By Bob Allen Vivian Nielsen, 86, a past president of the District of Columbia Baptist Convention and leader in Washington’s Calvary Baptist Church, died Jan. 4 at Greenspring Village retirement community in Springfield, Va., after a battle with cancer. In…
Former DC Baptist woman leader dies
By Bob Allen Vivian Nielsen, 86, a past president of the District of Columbia Baptist Convention and leader in Washington’s Calvary Baptist Church, died Jan. 4 at Greenspring Village retirement community in Springfield, Va., after a battle with cancer. In…
Moderate Baptist leader Henry Crouch dies
By Bob Allen Alliance of Baptists founder William Henry Crouch, 84, died Dec. 29 at his home in Asheville, N.C. Crouch, pastor emeritus of Providence Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C., was a member of the “Gatlinburg Gang,” a group convened…
Baptist deaths in 2012
By Bob Allen Francis McBeth, an internationally acclaimed composer and conductor and longtime professor of music at Ouachita Baptist University, died Friday, Jan. 6, at age 78. Longtime Baptist journalist Jim Newton, 75, died Jan. 16 in Clinton, Miss., after a battle with…
Raising a lament
By Bill Leonard “Summon the wailing women to come. Send for the women skilled in keening to come quickly and raise a lament for us, that our eyes my run with tears and our eyelids be wet with weeping…. Teach…
A prayer for Sandy Hook
By Miguel De La Torre Oh Lord, my God, how majestic is your name throughout the earth. Your love and mercy abound and endure forever. A young innocent sparrow does not fall without your knowledge. And yet, I again find…
When Christmas isn’t the ‘Most Wonderful Time of the Year’
‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28) Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year! Only it’s not. Not for everyone. Not when he’s still…
Amanda died the other day, but her singing continues
Almost four decades ago while I was serving as pastor of an inner city congregation near a Baptist seminary, I would often have seminary students visit to see if they could obtain some ministry experience as a volunteer with our…
Nigerian Baptist pastors killed in bombing
By Bob Allen The head of the Baptist World Alliance protested continuing violence in Nigeria that recently claimed the lives of two Baptist pastors. BWA General Secretary Neville Callam said Nov. 30 he is “deeply concerned about the continuing attacks…