Transitions
ON THE MOVE
Matt Cook, to First Baptist Church, Wilmington, N.C., as pastor.
Michael Khol, to Mulberry Grove Baptist Church, Buckingham, Va., as pastor.
Ron Cava, to First Baptist Church, Henderson, N.C., as pastor, effective Sept. 9.
Tom Doubt, transitional pastor, has accepted a call to return to Zoar Baptist Church, Locust Grove, Va.
Ryan Clore, concluding his ministry as associate pastor of Patterson Avenue Baptist Church, Richmond, Va.
Wes Depew, to Ridgewood Baptist Church, Roanoke, Va., as student minister.
Allen York, concluding his ministry as pastor of music and worship at Viewmont Baptist Church, Hickory, N.C.
Jim Davidson, to First Baptist Church, Hickory, N.C., as minister of music.
Kristen White, to First Baptist Church, Gretna, Va., as associate pastor. She had been serving as student missions coordinator for the Woman’s Missionary Union of Virginia.
Johnny Rafidi, to Green Ridge Baptist Church, Roanoke, Va., as children’s director.
Shawn Allen, concluding his ministry as associate pastor of worship arts and discipleship at Gayton Baptist Church, Rich-mond, Va., to relocate to Florida as a church planter.
John Fontanella, to Leesburg (Va.) Community Church, as discipleship pastor.
Pam Arkesteyn, resigning as children’s ministry associate at Cool Spring Baptist Church, Mechanicsville, Va., to accept a teaching position.
John Dunkle, to Cambria Baptist Church, Christiansburg, Va., as youth director.
Christa Warise, to College Park Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, N.C., as minister of senior adults and congregational care.
Scott Hale, to First Baptist Church, Weaverville, N.C., as youth minister.
DEATHS
Marine Staff Sgt. Greg Copes, a graduate of Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, was killed by a police officer Aug. 17 while serving in Afghanistan. A funeral service was held Aug. 27 at the Altavista Combined School gymnasium. A native of Lynch Station, Va., Copes is survived by a wife and four children.
Robert L. Boggs Sr., a retired Virginia Baptist minister, died Aug. 22 at the age of 82. He had served as associate pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church, Richmond, Va.; and pastor of Raleigh Forbes Baptist Church, Richmond, Va.; Connelly Memorial Baptist Church, Roanoke, Va.; First Baptist Church, Taylorsville, N.C. and Hunton Baptist Church, Glen Allen, Va. He was an associate for ministry to church leaders for Dover Baptist Association. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Beals Boggs; three sons, Robert L. Jr., William B. and Bennett G. Boggs; and four grandchildren. A funeral service was held Aug. 26 at Hunton Baptist Church.
Retired Virginia Baptist pastor William C. “Bill” Russ Sr. died August 19 at the age of 85. In his over 50 years in the ministry, Russ had served as pastor of a number of churches including Chester (Va.) Baptist Church and West Hampton Baptist Church, Hamp-ton, Va. He is predeceased by his wife, Bette Wilcox Russ. He is survived by three children, Joseph Russ, Betsy Frazier and Bill Russ; and five grandchildren. A funeral service was held Aug. 22 at Chester Baptist Church.
Kudos
20 YEARS
Steve Smith, celebrating 20 years as pastor of Colosse Baptist Church, West Point, Va.
15 YEARS
Jeff Williams, celebrating 15 years as senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Denton, N.C.
Events
SUN., SEPT. 9
Bethany Baptist Church, Thornburg, Va.; homecoming at 11 a.m. with Susan McBride, guest speaker; music provided by Cindee Cordova; covered-dish dinner.
Elk Creek Baptist Church, Mineral, Va.; 199th anniversary; homecoming at 11 a.m. with Phyllis Rodgerson-Pleasants, guest speaker; potluck lunch to follow.
First Baptist Church, Dungannon, Va.; homecoming at 11 a.m.
Grundy (Va.) Baptist Church; “We Are Rising Together” groundbreaking; worship at 11 a.m.; groundbreaking ceremony at 12:30 p.m. followed by church family picnic. Grundy’s sanctuary was destroyed and its educational building damaged last December by fire.
SUN.-WED., SEPT. 9-12
Atlantic (Va.) Baptist Church; revival Sunday at 11 a.m. and evenings at 7 p.m. with Jonathan Carpenter, pastor of Exmore Baptist Church, as evangelist.
First Baptist Church, Bristol, Va.; renewal services with Darrell Fletcher, field strategist for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, as evangelist; worship leaders are Jeremy and Holly Poplin.
SUN., SEPT. 15
Webber Memorial Baptist Church, North Chesterfield, Va.; “Living Proof Live” simulcast with Beth Moore from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.; continental breakfast and lunch; cost $15; for schedule and to register go to www.webberchurch.org.
SAT.-SUN., SEPT. 15-16
Knollwood Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, N.C.; celebrating renovated sanctuary with refurbished steeple, redesigned spaces for choirs and pew upholstery; picnic with concert and dance led by The Vintage Years Orchestra on Saturday from 6-8:30 p.m. Ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sunday at 10:45 a.m. followed by service of dedication.
SUN., SEPT. 16
First Baptist Church, Dillwyn, Va.; homecoming at 11 a.m. with John Moxley as guest speaker; fellowship lunch.
