Virginia Baptist leaders praised the generosity of the Baptist General Association of Virginia's churches last week as they announced it has surpassed its 2004 missions and ministry budget for only the second time in almost a quarter of a century….
The noose tightens: Conformity trend in states worries some
By Greg Warner Those who look for denominational trends are disturbed by several recent actions they say are tightening “the noose of conformity” in Baptist life. In a smattering of actions across the Baptist map, several state conventions are narrowing…
New inroads: IMB trustees celebrate new mission efforts
By Mark Kelly The gospel began making inroads this past year among 131 people groups that previously had little or no access to it, trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board were told during a Nov. 16-17 meeting…
New homes: Salvation Army finds spots for holiday kettles
By G. Jeffrey MacDonald For more than a century, the Salvation Army has been helping the needy during the holidays. But now the red-clad bell ringers are getting some extra help to make sure their familiar kettles and donations of…
Church & People News for Dec. 9, 2004
C H R I S T M A S • M U S I C Abingdon Church, Abingdon; “Messiah,” Dec. 12 at 11 a.m. Amherst Church, Amherst; “One of Us,” Dec. 12 at 11 a.m. Antioch Church, Sandston; “Emmanuel: Celebrating…
Aiming at Southwest Virginia
Ministers and laity in the southwestern part of Virginia will benefit from a new theological training center approved last week by the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, as part of an agreement with Averett University. By Robert Dilday A proposal by…
Networks reject UCC ads, citing gay controversies
Two major television networks have rejected advertisements that stress a Protestant denomination's inclusiveness. The United Church of Christ announced Nov. 30 that negotiations with NBC and CBS officials over the TV spots had broken down. NBC executives told church leaders…
First U.S. Muslim cable network debuts
With American Muslims an untapped television market and heightened interest in Islam among non-Muslims, the first-ever American Muslim television network has begun broadcasting nationwide. Many American Muslims have anxiously awaited the debut as a signal that Muslims are gaining recognition…
Americans divided over how world was created
A Gallup Poll suggests that Americans are divided over how the world was created, but most appear skeptical that it happened exactly as described in the book of Genesis. The poll found that Charles Darwin's theory of evolution remains controversial…