Staff Changes
Jeff Hudgins, to Heritage Church, Farmville, as pastor.
Shawn Dobbins, to Preston Oaks Church, Roanoke, as pastor.
Jeff Kinder, to Cedar Grove Church, Lebanon, as pastor.
Daniel Joseph Mochamps, to Corrottoman Church, Lancaster, as pastor.
Harold Cook, resigning as pastor of Springwood Church, Buchanan.
Lottie Moon Post Office
Modest Town Church in Accomack Association raised $246.27 through its Lottie Moon Post Office last December. Church members were able to send Christmas cards to members and donate the cost of postage to support international missions. Pictured at right are pre-teen class members Alex Russell and Hannah Ayres who delivered the mail each Sunday before the worship service.
Greg Naudé, resigning as pastor of Garden City Church, Roanoke.
Kermit Jones Jr., to Friendship Church, Fredericksburg, as interim pastor.
J. Leroy Clack, to First Church, Collinsville, as interim pastor.
Josh Knorr, to Thaxton Church, Thaxton, as part-time youth and children's minister.
Death
Retired Virginia Baptist minister Warren Ellis Boling of Winchester died Dec. 21 at the age of 84. He had served as pastor of Providence Church, McLean, for 24 years. Boling served as interim pastor at Berryville Church, Berryville, and associate pastor at First Church, Winchester. He is survived by his wife, Virginia “Ginger” Lillis Boling; two sons, Stephen Ellis and David Randall Boling; a stepdaughter, Christine E. Rhodes; a sister; and four grandchildren. A funeral service was held on Dec. 28 at First Church, Winchester.
Church News
Calvary Church, Emporia, will hold revival services March 11-13 with William Warnock as guest speaker.
Missions
Larry Everett and Josephine Espejo Moon were recently appointed by the International Mission board to serve in Central and Eastern Europe. A Virginia Beach native, he will serve in evangelism and church planting and she will serve in community and home outreach.
Richard Edward and Linda Ann Powers Blount, members of First Church, Newport News, were recently appointed by the International Mission Board to serve in the Pacific Rim. He will serve in evangelism and church planting and she will serve in community and home outreach.
Other
Mike Barchick was licensed to preach the gospel on Dec. 13 by Lake Drummond Church, Chesapeake.
Troutville Baptist organist celebrates 66 years
Each Sunday for 66 years, Troutville Baptist Church has enjoyed the swelling tones of the organ reverberating throughout its sanctuary. That a small church in Botetourt County might have an organist at all might surprise some, but that the organist has been there for 66 years would come as more of a surprise.
Lucille Graybill, recently celebrated her 90th birthday and her 66th anniversary as organist of Troutville Baptist Church. She graduated from Averett College in 1935 with a junior college diploma and completed Mary Washington in 1938 with a music major. She began teaching music in York and Botetourt counties and later pioneered music in the elementary schools, becoming one of the first two elementary school music teachers in Botetourt.
She and her husband, the late E. A. Graybill, purchased the Rader Funeral home in 1946 and she often played for funerals there.
On Nov. 26, Troutville Church held a surprise service as a tribute to this talented, faithful woman. Special music was presented by her granddaughter, great granddaughters, sister and former organ students. A meal was held afterward.
Mission Moments
First Baptist Church, Radford
The youth group at First Baptist Church in Radford, was inspired at Passport Youth Camp this past
summer to raise money to help alleviate drought conditions in Malawi, Africa. With a goal of $6,000, the “Watering Malawi” project would cover the cost of installing a deep bore hole well and several foot pumps in a village with little or no access to water. This photo shows the youth on Sunday, December 10, announcing to the congregation the final amount raised which was $7,113.99.
Vinton Baptist Church, Vinton
Operation Reach Out is a program designed for the members of the Vinton Baptist Church community to show its larger community how much they care about them. This special project was part of a six-week campaign during which the church discovered how they are “Better Together.” On Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006, members demonstrated love throughout Vinton by doing simple acts of kindness. Pictured are members delivering cards and flowers to shut ins, members and community children at a backyard Bible club, children visiting the local police station and members raking leaves.