KANSAS CITY, Mo. (ABP) — A federal judge ruled Aug. 16 that a Missouri law banning protests at or near funerals is unconstitutional. In 2006 Missouri passed a law prohibiting picketers within 300 feet of a memorial service. It was…
VIRGINIANS @ THE CONGRESS: Students encounter diversity in BWA program
Virginia Baptists were hard at work behind the scenes at the 20th Baptist World Congress, enriching the experience of more than 4,000 global Baptists. HONOLULU — Behind the comings and goings of those attending the BWA Congress, a group of…
VITAL SIGNS: Jason’s upside-down world
If asked to identify a favorite New Testament character, most of us go with the predictable and obvious: Barnabbas, Mary, Nathaniel, Peter, Lydia, Timothy, Phoebe. You know the list. Let me remind you of an obscure character who can highlight…
OUT LOUD
“To those Americans who happen to be Muslim, I say: Please do not think that the hatefulness of a few visible ‘Christians’ represents the views of all the rest of us. Some of us are just as appalled by what…
HERITAGE: Maholo
"Aloha” is the most often-spoken word in Hawaii. Said with enthusiasm, it signals love and affection and can be used both as a greeting and a farewell. It was a word frequently on the lips of a Virginia Baptist minister…
EDITORIAL: New state motto: ‘We’ll do anything for money’
As a conservative politician, Governor Robert McDonnell leans heavily on the Christian right. But it appears that of late his family values are being trounced by his political values. In answer to the dilemma of providing funding to build needed…
Richmond churches tackle tasks at Bluefield College
The team after an afternoon outing to a nearby park in West Virginia. BLUEFIELD, Va. — Black enamel paint and a team of 31 inexperienced youth with paintbrushes were an interesting combination as three Richmond-area churches partnered for a week…
Baptists in Southwest Virginia assist those needing medical care
WISE, Va. — More than 1,500 people, all of them needing some kind of medical attention, converged on the remote area medical clinic (RAM) held July 23-25 in Wise. Now in its 11th year, the three-day event has become traditional…
First home in Haiti to be funded by Virginia Baptists is on its way up
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Six months after the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti, killing hundreds of thousands, a lot has been cleared to build the first permament home using funds raised by Virginia Baptists. And a second lot is being cleared…
MC2 combines Bible study, mission action for 400 attendees
LYNCHBURG, Va. — For the more than 400 people attending the MC2 conference July 19-24, the question, “What was your favorite part?” sparked a variety of responses. Painting houses gave MC2 participants opportunities to share their faith. An 8-year-old responded,…
Madison Heights teen makes dreams come true for Kentucky students
MADISON HEIGHTS, Va. — Jaime Fitzgerald, a recent graduate of Amherst County High School and a member of Randolph Memorial Baptist Church in Madison Heights, realized many of the girls in the Appalachian town of Manchester, Ky., would be unable…
Pastor celebrates 85 years of life, 66 years of ministry
CASTLEWOOD, Va. — At age 85, most men have been retired for 20 years. But Lester Ferguson has always done things a bit differently. For the past 66 years he has served the Lord in various ministry capacities, although his…