Ministry assistants at conference. The Baptist Ministry Assistants of Virginia attended the National Association of Southern Baptist Secretaries Conference at Ridgecrest Conference Center April 22-25, held to observe the 25th anniversary of the national association. The theme was “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” Conference leaders included Henry T. Blackaby, founder and president emeritus of Blackaby Ministries International; David Ute, senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Orlando, Fla.; and Jon Marks, worship ministries team leader at First Church, Orlando. The BMAV had a booth at the States Displays and Dessert Fellowship. Favors of candy typewriters were given out to the many participants. The Religious Herald also provided plastic ice scrappers advertising the state newspaper. During an evening banquet, Sandy Weakley was installed as secretary and treasurer, joining other officers already elected.
Lakewood Manor’s book sale. Lakewood Manor, a unit of Virginia Baptist Homes hosted its second annual book sale to benefit literacy April 17–18 in the Simms Center on its Richmond campus. The book sale raised $1,300 and approximately 2,000 books were sold. All proceeds went to the Coal Pit Learning Center. Coal Pit is a non-profit organization providing a free preschool program for low income 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds who otherwise would not receive the benefits of preschool experience. The Center provides educational, nutritional and emotional support in a Christian atmosphere, and imparts the social and academic skills essential for success when the children enter the public school system. It also identifies those children who will need special services upon entering the public schools. The Center, which is funded entirely by private gifts, donations and grants, primarily serves children from the Lakeside and Glen Allen areas of Henrico County. “We were so pleased to see thousands of books donated and a couple of thousand books were sold this year,” said Holly Raidabaugh, director of marketing for Lakewood. “It is truly a growing event and once again we could not have had such a successful event without the community’s support.” Approximately, 10,000 books were donated to Lakewood’s book sale. After the event, Lakewood donated the remaining books to other area non-profits.
Bluefield honors media. Bluefield College paid tribute to the work of dozens of local journalists during its 10th Annual Media Appreciation Day, April 24. As part of the recognition for the day, the college presented two Shott Excellence-in-Media Awards, made possible by media entrepreneur Michael Shott and his North Point Foundation in an effort to preserve the legacy of the Shott family, pioneer news distributors in the Bluefield area. The Shott Excellence-in-Media Journalist Award, featuring a $1,000 cash prize and designed to recognize a member of the local media, went to the Princeton Times editor and general manager Tammie Toler, who beat out 20 other nominees from 10 different organizations. The Shott Excellence-in-Media Student Award, featuring a $1,000 scholarship and designed to recognize a current BC communications student went to senior Rachel Reed of Rocky Gap, who was described by her nominating professors as a “gifted and endearing” student with a “fearless approach to learning.”