#Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

[baptist-denominations-poll]

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

Old Regular Baptists

Photo: Lily of the Valley, Geneva, Ohio (ORB)

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Peter Smith at AP:

From its towering white steeple and red-brick facade to its Sunday services filled with rousing gospel hymns and evangelistic sermons, First Baptist Church of Alexandria, Virginia, bears many of the classic hallmarks of a Southern Baptist church. On a recent Sunday, its pastor for women and children, Kim Eskridge, urged members to invite friends and neighbors to an upcoming vacation Bible school — a perennial Baptist activity — to help “reach families in the community with the gospel.” But because that pastor is a woman, First Baptist’s days in the Southern Baptist Convention may be numbered. At the SBC’s annual meeting June 11-12 in Indianapolis, representatives will vote on whether to amend the denomination’s constitution to essentially ban churches with any women pastors — and not just in the top job. That measure received overwhelming approval in a preliminary vote last year.

[...] By some estimates, the proposed ban could affect hundreds of congregations and have a disproportionate impact on predominantly Black churches. The vote is partly the culmination of events set in motion two years ago.

That’s when a Virginia pastor contacted SBC officials to contend that First Baptist and four nearby churches were “out of step” with denominational doctrine that says only men can be pastors. The SBC Credentials Committee launched a formal inquiry in April. Southern Baptists disagree on which ministry jobs this doctrine refers to. Some say it’s just the senior pastor, others that a pastor is anyone who preaches and exercises spiritual authority. And in a Baptist tradition that prizes local church autonomy, critics say the convention shouldn’t enshrine a constitutional rule based on one interpretation of its non-binding doctrinal statement. By some estimates, women are working in pastoral roles in hundreds of SBC-linked churches, a fraction of the nearly 47,000 across the denomination. But critics say the amendment would amount to a further narrowing in numbers and mindset for the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, which has moved steadily rightward in recent decades. They also wonder if the SBC has better things to do.

[...] The amendment, if passed, wouldn’t prompt an immediate purge. But it could keep the denomination’s leaders busy for years, investigating and ousting churches. Many predominantly Black churches have men as lead pastors but assign pastor titles to women in other areas, such as worship and children’s ministries. “To disfellowship like-minded churches ... based on a local-church governance decision dishonors the spirit of cooperation and the guiding tenets of our denomination,” wrote Pastor Gregory Perkins, president of the SBC’s National African American Fellowship, to denominational officials. The controversy complicates the already-choppy efforts by the mostly white denomination to diversify and overcome its legacy of slavery and segregation.

Amendment proponents say the convention needs to reinforce its doctrinal statement, the Baptist Faith and Message, which says the office of pastor is “limited to men as qualified by Scripture.”

The fate of Southern Baptists permitting women to serve as pastors in any capacity will be resolved at the upcoming SBC Annual Meeting this week, as the messengers are likely to vote to fully ban women pastors from the denomination.

[wutbju]

Jimmy Dale “J.D.” Herchenhahn entered into the presence of his Lord and Savior whom he so earnestly loved and served Thursday morning May 11, 2023 at the Lower Cape Fear Hospice LifeCare Center. Some people called him Dr. Herchenhahn, many others knew him as Pastor, but to us he was forever our precious Dad and Papa. His faith has become sight, and we believe he heard a big “Well done, good and faithful servant” when he entered heaven’s gates!

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of over 54 years, Jean Herchenhahn; his parents, A.B. and Iva Herchenhahn, two brothers, Allen Herchenhahn and Fred Herchenhahn; and five sisters, Lucille Jones, Jean Brunson, Gayle Mattheiss, Dawn Gunderson, and Louise Bates.

Jim loved his family dearly and will be most missed by his three children, Janna (Jeff) Attoe of Hampstead, Jay (Gina) Herchenhahn of Lancaster, SC, and Joy (Brad) Barth of Kernersville, NC; grandchildren Jensen (Ray) Rivera, Jonah Attoe, Jayse Attoe, Kalli Herchenhahn, Kassi Herchenhahn, Khloe Herchenhahn, Caleb Herchenhahn, Cooper Barth, Colton Barth, and Copley Barth; great-grandchildren, Vincent and Halston Rivera; two sisters, Wilma Jones and Judy Ray; many nieces and nephews. Janna, Jay and Joy would like to thank Steve and Joanna Groves, David Groves, and Tom Hayden for faithfully and lovingly caring for our dad. We would also like to acknowledge and thank David  and Cathy Lane, Edna Lancaster, Mark and Nancy Cramer, and Jimmy Sibbett for loving our dad and being the hands and feet of Jesus in dads time of need.

Jimmy Dale was born April 25, 1941 in Macedonia, Mississippi. During his junior year of high school in Pensacola, Florida, he received Christ as his Savior under the ministry of Dr. Dolphus Price.  As a senior, he surrendered to preach the Gospel.  He attended Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina before serving two years with the United States Army. He was a Vietnam Veteran.

Jim finished his college education at Tennessee Temple College in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was involved in many aspects of college life including playing on the baseball team and serving as student body President. It was there that he met and married his sweetheart. He received his bachelor’s degree in 1968.  He pastored the Fellowship Baptist Church in Trion, Georgia for three and a half years during his tenure at TTC and afterwards. Then in 1970, the Lord called the Herchenhahns to Wilmington to work at Grace Baptist Church—first as Assistant Pastor under Dr. Ray Noland, and then starting in 1971 as Senior Pastor of Grace and President of Wilmington Christian Academy.   

The Lord used Pastor Herchenhahn in a great way during his thirty-six years in leadership of the church and school.  Hundreds of people came to know the Lord under his ministry, and many others grew in their faith.  A number of men and women were called to various areas of “full-time Christian service” under his leadership.  Many missionaries, pastors, teachers, and others are still serving the Lord around the world.

He retired from Grace at the end of December 2006. That freed them up to do some short-term mission work in Guam. After that he began filling pulpits for preachers in and around the Wilmington area. That ministry led them to Riley’s Creek Baptist Church in 2010, where he was called to be their Senior Pastor. He retired from Riley’s Creek in 2021 for the primary purpose of taking care of his beloved wife and soulmate who was declining in health. He wanted to spend as much time with her as he possibly could, and that he did.

Only eternity will reveal the impact of the life and ministry of Pastor J.D. Herchenhahn. He was an exemplary pastor, faithfully preaching the Word and sharing the gospel, as well as humbly serving and caring for people. He often quoted these lines from a poem: “Others, Lord, yes, others, let this my motto be, “help me to live for others, that I may live like Thee.” He certainly reflected Jesus through his life.

The family will receive friends for visitation from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at Grace Baptist Church, 1401 North College Road, Wilmington, with a  memorial service honoring Pastor Herchenhahn will be immediately following. Close family friend and co-laborer Rev. Mike Meshaw will officiate along with Rev. David Lancaster and Rev. Jay Knolls.. There will be a graveside service at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at  Oleander Memorial Gardens. with Rev. Brian Beaver conducting the service.

In lieu of flowers  memorials  may be made to Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Foundation, 1414 Physicians Dr., Wilmington, NC 28401. We will be forever grateful for their gentle care and compassion given to our dad.

Online condolences may be made by selecting Tribute Wall.

[cavenewstimes]

In Darien Gap, Latino Protestant leaders see migrant journey firsthand

(RNS) — Elket Rodríguez, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s global migration advocate, has served migrants on the Texas-Mexico border for years. But until earlier this month, he had never been to the Darien Gap, a dangerous jungle route many migrants traverse as they move from Colombia to Panama, most often en route to the United States. In early November, just days after former U.S. President…

[blessings-grow-meadows]

Today was such a gift. A gift of the ability to make it to town today to meet with the Georgia Baptist Children's Home. A gift of the best harvest of flowers, IMHO. Although I stayed with Aunts and Uncles and different sets of Grandparents, I grew up as an orphan. I eventually found my dad when I was 21, but that's for another day. Needless to say, their mission is very close to my heart. 🩷

I initially made several calls a few months ago to donate a bucket of blooms to the girls. Since their nearest location is in Baxley, I knew if God wanted our gift to be delivered, he would make it happen!

