Latest news with #Baptist
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Kathleen Ervin, Youngstown, Ohio
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) – Mrs. Kathleen Ervin, 70, of Youngstown, transitioned to eternal rest on Monday, May 19, 2025 at her home. Mrs. Ervin affectionately known as 'Kat', was born January 14, 1955 in Danville, Virginia, a daughter of William Croom and Alberta Price. Find obituaries from your high school Kat a devoted homemaker, was of the Baptist faith. She enjoyed shopping, socializing, watching soap operas (the Young & Restless, Bold and Beautiful and As the World Turns. She was a diehard Pittsburgh Steelers fan. However, her passion was being with her family. She leaves to cherish her beloved memory, two daughters, Katina Comer and Ta'Shawnda Price both of Youngstown; six grandchildren, April, De'Jeux, Regina, Reginald, III, Naquan, and Evan; four great grandchildren; six sisters, Barbara, Shirley, Joyce, JoAnn, Katherine (her twin), and Jeannette; and a host of family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Larry Ervin. Private services were held at the L. E. Black, Phillips & Holden Funeral Home. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Kathleen Ervin, please visit our floral store. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Lalrinpuii calls for efforts to combat drug abuse in Mizoram
Aizawl: Mizoram social welfare, women & child development minister Lalrinpuii on Monday said there is an urgent need to launch missions on demand reduction, supply reduction and harm reduction to combat the menace of drug addiction and abuse in Mizoram with coordinated efforts of all the stakeholders. Addressing a consultation meeting on drug and related issues especially under the Nasha Mukh Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) and the current war launched against drugs, Lalrinpuii underscored the need for aftercare treatment at de-addiction centres. She said the state govt is planning to use Jordan centre at Kolasib district bordering Assam as aftercare and de-addiction & rehabilitation centre for which a proposal has already been submitted. The minister said the Presbyterian and the Baptist churches have been approached to take over the Jordan centre and their response is being awaited. The minister emphasised the need for running systematic medical service, detoxification and reduction of cravings for drugs among the addicts and users in the de-addiction centres. Amendment to the accreditation rules and formulation of state drug policy is actively pursued, she said. Aizawl: Mizoram social welfare, women & child development minister Lalrinpuii on Monday said there is an urgent need to launch missions on demand reduction, supply reduction and harm reduction to combat the menace of drug addiction and abuse in Mizoram with coordinated efforts of all the stakeholders. Addressing a consultation meeting on drug and related issues especially under the Nasha Mukh Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) and the current war launched against drugs, Lalrinpuii underscored the need for aftercare treatment at de-addiction centres. She said the state govt is planning to use Jordan centre at Kolasib district bordering Assam as aftercare and de-addiction & rehabilitation centre for which a proposal has already been submitted. The minister said the Presbyterian and the Baptist churches have been approached to take over the Jordan centre and their response is being awaited. The minister emphasised the need for running systematic medical service, detoxification and reduction of cravings for drugs among the addicts and users in the de-addiction centres. Amendment to the accreditation rules and formulation of state drug policy is actively pursued, she said.
Herald Sun
5 days ago
- Herald Sun
Mushroom Cook Erin Patterson's murder trial: Doctor says how close Ian Wilkinson came to death
Ian Wilkinson, the Baptist pastor who survived Erin Patterson's cooking, knew how close he came to death. On Friday, the rest of us found out. One of the team who worked to save his life, Dr Stephen Warrillow, told the Supreme Court in the King v Erin Patterson how he survived what was 'unsurvivable' for his wife, Heather, her sister Gail Patterson and her husband, Don. The pastor himself, Mr Wilkinson, was inside the courtroom, arms crossed and surrounded by family, as he listened to the Austin Hospital's specialist recall how bleak his chances were of pulling through as the toxins from the lethal death cap mushrooms broke down his body. The septuagenarian was suffering multiple organ failure, the doctor testified. 'We thought he was going to die. He was very close,' Dr Warrillow said. The cook, Ms Patterson, never became as sick as her guests. The prosecution alleges she didn't get sick at all. This week they also called a different kind of doctor as a witness, Dr Matthew Sorell, a phone tower expert. And in language experts often use, Dr Sorell testified that he could not eliminate the possibility that Ms Patterson's phone travelled near the townships of Outtrim and Loch in the Gippsland region where death caps were growing. But ping they did off those nearby towers. The prosecution have also alleged in this trial that the 50-year-old mother of two researched iNaturalist, a website which tracks where fungi, including death caps, grow. They say she bought a dehydrator to prepare them and later dumped it. And that Ms Patterson used two phones and told lies about buying mushrooms from an Asian grocer, when in fact, she was a forager. Ms Patterson says the allegations are wrong. That the lunch she cooked containing the poisonous mushrooms was 'a terrible accident'. This week, the fifth in this trial, could be the final roll call for witnesses. Then, the prosecution and the defence will address the jury about the case for and against convicting Ms Patterson of a triple murder and attempted murder she says she did not commit. Ms Patterson's intent is the dividing line. The closings are the last words the jury will hear from Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC and defence barrister Colin Mandy SC, other than the judge's final instructions. Then they will be sequestered as they deliberate their verdict. Unfortunately for two of the 14 jurors who have listened to the evidence, they will be cut before deliberations begin. For the 12 remaining, it will be their decision alone on whether Ms Patterson, on July 29, 2023, intended to seriously harm or murder her in-laws and extended family. Family, church and money have been recurring themes since the first witness in this trial, Ms Patterson's estranged husband, Simon, entered the witness box. His evidence about the couple's on and off again marriage, a separation that did not end in divorce, and a friendship that dissolved in 2022 as they bickered about child support re-emerged this week. The court, which is sitting in Morwell for this trial, heard about messages from a Facebook account named 'Erin ErinErin', which were beamed onto the courtroom's screens. The messages labelled Simon a 'deadbeat' and his parents a 'lost cause'. 