STAFF CHANGES
• Robert Brown, to Black-stone Church, Blackstone, as pastor.
• Ben Sturgis, to Orchard Drive Church, Bassett, as pastor.
• Kevin Wirt, to Pleasant Hill Church, Daleville, as pastor.
• Matthew McCraney, to Rock Hill Church, Stafford, as pastor.
MISSION MOMENT: Approximately 50 children and adults from First Baptist Church of Springfield wrapped and stuffed 191 shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child during their Sunday night Destination Kids-GPS and a Hand-in-Hand Mission Day. The missions committee was overwhelmed by the generosity and participation of the congregation in this important outreach ministry of Samaritan’s Purse.
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• Michael Gregory, has concluded his ministry as pastor of St. Stephen’s Church, St. Stephen’s Church.
• Tom Edwards, resigning as pastor of Lebanon Church, Lebanon.
• Becky Gunter, to Lakeside Church, Richmond, as interim pastor.
• Harold Cook, to Lynn Haven Church, Vinton, as interim pastor.
• Ben Lucas, to Tabernacle Church, Richmond, as associate pastor for children and families.
• Debbie Thompson, to Second Branch Church, Chesterfield, as minister of music.
• Roberta Young-Jackson, to to First Union Church, Richmond, as youth minister.
• Michael Sciretti Jr., to Freemason Street Church, Norfolk, as minister of spiritual formation.
• Vince Matthews, to West Lynchburg Church, Lynchburg, as minister of youth.
• Erik Wilkins, to First Church, Woodbridge, as minister of discipleship.
RETIREMENT
• James R. Woodland, pastor of Grove Park Church, Portsmouth, has retired after having served the church for five years.
ORDINATION
• Robert Brown was ordained to the gospel ministry on Nov. 28 by First Church, Gretna.
• Becky Gunter was ordained to the gospel ministry by Webber Memorial Church, Richmond, on Nov. 18.
DEATHS
• Virginia Baptist pastor Ricardo Alvarado died Dec. 6 at the age of 55. He was Latino Church Planting Cata-lyst for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board and pastor of First Spanish Baptist Church of Galax. He is survived by his wife, Maria; two daughters, Eugenia Alvarado and Rebeca Wilson; a son, Ricky Alvarado and a granddaughter. Funeral service was held Dec. 9 at First Church, Galax.
• Stephen J. Burton died Dec. 31 at the age of 62. He was a member of Salem Church in Fredericksburg and had served numerous churches in the Northern Virginia in music ministry. Survivors include his wife, Tammy Faulconer Burton; three daughters, Julie Anne Perry, Barbara Jane Powell and Jessica Willis Gourley; and three grandchildren. A memorial service was held Jan. 4 at Covenant Funeral Service in Fredericksburg.
• Howard E. Gregory died Jan. 2 in Fredericksburg at the age of 82. He had served as moderator for the Fredericksburg Baptist Association and on the Virginia Baptist Mission Board from 1991-98. He and his wife Sara were field coordinators in the Czech Rep-ublic and Slovakia for two summers for the VBMB. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Janet Moore and Susan Hilldrup; and five grandchildren. A funeral service was held Jan. 5 at Fredericksburg Baptist Church.
• B. Steven McNeeley, pastor of Peakland Baptist Church in Lynchburg, died Jan 7 at the age of 61. He had served churches in Kentucky, Mississippi, Maryland and at Peakland for the past 9 years. He is survived by his wife, Suzanne Metts McNeeley; a son, Adam McNeeley; daughter, Carol McNeeley; and three brothers. A funeral service was held Jan. 15 at Peakland Baptist Church.
OTHER
• Stephen Brachlow will lead discussions on Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together at the Virginia Baptist Ministers Discussion Group on Feb. 21-22 at the Roslyn Retreat Center, 8727 River Rd., Richmond. Drexel Rayford and Suzanne Vinson will lead worship. For information, see www.vabaptistdiscuss.org.