SOUTHERN BAPTIST THE WEST VIRGINIA. Jul-Aug 2014 VOL. 44, NO. 6

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1 THE WEST VIRGINIA Jul-Aug 2014 VOL. 44, NO. 6 SOUTHERN BAPTIST A Cooperative Program ministry gladly sharing the truth and gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and the stories of our Lord s work in and through the churches of West Virginia Southern Baptists. July-August 2014

2 Executive Director Terry Harper June 24 is the next meeting day for the Vision Task Force (VTF) appointed by our President, John Freeman. The leadership has decided to hire a consulting group to lead this task force in examining everything we do as a state convention. They have employed the Auxano Group, affi liated with LifeWay, to guide the discussion and to lead the group forward. The group expects to meet monthly until December, and then wrap up their work and present their fi ndings to the Executive Board of the West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists. Anyone who has any questions THE WEST VIRGINIA SOUTHERN BAPTIST (USPS ) Greg Wrigley, Editor gregwrigley@wvcsb.org Published nine times per year by The West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists 28 Mission Way Scott Depot WV From the Executive Director: or information for the group may feel free to share it with Brother Freeman or any member of the Task Force. The group will be looking at the ways we have been spending the monies that come into the state offi ce and determine if this is the best use of resources. They will examine everything we have been doing again, to decide if this is the best way to build our convention and meet the needs of the churches making up the WV Convention. Even though our convention is now over 43 years old, we are considered a new work state among Southern Baptists. Compared to many of the old-line state conventions of the south, we are still virtually a baby convention with much room for growth and development. As we move forward, we want to make sure that we are headed in the right direction. Many older conventions are cumbered with agencies and auxiliaries, such as children s homes, hospitals, and encampments that cost thousands or millions of dollars. We are neither blessed nor weighted with that sort of thing. We can use all of our resources for church development and with planting new churches across West Virginia. We can spend our money to impact the lostness and push back the darkness in West Virginia and beyond. God has blessed this young convention in many ways in the years of its existence and we should be very grateful. We have a fi ne offi ce building in Scott Depot that is furnished very well and it is completely paid for. We are blessed to be able to provide automobiles for our staff in their travels across the state to minister to our churches. Our staff may not be as large as we would like, but we are able to cover our churches and handle all requests that come in to our offi ce. We want to make sure in this study that our staff are spending their time in the best possible way. Are there things we should stop doing, in order to spend time on more important demands? What things will accomplish the most good for the Kingdom s sake? These are all the kinds of things we will be considering in this study. Please pray for each Task Force member as they give sacrifi cially of their time to meet and study each of these issues. Call us at our offi ce if we can be of assistance to you or to your church. God bless you as we move forward in reaching West Virginia. Sincerely, Terry L. Harper Lead Missionary/Executive Director Note: No paid advertising or subscriptions accepted. This paper is fully funded by Southern Baptists in West Virginia. Periodicals Postage Paid Scott Depot, WV and additional mailing offices POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: 28 Mission Way Scott Depot, WV The purpose of the West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists is to Empower Kingdom Growth by assisting and encouraging affiliated churches and associations in fulfilling the Great Commission as given to us by our Lord in Matthew 28: We seek to be involved in the following: MATURING our congregations MOBILIZING our congregations STARTING new churches 2

3 (far left) Pastor Timothy Marr welcomed the participants to the Easter party events at North Charleston Baptist Church. Illusionist Johnny Magic (L) did an amazing and gospel fi lled program that thrilled the crowd. (above) The kitchen crew served hot dogs, beans, chili, and chips. (below) A registration table gathered information from those attending, and gave out coupons for food and the door prizes. About 500 people attended. (below, center) Brother Timothy, Johnny Magic. and Youth Pastor Chris Carlton. (L) George and Cathy Chinn talked about their role in leading MISSIS- SIPPI RIVER MINIS- TRIES. (R) The new offi cers for the WMU are (L to R) Joy Sharp, Recording Secretary; Trish Vest, Vice-President; and Marie Davidson, President. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! July-August

