Transitions
ON THE MOVE
Jeff Harris, to Calvary Baptist Church, Asheville, N.C., as pastor.
Jeff Mathis, to First Baptist Church, Sylva, N.C., as pastor.
Robert Moon, resigning as interim pastor of Middleburg (Va.) Baptist Church.
Kyle Bauman, to Durham (N.C.) Memorial Baptist Church, as minister of discipleship.
Amy Douglas, resigning as youth director at Talbot Park Baptist Church, Norfolk, Va.
Heather Hovey, to Temple Baptist Church, Durham, N.C., as minister to children and families.
Otey Hutton III, to Riverdale Baptist Church, Roanoke, Va., as summer youth director.
ORDINATION
Tim Mull was ordained to the ministry by Clarksville (Va.) Baptist Church on May 20.
Kudos
The Albermarle County board of supervisors recently recognized and commended Spring Hill Baptist Church in Ruckersville, Va., for its contribution to the community through its Saturday Tutoring Program at Agnor Hurt Elementary School.
Mark White, pastor of Chamberlayne Baptist Church, Richmond, Va., has received a doctor of ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Ga. He also received the George & Sally Telford Award for Exceptional Ability for Congregational Leadership with emphasis on social justice issues and vision for the church.
Greg Burriss, pastor of Rocky River Baptist Church, Siler City, N.C., has received a doctor of ministry degree from Campbell University Divinity School, Buies Creek, N.C.
Events
SUN., JUNE 3
Randolph Memorial Baptist Church, Madison Heights, Va., loyalty/homecoming day with former pastor Grant Carter as guest speaker. Covered-dish luncheon follows the service.
SUN., JUNE 10
Riverdale Baptist Church, Roanoke, Va.; 85th anniversary; morning worship at 11 a.m. followed by luncheon; Virginian Quartet in concert at 2 p.m.
SUN.-MON., JUNE 10-11
Memorial Baptist Church, Port Royal, Va.; revival with Charles P. Anderson Jr. as evangelist.
SAT., JUNE 16
Azalea Baptist Church, Norfolk, Va.; evening of gospel music by The Harvesters Quartet at 7 p.m.
WED., JUNE 20
First Baptist Church, Newport News, Va.; “Be Still And Know” concert by Cross Connection, the youth choir of West Chester (Pa.) United Methodist Church; 7 p.m.
SUN., JUNE 24
Derbyshire Baptist Church, Richmond, Va.; IMAGE youth choir and Jubilate! young adult chorale will present worship concerts at 8:30 and 11 a.m. as part of their 2012 Queen City Tour to Charlotte, N.C. This 7th-12th grade choir and young adult chorale will present eight concerts in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina churches and retirement communities June 17-24.
On Mission
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The Southside Baptist Association held an On Mission Celebration April 22-25. All 23 churches participated with missionaries from the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, the Southern Baptist Convention’s International and North American mission boards and Virginia district associations. Featured speaker was Stan Albright, national director of missions for NAMB. Dennis K. Myers is coordinator for missions for Southside Association. Pictured at left are Jon Parks, pastor of Kenbridge (Va.) Baptist Church, Michael Cheuk, pastor of Farmville (Va.) Baptist Church, and Ted Smith, pastor of Ash Camp Baptist Church in Keysville, singing at the celebration. In photo at right is the mission fair held on Sunday afternoon.
Many church groups trying to support a friend or class member with meals, child care, transportation or other services during recuperation from surgery, death in the family or at other stress-filled periods are finding it easier due to modern technology. The website www.takethemameal.com allows a community of friends to coordinate meals and other services without phone calls, emails and word-of-mouth communication. The site is maintained by Adina Bailey and Scott Rogers of Harrisonburg, Va., and was created following the heart condition of one of Bailey’s friends. Takethemameal.com is a free online tool. A coordinator sets up an account with a customized sign-up sheet that includes phone numbers, delivery time, driving directions, food allergies and other dietary information. And a reminder email is sent to volunteers, eliminating the family waiting for a meal that someone forgot. Takethemameal.com also offers recipes and tips for transportation. Since 2007 over 1 million meals have been coordinated to benefit over 120,000 recipients. “By feeding a family in their darkest hours,” says Bailey, “you are feeding their souls.”
News
Each year Passport Camps employs students from all across the country to be leaders during its summer camps. This year six staffers are from Virginia. Chris Wondree from Fredericksburg Baptist Church will be PASSPORT missions2 worship coordinator. Jenny Clamon from First Baptist Church, Waynesboro, will be PASSPORTkids! director. Emi Barrett from First Church, Waynesboro, and Bryce Williams from Colonial Avenue Baptist Church in Roanoke, will serve as PASSPORTkids! Bible study leaders. Darny-sha Nard from Graceland Baptist Church, Powhatan, and Kelsey Wiggins from Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Roanoke, will serve as PASSPORTchoices Bible study leaders.
First Baptist Church, Radford, Va., voted April 11 to enable The Bridge, a second campus launched in 2010, to become an autonomous mission church within six months. The Bridge offers a student-driven worship service along with small groups and service opportunities. Rusty Mullins is site pastor and First Baptist celebrates with its leadership in the growth that has been accomplished.
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Last year the junior youth class at Broadus Memorial Baptist Church in Charlottesville, Va., learned about the Peace Pole Project. It is estimated there are over 200,000 peace poles around the world, serving as reminders to look for ways to create peace in our homes, churches, communities and the world. Working through its Christian arts committee the youth received approval to install a pole. Sunday, May 20, the peace pole at Broadus Memorial Baptist Church was dedicated (pictured right), joining poles erected in places such as Ground Zero, the Israel-Jordan border, in Bethlehem and Baghdad, on Mount Everest and the Khyber Pass in Pakistan. All peace poles are inscribed “May Peace Prevail on Earth.” Broadus Memorial’s peace pole is also inscribed, “Peacemakers are the Children of God,” pointing to God as the source of peace.
New Life Baptist Church is the new name for Crowder Memorial Baptist Church in Petersburg, Va. “We changed the name of the church to reflect where we are as a congregation, lots of changes,” said senior pastor Joe Elmore, who is celebrating his 10th anniversary at the church. The congregation was known as Main Street Baptist Church before moving to its present location 45 years ago.“We will always have Main Street and Crowder Memorial as our foundation,” he says, “but New Life is our future.” The church is located at 3018 Country Dr. in Petersburg.