François Fénelon: A Biography, Peter Gorday (Paraclete) Given the election cycle we find ourselves in the midst of, I’m picking three titles that help us engage this political moment from new angles. Fénelon was a bishop in King Louis’ court,…
OPINION: The choice: Purpose or relevance?
Pastors get to have these complex and wonderful conversations with people from all walks of life. I think the words, “Go ahead, I’ll listen” are tattooed on my forehead with ink that’s invisible when I look in the mirror. Everyone…
‘Peeping preacher’ found guilty
By Bob Allen A Mississippi judge found a former pastor at a popular Southern Baptist youth camp guilty on 13 counts of video voyeurism and sentenced him to 10 years in prison Sept. 14. In addition, DeSoto County circuit judge…
‘Coaching bug’ gaining in Baptist life
By Jeff Brumley Courtney Krueger is so excited about ministry coaching that he can barely contain himself when asked about it. “It has opened a whole new world to me,” said Krueger, the senior pastor at First Baptist Church of…
CBF to produce follow-up to ‘It’s Time’
By Bob Allen The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has received a $250,000 grant for church resources including a follow-up to the popular It’s Time study course that challenged churches and individuals to move from a program-driven model toward a “missional” focus…
HeraldBeat: Tracking Baptists across the Mid-Atlantic
Transitions ON THE MOVE Allen Jessee, to Highlands Fellowship Church, Abingdon, Va., as lead pastor. He had been serving as maturity pastor at Highlands Fellowship, a multi-site church. He previously served as lead pastor of Community Heights Baptist Church, Cedar…
Softball ministry impacts lives of N.C., Va., inmates
The Virginia Saints are a men’s softball team that played six games this summer. But the team is not a member of a traditional church softball league. This group of men from Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Glen Allen, Va.,…
EDITORIAL: WMUV continues ministry to Native Americans
While the GOP and the Democrats continue their on-going debate about the role of government in easing the plight of the poor, Women’s Missionary Union of Virginia has steadfastly continued ministry to some of our nation’s poorest people. Through the…
Alliance of Baptists offer sexuality study
By Bob Allen Churches aligned with the Alliance of Baptists are setting aside Sept. 16 for study and worship focused around issues of human sexuality. The progressive Baptist group formed in 1987 produced resources for worship and Christian formation for…
Church visits firefighters on 9-11 date
By Jeff Brumley Sometimes, being “missional” means developing innovative ministries and programs that push churches out of buildings into their communities. At other times it just means paying attention to the calendar. Susan Rogers and her congregation at The Well…
Baptist church host for gun buy-back
By Bob Allen Officials in Memphis, Tenn., will trade gasoline for guns Sept. 15 at an inner-city Baptist church with no questions asked in a program aimed at reducing the number of weapons on the street. The mayor’s office is…
Profs probe ‘Mormon moment’
By Bob Allen Evangelicals going to the polls this November aren’t voting on whether Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney is a Christian, but if he would make a better president than Barack Obama, a panel of Baptist seminary professors said…