STAFF CHANGES • Lynn Hardaway, to Temple Church, Newport News, as pastor. • Jane Tucker Lyon, to Antioch Church, Red Oak, as pastor. • Allen Bonnell, concluding his pastorate at Clintwood Church, Clintwood. • Stephen Renalds, to First Church, Elkton,…
Get the log out of your own eye first
In reference to those who felt the need to write an open letter chastising Dr. [Cecil] Sherman for his remarks at the CBF General Assembly, I would like to remind each of the letter's signers that Dr. Sherman has never…
Separate identity key to softening hurt for ministers’ spouses
“What are we going to do?” the young pastor's wife drew her infant closer. The baby was only a week old when some members of the church the couple served suggested the young man resign or they would lead the…
RIGHT OR WRONG?
In Baptist churches, we deeply believe in the priesthood of the believer, which also leads us to congregational decision-making. Each believer has the privilege and responsibility to seek God's direction and make decisions together accordingly. We do this when we…
FIRST HAND: How a pastor lost his soul
I lost my soul. Not my salvation mind you, just my soul. Some may say that is unbiblical. I will not argue with them. I have been known to be wrong. Still, I will stick by my statement, because it…
Rising gas costs fuel creativity as churches help offset prices
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (RNS) — At St. Stephen Baptist Church in Louisville, the 14,000-member congregation billed itself as a “seven-day-a-week” hub of activity, with choir practices, ministry meetings or small groups scheduled every night. But Pastor Kevin Cosby noticed a drop-off….
Virginia Baptists celebrate 10 years of soccer ministry partnership
Dressed in bright jerseys and demonstrating the finesse for which Brazilian soccer is famous, a team of Brazilian players teaches a group of children how to dribble a soccer ball through a line of orange cones. Later, after taking a…
Maybe Indiana Jones should have looked in Ethiopia
AXUM, Ethiopia (RNS) — The fabled Ark of the Covenant has become not only an icon of modern culture, thanks mainly to Indiana Jones, but also the most revered religious relic of all time. In Ethiopia, people believe it rests…
Virginia Baptists hammer home the blessings
Led by Woman's Missionary Union of Virginia, participants in the MC2 conference at Eagle Eyrie joined churches and community members in building a complete, five-bedroom house in just one week. Called a “Blessing Blitz” the accomplishment is all the more…