RICHMOND — The Virginia Baptist Foundation Inc. has awarded grants totaling $185,000 to eight Virginia Baptist ministry partners, according to Ronald C. Hall, president and CEO of the Foundation. The following recipients were awarded grants by the Foundation's board of trustees during its recent meeting:
• The African Christian Community Church in Richmond, for the purpose of supporting the Barnabas Project, a ministry that addresses the physical, educational and spiritual needs of African immigrants and refugees in Central Virginia.
• Bluefield College, to establish the Center for Service, Mission and Ministry on the Bluefield College campus;
• Fork Union Military Academy, to renovate the John J. Wicker Chapel on the Fork Union campus;
• The Emmanuel Baptist Church in Barbados, to provide musical equipment during a recent mission trip by Ruth and Maynard Guill;
• The Religious Herald, for the purpose of funding equipment costs for streaming video and podcasts on the Herald's website;
• The Virginia Baptist Historical Society for the purpose of publishing an illustrated history of Virginia Baptists to be distributed at the Baptist General Association of Virginia meeting;
• The Virginia Baptist Mission Board's emerging leaders team and Woman's Missionary Union of Virginia, for the purpose of constructing a home in Lynchburg during Missions Connection Week at Eagle Eyrie;
• To the VBMB's Impact Virginia, for the purpose of supporting summer youth construction camps in Appomattox, the Eastern Shore, Martinsville, Richmond and Washington DC.
William E. Watson, chairman of the board of trustees for the Foundation said, “The Virginia Baptist Foundation is excited to be able to provide these seeds to help grow quality projects sponsored by Virginia Baptist institutions. To invest these dollars back into Virginia Baptist causes brings these resources full circle. The Foundation appreciates the confidence exhibited by fellow Virginia Baptists placing their funds with us for safe keeping, and through good stewardship we have been able to reach record balances. Today we celebrate the return of the fruits of our work in a way that all Virginia Baptists can benefit. We look forward to continuing this practice for many years to come.”