STAFF CHANGES
Mark Hackler, to Sharon Church, Danville, as pastor.
Danny Lester, to Thornburg Church, Thornburg, as pastor.
Rodger Hogan, to Midland Church, Vinton, as pastor.
Jerry Parker, resigning as pastor of Immanuel Church, Colonial Heights, to return to the mission field working in North Africa and the Middle East.
Glen Hurd, concluding his ministry as pastor of Maple Grove Church, Coeburn.
Jimmy Edwards, to Bethel Church, Salem, as interim pastor.
Susan McBride, to Bethany Church, Woodford, as interim pastor.
Bob Carter, to Temple Church, Newport News, as interim pastor.
Sam Harvey, to Garden City Church, Roanoke, as interim pastor.
Roy Ford Jr., to Pocahontas Bassett Church, Bassett, as interim pastor.
J. Leroy Clack, to First Church, Collinsville, as interim pastor.
Richard Hanks, to Orchard Drive Church, Bassett, as intentional interim pastor.
Ron Farrar, to North Riverside Church, Newport News, as intentional interim pastor.
50 YEARS IN MINISTRY: J. Clyde Shelton, pastor of Bagby Memorial Church in Burkeville, celebrated 50 years in the ministry on Sept. 9, 2006. He has served as pastor of Lone Oak Church in Axton, Union Chapel Church in Lynch Station, Alton Church in Alton, and Burkeville and Bagby Memorial churches in Burkeville. He retired from the ministry in 1999 and six month later returned to Bagby Memorial as their pastor, where he currently serves. On Dec. 3 the Bagby congregation dedicated a stained glass window in honor of Shelton's 50 years.
Scott Price, to Fellowship Church, Ettrick, as interim pastor.
Roger Woody, to Bethel Church, Fredericksburg, as youth minister.
Daniel Miear, to Flat Creek Church, Lynchburg, as full-time youth pastor.
Charlene Clark, to Bethel Church, Fredericksburg, as music director.
Matthew McCraney, to Plymouth Haven Church, Alexandria, as associate pastor for youth.
Joel Nelson, to Evergreen Church, Fredericksburg, as part-time pastor of discipleship.
Lynn Wampler, to North Roanoke Church, Roanoke, as part-time children's minister.
Mike Simpson, to Evergreen Church, Fredericksburg, as youth ministry director.
DEATH
Former Virginia Baptist pastor Robert “Bob” Parker Thompson died March 7 at the age of 83. He served as pastor of three Virginia churches: Mount Vernon Church in Vernon Hill, Arbor Church in Paces and Mill Creek Church in Fincastle, and a church in Indiana. He is survived by his wife, Nell C. Thompson, a daughter, Robin T. Erickson; and a grandson, Robert Adrian “Eric” Erickson. A funeral service was held March 11 at Mill Creek Church.
ORDINATION
Claude Carter was ordained to the gospel ministry on March 11 by North Roanoke Church, Roanoke.
CHURCH NEWS
Azalea Church, Norfolk, will host The Harvesters Quartet for an evening of Southern gospel music on April 14 at 7 p.m. For information call 757-639-8088.
First Church, Hillsville, will celebrate its 75th anniversary on March 25 at 11 a.m. Former pastor Bill Ross will be guest speaker.
Black Creek Church, Mechanicsville, is sponsoring two confidential classes for women and men struggling with an abortion experience or affected by the decision. One class will be on Tuesday mornings beginning April 3 and the second on Thursday evenings beginning April 5. Both classes last 8 weeks. Please call the church at 804-781-0330 or Ginny at 804-779-3500 to register and obtain information about time and location.
REVIVALS
Chestnut Level Church, Blairs; revival March 25-28; Joey Faucette, guest evangelist.
Clinchco Missionary Church, Clinchco; revival April 15-18; Roger Roller, guest evangelist.
Fairlawn Church, Fairlawn; revival April 1-4; Dale & Gilda Riddle, guest evangelists.
Hillcrest Church, Ridgeway; revival April 15-18; Rick Via, guest evangelist.
Mount Olivet Church, Bedford; revival April 8-11; Roger Roller, guest evangelist.
New Covenant Church, Richmond; revival April 5-8; Gabe Turner, guest evangelist.
Sandy Shores Church, Danville; revival March 25-28; Cliff Hudgins, guest evangelist.
