BWIM puts up a billboard in Orlando

An international missions official for the American Baptist Churches USA has announced that a feared recall of missionaries will not happen in 2005. Last summer, American Baptist leaders said they needed to close a $1.5 million budget gap to prevent…

President Bush told a group of religious leaders that his administration allocated $2 billion to faith-based organizations last year to assist in their work of showing compassion toward Americans in need. “No matter what your faith is, we're united in…

Two Southern Baptist volunteers have been released from custody after being detained in the United Arab Emirates for distributing Christian materials. Vivian Gilmer of Myrtle Beach S.C., and Marie Bush of Waxahachie, Texas, were nearing the end of a four-week…

The House of Representatives has passed another bill giving religious charities the right to discriminate in hiring, even when they receive federal funds. On a largely party-line vote of 224 to 200, the chamber passed the Job Training Improvement Act…

A prominent European Baptist leader cautioned U.S. Baptists not to export their disputes or manipulate Baptists worldwide into their way of thinking. “We should be very careful how we are pulling the ropes in our mission work, in our evangelism…

By Greg Warner Southern Baptists account for roughly half of all U.S. Baptists-about 16 million people-and thus get most of the attention. The other half also represents a significant presence in America, but they lack a unifying identity, according to…

If the U.S. Supreme Court prohibits public displays of the Ten Commandments nationwide, all heck may break loose. Religious conservatives predict the resulting furor would be greater than the reaction when a California court ruled “under God” did not belong…

By Robert Marus The justices of the U.S. Supreme Court waded cautiously March 2 into one of the nation's most controversial issues: Whether, and how, governmental displays of the Ten Commandments can ever be constitutional. Hearing oral arguments in two…

Contributions from Virginia Baptists for the Indian relief project through March 1 with the following designations: • Southern Baptist Convention (IMB): $57,972.82* • Baptist World Alliance (BWAid): $17,507.36 • Cooperative Baptist Fellowship: $53,742.42 • Virginia Baptist Mission Board: $102,610.45 (Children's…

By Kevin Meadows ‘Thank you Uncle, thank you Aunty,” came the oft repeated reply from the beautiful faces of the Indian school children who received a new toothbrush, an inexpensive ballpoint pen and a fresh, No. 2 pencil. Before heading…

First Baptist Church in Alexandria led churches affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia last year in contributions to the Cooperative Program. Rounding out the top 10 churches in total CP gifts were Bon Air Baptist Church in Richmond,…

STAFF CHANGES • Russell Fail, resigning as pastor of Pine Grove Church, Petersburg. • Shea Shrader, to Harman Memorial Church, Maxie, as interim pastor. RETIREMENT • Herman C. Absher has announced plans to retire as pastor of Mount Tabor Church,…