Fast forward to today... What an absolute joy to watch these girls create and make extra arrangements to give to others! After many plans, cancelled plans due to Helene, and nervous of how my neck was going to cooperate, His plans came together!

Mrs. Nancy with Cedar Street Baptist asked for us to give a small floral arranging lesson (our very first 🩷), and Bella and I couldn't have been more grateful for the fellowship with these special girls! #Blooms4Good #Ministry

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"Even when asked to address nonviolence in the context of labor disputes, marital woes, and other issues, Bayard Rustin reported, and even when specifically instructed not to address the war, audiences inevitably asked him “to present our views on the world struggle in light of the principles I had outlined.” But in addition to talking of peace, he spoke passionately about discrimination—and in the view of biographer Jervis Anderson, “came to be recognized as probably the most militant civil rights advocate in the United States.” Topics included “Racial Exploitation in America” and “Can Nonviolent Non-Cooperation Win Freedom for the American Negro?” Especially incendiary was his tendency to note the ways in which our own country and its allies, while condemning our enemies, were themselves guilty of some of the same moral failings. The Dayton, Ohio, Journal, reporting on a speech Rustin delivered at a local Baptist church in 1943, gives some sense of how provocative his message could be in a time of war:

While he emphasized that he was not in sympathy with Germany, the speaker said Hitler has been more honest than President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill. For instance, he explained that Hitler does not pretend friendship with the Jews on the one hand and punish them on the other…He said that Churchill does not intend to bring racial equality, but rather intends to retain the status quo. He stated that much is said about equality in this country, yet the government, even in the armed forces, is one of the worst offenders.

Rustin was certainly aware of the ambivalence toward the war in black America, where segregation in the military and persistent discrimination on the home front had bred profound resentment. “Many Negroes have little faith in the present struggle,” he reported in a FOR [Fellowship of Reconciliation] memo dated September 8, 1942.

I have heard many say they might as well die right here fighting for their rights as to die abroad for other people’s. It is common to hear outright joy expressed at a Japanese military victory. For thousands of Negroes look upon successes of any colored people anywhere as their successes.

David Dellinger, in his memoir, reports being taken with Benedict and Dallas to an all-black jazz club where the three of them were celebrated by patrons for having refused to fight. “The general bitterness,” Myrdal reported, “is reflected in the stories that are circulating in the Negro communities: A young Negro, about to be inducted into the army, said, ‘Just carve on my tombstone, Here lies a black man killed fighting a yellow man for the protection of a white man.’ ”

Around the same time as An American Dilemma was published (the spring of 1944), the army weekly Yank published an anguished letter from Rupert Trimmingham, a black corporal who discovered that the country he was fighting for could treat its enemies better than its own soldiers.

Here is a question that each Negro soldier is asking. What is the Negro soldier fighting for? On whose team are we playing? Myself and eight other soldiers were on our way from Camp Claiborne, La., to the hospital here at Fort Huachuca. We had to lay over until the next day for our train. On the next day we could not purchase a cup of coffee at any of the lunchrooms around there. As you know, Old Man Jim Crow rules. The only place where we could be served was at the lunchroom at the railroad station but of course we had to go into the kitchen. But that’s not all; 11:30 A.M. about two dozen German prisoners of war, with two American guards, came to the station. They entered the lunchroom, sat at the tables, had their meals served, talked, smoked, in fact had quite a swell time. I stood on the outside looking on. And I could not help but ask myself these questions. Are these men sworn enemies at this country? Are they not taught to hate and destroy…all democratic governments? Are we not American soldiers sworn to fight for and die if need be for this our country? Then why are they treated better than we are?

Americans knew this was wrong. Yank was inundated with mail from G.I.s, “almost all of whom were outraged by the treatment given the corporal,” the editors wrote. The original Trimmingham letter even became the basis of a short story in The New Yorker. In a subsequent letter published on July 28, Trimmingham reported that he was heartened to receive 287 letters in response to his own, including 183 from whites in the armed forces, most from the Deep South. “It give me new hope to realize that there are doubtless thousands of whites who are willing to fight this Frankenstein that so many white people are keeping alive,” Trimmingham wrote. He was one of 1.2 million blacks who served in the armed forces during the war in spite of their second-class status.

While blacks were concerned first and foremost with discrimination at home, there was also rising consciousness of race and imperialism elsewhere. Rustin’s memo goes on to say that

No situation in America has created so much interest among Negroes as the Gandhian proposals for India’s freedom. In the face of this tension and conflict, our responsibility is to put the technique of nonviolent direct action into the hands of the black masses.

- Daniel Akst, War By Other Means: How the Pacifists of World War 2 Changed American for Good. New York: Melville House, 2022. p. 183-185.

[msclaritea]

RNS) — More than 100 chaplains signed a letter urging local Texas school boards to vote against putting chaplains in public schools, calling efforts to enlist religious counselors in public classrooms “harmful” to students and families.

The letter comes just days before a bill allowing public schools to hire school chaplains becomes law in Texas, the first state in the country to pass such a measure. The legislation, which had been pushed by activists associated with Christian nationalism, gives the state’s nearly 1,200 school boards until March 1 of next year to vote on whether to employ chaplains.

The letter was organized by the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty and Interfaith Alliance as well as local advocacy group Texas Impact.

The chaplains who signed the letter, released Tuesday (Aug. 22), bemoaned the lack of standards for potential school chaplains aside from background checks, contrasting it with the extensive training required for health care and military chaplains. 

“Because of our training and experience, we know that chaplains are not a replacement for school counselors or safety measures in our public schools, and we urge you to reject this flawed policy option: It is harmful to our public schools and the students and families they serve,” the letter read.

While chaplains who operate in multi-faith environments are generally barred from proselytizing, the Texas bill, SB 763, outlined no such condition, leaving each school district to answer the question on its own.

“There is no requirement in this law that the chaplains refrain from proselytizing while at schools or that they serve students from different religious backgrounds,” reads the letter.

Signers of the letter are members of an array of Christian denominations, including the Presbyterian Church (USA), United Methodist Church, Disciples of Christ and Seventh-day Adventist. Some are part of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Several other signers identified as Jewish, Buddhist or Unitarian Universalist.

“Texas Impact’s member faith traditions recognize the unique value of chaplains in some of life’s most challenging situations, and that’s why they insist on rigorous training and oversight of chaplains under their commission,” the Rev. Franz Schemmel, Texas Impact board president and pastor at Messiah Lutheran Church in Weatherford, said in a press release.

Last month, another letter sent to school boards by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Texas, Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Freedom From Religion Foundation raised similar concerns about the bill, which they called unconstitutional.

Besides leading to “religious proselytization and coercion of students,” the July letter charged, chaplains “are generally affiliated with specific religious denominations and traditions. In deciding which chaplains to hire or accept as volunteers, schools will inherently give preference to particular denominations, violating the ‘clearest command’ of the Establishment Clause: ‘(O)ne religious denomination cannot be officially preferred over another.’”

Texas state Rep. James Talarico speaks on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives on May 24, 2021, in Austin, Texas. Submitted photo

As SB 763 made its way through the Texas Legislature in May, state Rep. James Talarico, a Presbyterian-minister-in-training, repeatedly challenged the bill and linked it to Christian nationalism. He also expressed concern about the bill’s champions: the National School Chaplain Association, an arm of a Christian missionary organization that has previously expressed a desire to convert students and school officials to Christianity.

Julie Pickren, a member of the NSCA’s board who was elected to the Texas State Board of Education last November, appeared in a video on social media, since deleted, in which she celebrated the idea of chaplains proselytizing to school children.

