Baptist News Global

21-C conference challenges participants to embrace vision and innovation

WOODBRIDGE — Virginia Baptists' annual 21-C conference, held Feb. 15-16 at First Baptist Church, Woodbridge, challenged participants to embrace a new vision for reaching the lost in Virginia. “21-C has become synonymous with Kingdom vision, Kingdom innovation, and Kingdom courage,”…

Bluefield College launches emergency notification system

BLUEFIELD — In a proactive, innovative move to enhance its crisis communication with students, Bluefield College launched a wireless emergency notification system, RamAlert, which will dramatically strengthen its ability to communicate with the campus community during times of crisis. Crafted…

Liberty University to plant 500 new churches

LYNCHBURG (BP) — Leaders at Liberty University have a vision to help plant some 500 new churches during the next five years, evidencing its commitment with a three-day church planting conference. During chapel services attended by 5,000-plus Liberty students during…

Virginia Supreme Court to hear Virginia Baptist Homes case

CULPEPER — The Supreme Court of Virginia will hear the appeal of Virginia Baptist Homes in its case related to the suit brought against it by Botetourt County for the payment of property taxes on The Glebe, the Homes' newest…

EDITORIAL: Aunt Ida sets them straight

Dear Jimmy, I've given away so many pieces of my mind your Uncle Orley is certain I must be empty-headed by now. But I just can't help it. Just last Sunday after church we went with a few other folks…

Wellsprings of centrist evangelicalism

Discussion of the concept of an emerging evangelical center (or some other label for an alternative to the Christian Right) has taken off in recent months — indeed, in recent weeks. Hardly a day goes by without some news article…

On her own

Virginia Pilcher Provence, pushing 90 at the time, went on her own to the Baptist World Alliance's Centennial Congress in Birmingham, England, in the summer of 2005. She investigated and learned that dorm rooms were available at a college. She…

OUTLOUD

“I naively believed that speaking for peace as a pastor would make sense. ” Frederick Boyle The United Methodist pastor is facing fines and jail times for violating government restrictions by traveling to Iraq in 2003 to protest the pending…

RIGHT OR WRONG?

So many current and former pastors and other church staff people have been in the news lately involved in sexual and financial scandals. What kind of background checks can a search committee legitimately implement to attempt to keep these kinds…

Does God protect some disaster victims but not others?

JACKSON, Tenn. (RNS) — As Kristen Fabrizio felt the vibrations preceding the tornado that ripped across the campus of Union University in Jackson, Tenn., last month, she clung to her friends, who in turn clung to their faith. “You can…

Americans fluid in their religious affiliation, Pew study reveals

WASHINGTON (RNS) — A new study of more than 35,000 adult Americans by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life captures the depth and breadth of religious America — 78.4 percent Christian, 4.7 percent members of other faiths and…

FAITH DIGEST

Amazing Grace takes top honors. Amazing Grace, the big-budget film that traced the life of abolitionist William Wilberforce, won Most Inspiring Movie of 2007 and Best Movie for Mature Audiences at the 16th annual Movieguide Faith and Values Awards in…

Islamophobia is the next bogeyman

The Black Church cannot remain America’s emergency moral infrastructure

We are manna

Webinar explores religious context of America’s Founders