4 SUPREME COURT RULES ON PRAYER AT LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS WASHINGTON (BP) -- The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled prayers at a town's legislative meetings are constitutional. In a 5-4 opinion, the high court overturned Monday (May 5) a federal appeals court, which ruled that the prayer policy of the Greece, N.Y., Town Board violated the First Amendment's ban on government establishment of religion. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City had reversed a federal judge by deciding Greece's prayer practice "had the effect of affi liating the town with Christianity." The narrow decision was the latest in a long line of important Supreme Court opinions providing guidance on the relationship between church and state. Advocates for the freedom of religious expression in public meetings applauded the ruling. Russell D. Moore, the Southern Baptist Convention's lead religious liberty spokesman, said he is "very thankful the Court did the right thing in refusing to allow the government to take on the mission of the church and in refusing to allow the government to establish a stateordered civil religion that crowds out the most basic rights of freedom of speech." "This is a victory for all of those who believe in the freedom of speech, including religious speech, as a prized part of our God-given religious liberty," said Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), in a written statement. "Prayer at the beginning of a meeting is a signal that we aren't ultimately just Americans. We are citizens of the State, yes, but the State isn't ultimate. There is some higher allegiance than simply political process." The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), which represented the town of Greece, said the justices' decision was another affi rmation "Americans are free to pray." ADF Senior Counsel David Cortman said in a written release, "In America, we tolerate a diversity of opinions and beliefs; we don't silence people or try to separate what they say from what they believe. Opening public meetings with prayer is a cherished freedom that the authors of the Constitution themselves practiced." In writing the majority opinion, Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy relied on the 4 country's history and Marsh v. Chambers, a 1983 Supreme Court decision that upheld the constitutionality of chaplaincy prayers in the Nebraska legislature. "The prayer opportunity in this case must be evaluated against the backdrop of historical practice," Kennedy wrote. "As a practice that has long endured, legislative prayer has become part of our heritage and tradition, part of our expressive idiom, similar to the Pledge of Allegiance, inaugural prayer, or the recitation of 'God save the United States and this honorable Court' at the opening of this Court's sessions." In determining what is constitutional in the church-state arena, the justices "must acknowledge a practice that was accepted by the [the Constitution's framers] and has withstood the critical scrutiny of time and political change," Kennedy said. "That the First Congress provided for the appointment of chaplains only days after approving language for the First Amendment demonstrates that the Framers considered legislative prayer a benign acknowledgment of religion's role in society," he wrote. Kennedy, who maintained his frequent role as the deciding vote on a deeply divided court, struck a blow in his opinion for robust religious expression in a pluralistic society. He noted Greece's board did not review the prayers prior to meetings nor did it offer guidelines for their content. "To hold that invocations must be nonsectarian would force the legislatures that sponsor prayers and the courts that are asked to decide these cases to act as supervisors and censors of religious speech, a rule that would involve government in religious matters to a far greater degree than is the case under the town's current practice of neither editing or approving prayers in advance nor criticizing their content after the fact," he wrote. "Government may not mandate a civic religion that stifl es any but the most generic reference to the sacred any more than it may prescribe a religious orthodoxy," Kennedy's opinion said. "The tradition refl ected in [the Marsh opinion] permits chaplains to ask their own God for blessings of peace, justice, and freedom that fi nd appreciation among people of all faiths. That a prayer is given in the name of Jesus, Allah, or Jehovah, or that it makes passing references to religious