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…
OPINION: A clean, well-lighted place
My 15-year-old son has taken to introducing me as a “retired pastor.” It’s hard to shake loose of that title for me, too. It’s probably because being a pastor is more of an identity than a job, more a personality…
Undeterred by failure of gun control legislation, black pastors launch coalition to address problem
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Black clergy, led by the Progressive National Baptist Convention, have launched a new coalition to fight gun violence, saying they are undeterred by the recent failure of legislation on Capitol Hill and all too aware of the…