“There are children who need chaplains. For the pastors in here, you already know: We have a whole generation of children that have never stepped foot one day inside of a church,” Pickren said in the video.

Protect children. Keep religion and religious figures out of schools.

[matthenslee]

2022 SBC Pastors’ Conference Vision: Part Three

Compared to others, I am a newcomer when it comes to the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting. I have watched many of them from afar, but I have only been able to go in person since the 2017 Annual Meeting in Phoenix. While I always pray cooler heads will prevail, wrongs will be made right, and repentance sought, there is always the chance the Annual Meeting shows a watching world how divided we can be.

The third principle that will guide my proposed Pastors' Conference will be encouraging unity. The Southern Baptist Convention is made up of men and women, young and old, from countless backgrounds and contexts. Among our family, there are differences from soteriology to eschatology, or even the preferred version of the Bible. There are preachers who preach in skinny jeans, some in suits, or those in slacks and a nice shirt. You name it, but there are certainly differences among us.

And yet, if we are truly made up of everyday pastors aiming to enjoy expository preaching as a family made up of all these backgrounds, what is it, then, that unites us? Jesus, our affirmation of the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message, and the Word we proclaim. As our charter says, we gather "for the purpose of eliciting, combining, and directing the energies of the Baptist denomination of Christians, for the propagation of the Gospel."

This goal of widely spreading and promoting the Good News that Jesus saves is behind our Cooperative Program, the heartbeat of our seminaries and mission agencies, and hopefully, every one of the 47,000 pulpits that make up our Southern Baptist family.

It is why we are here!

We can disagree on tertiary matters, just like the members in our churches that may not agree on every jot or tittle of our beliefs. However, we unite around both the essentials of our faith, as expressed in our confession, and our mission, as conveyed in our charter.

Therefore, the Pastors' Conference I propose will aim to unite us in our shared beliefs with worship wholly grounded in the sufficient Word driving the call. We will seek to link arms with one another, focusing on what we are for––advancing the Kingdom, together. We are at our best when we are working, worshiping, and fellowshipping together, not at one another's throats.

There are times to discuss our differences, but my aim, in the two days leading up to our Annual Meeting, would be to curate a conference every member of the SBC can be proud of and encouraged by as we come together under the banner of Christ, standing on the authority of His Word, and cooperating to reach this world for the glory of His name.

[the-record-obituaries]

Feb. 12, 2020: Obituaries

Bobby Shoemaker, 90

Mr. Bobby Shoemaker, age 90 of North Wilkesboro passed away Sunday, February 9, 2020 at Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital in Elkin.

           Graveside services will be held 2:00 PM Friday, February 14, 2020 at Arbor Grove Baptist Church Cemetery with Rev. Lane Roark officiating.  

           Mr. Shoemaker was born March 15, 1929 in Wilkes County to Robert McKinley Shoemaker and Addie Mastin Shoemaker.  He was a retired carpenter, first working for Foster Sturdivant Construction Company on projects that included the Reins-Sturdivant Chapel and Arbor Grove Baptist Church.  He was also a brick and block mason and helped to build the racing garages for race car owner Junior Johnson in Ingle Hollow. He also worked alongside his two brothers to build many homes in Wilkes County.   He loved to hunt and raised beagle dogs for many years. His greatest joy was his family and especially his grand and great grandchildren.  

           He was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Vecie Hall Shoemaker, his parents, two sisters R.V. (Robert Virginia) Bowman and Agnes Alexander, two brothers; Bruce Shoemaker and Edward (Dink) Shoemaker and a son-in-law; Mike Cannon.

           Mr. Shoemaker is survived by two daughters; Lynn Shoemaker Dyer and husband Danny of Millers Creek, Diane Shoemaker Cannon of Wilkesboro, a son; Bobby F. Shoemaker and wife Pam of North Wilkesboro, four grandchildren; Robin D. Hamby and husband Matt, Amber C. Shumate and husband Andy, Ashley D. Cannon and fiance' Bobby Sheets and Adam P. Shoemaker, six great grandchildren; Aaron and Adrienne Hamby, Emeliegh and Ashlyn Shumate, Dawson and Gage Sheets, and a sister-in-law; Ruth Shoemaker, and his special friend and caregiver; Debbie Whitley.

           Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Arbor Grove Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 196 Arbor Grove  Church Road, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659.

 Gene Stewart 89

Mr. Gene Ray Stewart age 89 of North Wilkesboro passed away Sunday, February 9 2020 at his home.

           Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 PM Wednesday February 12, 2020 at Welcome Home Baptist Church with Rev. Lyn Lambert, Rev. John Triplett, Rev. Jeff Collins, and Rev. Dean Crane officiating.  The family will receive friends from 12:00 to 1:30 PM prior to the service at the church. Burial with Military Honors by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1142 will be held in Welcome Home Baptist Church Cemetery

           Gene was born August 18, 1930 in Watauga County to Edward "Eddie" and Blanche Luther Stewart. He served in the United States Army in the Korean Conflict. He was a graduate of Clevinger Business School.  He retired from Holly Farms Poultry/Tyson Foods as a manager in the accounting department. Gene was a member of Welcome Baptist Church where he served as Secretary-Treasurer for many years.

           Mr. Stewart was a member of the Silver Striders through the YMCA. He loved fishing, gardening and spending time with his grandchildren.  He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He was a faithful church member and was known for his mild mannered spirit. Gene was a Tarheel Fan and Braves Fan, and loved watching his grandkids involvement in sports. He enjoyed watching West Wilkes Basketball.

           In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Opal Faw Stewart, and two brothers, John Stewart, and Jimmy Stewart.

           He is survived by a daughter Jeannie Stewart Stinson and husband Joel of North Wilkesboro, two sons, Stephen Ray Stewart and girlfriend Jayme Love of Statesville, and Reverend Dean Crane and wife Betty of Purlear, seven grandchildren Lucas Stinson, Jackson Stinson, Mackenzie and Christopher Stewart, Matthew Crane, Adam Crane, Josh Crane seven great grandchildren and three sister in-laws; Bonita Greene Stewart of Wilkesboro, Linda Stewart of Lenoir, and Babe Faw of Wilkesboro.

           Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Hope Ministry Toy Store C/O Brushy Mtn Baptist Association 514 Elkin Hwy. North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 or Nichols For Kids-Wilkes County Schools C/O April Marr 613 Cherry Street North Wilkesboro, NC 28659

           The family would like to thank Pruitt Health Hospice and Home Instead for their excellent care of their dad. A very special thank you to Lucille Johnson, Katherine Comer, Pam Osborne, and Gloria Wood for helping to make our dad's last year's wonderful.  We love you.

 Jesse Church, 83

Jesse Carson Church, age 83, of North Wilkesboro, passed away, Saturday, February 8, 2020 at his home. Jesse was born April 11, 1936 in Wilkes County to George and Nettie Adams Church. He was of the Baptist Faith. Mr. Church was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, Albert, Marvin, Clayton and Richard Church.

           Surviving are his wife, Mary Catherine Cooper Church; several nieces and nephews.

           Memorial service will be held 3:00 p.m. Sunday, February 16, 2020 at Harvest Time Fellowship Church, 2865 Elkin Highway 268, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 with Rev. Tom Lineberger and Rev. Steve Rose officiating. The family will receive friends at Harvest Time Fellowship Church from 1:00 until 3:00 on Sunday, prior to the service. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Hospice of Wilkes or any other Hospice organization. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.  

 Clarence Carty, 86

Mr. Clarence Ray Carty, age 86 of Wilkesboro passed away Sunday, February 9, 2020 at Accordius Health at Wilkesboro.

           Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM Wednesday, February 12, 2020 at Edgewood Baptist Church with Pastor Eddie Tharpe officiating. Burial will be in Edgewood Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00PM prior to the service at the church.

           Mr. Carty was born September 24, 1933 in Washington County, VA to Maiden and Ella Mae Holbrook Carty.

