RICHMOND — As Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond begins operations at a new location, friends and supporters will have an opportunity to tour the new campus Oct. 17, when the seminary hosts an open house for the public. The 22-year-old…
ABP directors adopt merger plan, Religious Herald trustees to vote Oct. 7
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) — Associated Baptist Press directors voted Sept. 30 to merge with the Religious Herald, continuing a process begun in the summer of 2012. Details of the merger plan, by mutual agreement marked confidential until acted upon by…
On the Eastern Shore, church’s new facility will offer ‘home away from home’ to ministry volunteers
KELLER, Va. — Hollies Baptist Church on Virginia’s Eastern Shore recently added a 4,000-square foot ministry center to its facility which the church hopes will serve as a “home away from home” for those coming to the Shore to serve…
Playground for children with disabilities is church’s gift to community in Jesus’ name
HERNDON, Va. — Southview Community Church is making sure no child gets left behind — especially on the playground. On Sept. 8 this congregation in Herndon, Va., held a grand opening for its accessible community playground that “provides an environment…
Blacksburg, Va., pastor Tommy McDearis to be nominated as BGAV president
RICHMOND — Blacksburg, Va., pastor Tommy McDearis, currently serving as first vice president of the Baptist General Association of Virginia, will be nominated in November as president of the state association, it was confirmed Sept. 17. If elected, McDearis, who…
Nationals Park echoes as nearly 550 handbell ringers from more than 50 churches open baseball game
WASHINGTON — The celestial sounds of handbells rang loudly when 542 ringers chimed together Aug. 29 to play the national anthem before a crowd gathered for a game at Nationals Park in Washington. The mass choir, organized by a regional…
Suburban church hosts birthday bash for homeless in Richmond’s center city
POWHATAN, Va. — Powhatan Community Church threw a birthday party for 130 people Aug. 31 — all of them homeless. It was held in Richmond’s Monroe Park with plenty of cake, ice cream and birthday gifts. The event is one…
Bluefield College’s football team gears up to battle hunger in community with ‘Sack the Quarterback’
BLUEFIELD, Va. — The Bluefield College Rams and a local grocery store will kick off the 2013 Sack the Quarterback hunger relief program with a special Rams Football Day at Food City in Bluefield on Aug. 17. From noon to…
Church gets creative when Braille hymnal is called for, launches team of volunteers to meet need
RICHMOND — As First Baptist Church in Richmond prepared to introduce its new hymnal, Celebrating Grace, to the congregation nearly two years ago, it realized there wasn’t a Braille application for the new hymnal or plans to produce one. The…
Seeking to give all, mission volunteer in Romania returns home unexpectedly filled, she says
Michelle Sloan had never been on a mission trip until this summer, when she spent two months in Romania. A special education major at Grove City College, a Christian liberal arts college in Grove City, Pa., Sloan was participating in…
Thunder rolls on for motorcycle riders as annual gathering plans mountain event
Can you hear it? It’s thunder rolling through the hills and valleys of central Virginia. Virginia Baptist motorcycle riders and their friends will gather Oct. 4-6 at Watermarks Camp in Scottsville, Va., for the 2013 edition of Thunder in the…
Children’s ministry certification enhances churches’ work with the youngest in the congregation
RICHMOND — For nearly a decade the Virginia Baptist Mission Board’s children’s ministry certification has impacting churches across Virginia. Begun in 2005, the certification courses are designed to help prepare those “interested in a lifetime commitment to ministering to children…