia Baptist Convention and joining the Baptist General Association of Virginia, whose Richmond headquarters are 600 miles away. And two other north Georgia churches…
Investment in Columbine movie comes up empty for NAMB
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (ABP) — Five years after paying for the right to make a movie about the Columbine massacre, the North American Mission Board has nothing to show for its investment. The movie about Christian student Cassie Bernall, one of…
Observance of Lent varies among Christian traditions
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (ABP) — Jay Wolf, pastor of First Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala., recently had a conversation with his youngest daughter about the season leading up to Easter. “Some members of her class were considering giving up chewing gum…
Supreme Court agrees to hear Oregon assisted-suicide case
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The U. S. Supreme Court agreed Feb. 22 to hear a case involving a state's assisted-suicide law, while turning away two other appeals on controversial topics. The justices announced they would hear the federal Justice Department's appeal…