Another View for October 27, 2005 By Franklin T. Fowler Many senior adults are looking for, thinking of or planing for a retirement community home in their future. Some may be ready to move now, others are thinking of it,…
Re-examining capital punishment
Disaster relief update
The latest on Virginia Baptists' disaster relief ministries. • Hurricane Wilma: Virginia Baptist Disaster Relief teams are once more springing into action to assist victims of Hurricane Wilma in Florida. Our feeding unit that had been assigned to Slidell, La.,…
Empowered to serve
Cover story for October 27, 2005 For more than a month, Virginia Baptists have been among hundreds-maybe thousands-of volunteers from across the country who have made their way to the Gulf Coast to help victims of the two hurricanes that…
American Baptists cut staff, but ‘not collapsing,’ says general secretary
The American Baptist Churches USA is shutting down its communications department-the latest step in budget cuts and restructuring brought on by declining funds and theological division in the denominational group. Although the ABC national office is experiencing funding losses due…
Steeple remains seminary’s beacon of hope for devastated New Orleans
Visible from miles away, the steeple of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary's chapel has always been a symbol of hope in the city of New Orleans. In 2002, when seminary administrators chose a new logo for the school, they chose…
Record 7.3 million meals provided to victims of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita
An all-time record has been reached-more than 7.3 million meals prepared to date for victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita under the Southern Baptists' mammoth disaster relief effort across the Gulf Coast. Previously, the most meals prepared in a Southern…
Heritage Seekers releases new issue
William Carey, the first modern missionary, is featured in the new issue of Heritage Seekers, the magazine for children and families published by the Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies. Emily Ray, a children's worker and writer in Richmond, is…
Children’s ministry certification drawing Virginia Baptists
Sixteen persons gathered Sept. 29 to begin the second in a five-course certification in children's ministry offered by the Virginia Baptist Mission Board. Of the 16 participants, eight were new to the certification process. Of the 10 persons who completed…
Baptist Center sponsors first youth essay contest
Virginia Baptist youth are invited to enter a new essay contest sponsored by the Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies. The first “Roots & Wings: Young Scholars Essay Contest” carries a missions theme as 11th and 12th grade students learn…
Wiccan leader loses appeal in Va. civic prayer case
The Supreme Court has turned away a Wiccan who sought to deliver prayers at Chesterfield County board meetings on an equal basis with Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders. Cynthia Simpson, a practitioner of the neo-pagan religion, had appealed a decision…
Meet Maxine Bersch, Virginia Baptist author
By Jim White Like a beguiling butterfly, 80-something year-young Maxine (Mackie) Bersch demonstrated her story-telling expertise by flitting from scene to scene, keeping me on the edge of my seat as she told her own story. Born in Clay County,…