Virginia Baptists are responding with fervor to the tsunami disaster in South Asia, providing thousands of dollars in relief funds and looking toward cooperating on a short-term project with Baptists in several of India's southern states. Baptists around the nation-including…
BGAV joins North American Baptist Fellowship, is endorsed for BWA membership
By Robert Dilday The Baptist General Association of Virginia has moved a step closer to full membership in the Baptist World Alliance. Last week, the BGAV joined the North American Baptist Fellowship, one of the BWA's regional fellowships. Representatives of…
Billy Kim retires as pastor of Korean megachurch
Korean megachurch pastor and evangelist Billy Kim, outgoing president of the Baptist World Alliance, retired Dec. 19 after 45 years as senior pastor of Suwon Central Baptist Church near Seoul, South Korea. Since becoming pastor of the congregation Jan. 1,…
A tragedy gets personal
Among the tens of thousands who lost their lives when the waves of December's tsunami surged onto Sri Lanka was a cousin of Richmonder Emily Thevathasan, who now hopes to participate in relief efforts on the stricken island. By Shawn…
Group questions ban of crosses in parade
An evangelical Christian group planning a prayer vigil and demonstration near the inaugural parade has criticized a U.S. Secret Service ruling prohibiting crosses and other structures along the route. The Christian Defense Coalition sent a letter Jan. 6 to officials…
Hungarian Baptist Aid carves unique disaster-relief niche
Americans might not think of Hungarians as being in the forefront of international relief efforts, but a relatively young Hungarian organization is a pacesetter in worldwide disaster relief. Hungarian Baptist Aid was founded in 1996 by Sandor Szenczy, a Baptist…
Americans go to church more than Canadians
Americans attend church more regularly and interpret the Bible more literally than Canadians, according to a recent Gallup Poll, reinforcing earlier surveys that consistently showed higher levels of religious observance in the United States than in Canada. In surveys of…
Relief team in Sri Lanka helps restore wells in stricken village
By Tony Cartledge On a map, the small island nation of Sri Lanka looks like a giant teardrop. It's an appropriate image. When a 9.0 earthquake off the faraway coast of Sumatra sent a tsunami speeding across the Indian Ocean…
‘Under God’ case refiled, halt to prayers requested
The famous atheist who failed last year in his attempt to get the phrase “under God” removed from the Pledge of Allegiance is trying again. California physician and attorney Michael Newdow filed a lawsuit in federal court Jan. 3 challenging…
Church & People News for January 20, 2005
S T A F F • C H A N G E S Todd Gaston, to Mount Ararat Church, Stafford, as senior pastor, effective Jan. 30. He had served the church as pastor for student ministries since 2002. Clyde Mawyer…
Prominent church-state issues likely to resurface in 109th Congress
By Robert Marus As the 109th Congress goes to work in an atmosphere already charged with partisanship, legislative battles over religious and moral issues are virtually certain to remain as prominent as they were in the last session, according to…
Jewish leader objects to Bush’s faith statement
President Bush said recently he doesn't understand “how you can be president without a relationship with the Lord.” But that testament brought a protest from one of the country's top Jewish leaders. Bush made the comment in an interview with…