RALEIGH — Public high schools in North Carolina could offer elective Bible classes if a bill introduced in the state Senate Feb. 26 is adopted by the General Assembly. The bill by Republican Sen. Stan Bingham of Denton, N.C., would…
Aging pushes churches to fiscal brink
By Jeff Brumley Things were looking bleak for Orange Grove Baptist Church and its aging membership when Greg Shoemaker arrived as its pastor about a year ago. Located just north of Pascagoula, Miss., the congregation and community around it had…
Letter: Shield poor from sequestration
By Bob Allen Eighty-eight faith leaders wrote President Obama and congressional leaders Feb. 25 urging them to protect hunger and poverty programs as they seek to avert government spending cuts due to take effect March 1. The letter is from…
Woman minister baptizes father
By Barbara Francis A baptism is always cause for celebration in a Baptist church, but Broadway Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., witnessed a rare spectacle recently when a daughter of the congregation returned to the baptistery where she was immersed…
Missional strategist, church planter named first full-time coordinator of V3
RICHMOND — JR Woodward, a missiologist with more than 20 years of experience as a church planter and pastor, has been named first full-time coordinator of V3 Tribe, a missional church planting movement with ties to Virginia Baptists. Woodward, who…
Helping churches find ‘closure’ after a pastor leaves is focus of training event
LYNCHBURG, Va. — Challenges facing intentional interim pastors as they help churches achieve “closure” during leadership transitions will be the focus of a March 4 event sponsored by the Virginia Network of Interim Ministers. “Cake and Coffee Is Not Enough!”,…
Congregation targets human trafficking in Central Virginia community with Psalm 91 House
PALMYRA, Va. — While taking a hard look at the tragedy of human trafficking last fall, the Ladies Night ministry at Effort Baptist Church in Palmyra, Va., found the horrors of sexual slavery shocking. Though a global issue and one…
To fill positions on BGAV’s committees and affiliated governing boards, committee asks for help
RICHMOND, Va. — Suggestions to fill positions on the Baptist General Association of Virginia’s standing committees and on governing boards of some affiliated organizations are being sought by the BGAV’s committee on boards and committees. The committee is seeking names…
Building bridges among leaders will mark Laura McDaniel’s new role with Spence Network
RICHMOND, Va. — Though she’ll miss her nearly 10 years on the staff of Woman’s Missionary Union of Virginia, Laura McDaniel says she’s eager to begin a new role “building bridges” among leaders in the Spence Network. “We will be…
In what she calls a ‘holy moment,’ minister’s father is first person she baptizes
VINTON, Va. — As Brittany Riddle stood in the baptismal waters at Broadway Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., on Dec. 30, she told the congregation that the last time she was in that baptistery was at 12 years of age…
First woman pastor of church with Lottie Moon ties finds inspiration in historical connection
SCOTTSVILLE, Va. — Scottsville Baptist Church, a Virginia congregation closely associated with iconic Baptist missionary Lottie Moon, called its first woman pastor — Katie McKown — last fall, continuing a long tradition of female leadership in the church. The church,…
Emancipation Proclamation’s 150th is impetus for essay contest aimed at high school students
RICHMOND — The 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation has inspired an essay contest sponsored by the Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies. Francis Bicknell Carpenter’s 1864 painting, First Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation of President Lincoln. (Photo/Wikimedia Commons) “How…