Producing study materials for a church is a huge undertaking that diverts staff time, energy and attention away from other assignments. Making that decision, then, should be done carefully. When does it make sense for a church to produce its…
Rallies raise awareness of need for more foster parents
SALEM, Va.—Mention the word orphan and typically what comes to mind are children in impoverished nations around the globe. Virginia Baptists’ HopeTree Family Services and other faith-based organizations in Virginia are seeking to change that image and get the word…
FIRST PERSON: The ups and downs of curriculum writing
Writing the Nurturing Faith curriculum for Baptists Today has proven to be both a joy and a challenge. Joy comes in the regular discipline of digging into the text, wrestling with the original language (which usually wins), and trying to…
TRENDING: Four emerging ministry and staffing patterns
1. “Oikos” grows. As Millenniels pass Boomers as the largest generation, LifeWay Research indicates that top priority among the Millennial generation is family. With the disintegration of nuclear family in North American life through proliferating divorce, extended family or…
Organizations step into role of curriculum publishers
Local congregations aren’t alone in discovering that developing Christian education resources can meet a critical need. Other organizations have expanded their missions to include creating Bible study materials. Both the Baptist General Convention of Texas and the Nashville, Tenn.-based Baptist…
LEADERSHIP LINK: Transitions—Turning into life’s skids
Can you picture it? You’re driving on a slippery road. Your car suddently careens out of control. Things happen in the blink of an eye—most of them bad. Your brain switches automatically into survival mode. You panic and react instinctively….
Five years later, mother of Va. Tech victim finds peace
CENTREVILLE, Va. (RNS)—It’s been five years since Celeste Peterson’s only daughter was killed in a shooting rampage at Virginia Tech and she’s finally made peace with God. Which is not to say it’s been easy. The five-year anniversary of the…
Questions remain after Christian painter Kinkade dies
NEW YORK (RNS)—The unexpected death of Thomas Kinkade on April 6 prompted an outpouring of grief for the hugely successful painter of pastoral landscapes, but also raised questions about the troubled final years of an artist whose use of Christian…
Anglos, Latinos unite in making, distributing blankets
FREDERICKSBURG, Va.—A collaboration between five Anglo women from suburban Washington and about a dozen Latin American immigrants in Fredericksburg, Va., has resulted in the distribution of nearly 100 blankets to the homeless and other needy groups. Members of a Women…
‘Family’ is focus of two-weekend Mission Madness
RICHMOND, Va.—Nearly 500 youth and their sponsors fleshed out an expression of “family” during a two-weekend Mission Madness event in two Virginia cities, coordinated by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia. At more than 25 mission sites in Richmond and…
Prayer event was spiritually compelling, say Virginians
WASHINGTON—This year’s Easter prayer breakfast at the White House was a spiritually compelling event, say two Virginia Baptists who attended the April 4 breakfast hosted by President Obama. At his third annual prayer breakfast held during Holy Week, Obama told…
Youth learn what living in the ‘image of God’ means
SMITHFIELD, Va.—Youth in southeastern Virginia explored through worship and community service what it means to be created in the image of God during Youth EnCounter at Smithfield (Va.) Baptist Church last month. Craig Morrison challenged youth to live in the…