           In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Valerie Teague, and a grandson, Jonathan Teague, and thirteen brothers and sisters.

           He is survived by two sons; Jeffrey Lynn Carty and wife, Gigi of N.Wilkesboro and Timothy Ray Carty and wife, Vicki of North Wilkesboro, nine grandchildren; Misty Davis and Alex, Mindy Teague and Drew, Tasha Summerford and Dan, Christina Harrold and James, Shonna Davis, Tabitha Carty, Rebecca Minton and Anthony, Brandi Linville and Kenneth, Samantha Carty and Michael, and sixteen great grandchildren.

           In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Ebenezers Children's Christian Home P.O. Box 2777 North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 or St. Jude's Children's Research c/o Window World Cares. 118 Shaver Street, North Wilkesboro, NC  28659.

Raydell Blackburn, 80

Raydell Billings Blackburn, age 80, of Mulberry, passed away Sunday, February 9, 2020 at Wake Forest Baptist Health-Wilkes Regional. Raydell was born March 18, 1939 in Wilkes County to John and Nellie Key Billings. Mrs. Blackburn was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Shirley Billings Miles; and nephew, Ronnie Elmore.

           She is survived by her husband, Clyde Blackburn; daughter, Karen Blackburn Earp and spouse George of Hickory; son, Brent Blackburn and spouse Erica of Mulberry; brother, Danny Billings of Mulberry; grandchildren, Julia Golden and spouse Matt, Justin Earp, Claire Earp, Olivia Blackburn, Lilly Blackburn; great grandchildren, Embry and Violet.

           Funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 15, 2020 at Mountlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum Chapel with Pastor David Jones officiating. Burial will follow in Mountlawn Memorial Park. Flowers will be accepted. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.  

 Yolande Caudill, 97

Mrs. Yolande Desmond Kerbaugh Caudill, age 97 of North Wilkesboro, died Saturday, February 8, 2020 at Villages of Wilkes.  

           A graveside service will be held 11:00 AM Wednesday, February 12 at Mountlawn Memorial Park with Dr. Bert Young officiating.  The family will receive friends from 1:30 until 3:00 PM at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home after the service.  

           Mrs. Caudill was born October 27, 1922 in Greenville, TN to John Thomas and Eula Leonard Kerbaugh.  She was a lifetime member of First Baptist Church of North Wilkesboro and a FBC choir member, was a member of the VFW Auxillary and the Crickett Home Demonstration Club. She was an expert seamstress, made the best yeast rolls, and was a crafter of Chrismons, displayed at FBC North Wilkesboro during the holidays.

           In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Lee Caudill, Sr.; one sister, Vivian K. Greene; and three brothers, Shoun Kerbaugh, Glyn Kerbaugh, and Lyn Kerbaugh.  

           She is survived by one daughter, Sharon Caudill Adams and husband, Jack, of Clemmons; two sons, Thomas L. Caudill, Jr. and wife, Vickie, and James S. Caudill and wife, Joann, all of Wilkesboro; five grandchildren, Michael B. Caudill, Brian T. Caudill, Andrea A. Turner, Geoffrey T. Adams, and Sara A. Caudill; eight great-grandchildren, Matthew B. Caudill, Brandon A. Caudill, Brennen T. Caudill, Lilly Kate Turner, Savannah C. Turner, Madison G. Adams, Colton T. Adams, and Mila A. Morales; and one sister, Doris K. Bentley and husband, Jim.

           In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Rainy Day Fund, c/o First Baptist Church of North Wilkesboro, P.O. Box 458, North Wilkesboro NC 28659.  

 Julie  Minton, 50

Julie Christine Minton, age 50, of North Wilkesboro, passed away Thursday, February 6, 2020 at her home. Julie was born October 13, 1969 in Wilkes County to Thomas James "Johnny" and Mary Christine Bouchelle Call. Julie attended Cricket Baptist Church and was a loving mother to her sons.      She was preceded in death by an infant brother; grandfather, Clarence C.J. Call; and uncle, Joey Call.

           Surviving in addition to her parents of Wilkesboro; are her sons, Jonathon Marshall Minton, Joshua Austin Minton both of Hays; brother, David James Call of North Wilkesboro; sisters, Tammy Annette Shew and spouse Bodean, Sandy Ann Yates and spouse Keith all of North Wilkesboro; grandmother, Della Call of North Wilkesboro; nephews, Austin Shew and spouse Ashley, Michael Lane Bare all of Hays; nieces, Catherine Yates and Hope Yates both of North Wilkesboro; great nephew, Bentley Shew; aunts, Patricia, Joann, Janie, Gail, and Jeanette; and uncles, Jimmy and Jeff.

           Funeral service was February 10,  at Fishing Creek Arbor Baptist Church with Rev. David Wellborn and Rev. Ronnie Millsaps officiating. Burial  followed in the Church Cemetery.   Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.  

 Teodulo DeLeon, 80

Mr. Teodulo Meza DeLeon, age 80 of North Wilkesboro passed away Thursday February 6, 2020 at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice House in Winston Salem.

           Funeral Services were February 9,   at Reins Sturdivant Funeral Home Chapel with Father John Hanic officiating. Burial was at Scenic Memorial Gardens in Wilkesboro.  

           Mr. DeLeon was born February 17, 1939 in San Luis Potosi, Mexico to Gunercindo Meza and Severiana Meza DeLeon. He retired from Tyson Foods.

           In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters, Felipa Meza, Antonia Meza and Cecilia Meza.

           Mr. DeLeon is survived by his wife, Antolina DeLeon DeMeza of the home, four sons, Agustin, Natalio, Emeterio and Crispin Meza, six daughters, Ubalda, Catalina, Maria, Bertha, Carmen and Guadalupe Meza, twenty-seven grand-children, ten great grand-children, four sisters, Marciana, Marcela, Atanacia and Agapita Meza, two brothers, Crispin and Leopoldo Meza.

           Flowers will be accepted.

 Darcie  Call, 88

Mrs. Darcie Lee Minton Call, 88, of Wilkesboro, passed away on Wednesday, February 5, 2020 at Wilkes Medical Center.

           Darcie was born on May 14, 1931 in Wilkes County to Ransom Edgar Minton and Connie Lee Parker Minton.  

           Darcie is survived by her daughters, Brenda Call Hooks (Len) of Chesnee SC, Phyllis Call Johnson (Bryce), Thricia Call Walter (Steve), Wanda Call Smith (Rick), all of Wilkesboro; sons, Ransom Call (Shirley) of Wilkesboro, Nelson Call (Laurie) of North Wilkesboro; twelve grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren.

           Funeral was February 9,  at Fishing Creek Arbor Baptist Church.  Burial was in the church cemetery with Rev. David Welborn  officiating.

           In addition to flowers, memorial donations may be given to Fishing and Creek Arbor Baptist Church Building Fund, 2446 Fishing Creek Arbor Rd, Wilkesboro, NC 28697.

           Adams Funeral Home of Wilkes has the honor of serving the Call Family.

 Randy Osborne, 34

Mr. Randy Paul Osborne, 34, of North Wilkesboro, passed away on Wednesday, February 5, 2020.

           Randy was born on June 25, 1985 in Wilkes County to Brian Tracy Osborne and Cathy Marie Fitzwater Osborne.

           Randy is preceded in death by his grandparents, Lonnie and Rose Osborne, Samuel and Cordelia Fitzwater; aunts, Mary Moran, Donna Fitzwater and cousin, Jason Fitzwater.  

           Randy is survived by his parents Brian and Cathy Osborne.

           A private service will be held at a later date.  

           In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be given to The American Liver Foundation, 16 Hampton Village Plaza # 215, St. Louis, MO 63109

           Adams Funeral Home of Wilkes has the honor of serving the Osborne Family.

 Mamie  Osborne, 91

Mamie "Nell" Osborne, formerly of N. Wilkesboro, is heaven bound after spending 91 years on earth as a loving daughter, sister, mother of five and grandma to many.

