By Bob Allen A former denominational worker who now represents the Boy Scouts of America said a former Southern Baptist Convention president is mistaken about the BSA’s new policy ending a membership ban on Scouts who are openly gay. Bryant…
SBC decline catching up with mainline
By Bob Allen The Southern Baptist Convention is “catching up with the Methodists” in dwindling numbers formerly known as the “mainline decline,” the denomination’s head statistician said June 10. LifeWay Christian Resources recently released figures indicating baptisms reported by churches…
Churches leave their mark on Habitat homes, even when they’re not actually on site
MECHANICSVILLE, Va. — When volunteers for Habitat for Humanity are working at build sites, they often use markers to write words of encouragement on 2x4s while the house is under construction, according to Cristi Lawton, development director for Habitat for…
Holiday travelers find welcome from churches at interstate rest stops
PETERSBURG, Va. — As travelers packed their bags and hit the interstates on the way to the beach, campground or other getaways on Memorial Day, volunteers from churches in the Petersburg (Va.) Baptist Association were packing coolers, coffee pots and…
HERITAGE: Father’s Day
Years ago at one of those pastors schools held at the University of Richmond, the late Stuart Grizzard, a renowned and beloved Virginia Baptist minister, said something which stuck. He reminded pastors that those who were parents needed to be…
TRENDING: Spiritual formation and malformations
Dallas Willard’s death in May has given us a chance to think about his substantial legacy, and his contribution to the wonderful trend of turning the core evangelical conversation toward discipleship and life in the Kingdom. Only 30 years ago,…
National Baptist minister to lead black church studies at Duke Divinity School
DURHAM — Eboni Marshall Turman, an ordained minister in the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc, has been named director of Duke Divinity School’s office of black church studies and assistant research professor of black church studies. Marshall Turman Divinity school…
Housing miracle for struggling KY family
By Jeff Brumley For Shawna Barnett and her husband, Malachi, a lay Church of God preacher, “the Lord works in mysterious ways” took on special meaning Wedneaday when a few dozen Baptist volunteers started building their new home in McCreary…
Baptist Scout leader opposes exodus
By Bob Allen The head of Association of Baptists for Scouting says it is neither necessary nor desirable for churches to leave the Boy Scouts of America because the organization no longer excludes youth based on their sexual orientation. A.J….
Blog: Pastor chastises abuse activist
Editor’s note: This story was updated after posting to add comments from First Baptist Church. By Bob Allen A woman who advocates on behalf victims of clergy sex abuse says she was sidelined by her Houston mega-church for planning an…
With new partnerships, Bluefield College aims to better equip ministry leaders
BLUEFIELD, Va. — Bluefield College is partnering with the Christian Leaders Link and the Network for Theological Education to train and better equip ministers and laypersons for more effective ministry and leadership in churches and communities. The college signed agreements…
SBC baptism, membership numbers fall
By Bob Allen Annual baptisms in Southern Baptist churches have declined by 100,000 in the last 12 years, last year dropping to the smallest number in 64 years. LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention released figures June 5…