doctrines, does not remove it from that tradition," he wrote. "A number of the prayers did invoke the name of Jesus, the Heavenly Father, or the Holy Spirit, but they also invoked universal themes, as by celebrating the changing of the seasons or calling for a 'spirit of cooperation' among town leaders," Kennedy said. The Greece board's prayer policy is not coercive, and it does not violate the First Amendment by virtue of most of the city's congregations being Christian, he said. Joining Kennedy in the majority were Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. The court's four more liberal members -- Associate Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan -- dissented. In her dissenting opinion, Kagan wrote, "When the citizens of this country approach their government, they do so only as Americans, not as members of one faith or another. And that means that even in a partly legislative body, they should not confront government-sponsored worship that divides them along religious lines." Moore addressed Kagan's point in a blog post for Time magazine May 5, writing, "[T]his is itself a religious claim, that faith is simply a private personal preference with no infl uence on our public lives. That's a claim that millions of us, whatever our religious beliefs, reject." The ERLC and other defenders of Greece's board said in friend-of-thecourt briefs its prayer policy provided a forum for private citizens to offer prayers that were constitutionally protected. They also said the Second Circuit's opinion would require judges to make theological decisions regarding the acceptability of different prayers. Henry Myers (Drew Waters) lives a hard life, getting through life on the frontier however he can, even if it means robbing a bank. After his latest heist goes wrong and his partners betray him, Henry is surprised to fi nd extraordinary kindness from a widow and her children. With the infl u- ence of this family, Henry begins to question the choices he s made in his life. THE RE- DEMPTION OF HENRY MYERS [movie]

5 MILL VALLEY, Calif. (BP) -- Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary has reached a sale agreement for all its campus property in Mill Valley, Calif., and has initiated relocation of its primary campus to Southern California. In a special gathering of faculty, students and staff, President Jeff Iorg announced the agreement with North Coast Land Holdings. The seminary's board of trustees approved the sale agreement unanimously. "The fi nal sale agreement will result in resources for a new primary campus in Southern California, a new commuter campus in the Bay Area to continue to service this area, as well as a substantial addition to the seminary's endowment," Iorg reported. "This is an unprecedented opportunity to build a new kind of seminary campus for education in the 21st century," Iorg said. "We are seizing the moment to focus on fulfi lling our mission in bold, innovative new ways." The terms of the sale agreement will enable the seminary to remain fully operational during the transition. The seminary will lease back the Mill Valley Campus property and continue present operations for at least two more academic years. After that, the seminary will operate a new commuter-style campus in the Bay Area, much like its current Southern California Campus. The decision to build a new primary campus in Southern California refl ects church and population demographic projections for that region. The new seminary campus will be in the center of the largest area of projected population growth in the American West -- also meaning the center of church planting and ministry development in the region. "Building a new campus does not mean replicating what we already have -- only in a different location. It's an opportunity to build a new kind of seminary campus refl ecting the way educational delivery methods are changing in the 21st century. We see it as a once-in-ageneration opportunity to advance our seminary into the future," Iorg declared. Ben M. Skaug is vice president for institutional advancement for Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. YSC was another fun event with about 250 students making up the choir. Some members of the group practiced before they came; others learned the songs at the practice. (L) The three leaders for this year were (L to R) Rick Morgan, Danny Spurgeon, and Randy Spurgeon. (R) Nathan Ertel helped to welcome the group by leading them in some games and conversations. (above left) The group gathered in the auditorium of Good Baptist Church for the main practice, and went into smaller groups for sectional practice. (L) Randy Spurgeon led a time of handing out music related prizes to the participants. Also, there were some gifts given to some churches. (above right) The choir did their performance at the Huntington Mall. The management of the Mall has been very gracious to help the group. YSC will perform at the Mall again next year. July-August

