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’…
Students from Virginia Intermont College are hometown heroes
BRISTOL, Va. — The city of Bristol presented three Virginia Intermont College students with the first ever “Hometown Hero” awards on Jan. 25 in recognition of the students’ rescue of a woman and her three young children from a fire…
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…