           Nell was born in Wilkes County on June 30th, 1933, to Marion Frank Church and Daisy Agnus Milam Church during the Great Depression.

           The red head was also known for her wit and spunk. Never did one have to guess what Nell was thinking. She was funny, but also exceptionally bright. She was an avid reader and writer. She documented many of her life stories and travels through her books and poems. She always had a word search, a good book and her Bible close at hand.

           Her humor, kindness and selfishness will be remembered by all who came in contact with her during her 91 remarkable years.

           A celebration of Nell's life will be held Friday, February 7th at Miller Funeral Service from 1-2 p.m. Family and friends are encouraged to come gather in her memory.

           Special thanks to the team at Chatham Nursing and Rehabilitation.          Memorial contributions may be made, in honor of Nell, to Samaritan's Purse - a local charity that she supported during her life.

 Peggy Taylor,  74

Peggy Ann Prevette Taylor, age 74, of McGrady, passed away, Tuesday, February 4, 2020 at her home. She was born June 7, 1945 in Wilkes County to Dewey Gaither and Hazel Johnson Prevette. Peggy was a graduate of Wilkes Central High School, was a Teacher's Assistant; and a school bus driver for Mulberry Elementary School. Mrs. Taylor was preceded in death by her parents; and a daughter, Pamela Taylor West.

           Surviving are her husband, Wallace Taylor; daughter, Mandy Wyatt and spouse Ricky of McGrady; grandchildren, Eric Brown and spouse Chelsea of Purlear, Evan Handy and spouse Victoria of Wilkesboro, Lauren Mitchell and spouse Ethan of North Wilkesboro; brothers, "Junior" Dewey Prevette and spouse Linda of Wilkesboro, Kenneth Prevette and spouse Sarah of Lewisville; sister, Kathy Williams and spouse Dean of North Wilkesboro; several nieces and nephews.

           Funeral service was February 7,  at Miller Funeral Chapel with Rev. David Key officiating. Burial   followed in Taylor Cemetery in McGrady.   The family has requested no food. Memorials may be made to Mtn. Valley Hospice, 688 North Bridge Street, Elkin, NC 28621. Flowers will be accepted. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.  

           Pallbearers were Eric Brown, Evan Handy, Ricky Wyatt, Ethan Mitchell, Danny Gambill and Johnathan Billings.

 Lawrence  Pruitt,  86

Lawrence Allen Pruitt, age 86, of Traphill, passed away Tuesday, February 4, 2020 at Wake Forest Baptist Health-Wilkes Regional. Mr. Pruitt was born May 7, 1933 in Wilkes County, he was a son of the late Archie and Jettie Shaver Pruitt. Lawrence served in the Army and fought in the Korean War.

           In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sons, Michael Allen Pruitt and Thomas Wayne Pruitt; and sister, Loreen Cockerham.

           Lawrence is survived by his wife of 63 years, Wanda June Pruitt of the home; son, David Mitchell Pruitt and lifemate Ann Sossaman of Traphill; daughter, Zendoline Kay Adams and husband Roger Adams of Traphill; brothers, Jarvie John Pruitt and wife Alice Pruitt, Gene Pruitt and wife Renee Pruitt all of Traphill; sister, Abby Pruitt Combs and husband Edsel Combs of Roaring River; grandchildren, Tara, Chad, Lance, Ayla and Leia; great grandchildren, Oaklen and Lily.

           Memorial service with military honors by Veterans of Foreign Wars Honor Guard Post 1142 was February 8,   at Miller Funeral Chapel with Pastor Keith Wood officiating.

           In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Oak Level Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 2587 Austin Little Mountain Road, Roaring River, NC 28669. The family has requested no food. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

 Jera  Wagoner, 40

Jera Lee Parsons Wagoner, age 40 of North Wilkesboro passed away Monday, February 3, 2020.

           Private services will be held at a later date.

           Jera was born May 27, 1979 in Wilkes County.

           She is survived by her father; Jerry Parsons of North Wilkesboro, her mother;

Rita Looney Hatmaker of Elkin, her husband; Ritchie Wagoner of North

          ��Wilkesboro and one sister; Kristina Parsons of Hays.

           In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital, c/oWindow World Cares, 118 Shaver Street, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659.

 David Dearman, 82

Mr. David Dewitt Dearman, age 82 of North Wilkesboro passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, February 3, 2020.

           Funeral services were February 8,   at Baptist Home Baptist Church with Rev. David Jones and Rev. Mark O. Hollar officiating.        Entombment was in Mountlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum.

           Mr. Dearman was born April 28, 1937 in Wilkes County to Dewitt Talmadge and Rena Miller Dearman.  

           David married his high school sweetheart, Carolyn on December 18, 1955.  

           He was preceded in death by his parents.

            David is survived by his wife of 64 years; Carolyn Johnson Dearman of the home, three daughters; Kimberly Dearman-Wilcox and husband Shaun of Oak Island, NC, Tamera Dearman Newton and husband Steve of North Wilkesboro and Kandice Dearman-West and husband Chris of Matthews, three grandchildren that he adored; Cameron David Newton, Joseph Stephen Newton and Kassidy Caroline Newton, special niece; Teresa Dancy Casey and his special dog; Duncan.

           Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Baptist Home Baptist Church, 2367 Sparta Road, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659, Alzheimer's Association, 4600 Park Road, Suite 250, Charlotte, NC 28209 or Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, 401 Technology  Lane, Suite 200, Mt. Airy, NC 27030.

 Wanda Montgomery,  87

Wanda Kay Harms Montgomery, age 87, of Mt. Airy, formerly of West Jefferson, passed away Monday, February 3, 2020 at Twelve Oaks Nursing Center.

           She was born July 18, 1932 in Wilkes County to Harrison Columbus and Minnie Leola Brown Miller.          Her DNA says she was a mixed of English, Wales, Germanic, European, Ireland, Scotland, and small percent of Native American.

           Mrs. Montgomery was a great great great grand-niece of Daniel Boone. She moved to Savannah, Georgia in her early years and married William Harms Sr., then in 1972, she married Walter A. Montgomery, who was in the military and they traveled with their family all over the world and come to retire in Ashe County.

           Mrs. Montgomery was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Keith M. Miller; and siblings, Thelma, Herman, Blanche, Beulah, Dorothy, Clyde. She will be missed by all.

           Surviving are her husband, Walter A. Montgomery; her children, William S. Harms, Jr. and spouse Linda of Ellabell, Georgia, Lilly A. Harms of Vidalia, Georgia, Todd Stewart of Gainesville, Georgia; one grandson; and one great granddaughter

           Funeral service was February 7,  at Union Baptist Church with Rev. Julius Blevins officiating. Burial followed in the Church Cemetery.  .                               Memorials may be made to Hospice of Ashe County, 392 NC Highway 16S, Jefferson, NC 28640. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.  

 Frances Greene, 87

Mrs. Frances Curlee Greene, age 87 of Wilkesboro passed away Monday, February 3, 2020 at Wilkes Senior Village.

           Private family Graveside serviceswere February 7,  at Barnes Family Cemetery in Churchland with Rev. Mike Hamby officiating.  

           Mrs. Greene was born September 16, 1932 in Union County to Abraham M. and Lois Witmore Curlee.  She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of North Wilkesboro. Mrs. Greene graduated from Catawba College in 1953.  She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker and loved art and music.  

           In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband; Edward Franklin Greene, a son; Richard Edward Greene and a daughter; Katherine Ann Greene.

           She is survived by one son; Stephen Brian Greene and wife; Vanya of Wilkesboro, four grandchildren; Matthew Greene of Sarasota, FL, Trevor Greene of North Wilkesboro, Trenton Greene and Lindsay Greene both of Wilkesboro and one great grandchild; Lillian Katherine Greene.

           In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Donor's Choice.