6 Specifi c Outreach Topics That You Will Learn About Why Outdoor Ministry? How to Plan Your Outreach How to Prepare Your Team IDEAS FOR: Fishing Events Hunting Activities Nature Related Activities Camping Style Evangelism Boating Adventures Shooting Sports Horse Programs...And the List Goes On! A Conference For Pastors, Lay Leaders, or Anyone Who Wants To Learn The Many Ways To Minister Through Outdoor Outreach Programs. Conference Times: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm Cost/Early Registration $50.00 Per Person $95.00 For Two Persons $45.00 Per Person for Three or More from the Same Church or Group *** Cost includes a DVD Teaching Series, 212 page printable Manual, GGO Field Team Kit and other Outdoor Outreach Evangelistic Ministry Items*** NOTE: Cut Off Date for Early Registration is 10 Days Before the Date of the Event. After this Date Add $10.00 per Person to the Cost of attending The Trail To Adventure! Conference. FOR LATE REGISTRATIONS YOU MUST PHONE IN YOUR REQUEST TO ATTEND. THIS WILL SECURE YOUR SPOT AND CONFIRM THE AVAILABILITY OF A SEAT AT THE OUTDOOR TRAINING EVENT! (937) Cell Number One Registration form per person please! CONFERENCE DATE: LOCATION: NUMBER IN GROUP COMING: (Please mail group registrations together!) NAME: ADDRESS: CITY: STATE: ZIP: DAYTIME PHONE: CHURCH/ORGANIZATION NAME: DENOMINATION: How did you hear about the conference? Total $ August 23rd, 2014 GOD S GREAT OUT- DOORS Ministry Conference August 23, 2014 Grace Baptist Church Fayetteville, WV :00 am - 4:30 pm $25 for each attendee if a member of a WVCSB church Mail Registration & Make Checks Payable To: God s Great Outdoors 8193 Emerick Road, West Milton, OH Phone: (937) ggoutdoors@aol.com For Credit Card Payment, Please Call *Once registered contact Hosting facility for directions & Hotels/Rooms/Cabins. Visit our Web Site at or call at (937) contact Greg Wrigley for more information: xt 314 OR gregwrigley@wvcsb.org WHO IS COMING? Brad Jerman World Record Crossbow Typical *Buck Will Be On Display* Game Dinner Testimony Dr. Bill Brown Alaskan Fishing Guide Liberty University Online Professor The Need For Outdoor Ministry! Grider54@nc.rr.com Steve Kemper Alpine Ministries Appalachian Bible College The Many Ways Of Outdoor Outreach Paul Gathany & Tim Jones God s Great Outdoors Board Fishing Adventures & Relationships Gerry Caillouet God s Great Outdoors Why Outdoor Outreaches? Grace Baptist Church 70 Kaymoor Bottom Road Fayetteville, WV (304) Located On: The corner of Hresan Road and Kaymoor Bottom Road Pastor Delbert Walker dnjwalkers@frontier.com Door Prizes Include: Mathews Bow Genesis Bow DVD s And More 6

7 The Bill of Rights: A Transcription The Preamble to The Bill of Rights, Congress of the United States, begun and held at the City of New-York, on Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine. THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confi dence in the Government, will best ensure the benefi cent ends of its institution. RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all, or any of which Articles, when ratifi ed by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz. ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratifi ed by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fi fth Article of the original Constitution. Note: The following text is a transcription of the fi rst ten amendments to the Constitution in their original form. These amendments were ratified December 15, 1791, and form what is known as the "Bill of Rights." Amendment I Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Amendment II A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. Amendment III No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law. Amendment IV The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affi rmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. Amendment V No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. Amendment VI In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence. Amendment VII In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law. Amendment VIII Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fi nes imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments infl icted. Amendment IX The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. Amendment X The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. Note: The capitalization and punctuation in this version is from the enrolled original of the Joint Resolution of Congress proposing the Bill of Rights, which is on permanent display in the Rotunda of the National Archives Building, Washington, D.C. July-August

