RICHMOND, Va. — Plans to send Virginia Baptist disaster relief teams to Georgia in the wake of devastating floods have been put on hold while assessment of needs continues, a leader in the effort said Sept. 28. Terry Raines, disaster…
Intersection of literature and theology is focus of lecture series
RICHMOND, Va. — A university professor who has spent his academic career exploring relationships between Western literature and Christian theology will be the guest speaker at an annual lecture series hosted by Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond. Ralph C. Wood,…
Broad coalition of Baptists builds immigrant family home in N.C.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (ABP) — Thanks to teams from a broad array of local Baptist churches, a needy Moldovan family in Asheville, N.C. is living in their new “dream house.” A coalition of teams from congregations belonging to the local Buncombe…
Pakistani asks world’s Baptists for prayer support as pressure increases
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) — A pastor in Pakistan has asked his fellow Baptists around the world to pray for the nation’s beleaguered Christian community as it faces increasing pressure from the Muslim majority. In an e-mail to the Baptist…
HopeTree’s on-campus school has new name and facilities
Cutting the dedication ribbon are (from left) Stephen Richerson, president and executive director of HopeTree Family Services; Thor, a resident; George Fletcher, chair of HopeTree's board of trustees; Shaleigh, a resident; and Tommy Barber, education director of HopeTree Academy. (Photos…
Depression cited in North Carolina pastor’s self-inflicted death
HICKORY, N.C. (ABP) — Baptists in North Carolina reacted with shock to the apparent suicide Sept. 27 of a well-liked pastor active in denominational life. Sandy Ridge Baptist Church leaders said Pastor David Treadway, a member of the Baptist State…
Bluefield students combine academic studies with Christian service
BLUEFIELD — Students eager to combine their passion for Christian service with their academic disciplines found an opportunity on a recent medical mission trip sponsored by Bluefield College. Five students joined two professors and campus minister David Taylor in performing …
Muslims pray for ‘soul of America’ at U.S. Capitol in first ever event
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Swapping prayer rugs for massive plastic rain tarps, an estimated 3,500 Muslims gathered at the foot of the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 25 to pray for “the soul of America” in a grassroots demonstration of religious and…
Virginia Baptists deploying teams to assist victims of Georgia floods
The business district of Douglasville, Ga., was under water Sept. 22. RICHMOND — Virginia Baptists’ disaster relief ministry is gearing up to assist victims of “epic” floods in Georgia that killed at least 10 people the week of Sept. 20….
Faith leaders urge G-20 summit to remember the poor
PITTSBURGH (ABP) — Faith leaders including the missions coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship said the Sept. 24-25 G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh provided a unique opportunity to raise their concerns about the plight of the world's poor. Religious leaders, including…
Barna survey: Women pastors gaining ground in United States
VENTURA, Calif. (ABP) — The percentage of churches in the United States employing a woman as senior pastor has doubled during the past decade, according to a new survey by the Barna Group. The evangelical pollster said one church in…
Court voids $5 million judgment against Westboro Baptist Church
RICHMOND (ABP) — A federal appeals court has thrown out a $5 million judgment against members of a controversial Baptist church who picketed the funeral of a Marine killed in Iraq with inflammatory signs including "Thank God for Dead Soldiers."…