Shenandoah Heights Church, Waynesboro; revival April 1-6; Peter Chamberland, guest evangelist.
OTHER
LivingStone Monastery in Newport News will host its second annual “A Cruce Salus” art exhibit April 1-7, during Holy Week. The exhibit will feature local artists' responses to the Stations of the Cross. It will open April 1 from 5:30-7 p.m. and will be open throughout the week for the following hours: Monday through Wednesday from 12 noon-6 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. www.livingstonemonastery.org.
EASTER MUSIC AND DRAMA
Antioch Church, Unionville; “Then and Now,” April 8 at 11 a.m.
Bybee's Road Church, Troy; “There's Room at the Cross,” March 25 at 11 a.m.
Courtland Church, Courtland; “Son Rise,” April 8 at 8:15 and 9:45 a.m.
Emmaus Church, Quinton; “The Way of the Cross,” April 1 at 11 a.m.
First Church, Springfield; “Thine Is the Kingdom,” April 1 at 10:30 a.m.
First Church, West Point; “Living Pictures,” April 1 at 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Hunton Church, Glen Allen; “Three Days,” April 1 at 8:45 and 11 a.m.
Hyland Heights Church, Lynchburg; 20th anniversary production of The Living Cross, “May We Never Forget,” March 30 at 7 p.m.; March 31 at 2 and 7 p.m.; April 1 at 6 p.m.; April 5 and 6 at 7 p.m.; April 7 at 2 and 7 p.m. and April 8 at 6 p.m. No charge for admission, www.thelivingcross.com.
Jerusalem Church, Warsaw; “The Night Before Easter,” April 1 at 11 a.m.
Keen Street Church, Danville; “Then Came the Morning,” April 1 at 11 a.m.
Massaponax Church, Fredericksburg; “Great Is Our God,” April 1 at 11 a.m.
Middleburg Church, Middleburg; “The Vinegar Boy,” April 1 at 11 a.m.
New Bethesda Church, Mechanicsville; “Amazing Grace,” on April 1 at 10:45 a.m.
Northside Church, Mechanicsville; “The Sacrifice,” March 31 at 7 p.m. and April 1 at 11 a.m.
Oak Grove Church, Oak Grove; “Grace That Amazes,” April 1 at 11 a.m.
Ocean View Church, Norfolk; “The Sacrifice,” April 1 at 11 a.m.
Powers Memorial Church, Hopewell; “The Offer Still Stands,” April 1 at 11 a.m.
Round Hill Church, King George; “More Than A Miracle,” April 6 at 7 p.m.
Sandston Church, Sandston; “Bread of Life,” March 31 and April 1 at 7 p.m.
Temple Church, Newport News; “Joy Comes in the Morning,” March 31 and April 1 at 7 p.m.
Tomahawk Church, Midlothian; “At the Name of Jesus,” April 8 at 11 a.m.
West Lynchburg Church, Lynchburg; “Thine Is the Kingdom,” March 31 and April 1 at 6:30 p.m.
Woodlawn Church, Colonial Heights; “Then Came the Morning,” April 8 at 11 a.m.
Zoar Church, Deltaville; “Then Came the Morning,” April 1 at 7 p.m.
MISSION MOMENTS
Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Herndon
Mount Pleasant Baptist Church made a generous gift to the Virginia Baptist Mission Board for international disaster relief. As a result of this gift, a disaster relief team was sent to Albay, Philippines, on a medical mission trip Dec. 26-28, 2006, to the cities of Tabaco and Legaspi. Over 1,700 people were treated. The relief team included Celia Munson, a VBMB Venturer and member of Spring Hill Baptist Church, Ruckersville, serving in the Philippines. Also included were members of South of Metro Manila Area Baptist Churches, Dakilang Pagibig DIADEM Ministries and other Baptist churches in the Albay region. The region had been devastated by a pair of disasters, the eruption of the Mayon Volcano last July followed by Typhoon Reming in November. Pictured above left is a Baptist church in the region following the typhoon. Residents hold a banner showing their thanks to the members of Mount Pleasant Church at right.
Parkview Baptist Church, Newport News
The members of Parkview Baptist Church have several on-going monthly missions projects. They offer a foot ministry that is open to the community. Four nurses and one helper provide foot care for those unable to do this for themselves. They also collect items and fill shoe boxes with gifts for Operation Christmas Child. Pictured at right are members involved in the foot ministry and at left are members with shoe boxes which have been filled.