STAFF CHANGES
• Joey Giles, to James Square Church, Lawrenceville, as pastor.
• Alvin Marguerat, to Triangle Church, Triangle, as pastor.
• Robert Moon, to Marshall Church, Marshall, as interim pastor.
• Chip Hardy, to Oakland Church, Gum Springs, as youth minister.
RECOGNITION
John White retired as pianist at Calvary Baptist Church in Lovingston on June 8. He had served as the church's pianist for 35 years. Flowers were placed in the sanctuary in his honor and a luncheon followed the worship service. Pictured is John receiving a plaque presented by Betty Parrish.
• Drew Hunsley, to Oakland Church, Roanoke, as minister to youth and children.
• Lonnie Brawley, resigning as minister to youth at Chester Church, Chester.
• Eric Roberts, to Green Ridge Church, Roanoke, as children's director.
• Jimmy Via, to Harrisonburg Church, Harrisonburg, as minister of worship and media.
• Tammy Lydon, to Mineral Church, Mineral, as music director.
• Wayne Taylor, to Enon Church, Roanoke, as worship leader.
• Alan Miller, to Orange Church, Orange, as minister of worship and music.
• Denise Byrum, to Boykins Church, Boykins, as choir director.
• Krista Manuel, to Monument Heights Church, Richmond, as youth director.
• Bill and Audra Skiba, to Lake Ridge Church, Woodbridge, as interim ministers to students.
RETIREMENT
• Willard D. Bowen is retiring as pastor of Oak Grove Church, Oak Grove, on Dec. 31. He has served as pastor there for over 33 years.
ORDINATION
• Jim Davidson, youth minister at Bethel Church, Fredericksburg, was recently ordained to the gospel ministry by the church.
MISSIONS MOMENT
Charles Anderson (left), pastor emeritus of Winfall Baptist Church, Gladys, and Stephen Farrar, minister of music at First Baptist Church, Galax, are pictured at the Good Samaritan's Booth sponsored by First Baptist since 1978 at the town's Old Fiddler's Convention, which attracted over 30,000 people in 2008. Included in the ministry provided by the church is a Vacation Bible School held for children whose families are attending the convention.
CHURCH NEWS
• “Faith,” one of the most respected regional groups from West Virginia and eastern Virginia, has slated a reunion concert at Jahnke Road Church in Richmond on Nov. 22 at 7:00 p.m. Featured guests will be the Gospel Harmony Boys.
• Bon Air Church, Arlington, will host a concert by The Blackwood Brothers Quartet on Nov. 15 at 6:30 p.m. The group was formed in 1934 with brothers Roy, Doyle, James and Roy's son, R.W. The current quartet, called “Blackwood Gospel Quartet,” consists of lead Mark Blackwood, bass Brad Smith, tenor Derrick Boyd and baritone Daniel Childs. The concert is free; a love offering will be taken.
• The women's ministry of McLean Church, McLean, will offer an Alternative Gift Market on Sat., Nov. 15 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Available will be gifts from around the world and some non-gifts that can be given in honor of someone. A light lunch will be served. For additional information call the church at 703-356-8080.
• Correction: Phyllis Coffman will present a recital as a new organ and piano is dedicated at Lakeside Church, Richmond, on Nov. 9 at 4:00 p.m.
MISSIONS MOMENT
Last summer members of the Edith MacDonald Circle and other members at Sandusky Baptist Church in Lynchburg held a workshop to make cooling neckties for the troops in Iraq. The ladies completed 200 neckties, each with small pockets filled with water-absorbing crystals. The soldiers can soak the ties in water until the crystals are wet and tie them around their neck to keep cool. A local funeral home donated boxes and the postage for the ties to be sent to Iraq. Pictured above are several of the ladies participating in this project.
DEATHS
• Retired Virginia Baptist pastor William E. Hungate died in Roanoke Aug. 22 at the age of 88. He had served as associate pastor of First Church, Waynesboro; Vinton Church, Vinton; and as pastor of Main Street Church, Christiansburg, where he retired in 1988. After retirement he served a number of churches as interim pastor, the last Longdale Church in Eagle Rock. He is survived by his wife, Helen; and daughters, Robin and Rebecca. A service to celebrate his life was held Aug. 25 at Bonsack Church, Roanoke.
• Jeffrey Wayne Perry, pastor of Riverdale Church, Roanoke, died Aug. 8 at the age of 49. He had served as pastor of churches in Maine and Maryland. He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline Ann Perry; a son, Seth Perry; mother, Donna Perry; and a sister, Rhonda Mullendore. A memorial service was held Aug. 31 at Riverdale Church, Roanoke.
Columbia Baptist ordains four ministers in one service
Columbia Baptist Church in Falls Church took the unusual step of ordaining four ministers in a single worship service on October 19. Three of the ministers have ties to John Leland Seminary. Lora Gravatt is Columbia's new pastor for children and family life and is a current student at Leland. Chris McPeek is a Leland student who has served for several years as Columbia's minister to students. Eric Riser graduated from Leland in June and now serves as the single adult ministry coordinator. The fourth minister, Anne Thomas, is a graduate of Kentucky Wesleyan and the University of Nebraska and serves as Columbia's director of missions and evangelism. Senior pastor Jim Baucom Jr. presided over this unique ordination service.