(ABP) — “Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.” Thus read the sign recently in front of Madison Avenue Baptist Church, a New York City congregation whose pastor is all about convincing folks not…
OPINION: All clergy abuse cover-ups not the same
From one religious body to another, there’s a horrible sameness about the sexual abuse of children by those charged with their moral and spiritual development. The differences come in the institutions and communities, and how they deal with the abusers…
Children conceived through rape open new front in abortion culture wars
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Standing before the throngs at the March for Life on Jan. 25, Ryan Bomberger admitted that he was the poster child for one of the most difficult aspects of the abortion debate: his mother had been raped….
HeraldBeat: Tracking Baptists across the Mid-Atlantic
Transitions ON THE MOVE C. Allen Mahan, to Kentuck Baptist Church, Ringgold, Va., as pastor, in January. Mandy England Cole, to Ginter Park Baptist Church, Richmond, Va., as pastor. John T. Fulcher Jr., now serving as pastor of First Baptist…
Fasting like an Old Testament prophet gains followers during Lent
(RNS) — Amy Lester has followed Jesus for decades, but her keen appreciation for his sacrifice on the cross came only recently when she started eating like the prophet Daniel. During Lent, which starts Feb. 13, the 40-year-old mother of…
Christmas at Bluefield features community orchestra in two performances
BLUEFIELD, Va. — More than 130 singers from three Bluefield College voice ensembles and six local church choirs, along with 25 instrumentalists in BC’s Community Orchestra combined to perform the season’s most “amazing,” “moving” and “inspiring” Christmas production, Dec. 1…
On Grammy weekend, Christian music industry bounces back, thanks to strong sales
ATLANTA (RNS) — Christian recording artist TobyMac’s blend of rap, hip-hop, rock and soul raced up the charts last year and shattered many stereotypes along the way. “Toby blows everybody’s perception of what Christian or gospel music is because Toby…
Christian music bounces back
ATLANTA (RNS) — Christian recording artist TobyMac’s blend of rap, hip-hop, rock and soul raced up the charts last year and shattered many stereotypes along the way. “Toby blows everybody’s perception of what Christian or gospel music is because Toby…
Who cares for the caregivers?
By Ken Camp The New Testament commands Christ’s followers to “bear one another’s burdens.” But applying that principle to caregivers—people who shoulder the around-the-clock responsibility for meeting the needs of someone who cannot live independently because of advanced age, illness…
Did I care enough?
By Ken Camp During the five years she served as his caregiver, Sue Strother and her husband, Joe, understood the roles each filled. “He bore the pain. I bore the strain,” she said. Her husband, pastor of North Riverside Baptist…
CBF, American Baptist leaders meet
By Bob Allen Staff leaders of two national moderate Baptist organizations met Feb. 5 in Atlanta to share ideas and discuss present and future partnerships. Pat Anderson, interim executive of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, said the 1,900-church group that separated…
HeraldBeat: Tracking Baptists across the Mid-Atlantic
Accepted a new call? Been ordained? Church celebrating an anniversary? Mission trip or project that you would like highlighted on the HeraldBeat page? Send info to HeraldBeat editor Barbara Francis at [email protected]. Transitions ON THE MOVE James R. Hunter, to…