RICHMOND—Virginia Baptists funded their 2008 budget at almost 98 percent—a noteworthy event in the midst of a severe economic crisis, said leaders of the Baptist General Association of Virginia. Last year, BGAV churches contributed $14,092,291 toward the state association's Cooperative…
Who is my neighbor?
ROANOKE — The Baptist General Association of Virginia, acknowledging an uncertain economic environment, approved a reduced budget for 2009 during a quiet annual meeting that drew about 1,250 people. At the Nov. 11-12 meeting, messengers also elected a retired public…
Rethink the concept of neighbor, says Campolo
Before Christians can carry out the Great Commission, they need to carry out the Great Commandment — to love your neighbor as yourself, evangelist Tony Campolo told Virginia Baptists last week. Interpreting the theme “Who Is My Neighbor?” in three…
Virginia Mission Board gets first look at reduced BGAV budget for 2009
LYNCHBURG — The Virginia Baptist Mission Board has gotten its first look at a proposed budget that will reduce funding for Virginia Baptist ministries by more than half a million dollars in 2009. Meeting at Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center…
International worker advises: Avoid deception, but don’t show your hand
Deception never is an appropriate stance for mission workers, a former employee of both the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the International Mission Board insisted. But that's not the same as telling everything one knows or does, said Kent Parks, now…
Sunday school class project sparks international ministry
FALLS CHURCH — An eye-opening visit by a Baptist Sunday school class to a Moscow hospital nearly 20 years ago sparked a ministry that provides millions of dollars in medical supplies to almost 100 countries around the world. In 1989,…
Celebrity Christians
RICHMOND — “Stay out of the limelight.” That's Amy Grant's advice to celebrities who don't want their personal failures aired in public. The successful Christian pop singer should know. After her very public divorce in 1999, details of her marital…
Alma Hunt, missions advocate, dies
ROANOKE — Alma Hunt, one of Baptists' best-known missions advocates, died June 14 in a Roanoke hospital. She was 98. The Virginia native gained national recognition in 1948 when she became executive secretary of the Birmingham, Ala.-based Woman's Missionary Union,…
Laura McDaniel nominated executive of Virginia WMU
RICHMOND — Laura S. McDaniel has been recommended to become executive director/treasurer of Woman's Missionary Union of Virginia. McDaniel, who has been WMUV's interim executive director/treasurer since February 2007, was selected by the organization's board of trustees on June 13….
CBF expands anti-poverty initiative, launches process to determine group’s future
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — An update on how the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is helping achieve the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals — a commitment the organization's decision-making body made last fall — topped the agenda of the CBF's annual general assembly…
BTSR budget shortfall leads to faculty lay-off for four
RICHMOND — Faced with “worrisome” financial challenges, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond will downsize its faculty and staff, the school's president announced April 8. Four full-time professors and at least three administrative staff members will be let go in an…
Virginia Baptist 2007 contributions exceed budget by almost $250,000
RICHMOND — Virginia Baptists surpassed their 2007 budget goal by almost $250,000, a finance officer announced last week. Churches affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia gave a total of $14,442,553, almost a 2 percent increase over the $14.2…