KNOXVILLE, Tenn.(ABP)—Mary Cate Jones never doubted her congregation would help when it learned she faced a foreclosure crisis last month. But raising $35,000 in the last two weeks of May and finding a donor to match the rest? The 78-year-old…
Ramadan fast poses challenge for Muslim Olympians
(RNS)—Winning an Olympic medal is hard. Surprisingly, winning one when you’re fasting for Ramadan is not that much harder. At least, not for Suleiman Nyambui of Tanzania, who took silver in the 5000 meters at the 1980 Summer Olympics while…
CELEBRATE RETIREMENT: Goal of college degree before 70 becomes reality
BLUEFIELD, Va.—Harriett Libby finished Middlesex High School in Saluda, Va., in 1960, married Howard Roane that September and set her heart on finishing her education with a college degree. But despite a calling to professional ministry, which would require a…
Mormons and Baptists compete for converts
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS)—Jake Pulsipher’s first day as a working missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began at 6:30 a.m. with prayer and exercise, followed by breakfast and study. Then he put on a black suit, white…
CELEBRATE RETIREMENT: Baby Boomers are reinventing old age
Del Webb, America’s largest homebuilder of active adult communities, released in April its 10th Baby Boomer survey since 1996. It reveals new and compelling facts and opinions from the generation of Americans born between the years of 1946 and 1964…
Survey finds record 19 percent of religiously unaffiliated Americans
(RNS)—Unbelief is on the uptick. People who check “None” for their religious affiliation are now nearly one in five Americans (19 percent), the highest ever documented, according to the Pew Center for the People and the Press. The rapid rise…
CELEBRATE RETIREMENT: 86-year-old celebrates birthday with cross-country motorcycle ride
RICHMOND, Va.—University of Richmond Chancellor E. Bruce Heilman celebrated his 86th birthday on July 16 by arriving home—in one piece and in high spirits—from a 9,000-mile motorcycle trip around the United States. Bruce Heilman at a stop in San Antonio,…
Project Ruth celebrates two decades ministering to Roma children
BUCHAREST, Romania (ABP)—Project Ruth’s Mihai Ciopasiu is all too glad to talk about the success the organization has enjoyed the past two decades serving the poorest and most shunned children in Romania. The nonprofit began as a day center with…
HERITAGE: ‘While yet day’
In its 225 years High Hills Baptist Church at Jarratt, Va., has witnessed many sunrises. Each one brought challenges and opportunities. At the front of the church’s sanctuary there are two tablets memoralizing early pastors: Josiah C. Bailey (1813-1881) and…
CELEBRATE RETIREMENT: 10,000 Baby Boomers reaching age 65 each day are transforming senior adult min
It happens to everyone. You can’t do anything about it and you want to think you’ll be calm when it happens, but most times it will catch you off guard. It’s your first “senior” mailing. It could be an invitation…
Organization says SBC is ‘bullying’ Air Force chaplain to explain presence
(ABP)—A chaplaincy organization supportive of last year’s repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that banned gays from serving openly in the military accused the Southern Baptist Convention of bullying and intimidation for asking an Air Force chaplain to…
Project Ruth celebrates 2 decades
By Jeff Brumley Project Ruth’s Mihai Ciopasiu is all too glad to talk about the success the organization has enjoyed the past two decades serving the poorest and most shunned children in Romania. The nonprofit began as a day center…