Ronald  Hamby,  62

Ronald "Ronnie" Darrell Hamby, age 62, of Deep Gap, passed away Saturday, February 1, 2020 at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston Salem. He was born August 24, 1957 in Wilkes County to Sherman Garfield and Gladys Hicks Hamby.

            He was preceded in death by his parents; infant son, Ryan Hamby; and brother, Donald Hamby.

           Surviving are his wife, Claudine Billings Hamby; daughters, Felicia Griffin and spouse Rodney of Wilkesboro, Jessica Brown and spouse Robbie of Millers Creek, Melissa Kay Lewis of Caldwell County; sons, Brad Samuel Hamby of Caldwell County, Ronnie Andrew Hamby of Florida; brothers, Calvin Hamby and spouse Loretta of Purlear, Robert Hamby and spouse Norma of Burke County, Greg Hamby of Greensboro; sisters, Sharon Duncan and spouse Jake of Sawmills, Carolyn Hamby of Crumpler, Nancy Walters and spouse Donnie of North Wilkesboro; eight grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

           Graveside service was February 6,  at Mtn. View Cemetery in Deep Gap.   Flowers will be accepted. Miller Funeral Service is in charge of the arrangements.

 Ronald Canter  71

Mr. Ronald Gray "Ron" Canter age 71 of Wilkesboro passed from this life to his eternal home February 1, 2020 surrounded in peace and love by his family.  

           Ron was born November 2, 1948 to Hubert Alton and Gozeal McNeil Canter. He served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam Conflict. Ron obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Appalachian State University.

           In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother James Alton Canter.

           Ron is survived by his wife of 50 years, Nancy Church Canter, of the home; two daughters - April Canter Greenwood and husband Charlie, and Alison Canter Moore and husband Chris; four grandchildren:  Hollie Gray Moore, Mitchell Joseph Moore, Charles McNeil "Mac" Greenwood, John Edwin "Win" Greenwood all of Winston-Salem; One brother Kenneth Canter and wife Carol of Wilkesboro; One sister Patty Broyhill of Taylorsville; Nieces and Nephews Jeff Canter, Richard Canter, Susan Canter Boyles, Steve Canter, Gary Broyhill, Janet Broyhill Sherrill, Sandra Broyhill Hawkins, and many special great-nieces and great-nephews.

           A private memorial prayer service will be held with wife, children and grandchildren.

           In lieu of a funeral, a "Celebration of Life" was held. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to any of the following: First Baptist Church of North Wilkesboro (firstbaptistNW.org), Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care- 688 Bridge Street Elkin, NC 28621 (mtnvalleyhospice.org), or any charity of your choice.

[baptist-denominations-poll]

Alliance of Baptists

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

Image from: Mountain View Community Fellowship Church, Boise, Idaho (CBF)

[endreal]

I was raised in various Southern Baptist churches as my family moved around

(strong start to this story isn't it? Yikes)

So the thing about Baptism (the denomination not the act) is that the way it exists today is a sad example of Christianity NewGame+ bad ending.

Baptism is a protestant sect, and a radical one at that. Without going into nitty gritty details the flyover version of Baptist history is that for lack of agreement with the way the Powers That Be (either catholic or Anglican, depending on the specific year you want to point to) were running the religion they split off and especially after shipping over to the America's just sort of...kept at it. Before there were "baptists don't dance" jokes there were "baptists? which baptists?" jokes.

The rebellious attitude of baptists encouraged schisms and microschisms to the point where in some regions the theology of a baptist church could almost be unique to that specific congregation - if members disagreed on certain points of scripture and someone felt strongly called enough by God or whatever, they could go off and start their own church based on their own interpretation of God's will.

I remember growing up even in the 1980s and 90s (in fairness, I lived in the way back boonies as a kid) occasionally hearing jokes along the lines of "the only people baptists disagree with more than methodists are other baptists". This trajectory and momentum led to baptists being some of the most radical - in both positive and negative ways, depending on the congregation - of Christian sects, and was especially effective in largely rural areas of America. But over time small communities stabilized, the schismic nature of baptist churches curbed, and eventually churches started associating with each other in loose confederations, which then evolved into formal organizations like the Southern Baptist Convention.

Within the convention, behaviors that originally encouraged the growth and spread of Baptist thought morphed into behaviors that performed more of a control and sustain purpose, and over time became dominant organizational ideas and were dogmatized. Organizations like the SBC grew enough to wield social and political power beyond the scope of just the congregations they represented, and then in the mid 20th century certain baptists with certain worldviews made deliberate and very mean moves against the boundaries between religious and secular power and mobilize these now dogmatically-consolidated congregations into an ideological weapon. The SBC has literally been called "the catholic church of the south" (Martin E. Marty) because of how effectively these leaders propagate their singular slate of beliefs throughout the convention membership.

The "conservative resurgence" that began in 1979 was referred to by detractors in the organization as a "fundamentalist takeover" and resulted in almost 2000 congregations straight-up leaving to form the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship - their own Baptist convention with moderate leanings.

After that the SBC didn't really have significant brakes to halt the transformation into the form we know today. It's an unembellished, mean, and deeply effective tool for propagating and directing fundamentalist influence in America...and elsewhere through its heavy investment in evangelical missionary programs. A control mechanism operating under the pretense of religious belief

ppl talk shit about catholics on this website but i think we need to give some hate to baptists. these bitches really looked at catholicism with its aesthetics and its statues and prayer beads and fancy baby baptism rituals and said "hmm... too Pagan for me" and literally traded it all for metal folding chairs in a building that looks like the backrooms

[wutbju]

Bob Jones III Plays Big Role in Operation of University

Dr. Bob Jones III is vice president of Bob Jones University -- a job which a fellow worker on campus says "he not only inherited, he merited."

It is a career that Bob Jones III had real qualms about -- he debated with himself and his God before he accepted it.

"After I graduated, I really felt I would prefer not being in the school -- it seemed too much like stepping into a ready-made job.

But the more I prayed about it and thought about it the more I came to believe that this was my job, to accept as a Christian -- the best way of perpetuating the ideals and the standards that my grandfather set up when he founded this university.

Young Dr. Bob, is perhaps, more like his grandfather -- both in big and little traits than like his father. It is evident both from conversational references to "my grandfather" when one talks with him and in his dominant interests.

Nobody is like Bob Jones, Jr. HAHAHAHA

Asked what gave him the most personal satisfaction in his work, he hesitated not a moment in replying, "My speaking tours. I like best to bring gospel messages, preaching as a minister and an evangelist," he declared.

Young Dr. Bob took his master's degree in speech from BJU in 1961, after receiving a B.A. degree in 1959. Then he did graduate work at Northwestern University and New York University. In 1963 he was awarded the honorary degree of doctor of literature by Pillsbury College, Owatonna, Minn., and in May, 1966, the honorary degree of doctor of divinity by San Francisco, Calif., Conservative Baptist Theological Seminary.

He didn’t actually complete a degree at Northwestern or NYU, by the way. He only took summer classes there.

CONSIDERED TEACHING

For a time he weighed as possible careers, teaching elsewhere or serving as a pastoral minister or a minister of education.

Next to preaching, young Dr. Bob finds his greatest satisfaction in "feeling a part of molding young people's lives. helping students over stumbling blocks ... helping them to meet spiritual problems. When I see these students blossom out after struggling with emotional and spiritual problems ... when they return and say ... after that conference with you my problems gradually disappeared, then I feel that this is the richest reward in the world.

"Even though I had hesitated to step into what might be called a ready-made job, I saw need for my involvement, particularly in the school's financial policies. This is a $30,000,000 business operated solely on faith. We have no denominational backing, no government grants, no foundation gifts. Our money comes in modest amounts from those who support us, and we manage through sound business practices. We need to establish continuity here."

(Bob Jones University's tuition is lower than average for the size of the campus and its varied curricular offerings.)

