Baptist News Global

Ministers likely to dismiss or deny needs of mentally ill, Baylor study reveals

WACO, Texas — With research consistently showing that clergy — not psychologists or other mental health experts — are the most common source of help sought in times of psychological distress, a recent Baylor University study has found ministers often…

FCC approves ‘white space’ technology; some churches worry about interference

WASHINGTON (RNS) — The Federal Communications Commis-sion has decided to grant Google, Motorola, Dell and Microsoft permission to develop “white space” devices that some pastors worry will interfere with wireless microphones. The “white space” devices would use the same radio…

Atheists want probe of religion in military

WASHINGTON (RNS) — A na-tional atheist lobbying group is calling on President-elect Barack Obama to overhaul military policies in an effort to reduce what it sees as religious discrimination in the armed forces. The Secular Coalition for America has written…

Three decades later, memories of Jonestown tragedy linger

WASHINGTON (RNS) — In life, the 900 people who followed Jim Jones to build a utopian commune in the South American jungle in 1977 were relatively anonymous. But in death, the Jonestown pilgrims became front-page news when they died a…

Archaeologists find fragments linked to High Priest

JERUSALEM (RNS) — Israeli archaeologists have discovered a fragment from an ancient sarcophagus cover that bears a carved inscription with the words “The Son of the High Priest” in Hebrew. The High Priest was ancient Judaism's highest religious official and…

Faith Digest

Atheists to launch bus ads. Beginning Nov. 18, holiday ads from the American Humanist Association will appear on Washington, D.C., buses, declaring: “Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness' sake.” The $40,000 ad campaign is not necessarily…

EDITORIAL: Pewboy grapples with a hard faith

As Pewboy drove home from Roanoke where he had attended the annual meeting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia his stomach was in knots. Noting his apprehension, his confidante, spiritual advisor and sounding board, Altarego, materialized in the passenger's…

Return to Chester

Last week's column told about my character portrayal of William E. Hatcher, the noted old-time preacher, when he recently had a return engagement in Baltimore where he served as a pastor in the 1860s. This week's column tells about a…

FAITHSHAPERS: Teaching baptism

Because of its symbolic nature, baptism is very hard to explain to children. They often see baptism as some sort of magical event that draws their attention and activates their powerful need for inclusion. It is the duty of the…

Spirit-filled churches

In the Nov. 6 edition of the Religious Herald, an article attributed to ABP, written by Bob Allen, was entitled “Trinity debate trickles down to gender roles.” One paragraph reads, “In a June sermon .. Bruce Ware, professor of Christian…

Out Loud

“I'm like, OK, God, if there is an open door for me somewhere — this is what I always pray — I'm like, don't let me miss the open door. Show me where the open door is. … And if…

News about Virginia Baptists and their ministries for November 20, 2008

STAFF CHANGES • Mark Reon, to Jackson Memorial Church, Chesapeake, as pastor, effective Jan. 1. • Jamie Mann, to Nash's Chapel Church, Wise, as interim pastor. • Glen McCune, to Chamberlayne Church, Richmond, as minister of music. HYMN FESTIVAL“Joined Together…

Mohler again claims same-sex marriage harms children

Dan Patrick reiterates: ‘No separation of church and state’

Baptists know better than this

Judge bars Tennessee from revealing immigration status of sick children