Two young women’s groups in different parts of Virginia recently partnered to prepare teens in Amherst and Nelson counties for a day of outer beauty — their senior prom — while also highlighting the inner beauty of women who love…
Hampton church calls Betty Mills as pastor, making it largest congregation in Va. led by woman
HAMPTON, Va. — Richmond pastor Betty Mills has been called as senior pastor of the 222-year-old Hampton (Va.) Baptist Church, making it likely the largest Baptist congregation in Virginia led by a woman pastor. Betty Mills For 23 years, Mills…
Church offers community a way to dispose of documents — and shred some sins in the process
ROCKVILLE, Va. — It began with a cluttered office and the need to dispose of numerous boxes of financial records, explains Mark Hughes, pastor of Berea Baptist Church in Rockville, Va. Realizing that properly destroying sensitive information would require more…
Richmond association committee recommends retaining ties with church which ordained gay man
RICHMOND — The Richmond Baptist Association will consider a recommendation March 19 to retain ties to one of its churches which ordained an openly gay man to the ministry last year. The proposal from an RBA study committee, to be…
Ministering in the wake of a disaster doesn’t require a long journey, church discovers
HENRICO, Va. — Westhunt Baptist Church in Richmond’s West End recently discovered that disaster relief isn’t limited to natural disasters in other places; it also includes responding to the needs of hurting people less than a mile away. A multi-unit…
Mediation effort in Southside Virginia prayer lawsuit fails, returning case to district court
DANVILLE, Va. — Attempts to settle a legal conflict between a Southside Virginia county board of supervisors and the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia over Christian prayers at the beginning of supervisors’ meetings apparently failed Feb. 21, according to…
Congregation targets human trafficking in Central Virginia community with Psalm 91 House
PALMYRA, Va. — While taking a hard look at the tragedy of human trafficking last fall, the Ladies Night ministry at Effort Baptist Church in Palmyra, Va., found the horrors of sexual slavery shocking. Though a global issue and one…
Missional strategist, church planter named first full-time coordinator of V3
RICHMOND — JR Woodward, a missiologist with more than 20 years of experience as a church planter and pastor, has been named first full-time coordinator of V3 Tribe, a missional church planting movement with ties to Virginia Baptists. Woodward, who…
Helping churches find ‘closure’ after a pastor leaves is focus of training event
LYNCHBURG, Va. — Challenges facing intentional interim pastors as they help churches achieve “closure” during leadership transitions will be the focus of a March 4 event sponsored by the Virginia Network of Interim Ministers. “Cake and Coffee Is Not Enough!”,…
First woman pastor of church with Lottie Moon ties finds inspiration in historical connection
SCOTTSVILLE, Va. — Scottsville Baptist Church, a Virginia congregation closely associated with iconic Baptist missionary Lottie Moon, called its first woman pastor — Katie McKown — last fall, continuing a long tradition of female leadership in the church. The church,…
Emancipation Proclamation’s 150th is impetus for essay contest aimed at high school students
RICHMOND — The 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation has inspired an essay contest sponsored by the Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies. Francis Bicknell Carpenter’s 1864 painting, First Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation of President Lincoln. (Photo/Wikimedia Commons) “How…
To fill positions on BGAV’s committees and affiliated governing boards, committee asks for help
RICHMOND, Va. — Suggestions to fill positions on the Baptist General Association of Virginia’s standing committees and on governing boards of some affiliated organizations are being sought by the BGAV’s committee on boards and committees. The committee is seeking names…