'So Don said they can't adjudicate if they don't know both sides and Simon won't give his side (emoji) so he said all he can ask is that Simon and I get together to pray for the children (emoji) (emoji) this family I swear to f--ing god,' Erin ErinErin sent on December 6, 2022 'I said to him about 50 times yesterday that I didn't want them to adjudicate. Nobody bloody listens to me, at least I know they're a lost cause.' Minutes later from the same account: "I'm sick of this sh-- I want nothing to do with them. I thought his parents would want him to do the right thing but it seems their concern about not wanting to feel uncomfortable and not wanting to get involved in their son's personal matters are overriding that so f--- them.' Seven months later she asked them to lunch. The trial before Justice Christopher Beale will continue on Monday.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Niagara Gospel Mission's John Cooper nominated for state Senate Veterans Hall of Fame
The leader of a local shelter for homeless men will soon be recognized by the state of New York for his years of military service. New York State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, has nominated the Rev. John Cooper Jr., executive director of the Niagara Gospel Mission in Niagara Falls, for induction into the New York Senate Veterans Hall of Fame. Nominees are chosen based on their service to the nation, their contributions to their local communities and their achievements in civilian life. 'I'm honored and thankful for this nomination,' Cooper Jr. said. 'My family has served in the business community and local organizations for decades. We've fought in our nation's wars and as part of the Underground Railroad. My family and faith have taught me to care for those in need.' A Town of Wheatfield native and a graduate of Niagara-Wheatfield High School, Cooper Jr. served as a sniper in the U.S. Army for six years. His military service included active duty in Afghanistan from 2015 to 2021. In February 2022, he joined the shelter's staff as development director. The ordained Baptist pastor and Clarks Summit University in Pennsylvania graduate has served as the rescue mission's executive director since the end of 2023. Cooper Jr., his wife Elizabeth and their four boys live in Niagara Falls. During his tenure at the mission, Cooper Jr. helped establish the Liberty Suite for homeless Veterans at the Mission, the Re-Deploy Veterans Recovery Program, and the RECON Recovery Program; provided community symposiums to educate the community about homelessness and mental illness, and initiated Code Blue for homeless men attempting to survive winter on the streets. In addition, Cooper is spearheading a campaign to raise funds to open a women's shelter for homeless women in Western New York. Ortt submitted Cooper's name for approval based on the 'incredible' work he's done with gospel mission, which runs a homeless shelter for men in the Falls at its location on Portage Road. 'I have learned about how they serve as a Code Blue shelter, feed and clothe the community, offer a special program for homeless veterans, and are getting ready to construct a women's only shelter. John has selflessly served both his country and his community— he embodies all of the values we look for in nominees to the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame, and it's an honor to select John Cooper Jr. as my candidate from Senate District 62.' Senators from each New York district have submitted their choice for an inductee into the hall of fame, a practice that began in 2005. Cooper Jr. will join the other hall of fame nominees during a ceremony scheduled for Tuesday at the State Capitol building in Albany.
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Claim hub sale call guided by God
Valley Baptist Church community centre. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON A church under fire for the sale of a beloved North Dunedin community hub says their decision is backed by God, but a former pastor is not so sure. Baptist Churches of New Zealand is selling the Valley Baptist Community Centre, which is where the Baptist congregation met before it was dissolved in August 2021. The sale will leave the Valley Baptist Community Trust and more than 60 other community groups without premises to operate from. Geoff Pound, who was pastor at the North East Valley church from 1978 to 1985, sent an open letter to Baptist Churches national leader Charles Hewlett and Otago and Southland regional leader Rachel Murray asking them to reconsider their decision to sell. In response, the church emailed Mr Pound saying the decision to sell was made after "the local churches in the region discerned the mind of Christ together over a long period of time". "Together they felt this was the decision God would have them make." Dr Pound told the Otago Daily Times he remained unconvinced. "Mistakes can and have been made before by people who believe they are following God's will". He did not think the decision was carefully considered and believed many Baptist churches in New Zealand and Australia would love to have the facilities used by community organisations, he said. "For the community, it sends a pretty bad signal to the churches of Dunedin and the people of Dunedin, but particularly those who are involved in community work." Dr Pound said that when the church got funding for building facilities, it was under the proviso that they would be used by community groups. "We don't have a worshipping congregation, but does that mean that they really devalue the real good community work of care, bringing people together? "I think the church should do the right thing and hand it over to the community group." He said since moving to Melbourne, he had made similar mistakes selling off land and later regretting it. Strategically, there were not a lot of Baptist churches in the north side of Dunedin and he urged them to think about how New Zealand Baptists might increase the mission of Jesus in North East Valley instead. The church is for sale by tender, which closes on May 28. The Valley Baptist Community Trust is making a last-minute effort to fundraise to buy it.