Once young Dr. Bob had accepted the family founded and administrated university as his career, he served on the speech faculty and then as assistant dean of men. He was named to the cooperating board of trustees and in 1961 was elected to the voting board.

ASSISTANT TO FATHER

Jones was subsequently appointed assistant to the president and served in this capacity until 1963 when he was named vice president. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Gospel Fellowship Association and Gospel Fellowship Missions, serving that organization as vice president of the board.

He has conducted tours of Europe and the Bible lands for parties of ministers, Christian workers and students.

While he has no involvement in the magnificent art gallery established by his father, he does the booking for the fine arts concert and drama series which annually offers top cultural opportunities for students as well as members of the community who take advantage of the limited number of tickets soon accepted the disciplinary standards and were the better for them.

"Some people sort of laugh about our "dynasty" out here, but I am convinced that a 'dynasty' is perhaps the only way a school can be kept to its founder's purposes. During its founder's life it retains its impetus and thrust -- and close family ties seem best suited to continue this," Dr. Bob says.

O RLY? So that’s why Pettit failed, yes?

LIKES WATER SKIING

Tall -- well over six feet -- and slim, young Dr. Bob radiates a warm glow, a personality trait he has twice inherited, from both grandfather and father, He enjoys water skiing, when he can find time, hunting near Ft. Stewart, Ga., where he has been shooting deer and wild hogs.

He waterskis? Huh.

Inherited from his father is his love of dramatics and his ability as an actor. He appears frequently in Shakespearean productions and other stage presentations at the university. He has also filled major roles in some of the productions of Unusual Films notably in "Wine of the Morning," and "Red Runs the River."

Both were internationally recognized and were prize-winners in their field. He and his wife, the former Beneth Peters of Olympia, Wash., met on campus and fell in love while rehearsing for a production of "Cyrano de Bergerac," in which Beneth was Roxane. Fittingly, they named their first child, a daughter, Roxane.

Two years later Bob Jones IV arrived. Interestingly, there have been exactly 27 years between each of the births of the second, third and fourth generations.

Asked about his children, young Dr. Bob declares proudly, "It's amazing how much Bob IV is like my grandfather -- he's already, the image of my grandfather."

Why do they always do this? I remember Mary Gaston insisting that Stephen was just like her husband. They always repeat this.

And it was in the tradition of his grandfather, with the same gentle and simple grace that his grandfather had terminated his final interview, -- that young Dr. Bob asked if he might be permitted to end the hour "with a little prayer."

[urbanchristiannews]

Debbie McDaniel Becomes the Third Consecutive Woman to Preside Over the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

Debbie McDaniel Becomes the Third Consecutive Woman to Preside Over the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

Carol McEntyre, Debbie McDaniel, Patricia Wilson As the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s new moderator, Debbie McDaniel said she wants women and girls to know they have a place in Baptist life, whether as ordained or lay leaders. “I want girls to know you and I are both fearfully and wonderfully made and that God can use either one of us. Young women and girls definitely need to hear that they…

[blessings-grow-meadows]

Today was such a gift. A gift of the ability to make it to town today to meet with the Georgia Baptist Children's Home. A gift of the best harvest of flowers, IMHO. Although I stayed with Aunts and Uncles and different sets of Grandparents, I grew up as an orphan. I eventually found my dad when I was 21, but that's for another day. Needless to say, their mission is very close to my heart. 🩷

I initially made several calls a few months ago to donate a bucket of blooms to the girls. Since their nearest location is in Baxley, I knew if God wanted our gift to be delivered, he would make it happen!

Fast forward to today... What an absolute joy to watch these girls create and make extra arrangements to give to others! After many plans, cancelled plans due to Helene, and nervous of how my neck was going to cooperate, His plans came together!

Mrs. Nancy with Cedar Street Baptist asked for us to give a small floral arranging lesson (our very first 🩷), and Bella and I couldn't have been more grateful for the fellowship with these special girls! #Blooms4Good #Ministry

[savedfromsalvation]

SO YOU’RE A CHRISTIAN?  WHAT FLAVOR?

AN INCOMPLETE LIST OF MODERN CHRISTIAN SECTS AND CULTS:

CATHOLIC CHURCH

Latin Church

Catholic Charismatic Renewal

Blue Army of Our Lady of Fátima

Legion of Mary (active and auxiliary)

International Catholic Conference of Scouting

Cursillo

Worldwide Marriage Encounter

Marian Movement of Priests

Militia Immaculatae

International Alliance of Catholic Knights

Knights of Columbus

Schoenstatt Apostolic Movement

Nocturnal Adoration Societies

Neocatechumenal Way

Couples for Christ

Society of Saint Vincent de Paul

Secular Franciscan Order

Young Christian Workers (JOC)

School of the Cross

Focolare Movement

Christian Life Community

Opus Dei

Pax Romana

Community of Sant'Egidio

Communion and Liberation

Salesian Cooperators Association

Christian Life Movement

Regnum Christi

Our Lady's Rosary Makers

Personal Ordinariate for former Anglicans

Eastern Catholic Churches

Alexandrian Rite

Ethiopian Catholic Church

Coptic Catholic Church

Eritrean Catholic Church

Antiochene Rite

Maronite Catholic Church

Syro-Malankara Catholic Church

Syriac Catholic Church

Armenian Rite

Armenian Catholic Church

Byzantine Rite

Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

Melkite Greek Catholic Church

Romanian Greek Catholic Church

Ruthenian Greek Catholic Church

Hungarian Greek Catholic Church

Slovak Greek Catholic Church

Italo-Albanian Catholic Church

Belarusian Greek Catholic Church

Byzantine Catholic Church of Croatia and Serbia

Georgian Byzantine Catholic Church

Albanian Greek Catholic Church

Bulgarian Greek Catholic Church

Greek Byzantine Catholic Church

Macedonian Greek Catholic Church

Russian Greek Catholic Church

Chaldean Rite

Syro-Malabar Catholic Church

Chaldean Catholic Church

Canonically irregular groups

Society of Saint Pius X

 PROTESTANTISM

Baptist churches

Southern Baptist Convention

National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc

Nigerian Baptist Convention

National Missionary Baptist Convention of America

National Baptist Convention of America, Inc.

Baptist Union of Uganda

Baptist Community of Western Congo

Baptist General Convention of Texas

Baptist Convention of Tanzania

Brazilian Baptist Convention

Progressive National Baptist Convention

Council of Baptist Churches in Northeast India

Baptist Bible Fellowship International

American Baptist Churches USA

Lott Carey Foreign Mission Convention

Baptist Community of the Congo River

National Primitive Baptist Convention of the U.S.A.

Myanmar Baptist Convention

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

Baptist General Association of Virginia

Baptist Convention of Kenya

Nagaland Baptist Church Council

Korea Baptist Convention

Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches

Orissa Evangelical Baptist Crusade

National Baptist Convention (Brazil)

Church of Christ in Congo–Baptist Community of Congo

Baptist Convention of Malawi

Garo Baptist Convention

Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches

Ghana Baptist Convention – 0.3[21]

Union of Baptist Churches in Rwanda

Conservative Baptist Association of America

National Association of Free Will Baptists

Convention of Visayas and Mindanao of Southern Baptist Churches

Manipur Baptist Convention

Baptist Community in Central Africa

Lutheranism

Evangelical Church in Germany

United Protestants i.e. Lutheran & Reformed

Lutherans

Reformed

Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania

Church of Sweden

United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India

Batak Christian Protestant Church

Church of Denmark

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland

Church of Norway

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Malagasy Lutheran Church

The Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria

Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea

Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa

The Protestant Christian Church

The Indonesian Christian Church

Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod

Evangelical Free Church of America

Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cameroon

Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Austria

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia

Christian Protestant Church in Indonesia

Church of Iceland

Simalungun Protestant Christian Church

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil

Protestant Church of Augsburg Confession of Alsace and Lorraine

Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovakia

Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Hungary

Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church

Methodism

United Methodist Church

African Methodist Episcopal Church

Church of the Nazarene

Methodist Church Nigeria

The Salvation Army

Methodist Church of Southern Africa

Korean Methodist Church

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church

United Methodist Church of Ivory Coast

Free Methodist Church

Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

Methodist Church Ghana

Methodist Church in India

Methodist Church in Kenya

Wesleyan Church

Methodist Church of Great Britain

Methodist Church in Brazil

Calvinism

Reformed Presbyterian

Presbyterian Church of East Africa

Presbyterian Church of Nigeria

Presbyterian Church of Africa

Presbyterian Church in Korea (HapDong)

Presbyterian Church of Korea (TongHap)

National Presbyterian Church in Mexico

Church of Christ in Congo

Presbyterian Community of Congo

Presbyterian Church of Cameroon]

Presbyterian Church (USA)

Presbyterian Church of India

Church of Central Africa Presbyterian

Presbyterian Church of Brazil

Presbyterian Church in Sudan

Presbyterian Church in Cameroon

Presbyterian Church in Korea (HapDongBoSu II.)

