By Jeff Brumley A new poll has revealed something religious leaders have known for years: Americans are pretty self-centered when they pray. And even when not praying for themselves, they are praying for family, friends and favorite teams — which, pastors…
Ebola vigil becomes memorial for fallen Christian brother
By Marv Knox A prayer vigil for the first Ebola patient in the United States turned into a memorial service for the virus’ first U.S. victim hours after Eric Duncan died in Dallas Oct. 8. Wilshire Baptist Church planned the…
North Carolina’s Gardner-Webb University to partner with BGAV
By Robert Dilday North Carolina-based Gardner-Webb University has forged a new partnership with the Baptist General Association of Virginia following an Oct. 8 vote of approval by the Virginia Baptist Mission Board. The 4,600-student Baptist school in Boiling Springs will…
Baptist editor blasts gay-marriage ruling
By Bob Allen In an Oct. 7 editorial, a Baptist state newspaper editor blasted a ruling by a Kansas City judge that marriages of Missouri gay couples performed legally in other states or countries must be honored in their home…
Pastor calls out ‘tolerated non-involvement’ in Southern Baptist churches
By Bob Allen One of the most unrecognized sins in Southern Baptist life is “tolerated non-involvement” by church members, a prominent pastor said recently in a conference at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Mark Dever, pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church…
BGAV to consider reduced budget in 2015
By Robert Dilday The Baptist General Association of Virginia will consider a 2015 budget significantly lower than current funding levels when it gathers for its annual meeting next month. The BGAV budget committee will recommend a goal of $11.5 million…
Faith community challenged to put a face on poverty, hunger
By Ken Camp and Jeff Brumley A politician’s challenge that the faith community put a human face on poverty can happen only if Christians build relationships with the poor and hungry, according to a Baptist minister who lives and works…
Dallas Ebola patient Eric Duncan dies
By Bob Allen Dallas Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan, 42, died Oct. 8, according to a statement from Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas. “It is with profound sadness and heartfelt disappointment that we must inform you of the death…
Alliance of Baptists gets grant for LGBT initiative
By Bob Allen The Alliance of Baptists announced Oct. 8 receipt of a $104,400 grant to support a new initiative promoting LGBT inclusion and racial justice among Baptists. The grant from the Arcus Foundation, a charity that supports organizations that…
Name changes challenge churches on Baptist identity
By Jeff Brumley Over the weekend, Virginia Heights Baptist Church in Roanoke, Va., plunged headlong into a continuing, decades-long trend in American Christianity by dropping the denominational reference from its name. So when Nelson Harris showed up for work Monday…
Dallas Baptist church supports Ebola family
By Bob Allen People affected by the Ebola virus are not just potential carriers to be shunned and feared but persons of dignity and worth created in the image of God, said Sunday morning’s preacher at Wilshire Baptist Church in…
BJC supports Muslim prisoner’s right to grow beard
By Bob Allen The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments Oct. 7 weighing the rights of people in prison to exercise their religion against sensitivity to corrections officials in matters of security. The case, Holt v. Hobbs, involves a practicing…