STAFF CHANGES • Sean Roberds, to First Church, Herndon, as senior pastor. • Casey Stark, to Vansant Church, Vansant, as pastor. • Larry Grizzard, to Zion Church, Skippers, as full-time pastor. • Kerim Meono, to Columbia Hispanic congregation at Crossroads,…
HERITAGE: Taking the cup
Thomas Sandford Dunaway was a member of an old Virginia Baptist family which produced capable and effective clergy and laity. Their family seat was in Lancaster County in “the Neck,” but their influence was far-flung and long lasting. Tom Dunaway,…
VITAL SIGNS: Bringing good from evil
In the midst of the pandemic of conflict swirling through local churches in the 21st century, it is tempting to lose heart. Many do. I have had heartbreaking conversations with scores of clergy and laity who have emerged from bruising…
Lewis’ faith was no ‘jailhouse conversion,’ says chaplain
RICHMOND, Va. — For the former chaplain at Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women, Lynn Litchfield, the past few weeks have been heartbreaking. Seven years ago, when Teresa Lewis was sentenced to death and sent to FCCW, Litchfield began praying for…
VIRGINIA BAPTIST FORUM: Proposal for Ground Zero
A great use of the 9-11 site in New York would be a seminary for training leaders of all the religions of the world (rabbis, imams, ministers, monks, etc.). Perhaps this could be done by Columbia or some other university,…
VIRGINIA BAPTIST FORUM: Keep state control of alcohol sales
Concerning Virginia selling its ABC stores, I regret that my friend Dan Pope evidently does not understand the basic law of merchandising, which is “the greater the distribution of the product, the greater the sale of that product” [“State should…
VIRGINIA BAPTIST FORUM: Pot calling the kettle black
Dear Aunt Ida, I was appalled and somewhat embarrassed to open up my copy of the Religious Herald of Sept. 2 and see a private e-mail that you had sent to your nephew, Jimmy, plastered across page five of that…
European Baptist leaders go ahead with plan to move Prague seminary
ROME (ABP) — The elegant complex of 19th-century buildings that houses the International Baptist Theological Seminary in Prague, Czech Republic, will likely be sold after European Baptist Federation leaders green-lighted a plan to move the seminary as a cost-saving measure….
Rural churches measure growth differently, pastors say
DALLAS — Brand New Church in northern Arkansas and Fairy Baptist Church in Central Texas bear little resemblance to each other. Pastor Shannon O’Dell leads a multi-campus, contemporary-style church in rural Arkansas that draws about 2,000 worshippers in-person from throughout…
World leaders cite progress, challenges at UN poverty summit
NEW YORK (ABP) — World leaders voiced deep concern about the impact of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression on international anti-poverty goals at a three-day summit at the United Nations Sept. 20-22. An outcome document for the…
Population shifts present challenges for rural churches
CHATHAM, Va. — Rural churches in America face a host of challenges as they seek to continue ministry in their communities. The continued population shift from rural areas to urban centers can drain rural churches, noted Chuck Warnock, an expert in…
Candidates endorsed for BGAV office
RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Baptists Committed, a moderate advocacy group, has endorsed the candidacies of two previously announced nominees for offices of the Baptist General Association of Virginia. VBC members voted Sept. 16 to endorse Bob Bass, a Richmond layman…