RICHMOND — The Virginia Baptist Foundation has awarded grants totaling $15,000 — $2,500 each — to six projects developed by Baptist ministries in Virginia.
Food ministries at Columbia Baptist Church, a grant recipient, include produce gardens, distribution methods and nutrition classes.
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Recipients include:
- The Thanksgiving Share Food Ministry of Columbia Baptist Church in Falls Church;
- The 127 Junction Ministry of Community Heights Baptist Church in Cedar Bluff, which works with at-risk children;
- Two Impact Virginia! Projects, one sponsored by the Fredericksburg Area Baptist Network and the other by the Goshen Baptist Association in north central Virginia;
- A sports camp hosted by Goochland Baptist Church in Manakin-Sabot;
- The SPLASH Community Food Ministries of the New Lebanon Baptist Association in southwest Virginia.
“Though the newest of the foundation’s ministry portfolio, our grant ministry continues to be impactful across our Virginia Baptist family,” said Ron Hall, the foundation’s president. “It is our honor to partner with these ministries that are advancing God's Kingdom and addressing the needs of his people.”
In addition to grants, the foundation also distributed $21,000 from the John Buford Watson (Bedford) Charitable Trust to four international ministries:
- Arab Baptist Theological Seminary near Beirut, Lebanon;
- A water purification project in Indonesia, sponsored by Blacksburg (Va.) Baptist Church;
- The Source of Light Center, a children’s home in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, funded in part by contributions from Virginia Baptists;
- The Ruth School in Bucharest, Romania.
“Grants are a main tenet of the Virginia Baptist Foundation and we are pleased that we are able to provide these this year,” said Dave Fairchild, chair of the foundation’s board of trustees.
Gene Watson, chair of the board’s administrative committee, also stressed the importance of the foundation’s grant ministry. “Through grants, we see the stewardship cycle come to completion,” he said. “As Christians, we are taught to return a portion of our blessings so that the work of our Lord can be continued.”
Grant applications for 2014 will be available after Jan. 1, 2014, on the foundation’s website.
Robert Dilday (rdilday@religiousherald.org) is managing editor of the Religious Herald.