Staff Changes
Stanley A. Wallace III, to King's Grant Church, Virginia Beach, as pastor, effective June 18.
W. Michael Bradley, to Parkwood Church, Annandale, as pastor.
Brian Clingenpeel, resigning as pastor of Villa Heights Church, Roanoke, effective April 29, to accept a position with the Roanoke County Fire and Rescue.
Cecil Sherman, to Westover Church, Richmond, as interim pastor.
John Sowell, to Saluda Church, Saluda, as interim pastor.
Steve Bingham, to Brent-Lox Church, Chesapeake, as interim pastor.
Gary Helm, to Sunset Hills Church, Alexandria, as interim senior pastor.
Todd Higginson, completing his residency at Franklin Church, Franklin, and accepting the pastorate of Reynoldson Church, Gates, N.C.
Steven Ryan, to Carlisle Avenue Church, Richmond, as minister of music.
Matt Paxson, to Fairview Church, Fredericksburg, as minister of youth.
Katie Cole, to University Church, Charlottesville, as part-time associate minister for youth.
20th anniversary
Kenbridge Church, Kenbridge, recently celebrated the talents and ministry of Nancy Pennington, who has served as organist and music director for 20 years. The church passed a resolution of appreciation in her honor and she was given flowers and a monetary gift. Pastor Jon Parks is pictured with Pennington and the framed resolution presented her.
Deaths
Basil Burcham, former pastor of Mount Hebron Church, Floyd, died March 5 at the age of 84. He was survived by two daughters and several grandchildren. A funeral service was held March 8 in Galax.
Anne Shelley Taylor, campus minister at Radford University for over 20 years, died on March 7. Affectionately known as “A.T.,” she became campus minister at Radford's Baptist Student Union in 1970 and served until her retirement in 1993. She is survived by her husband, Charles D. Taylor; one son, Chuck Taylor; a grandson, Chip Taylor; and four great-grandchildren. A memorial service was held March 11 at First Church, Radford.
Ordinations
Jason Elliott was ordained to the gospel ministry on March 11 by Elon Church, Ruther Glen.
Mike Spagnuolo, minister of youth and worship at Kentwood Heights Church, Quinton, was ordained to the gospel ministry by the church on Feb. 25.
Church News
Bethel Church, Midlothian, will celebrate Founder's Day on April 15 on the occasion of its 190th anniversary. Special historical items and activities are planned.
James Square Church, Lawrenceville, will host Pam Young and Patsy Butler in concert on April 29 at 5:00 p.m.
Revivals
Buffalo Church, Buffalo Junction; revival April 22-24; Stephen Rummage, guest evangelist.
Cave Rock Church, Roanoke; revival April 6-8; Charles Fuller, guest evangelist.
Laurel Grove Church, Sutherlin; revival April 15-18; Dennis Knowles, guest evangelist.
Laurel Hill Church, Verona; revival April 22-25; Rick Via, guest evangelist.
Oakland Church, Disputanta; revival April 15-18; George Mullinax, guest evangelist.
Piney Fork Church, Gretna; revival April 15-18; Lynn Marstin, guest evangelist.
People
Larry Lawhon of Front Royal was recently endorsed as a chaplain by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. He is associate chaplain at Winchester Medical Center in Winchester.
Teresa Stanley, alumni director at Bluefield College, has been named president of the Association of Southern Baptist Alumni Directors.
College
Bluefield College's traditional voice ensemble, Variations, and its contemporary Christian music group, Praise Singers, will be in concert at six Virginia Baptist churches and two Virginia Christian schools during a six-day music tour, April 24-29. For information on concert locations, check the BC website at www.bluefield.edu.
Memorial Baptist celebrates 60 years
Memorial Baptist Church in Arlington will celebrate its 60th anniversary at 10:30 a.m. on April 29, followed by a luncheon.
Formally organized on April 28, 1947, Memorial has witnessed Arlington's transformation from a near-rural area to a vibrant post-war suburb of the nation's capital.
The church held its first public service on Easter Sunday, April 6, 1947, at the old Glebe Theater. Services continued there until the chapel, its first worship space, was completed in December 1948. This was followed by the education wing in November 1952 and the main sanctuary in 1957.
Today Memorial Baptist Church has just over 500 members and offers contemporary and traditional worship services, as well as fellowship events, Bible studies and mission services to those in need locally and abroad.
The church's past three retired pastors will take part in the anniversary service: Paul Harrell, Jack Lowndes and Randall Robinson. The current pastor is William H. Smith who has served there since 1991.
“For 60 years, Memorial has joined together believers from various cultures and with diverse political and religious philosophies,” Smith said. “We look forward to many more decades of welcoming people to worship, Bible study and service to the community.”
More information is available at www.memorialbaptistchurch.org. Or contact the church office at (703) 538-7000.
Beale Memorial holds special service
Beale Memorial Baptist Church in Tappahannock will hold a fellowship service on Sunday, April 29, in thanksgiving and celebration for its many years of ministry to the community. Past members and friends are invited. Starting at 9:30 a.m., there will be a coffee social followed by the 11:00 a.m. service.
Constituted on October 30, 1875, with nine charter members, the church was first known as Centennial, but since 1908 as Beale Memorial, the congregation has met in the original building of the colonial Court House in Tappahannock, which constitutes the main portion of the sanctuary.
In 1774 the Court House had been the scene of the arraignment, trial and conviction of three Baptist preachers (John Waller, Robert Ware and John Shackelford) who had been brought before the court for preaching the Scriptures.
A new church facility to accommodate the expanding growth of its membership is nearing completion on a 20-acre tract just north of the town.
Mission Moments
Shiloh Baptist Association
In January a team of 33 people from 11 different churches in the Shiloh Baptist Association traveled to Gautier, Mississippi, to continue the rebuilding process after Hurricane Katrina. The team was joined by a team of 43 from Lynchburg Baptist Association for the week and together they worked on 12 different tasks in the Gautier area, including building a portable shower trailer for use in disaster relief/recovery work. Team members pictured are (left to right): Jeff Montag, Louis Weakley, Wayne and Caleb Worrell, Bill Wathall, Warren Lohr, Billy Singleton, Susan Peters, Jube Henshaw, Jeff Bloomer, David rinker, George Green, Bill Staton, Sherry Hite, Bob Whistleman, Troy Coppage, Joe Clontz, Joan Bloomer, Dwayne, Dixon, Shirley Essertier, Robby Clontz, Cody Clontz, Carol Kammeter, Earl Lamb, Joyce Boyd, Roger Clatterbuck, Jimmy Brown, Bonnie Clatterbuck and Tony Berry. Team members not pictured are Pat Payne, Bill Inskeep, John Grotz and Robert Young.
Hebron Baptist Church, Afton
A group of WMU ladies at Hebron Baptist Church have an ongoing mission project of sewing. The quilt pictured was made by the ladies for the Hospice of the Piedmont. Pictured left to right are: Thelma Duncan, Alice Bryant, Ethel Flippo, Gladys Herring and Barbara Marshall. Not pictured is Nancy Jackson.