DENVER (RNS) — Tim Tebow is a 23-year-old second-year, second-string quarterback on a so-so NFL team. So, who’s going to buy his memoirs? What’s to remember? • How his missionary dad, Bob, prayed for a son and promised God to…
Transformational Church consultants trained
Twenty-eight Virginia Baptists received training toward becoming certified Transformational Church consultants during a 3-day conference last week held at the Resource Center in Richmond. Led by LifeWay consultants Mike Smith and David Apple, the training was based on the book,…
Gingrich and evangelical voters
WASHINGTON (RNS) — As evangelicals and other social conservatives gather here June 3-4 to take the measure of a number of Republican presidential candidates, Newt Gingrich will be conspicuously absent. Gingrich’s campaign cited scheduling conflicts in not speaking to Ralph…
Grace or nature? A question at the heart of Malick’s new film
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — Terrence Malick’s new film, Tree of Life, is nearly indescribable. Not because its beauty or virtuosity are beyond words, although it has its moments. Tree of Life, which opened May 27, is iconoclastic, its plot nonlinear,…
Iconic Crystal Cathedral is put up for sale
GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (RNS) — The Crystal Cathedral has announced plans to sell its iconic glass-walled church in Southern California to pay back creditors and overcome bankruptcy. The glass-walled Crystal Cathedral is a landmark in Southern California. Senior Pastor Sheila…
Second Catholic sworn in as House chaplain
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Patrick Conroy was sworn in May 25 as House chaplain, making him the first Jesuit – and only the second Catholic — to hold the position, and the first candidate forced to navigate around the Catholic Church’s…
Brunswick County churches unite to help teenager
Joseph Giles Jr. presents a check to Makayla Clary. LAWRENCEVILLE, Va. — For the past three years churches in southern Brunswick County, Va., have gathered during Holy Week and collectively received an offering to support a needy cause. This year’s…
Virginian gets disaster relief service award
Marie Lawrence receives a plaque for distiguished service in disaster relief ministry. LYNCHBURG, Va. — Marie Lawrence of Colonial Heights, Va., received a distinguished service award from the Southern Baptist Convention’s disaster relief ministry during an April 25-26 ceremony at…
It takes a tractor: Church’s ministry had small beginning
TAPPAHANNOCK, Va. — Ghana is one part of the world where Beale Memorial Baptist Church in Tappahannock, Va., is involved in missions, and it started with a tractor. In the summer of 2006 Brian Toliver, deacon chair at Beale Memorial,…