BLUEFIELD, VA. — Bluefield College has announced it is joining the Mid-South Conference, a Division 1 member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The college has been a member of the Appalachian Athletic Conference. The Mid-South Conference offers 18…
Virginia Baptists responding to earthquake, tsunami in Japan
RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Baptists have begun collecting financial contributions to assist victims of the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan last week. “Virginia Baptists grieve with the people of Japan as the effects of the massive earthquake and subsequent…
1982 Virginia Baptist ministry team continues to produce results
When John Upton and other Virginia Baptists travelled to Panama to celebrate the signing of a five-year ministry partnership agreement, little did they understand the significance of one official greeting they received. Although other Panamanian Baptists had also welcomed Virginia…
Creative ministry takes on a life of its own among Panamanian Baptists
LA CHORRERA, Panama — When church leaders plan a meeting, there are always some “clowns” who show up. Usually leaders just hope they don’t all show up at once and dominate the meeting. But that’s exactly what Panamanian Baptists are…
EDITORIAL: Is that a trumpet I hear?
Voices first heard in childhood often continue to impact us with potent echoes from the past. At the speed of thought I return to that small church in Jefferson County, Mo., where I grew up. It was Sunday evening and…
HERITAGE: Wheeling and dealing
Hunter Riggins is forever engaged, quite literally, in wheeling and dealing. He is one of America’s leading automobile dealers; and across the years he has honed and refined the skills of relationship building, customer satisfaction and sealing the deal. And…
VITAL SIGNS: Disagreeing agreeably
After one particularly frustrating performance by his Green Bay Packers, legendary Coach Vince Lombardi called his team together. He was determined to get them refocused on the things that made for winning. As they knelt before the coach, he held…
OUT LOUD
“The Phelps family represent only themselves, but we do not have a copyright on the Baptist name, so they have the freedom to use and abuse that name. As a result, Baptists everywhere are defamed by them." A. Roy Medley…
Fighting hunger makes economic and political sense, Christian activist says
DALLAS — Despite deep divisions in U.S. society, Christians can lead the way toward bipartisan solutions to the pain of poverty, insisted one of the world’s top hunger fighters. “Church people — whose congregations often span the political spectrum —…
‘Bad advocacy’ can do more harm than good, Baptist scholar insists
ATLANTA (ABP) — Celebrity-driven campaigns like Save Darfur and Invisible Children are popular, but in some cases, they do more harm than good, according to a Baptist scholar who specializes in African politics, conflict and international affairs. “Advocacy needs to…
BWAid head Paul Montacute plans to retire, committee learns
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) — Paul Montacute, director of the Baptist World Alliance's relief-and-recovery arm BWAid, will retire in July 2012, the BWA executive committee learned in meetings March 7-9. BWA leaders are expected to elect a successor to Montacute,…
Do Christian athletes strike out on big-dollar contracts?
ST. LOUIS (RNS) — As contract talks broke down between Albert Pujols and the Cardinals, St. Louis baseball fans nervously began asking themselves a host of questions. He’s a Cardinal for life, right? He wouldn’t go to Wrigley Field, because…