Margaret Allen used to pray about becoming a missionary in Africa. Her prayers were answered but her mission field was in Richmond, Va., among people living in the inner city. In 1986 she began service as a community missionary of…
Ministry seeks to share God’s love with the ‘strangers among us’
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — The struggles of life are the same for every person. Affordable housing, the ability to support one’s family, transportation, health care, raising children — but for some these struggles are greater due to an environment they do…
District of Columbia Baptists represent diverse constituency
WASHINGTON — Ricky Creech leads one of the most diverse Baptist bodies in America following his election March 28 as executive director of the District of Columbia Baptist Convention. The D.C. convention’s 153 churches include pastors who self-identify both as…
From the Eastern Shore to the Cumberland Gap
STAFF CHANGES • James W. Holt, to Summit Point Church, Summit Point, WV, as pastor. • Michael Peedin, to Stanardsville Church, Stanardsville, as pastor. • Jeff Kinder, to Rosedale Church, Rosedale, as pastor. • John Hertzler, to First Church, Newport…
EDITORIAL: Big Bible or little Bible?
Using both hands, I gingerly turned the giant pages, yellowed with age, lest I should inadvertently damage the treasure of information before me. Eagerly my eyes scanned the small print for a report and an interpretation of what had happened…
CBFVA explores what it means to be Baptist in the 21st century
MECHANICSVILLE, Va. — Baptists must acknowledge their reputation is suffering in many quarters of American life, but society has regarded Baptists with suspicion since the movement was born in the 17th century. That was the assessment of church historian Bill…
OPINION: The elephant in the room
Often when folks get together they will talk about everything and anything and avoid the real issue that needs to be addressed. This is the “elephant in the room” dilemma. Let’s not say what we should say because then we…
ASK THE ARCHITECT: Appropriate master planning enhances worship
Do worshipers enter your sanctuary from a busy street, still wrapped in the frenzy of the traffic outside? Do they negotiate a sea of asphalt and enter directly from an unsightly parking lot? Or do they approach the building under…
OPINION: Watch your assumptions about job loss
I received an email prayer request from a friend whose daughter lost her job. Tough times loom for her, but much of his request was that God would use this trauma to illuminate her need to trust Jesus Christ for…