Presbyterian Church in Korea (BaekSeok)

Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana

United Church of Christ in the Philippines

Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa

United Church of Canada

Church of Scotland

Presbyterian Church in America

Presbyterian Church of Pakistan

Presbyterian Church in Korea (Koshin)

Korean Presbyterian Church

Presbyterian Church in Rwanda

Uniting Church in Australia

Presbyterian Church in Taiwan

Presbyterian Church in Ireland

Continental Reformed churches

Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar

Protestant Church in Indonesia

United Church in Zambia

Evangelical Church of Cameroon

Swiss Reformed Church

Protestant Church in the Netherlands

Christian Evangelical Church in Timor

Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa (NGK)

Christian Evangelical Church in Minahasa

United Church in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands

Protestant Church in Western Indonesia

Evangelical Christian Church in Tanah Papua

Protestant Church of Maluku

Reformed Church in Hungary

Reformed Church in Romania

Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa

Toraja Church

Reformed Church of France

Lesotho Evangelical Church

Evangelical Christian Church in Halmahera

Christian Church of Sumba

Karo Batak Protestant Church

Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria

Reformed Church in Zambia

Evangelical Reformed Church in Angola

Reformed Church in America

Christian Reformed Church in North America

Kalimantan Evangelical Church

Javanese Christian Church

Indonesia Christian Church

Church of Christ in the Sudan Among the Tiv

Church of Lippe

Evangelical Church of Congo

Christian Evangelical Church of Sangihe Talaud

Central Sulawesi Christian Church

Evangelical Reformed Church in Bavaria and Northwestern Germany

Congregationalism

United Church of Christ

Evangelical Congregational Church in Angola

United Congregational Church of Southern Africa

Anabaptism

Mennonites

Schwarzenau Brethren/German Baptists

Amish

Hutterites

Hussites

Moravians

Czechoslovak Hussite Church

Unity of the Brethren

Quakers (Religious Society of Friends)

Modern Protestantism

Pentecostalism

Assemblies of God

Apostolic Church

International Circle of Faith

Fangcheng Fellowship

China Gospel Fellowship

Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)

International Church of the Foursquare Gospel

Church of God in Christ

Jesus Is Lord Church Worldwide

International Pentecostal Holiness Church

United Pentecostal Church International

The Pentecostal Mission

Christian Congregation of Brazil

True Jesus Church

The Church of Pentecost

Universal Church of the Kingdom of God

Pentecostal Assemblies of the World

Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa

Church of God of Prophecy

Association of Pentecostal Churches of Rwanda

God is Love Pentecostal Church

Nondenominational Evangelicalism

Calvary Chapel

Born Again Movement

Association of Vineyard Churches

Christian and Missionary Alliance

Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)

African Initiated Protestant Churches

Zion Christian Church

Eternal Sacred Order of Cherubim and Seraphim

Kimbanguist Church

Redeemed Christian Church of God

Church of the Lord (Aladura)

Council of African Instituted Churches

Church of Christ Light of the Holy Spirit

African Church of the Holy Spirit

African Israel Church Nineveh

Seventh-day Adventist Church

New Apostolic Church

Lord's Recovery (Watchman Nee)

Lord's Recovery (Witness Lee

Local churches or Church Assembly Hall

Eastern Lightning

The Shouters

Restoration Movement

Churches of Christ

Christian churches and churches of Christ

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Community of Disciples of Christ in Congo

Plymouth Brethren

Anglicanism

Anglican Communion

Church of England

Church of Nigeria

Church of Uganda

Anglican Church of Kenya

Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan

Church of South India

Anglican Church of Australia

Anglican Church of Southern Africa

Anglican Church of Tanzania

Episcopal Church in the United States

Anglican Church of Canada

Church of North India

Anglican Church of Rwanda

Church of the Province of Central Africa

Anglican Church of Burundi

Church in the Province of the West Indies

Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia

Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean

Church of Christ in Congo–Anglican Community of Congo

Church of Pakistan

Church of Ireland

Church of the Province of West Africa

Anglican Church of Melanesia

Episcopal Church in the Philippines

Continuing Anglican movement and independent churches

Traditional Anglican Communion

Anglican Church in North America

Reformed Evangelical Anglican Church of South Africa

Eastern Orthodox Church ( Non-Chalcedonian)

Autocephalous Churches

Russian Orthodox Church

Romanian Orthodox Church

Church of Greece

Serbian Orthodox Church

Bulgarian Orthodox Church

Georgian Orthodox Church

Greek Orthodox Church of Constantinople

Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch

Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria

Orthodox Church in America

Polish Orthodox Church

Albanian Orthodox Church

Church of Cyprus

Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem

Czech and Slovak Orthodox Church

Autonomous churches

Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)

Moldovan Orthodox Church

Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia

Metropolitan Church of Bessarabia

Orthodox Ohrid Archbishopric

Estonian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)

Finnish Orthodox Church

Chinese Orthodox Church

Japanese Orthodox Church

Latvian Orthodox Church

Non-universally recognized churches

Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kyiv Patriarchate)

Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church

Belarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church

Macedonian Orthodox Church

Orthodox Church of Greece (Holy Synod in Resistance)

Old Calendarist Romanian Orthodox Church

Old Calendar Bulgarian Orthodox Church

Orthodox Church in Italy

Montenegrin Orthodox Church

Other separated Orthodox groups

Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church

Old Believers

Greek Old Calendarists

True Orthodox Church

Evangelical Orthodox Church

Oriental Orthodoxy

Autocephalous Churches

Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria

Armenian Apostolic Church

Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin

Holy See of Cilicia

Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople

Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem

Syriac Orthodox Church

Jacobite Syrian Christian Church

Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church

Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church

Autonomous Churches

French Coptic Orthodox Church

Churches not in communion

Mar Thoma Syrian Church

Malabar Independent Syrian Church

British Orthodox Church

Restorationism and Nontrinitarianism

Latter Day Saint movement (Mormonism)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]

Community of Christ

Jehovah's Witnesses

Oneness Pentecostalism

United Pentecostal Church International

Pentecostal Assemblies of the World

Minor Denominations

Iglesia ni Cristo

La Luz del Mundo

Unitarian Universalism

Unitarian Universalist Association

(Unitarian Universalism developed out of Christian traditions but no longer identifies as a Christian denomination.)

Church of Christ, Scientist

Friends of Man

Christadelphians

Family International

Independent Catholicism

Philippine Independent Church

Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association

Brazilian Catholic Apostolic Church

Traditionalist Mexican-American Catholic Church

Old Catholic Church

Polish National Catholic Church

Apostolic Catholic Church

Palmarian Catholic Church

Minor Branches

Church of the East (Nestorianism)

Assyrian Church of the East

Ancient Church of the East

Messianic Judaism

 And tell me again why yours is “THE ONE TRUE FAITH!”  Laz