RICHMOND — The group of beleaguered church members huddled together watching their church burn would never have believed that something good could come from so great a tragedy. But from the ashes of the old has sprung a beautiful new…
BGAV’s second vice president takes pastorate in North Carolina
FRANKLIN — Richard Childress, second vice president of the Baptist General Association of Virginia, has assumed the pastorate of New Hope Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C. Childress Childress, who had been pastor of Franklin Baptist Church in Franklin, assumed his…
Seminary president, two Virginia pastors slated to speak at BGAV
RICHMOND — A Chicago-area seminary president and two Virginia pastors are slated to be keynote speakers this fall at Connect:2009, the annual meeting of the Baptist General Association of Virginia. Alistair Brown The two-day meeting, set for Nov. 17-18 at…
Houston-area pastor announces hunger strike for immigration reform
PASADENA, Texas — A Baptist pastor plans to launch a public weeklong hunger strike in front of Houston’s municipal headquarters to call for immigration reform. Julio Barquero, pastor of Iglesia Bautista Esperanza in suburban Pasadena, Texas, will eat no solid…
Singapore to be site of 2013 Baptist Youth World Conference
FALLS CHURCH – Singapore will be the site of the Baptist Youth World Conference in 2013, organizers of the once-every-five-years event have announced. The ethnically and religiously diverse city-state was selected because of its convenient Southeast Asian location and relatively…
2009 VBS photo contest goes to Virginia church
The winning photo shows children performing a musical. (Photo courtesy of Sparta Baptist Church) NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) — A bird's-eye view of children performing the "Boomerang Express" Vacation Bible School musical won Salem Baptist Church in Sparta, Va., the first…
New NIV translation due out in 2011
PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill (ABP) — The New International Version of the Bible is getting its first update since controversy over gender-inclusive texts derailed future revisions more than 20 years ago. Biblica, the new name for a company created when the…
OPINION: Is Sunday school irrelevant? Sometimes, but it doesn’t have to be
RICHMOND — Adult Sunday school is often considered irrelevant for engaging adults today. Many believe the Sunday school has become ineffective and outdated, especially in reaching young adults. Some say it is just not working. However, most Virginia Baptist churches…
Virginia youth minister faces additional charges
YORK (ABP) — A Southern Baptist youth pastor arrested Aug. 13 on sex charges involving a teenage girl now faces more than 30 additional charges involving a second teenager. Police originally charged Jack Duffer, 40, youth minister at Seaford Baptist…