Bluefield opened East River Hall in the fall of 2009. Bluefield College considering a fifth dormitory. With the number of students living on campus at an all-time high, Bluefield College is considering building a fifth residence hall — only a…
Panamanian dentist shares gospel with a healing touch
PANAMA CITY, Panama — Cleveland Cooper, a Panamanian dentist and his wife, Matilde, a retired nurse, are the heart and soul of a vast labor of love. “We are motivated by the love of Christ,” Cooper asserts, but to give…
HERITAGE: Christmas memories
It is February and there is still one house in my neighborhood with a Christmas tree in a front window. But most of us long ago stored our Christmas decorations to await another season. The glow of certain Christmas memories…
OUT LOUD
“I estimate that at least one-third to one-half of the dozens of victim-survivors I’ve counseled during the past eight years have left the church — either in shame or frustration — because they found no justice or healing. We want…
VITAL SIGNS: Staffing for survival
What is the most important staff position at your church? Of course, as a former pastor, I must declare that we cannot function without a pastor. What would we do without a music/worship leader? We cannot live without leadership for…
EDITORIAL: Are churches hanging on to things that no longer work?
Dear Jimmy, Well, your poor ol’ uncle Orley and I have been travelin’ around like gypsies visitin’ family whenever the snow doesn’t keep us home. Maybe you’ve heard from some of the other relatives that Orley and Ida are makin’…
From the Eastern Shore to Cumberland Gap
STAFF CHANGES • Charles Davis, serving as pastor of Bethesda Church, Boydton. This was incorrect in our last issue. • Dan Carlton, to Downtown Church, Alexandria, as senior pastor. • Glen A. Land, to Rivermont Avenue Church, Lynchburg, effective Feb….
For relationships, technology a two-edged sword, experts insist
After Jason Krafsky introduced his wife, Kelli, to Facebook, he wasn’t sure how to respond when she told him she had just connected online with her “first love.” “It took me a couple of days to sort through my feelings…
Technology unites missionaries, families around the world
Missionary Chad Phillips, who coordinates missionary kids programs for the Assemblies of God, joins missionary kids on a Skype online video chat. (RNS PHOTO/Courtesy Bianca Flokstra) WASHINGTON (RNS)—Janine Winkler loves reading books to her 2-year-old grandson Judah. But instead of…
Teen website changes lives through laughs and relationship
HARRISON, Ark.—With just the click of a mouse, Doug Hutchcraft and Jon Taylor are pointing teenagers and young adults to Jesus. Desiring to communicate the gospel to a generation that has grown up on the Internet, they have developed a…
Recognize children’s digital proficiency, but be alert to dangers
When it comes to digital communication, children are natives, and their parents are immigrants. And that puts parents at a distinct disadvantage in protecting children from online danger, according to the president of a nonprofit advocacy group devoted to guarding…
Churches view social networking as ministry tool
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP)—With the Internet closing in on television as Americans’ main source of national and international news, churches increasingly are viewing social-networking applications like Facebook as ministry tools. “Social networking tools have become an integral part of most people’s…