RICHMOND, Va. (BP) — Paula Hemphill’s job was to look at cells through a microscope and help diagnose cancer. She never imagined she would one day be on the other side of the microscope as a patient. She and her…
Zoar Baptist Church recovering from devastating tornado hit six months ago
DELTAVILLE, Va. — Six months ago yellow caution tape and small red signs reading “Condemned” and “Dangerous and unsafe” were affixed to the doors of Zoar Baptist Church in Deltaville, Va. A tornado that passed through the town on the…
Former students of Baptist school in Nigeria honor missionary Van Lear
RICHMOND, Va. — Twenty “old girls” got together Oct. 2 at Lakewood Manor, a Virginia Baptist retirement community, to honor a beloved teacher and principal, Marie “Polly” Van Lear, on her 87th birthday. “Old girls” is a term used by…
TRENDING: Structured prayer
Baptists traditionally affirm the doctrine of the priesthood of every believer. Because we have access to God through Jesus Christ, our high priest, we don’t need any human intermediary between us and heaven. In practical terms, this theological conviction often…
V3, a church multiplication movement, focuses on at Voice, Viral, Volume
RICHMOND, Va. — Over four years ago, with a vision for Kingdom expansion through church planting, a church planting think tank was initiated by John Upton, executive direcctor of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, and Stephen Welch, executive director of…
The District Church in Washington aims to reach Millennials in their context
WASHINGTON — On a recent Sunday afternoon, I had the opportunity to visit with Aaron Graham, lead pastor of The District Church in Washington, to catch up on the church since its launch in September 2010. Among its partners is…
EDITORIAL: Following God’s call to popes and paupers
You probably heard the one about a guy named Rudy who claimed to know everybody in the world. “No, you don’t,” retorted his friend, Benny. “I’ll bet you don’t know the pope!” “Sure I do,” replied Rudy. “Come to Rome…
Recommendations to be considered at BGAV annual meeting are listed
Reports and recommendations to be considered at the Baptist General Association of Virginia's annual meeting, set for Nov. 8-9 in Richmond, Va., are listed here. Included are the 2012 proposed budget, a report of the Averett/BGAV reconciliation committee, constitutional and…
VITAL SIGNS: The J word
I cannot stand this word and what it represents. I hear it far too often. It represents an attitude that should be banned from local church life. It is the word just. As in, “I’m just a layperson.” Actually, that…