8 NORTHEASTERN BAPTIST COLLEGE TO AIDE IN CHURCH PLANTING Feb 25, 2014 by Tom Strode Located in southern Vermont, Bennington is at the geographic center of the Northeast in Southern Baptist North American Mission Board strategy. According to NAMB, 67 million people live in the region, which stretches from southern Maryland to the northern tip of Maine, and an estimated 82 percent do not know Christ. One church exists for each 37,000 people in the Northeast. With numerous struggling churches in the area, along with a growing number of new church plants, students have plenty of opportunity to partner with the local church to train and utilize their gifts and abilities," Warren said in an interview. "NEBC is located in an area that has one of the lowest church affi liation rates within the U.S. Evangelism, church planting and pastoral opportunities abound. I can't think of a better combination for a school that is wanting to train people for ministry." Phillip Steadman, pastor of Capstone Baptist Church in North Bennington, said the launch of NEBC is "God at work" and he believes the school "will play a key part in reaching the Northeast for Jesus." Southern Baptists have started seven churches in the last seven years in Vermont but now have a goal of planting 11 more churches in a year, Steadman said by . "There is no coincidence in this happening just as this school begins training and equipping planters, worship leaders and teachers." Tom Strode is the Washington bureau chief for Baptist Press. Southeastern Graduates Encouraged Not to Waste Their Lives 05/20/2014 Look back at all you have done as an offering to your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, said Andy Davis, commencement speaker and senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Durham, North Carolina. The College at Southeastern honored 38 students graduating with associate and bachelor s degrees and 18 students with a Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies. Over 200 students graduated from the seminary. The 259 total graduates represented 34 states and fi ve countries. The ceremony was held on May 16 in Binkley Chapel on Southeastern s campus. Among the graduates were: The College at Southeastern Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies Melanie Beth Soto Winfield, WV Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling Richard Allen Carbaugh Daniels, WV Rob James sent this further news: Melanie Beth James Soto, daughter of Pam and Rob James, formerly of Winfi eld, graduated from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) in May with her Masters in Intercultural Studies. She received her call to full time missions during her 13+ years at Cross Lanes Baptist Church and subsequently graduated in December 2011 from North Greenville University with a degree in Spanish/Linguistics. Melanie makes her home in Wake Forest with her husband Erwin, and dog, Bruski. They plan to be on the mission fi eld in two to three years. The James and Soto families would like to thank the staff and pastors of Cross Lanes Baptist Church and the WVCSB for all of their support over the years. [below--melanie with Seminary President Dr. Danny Akin] WVCSB Calendar July 4 - Independence Day (Office Closed) 13 - Missions Camp Volunteer Orientation Missions Camp 20 - LoveLoud Sunday (SBC) 26-Aug 2 - Mission Trip to Tyrone, PA August 3 - Social Issues Sunday: Christian Persecution (SBC) 10 - Student Evangelism Day (SBC) Music Training Week Worship Music Week-SBC September 1 - Labor Day (Office Closed) 6 - WVCSB Executive Board Mtg 7 - Single Adult Sunday (SBC) 7-14 Week of Prayer for State Missions & Ola Cox Offering 15 - Discipleship Rally (SBC) Men & Boys Retreat 21 - Anti-Gambling Sunday (SBC) 26 - WVCSB Nominating Comm. & Commitee on Committees WMU Officers Council October Cooperative Program Emphasis 2 - New Ministers Orientation 5 - Great Day in the Mountains- Sunday School High Attendance 5 - Soul-Winning Commitment Day (SBC) 12 - World Hunger Day 19 - Bi-vo Ministers Appreciation Day November 2 - Daylight Saving Time Ends 2 - Disaster Relief Appreciation Day 3 - Baptist Women s World Day of Prayer 6 - WVCSB Executive Board Mtg 6 - Pastors Conference and Minister s Wives 7 - WVCSB Annual Meeting 27 - Thanksgiving (Office Closed 27 & 28) 8