First Baptist Church, Marshville, N.C.; homecoming at 11 a.m.; Sue Johnson and Anthony Rogone, speakers; covered-dish luncheon.
SUN.-TUES., SEPT. 16-18
Mount Olivet Baptist Church, Beaverdam, Va.; homecoming Sunday at 11 a.m.; revival with Terry Sullivan, Monday and Tuesday evening.
SUN.-WED., SEPT. 16-19
Green Valley Baptist Church, Lebanon, Va.; revival with Sherrell Dunn, pastor of Mountain View Baptist Church, Meadowview, Va., as evangelist.
New Hope Baptist Church, Appomattox, Va.; homecoming at 11 a.m. on Sunday; former pastor Whitey Davis, guest speaker; covered-dish luncheon; revival at 7 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday.
Oak Grove Baptist Church, Colonial Beach, Va.; homecoming and revival with Jamey Ragle, guest evangelist; Sunday at 11 a.m. and Monday-Wednesday at 7 p.m.
SUN., SEPT. 23
Greenwood Forest Baptist Church, Cary, N.C.; 50th anniversary; Steven N. Jolly, pastor of Freemason Street Baptist Church, Norfolk, Va. and former youth minister at Greenwood Forest, guest speaker, at 11 a.m. service; followed by dinner on the grounds.
Hatcher Memorial Baptist Church, Richmond, Va.; 90th anniversary; worship at 10:30 a.m. with former minister of education, Leon Castle, as guest speaker; dinner on the grounds; musical program at 1:30 p.m.
Oak Level Baptist Church, Bassett, Va.; 75th anniversary with homecoming; former pastor L. Grant Carter, guest speaker.
SUN.-WED., SEPT. 23-26
First Baptist Church, South Boston, Va.; spiritual renewal with Tom Stocks, field strategist at the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, evangelist.
FRI.-SUN., SEPT. 28-30
Youth retreat at Crossroads Camp & Conference Center, sponsored by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia. A weekend of discovering your story and learning where and how your story fits in with God’s story. For more information, visit our website at www.cbfva.org/events.
SUN., SEPT. 30
Calvary Baptist Church, Danville, Va.; 94th anniversary with homecoming at 11 a.m.; former pastor J. C. Raper, guest speaker.
Grove Park Baptist Church, Portsmouth, Va.; 67th anniversary with homecoming at 10:30 a.m.; Fred Williams, guest speaker; covered-dish dinner in fellowship hall.
Powhatan (Va.) Community Church; 10-year celebration; 4 p.m. service on Powhatan campus; food and festival to follow. Due to limited seating pre-ordered tickets are required. For tickets go to www.PCC10Year.eventbrite.com.
Second Baptist Church, Richmond, Va.; recital by pianist Russell Willson at 3 p.m. This is the 9th year he has presented an afternoon of classical music. Free ticket required. Call 804.740.7101.
Roxboro (N.C.) Baptist Church; homecoming at 11 a.m.; Ray N. Howell, guest speaker.
SUN.-TUES., SEPT. 30-OCT. 2
Tabernacle Baptist Church, Raleigh, N.C.; revival with Jack Glasgow, pastor of Zebulon (N.C.) Baptist Church, evangelist.
SAT., OCT. 6
“Evening for Alkulana,” a fundraising event to benefit Camp Alkulana, a ministry of the Richmond Baptist Association; River Road Church, Baptist, Richmond, Va.; dinner at 6:30 p.m. with entertainment and testimonies by camp staff; $25 per person/advance reservations required by Sept. 28; pay with credit card at www.alkulana.org or www.rbaonline.org or contact Frances Jones at Richmond Baptist Association, 804.329.1701 or [email protected].
SAT.-SUN., OCT. 6-7
First Baptist Church, Marshville, N.C.; revival with Joe Brown, former pastor of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C., as evangelist.
SUN., OCT. 7
First Baptist Church, Weber City, Va.; homecoming at 11 a.m.; former pastor Dean Smith, guest speaker; dinner following service.
Furnace Creek Baptist Church, Rocky Mount, Va.; 59th anniversary with homecoming at 11 a.m. J. Larry Holland, guest speaker; lunch will follow service.
Goshen Baptist Church, Spotsylvania, Va.; homecoming with Jerry Pipes, speaking and leading a one-day conference, “Building a Successful Family: A Workshop for the Home.”
Mount Hermon Baptist Church, Bedford, Va.; homecoming with Fred Anderson, executive director of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society, as speaker; fellowship lunch.
Upper Essex Baptist Church, Caret, Va.; 240th anniversary with homecoming at 10:30 a.m.; covered-dish dinner following service.
SAT., OCT. 13
Virginia Baptist Library Association fall conference at Monument Heights Baptist Church, Richmond, Va.; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; cost $20 per person; registration deadline Oct. 5; additional information at www.vbla.wordpress.com or call Monument Heights at 804-285-3256 or Lee Smith at 804-288-3966.The group’s executive committee will meet on Friday, Oct. 12, at 6:30 p.m., also at Monument Heights.
News
The Resource Center, a Richmond-based provider of resources for individuals, churches and other organizations, is currently accepting nominations for The Ninth Annual Excellence in Ministry Banquet to be held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center on Fri., Nov. 16. The fall teacher training event will be held early next year. The 2013 Tookbox for the Future will feature nationally-known Rich Melheim.