A stable share of Americans have been participating in religious activities in some way – either virtually or in person – during the COVID-19 pandemic, but in-person attendance is slightly lower than it was before the pandemic. That was a finding of a recent poll by the Pew Research Center. Click here to read the report, highlighted by five key
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By JIM NICHOLS The email from an old friend and colleague presented an invitation I could not refuse. It was a hard invitation, but a challenging and interesting one. He reported that he was in conversation with his adult daughter and she had asked him what books had been most important in building the character of his life. Momentarily stumped
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON The world of sports holds numerous inspirational stories of men and women athletes. When I think of lessons they carry, three stories I have read come to mind, men who overcame issues in their lives that required extra effort to succeed. Daniel Eugene Ruettiger, Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth, and Glenn Vernice Cunningham are three men who battled through
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury During growing-up years, I don’t remember hearing much talk about splashing on sweet-smelling stuff. Surely it was poetic injustice, what with cotton-picking heating up many of my kin who labored in the fields, not to mention other farm chores that caused streams of sweat that seemed inevitable during half of each calendar year. The
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By LORETTA FULTON In his first Easter production at Pioneer Drive Baptist church, Reed Ambrose aimed high. All the way to the top, in fact. He’s playing the role of Jesus in the upcoming “The Cross, The Crown,” which will be staged at the Abilene Convention Center Wednesday-Saturday, April 5-8. The public is invited to the productions. The four presentations
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By LORETTA FULTON You’ll have to pardon Debra Burchett if she seems to be going in all directions these days. She has every right to be. Burchett is riding herd over preparations for celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Presbyterian Medical Care Mission and her 10th year as its executive director. “I am blessed daily by working with an amazing
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By LORETTA FULTON The opening worship session of ACU’s Summit sounded a little like an old-time revival meeting Thursday afternoon, with plenty of handclapping and standard hymns sung acapella style. The only thing not “old” about it was the projection of the hymn lyrics onto a wall of the Chapel on Hill. Not that the audience, or congregation, needed a
Read morePastor Emeritus, Dr. Peter James “Jim” Flamming, who served First Baptist Church in Abilene from 1966 to 1981, died at Westminster Canterbury Richmond, in Richmond, Virginia on March 27, 2023. He served Richmond’s First Baptist Church for 23 years, from 1983-2006. Prior to his move to Richmond, Dr. Flamming served several churches in Texas, including Abilene. Dr. James Flamming Dr.
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By LORETTA FULTON “The Cross, The Crown: An Easter Worship Experience” will be presented April 5-8 at the Abilene Convention Center. The public is invited to the productions, courtesy of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church. The four presentations are free, but tickets are required by calling the church at 692-6776 or by emailing music@pioneerdrive.org Presentations will be at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday
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Spirit Of Abilene 