Dear Jimmy, I know you will find this almost as hard to believe as your Uncle Orley, but I am speechless. He says that despite his prayers he is confident that it is only a temporary affliction and that I…
Nearly 500 accept Christ during Easter celebration at Highlands Fellowship
BRISTOL, Va. — I confess that when I first heard that Highlands Fellowship, a Virginia Baptist multi-site congregation based in Abingdon, Va., was planning to drop Easter eggs from a helicopter in nearby Bristol and then to fill the city’s…
EDITORIAL: Bluebell Baptist is fired up as worship takes an unexpected twist
Dear Jimmy, Well, nobody can say if it’s not in the bulletin it doesn’t happen at Bluebell Baptist, that’s for sure. Truth be told, I like a measure of predictability. Still, when somethin’ unexpected happens, like it did this past…
Virginia Woman’s Missionary Union helps launch the first WMU of India
RICHMOND, Va. — Since its beginning in 1872, Woman’s Missionary Union of Virginia has had a heart for those who needed to hear the gospel of Christ. But last month WMUV attained a new level of global partnership when it…
EDITORIAL: If your church is all about social justice, you’re half right
I’m all about the U.S. Constitution. Next to the Bible, it may be my favorite document. I support and defend the rights of individuals to speak even if everything inside me is shouting, “Shut up!” Like when a thoughtless person…
Airlee Court grapples with its future
ROANOKE, Va. — By a vote of 30 to 5, Airlee Court Baptist Church in Roanoke voted on Sunday morning, March 14, not to give itself to Journey Church, a growing Baptist fellowship in the area. “We would have had to…
Focus is on starting congregations at annual meeting of CBF of Virginia
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.– Church planting was a hot topic a the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia’s annual gathering, held March 11-12 at First Baptist Church in Virginia Beach. Emergent church guru Brian McLauren, featured in a live Skype dialogue at…
Glencarlyn Road church has new life as Columbia’s multi-site location
FALLS CHURCH, Va. — For more than a half-century, Glencarlyn Road Baptist Church had ministered to its Bailey’s Crossroads community in Northern Virginia when the congregation’s dwindling numbers and resources convinced it to take a radical step. Discerning through prayer that…
EDITORIAL: Seeing through Kingdom eyes
In researching for this issue of the Religious Herald, I was impressed again with Virginia Baptists. Pastor Gregory Loewer was willing to sacrifice his career, if necessary, to lead his church to face a glorious end and to live again…