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Transitions
ON THE MOVE
Matt Fretwell, to Oak Hall Baptist Church, Sandston, Va., as pastor, effective June 17.
Frank Johnson, to Lake Ridge Baptist Church, Woodbridge, Va., as senior pastor.
Drew Hill, to Memorial Baptist Church, Arlington, Va., as pastor.
Wayne Ballard, to First Baptist Church, Bristol, Va., as interim pastor.
Zach Dawes, resigning as pastor of First Baptist Church, Mount Gilead, N.C.
MUSIC FEST: The second annual Festival of Music was held at First Baptist Church, Newport News, Va., on May 20. The festival included all 13 vocal and instrumental groups (children through senior adults) of the church’s music ministry.
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Gregory Loewer, serving as full-time pastor for missions at Columbia Baptist Church, Falls Church, Va., effective July 1.
Bonnie Wright, to Wytheville (Va.) Baptist Church, as part-time youth director.
Josh Witt, to Vinton (Va.) Baptist Church, as minister to students, effective June 17.
Andy Tuttle, resigning as minister of youth and children at Grace Baptist Church, Asheville, N.C.
Jeff Ford, to Carlisle Avenue Baptist Church, Richmond, Va., as minister to families/church administrator.
Jeff Mills, concluding his ministry as minister of youth at Four Mile Creek Baptist Church, Richmond, Va.
Rachel Hoffman, resigning as associate pastor for family ministries at Chamberlayne Baptist Church, Richmond, Va.
Joey Meador, to Poplar Springs Baptist Church, Richmond, Va., as minister of young adults and youth.
Tom Doubt, concluding his transitional pastorate at Oak Hall Baptist Church, Sandston, Va.
Erin Collier, resigning as children’s ministry specialist at Central Baptist Church, Richmond, Va.
Jimmy Sanford, resigning as minister of youth at Broadus Memorial Baptist Church, Mechanicsville, Va.
ORDINATIONS
Daniel Colston, youth minister at Villa Heights Baptist Church, Roanoke, Va., was ordained to the ministry by the church on May 6.
Tiffany Slaughter, youth minister at Emmaus Baptist Church, Quinton, Va., was recently ordained to the ministry by the church.
David McCollum, minister of music at First Baptist Church, Elkin, N.C., was ordained to the ministry by the church on May 27.
DEATH
Retired Virginia Baptist pastor Donald Lee Matheny died May 30, after 47 years of service as a Baptist minister. As a layman he served as chairman of the mission committee that founded West Hill Baptist Church (now Mechanicsville (Va.) Baptist Church). While serving as lay preacher at Fort Lee Baptist Church, Richmond, Va., he was ordained and went on to serve as pastor for 25 years. He also served as pastor of Saluda (Va.) Baptist Church and Mattaponi Baptist Church, West Point, Va. He is survived by his wife, Delores O’Conner Mathney; two sons, Michael L and Mark W. Mathney; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held June 2 at Fort Lee Baptist Church.
Kudos
Diane Smith, who retired last year as the Virginia Baptist Mission Board’s children’s ministry strategist, will be working with churches in the International Baptist Convention to equip preschool and children’s workers. She will be based in Frankfort, Germany, for the months of September-November. Smith has previously developed relationships with several IBC churches in Bremen, Cologne and Ramstein, Germany, and Copenhagen, Denmark.
Claybrook Baptist Church, Weems, Va., celebrated its 100th anniversary with homecoming on May 20. Over 250 members, former members and friends attended the morning service. Phillip Bailey and Pastor Stephen Turner delivered messages. A buffet luncheon was followed by an afternoon service with speakers David Jones, Phillip Bailey, Bill Burris and Carson Riley. Grace Notes from Cobham Baptist Church, Warsaw, Va., provided music. A newly written history booklet and sun catcher ornament was received by everyone present. A group photo was taken on the steps of the church.
25 YEARS
Phyllis Watkins, celebrating 25 years as organist at Central Baptist Church, Richmond, Va.
20 YEARS
Benny Edwards, celebrating 20 years as minister of music and senior adults at First Baptist Church, Southern Pines, N.C.
15 YEARS
Phillip Bush, celebrating 15 years as senior pastor of Groveton Baptist Church, Alexandria, Va.
10 YEARS
Dean Frazuer, celebrating 10 years as pastor of Goochland (Va.) Baptist Church.
Alan Ray, celebrating 10 years as pastor of Ridge Baptist Church, Richmond, Va.
5 YEARS
Abbie Duenckel, celebrating 5 years as minister for education and students at Ridge Baptist Church, Richmond, Va.
Events
SAT., JUNE 16
SherLynd Baptist Church, Lyndhurst, Va.; concert by the Farm Hands Quartet from Nashville, Tenn., at 7 p.m.
SUN., JUNE 24
New Bethesda Baptist Church, Mechanicsville, Va.; bluegrass gospel music concert featuring Amy Ladd & Friends and special guest James King at 6 p.m.
SUN., JULY 1
West End Baptist Church, Petersburg, Va.; the African Children’s Choir in concert at 10:45 a.m.
SAT.-SUN., JULY 21-22
First Baptist Church, Marion, N.C. will celebrate its 150th anniversary. On Saturday a reunion of the 1950s Boys Choir is planned from 5-7 p.m. The anniversary service will begin at 10:30 a.m. and will include special presentations and music. A newly completed oil painting of the original 1872 white wooden church house will be unveiled. A banquet will be served.
News
Linden Heights Baptist Church, Staunton, Va., will again host Praise in the Park, a series of free gospel concerts, at the gazebo at Gypsy Hill Park this summer. This is the 10th anniversary of the celebration which this year begins on Tuesday, July 10, with Nikki Headley and Southern Grace performing at 7 and 8 p.m., respectively. Teen Night is Tuesday, July 17, at 6:30 p.m. Jonathan King will perform at 7 p.m. and Fidelis & Spirit Led at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 24. Calvary Baptist Church will be on concert at 7 p.m. and the Finneys at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 31. Praise in the Park will conclude on Tuesday, Aug. 7 with children’s hour at 7 p.m. and The Crestmen at 8 p.m. Vendors will sell food each night. There will be children’s activities and Bible school, hosted by First Baptist Church, Staunton, Va., will be held during July behind the gazebo.
Wilderness Baptist Church, Spotsylvania, Va., held a ground breaking on April 7 for an addition. Among the attendees were Steve Aycock, John Gray and his wife, Ruth, all of the Fredericksburg Area Baptist Association; Kelly Southard of Gillum Architects, and Phil Clark and Naomi Devine from Dominion Construction Group.
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Bethany Baptist Church, Callao, Va., held groundbreaking on May 27 for its new 230-seat fellowship hall. The 5,000-square-foot facility will include fellowship space with a new kitchen and pantry. During the groundbreaking service, Pastor Kornel Kiss prayed for God’s continued direction and fellowship hall chairman Charlie Overstreet thanked members for their support. The project was designed by church architect William Henry Harris & Associates Inc. A November completion date is anticipated. Photo at left pictures participants breaking ground for the church’s new facility.