Baptist News Global

EDITORIAL: It happens at the BGAV

When the Baptist General Association of Virginia gathers in Richmond for our annual meeting next week we will have a lot to accomplish. I don't wish to cast any doubt on the importance of the decisions we will make over…

Time out of joint

Last issue this column told about a man — Henry Keeling Ellyson, the long-time executive leader of Virginia Baptists in the 19th century — and his vision: the planting of new church starts wherever the railroads placed depots. No matter…

SECOND OPINION: Learning from the young through reverse mentoring

Think for a moment: your MP3 player is on the fritz, or maybe you can't get your text message to send. Who do you ask for help? Your teenage daughter? The college intern at work? It may be quite humbling…

Out Loud

“The KKK is our own terrorist organization. They have murdered, lynched and terrorized thousands of people in this country, or inspired the same. It is disingenuous of us to say that someone in Saudi Arabia ought to do something about…

Memphis church gives new meaning to ‘I Surrender All’

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (RNS) — Nineteen-year-old Edacious recently came to New Salem Missionary Baptist Church, to surrender — and not just to Jesus. There was a warrant for her arrest on marijuana charges, and she had come to church to turn…

FAITHSHAPERS: Positive behaviors

Last month we discussed ways to extinct undesirable behaviors. Now we will turn our attention to the other side of the coin. Reducing our reinforcement of negative behaviors is a great start, but we also have to be purposeful about…

Church welcomes the ‘Scum of the Earth’

DENVER — The people who worship with Pastor Mike Sares at this rented space are mostly young, many of them students, some clean cut, some a little raggedy. More than a few of the 300 congregants have grappled with depression,…

Opportunities remain to take part in Connect:2007 in Richmond

RICHMOND — Although pre-registration for the Connect:2007 BGAV annual meeting has now closed, there are still many opportunities to participate in this annual gathering of Virginia Baptists, Nov. 13-14 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center. Churches that have not pre-registered…

Auxiliary meetings scheduled around annual BGAV gathering

RICHMOND — A variety of events will be held in conjunction with Connect:2007, the annual meeting of the Baptist General Association to be held Nov. 13-14 in Richmond. Among them: Virginia Baptist Pastors Conference, Monday, Nov. 12, 2:30 p.m.-9:15 p.m….

Israel claims artifacts found date to first Jewish temple

JERUSALEM (RNS) — Israeli archaeologists who have been inspecting maintenance work done by Muslims on the Temple Mount have discovered what they believe are artifacts dating back to the time of the first Jewish temple. Archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities…

Falwell’s church continues fast-paced growth

WASHINGTON (RNS)—Thomas Road Baptist Church, the Virginia megachurch founded by the late Jerry Falwell, had the largest numeric growth recorded in a new list of the nation's fastest-growing churches. Outreach magazine reported the church in Lynchburg, Va., saw an increase…

Americans don’t want religious pitches from presidential candidates, poll says

WASHINGTON (RNS)—Even though thousands of evangelicals flocked to Washington for the recent Values Voter Summit, more than two-thirds of Americans think presidential candidates should not use their religious beliefs to sway voters, a new poll shows. The poll, conducted by…

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