According to figures used by the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, four-and-a-half million Virginians have never declared their belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. What are Virginia Baptists going to do about it? Let's get specific. What are…
BTSR offers online certificate courses
The School of Christian Ministry at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond announces six online certificate course offerings beginning April 9. Each course lasts four weeks. All courses are web-based. Participants can access online course materials and discussion forums anytime, from…
What kind of moderate?
Occasionally we hear the cry of a prophetic voice. I heard such a cry when I read the article written by Michael Gillen, “What kind of moderates are Virginia Baptists?” [Herald, March 8]. That prophetic voice challenges Virginia Baptists to…
Sarah Batkins, first campus minister, dies
Sarah Poole Batkins, the first student secretary (now campus minister) among Virginia Baptists, died March 8 in Richmond. She was 91. In September 1941, Batkins was employed as a joint venture of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board and Virginia Woman's…
More diversity
Thank you, Mike Gillen! Your article urging us to respond to the growing multi-ethnic culture around us put words to the thoughts in my own heart. I too desire to see more diversity in denominational leadership to truly reflect our…
Richmond area associations create new missions effort
On Sunday, Jan. 28, Baptists from across the Richmond area gathered at Lyndale Baptist Church in Chesterfield County to install Juanita (Nita) D. May as the regional ministries coordinator for Central Virginia Baptist Ministries (CVBM). You say you have never…
Aliens landed at Atlee
It may have sounded like a gathering new-age sci-fi trekkies, but “Alien” was the name given a conference for churches desiring to be innovative in their goal of reaching people with the message of Jesus. The conference was envisioned by…
‘Mainstream’ leaders credit freedom for staying Baptist
A refrain of freedom echoed through a Mainstream Baptist Network convocation in suburban Dallas Feb. 23-24. About 80 participants from across the South gathered for the sixth-annual event. During the session, seven speakers addressed the theme “Why I am still…
FIRST PERSON: On building bridges
Editor's note: Following this article is a brief email exchange between Dr. Rainer and me. When my three grown sons were small children, we would often play with a wooden train. Because they were so young, the boys would sometimes…