9 West Virginia Prayer Focus Your state convention staff meets each working day for a brief time of prayer. We pray for missionaries, campuses, associations, churches, and church plants by name each day. We invite our readers to pray as well. Date July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 18 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 July 28 July 29 July 30 July 31 Aug. 1 Aug. 4 Aug. 5 Aug. 6 Aug. 7 Aug. 8 Aug. 11 Aug. 12 Aug. 13 Aug. 14 Aug. 15 Aug. 18 Aug. 19 Aug. 20 Aug. 21 Aug. 22 Aug. 25 Aug. 26 Aug. 27 Aug. 28 Aug. 29 Sept. 2 Sept. 3 Sept. 4 Sept. 5 Association Tri-County Upper Ohio Valley Allegheny Coalfields Greater Huntington Immanuel Monongahela Mountain State Pioneer Potomac Highland Tri-County Upper Ohio Valley Allegheny Coalfields Greater Huntington Immanuel Monongahela Mountain State Pioneer Potomac Highland Tri-County Upper Ohio Valley Allegheny Coalfields Greater Huntington Immanuel Monongahela Mountain State Pioneer Potomac Highland Tri-County Upper Ohio Valley Allegheny Coalfields Greater Huntington Immanuel Monongahela Mountain State Pioneer Campus Church First, Fort Ashby First, Hinton First, Huntersville First, Kenova First, Princeton First, Tyler Mountain First So., Fairmont First So., Grandview First So., Sutton Foxes Hollow Freedom, Beckley Freedom, Charleston Freedom, Nutter Fort Freedom Biker Ch., Huntington Gilbert Creek, Baisden Glade Comm., Daniels Good, Scott Depot Gordon Missionary Grace, Branchland Grace, Fayetteville Grace, Parkersburg Grace Fellowship, Wana Graydon Hamlin HarborLight, Oceana Harmony, Parkersburg Hebron Heritage Highlawn, Huntington Hillcrest, Spencer Hines Horsepen, Gilbert Immanuel, New Martinsville Immanuel, Princeton Indian Creek Isaban Jackson Ave., Pt. Pleasant Jordan Chr. Fellowship, Sophia Kingwood (L) Terrie Hannah welcomed the group to the Pioneer Association VBS Clinic. She also explained some of the games. (below) Some of the snacks for the participants were based on the VBS theme. Church Plant Carpendale Cherry Grove Cherry River, Richwood Church at Three Rivers, Hinton Church at Winchester (The) Cornerstone, Berkeley Springs Crossroads, Burnsville Dawn s Light Dayspring, Charleston Exalt Comm., So. Charleston Friendly Frontier Comm., Morgantown Grace Ch. of Pleasant Valley Grassroots-Greenbrier Valley Lighthouse, Follansbee Living River, Flatwoods Manger, Wellsburg Marland Heights, Weirton Marshall Comm. Fellowship Messiah, Christiansburg, VA Ministry of Salvation Mountain Ministry Chapel New Heights, Milton New Vision, Berkeley Springs Resurrection, Charleston Salt & Light, Clarksburg South Wheeling Urbancrest, Beverly Abundant Hope, Barboursville Carpendale Cherry Grove Cherry River, Richwood Church at Three Rivers, Hinton Church at Winchester (The) Cornerstone, Berkeley Springs Crossroads, Burnsville Dawn s Light Dayspring, Charleston Exalt Comm., So. Charleston (above) The Clinic attendees got to learn how to make some of the VBS crafts before they went to their breakout groups. VBS accounts for about 25% of baptisms in the Southern Baptist Convention. July-August

10 Martinsburg, WV - The Church at Martinsburg will celebrate fi ve years of life this Sunday. The Church at Martinsburg was started in 2009 in a home with a handful of members. The church now holds two services every week in the Regal Cinemas on Foxcroft Avenue, at 9:30 and 11:00am. From the church s fi rst meetings, focus has been placed on a singular mission, to proclaim the gospel and reach those far from God. Dr. Jacob Atchley, lead pastor of the church stated, These fi rst 5 years have been quite the journey. For us it s simple we love Jesus, we love the Bible, and we love the community God s placed us in. We feel like when those three elements come together great things happen! The church will celebrate their birthday this Sunday by partnering with two community organizations YoungLives and The Children s Home Society. Young- Lives serves young, single, teen moms in the Eastern Panhandle and their children. The Church at Martinsburg will open 25 Smart529 College Savings Plans for the children of these young moms. Additionally, a commitment to the Children s Home Society to provide $2,500 worth of care packages for children in foster care in our community is being made. For the last fi ve years the church has worked to serve the Eastern Panhandle through numerous ventures, from ServeITP (In The Panhandle) to Operation Thanks, the church says that they take seriously the call to serve the community. In March of this year the Church deployed over 200 volunteers to serve on 16 public service projects in an initiative named ServeITP. This initiative is set to continue in 2015 and include additional projects, churches, and organizations. Each thanksgiving the church carries out News from West Virginia Churches Operation Thanks, collecting hundreds of turkeys for people in Martinsburg in need of assistance, delivering 466 turkeys in November The Church at Martinsburg has partnered with churches in the US and around the world to advance the gospel. The church has ongoing partnerships in India, Cameroon, Virginia, Indiana, and New Jersey, sending people and funds. As the church celebrates a birthday, they are making plans for a transition from the Regal Cinemas to a more permanent location. In the summer of 2013 the church purchased the building at 50 Monroe Street in Martinsburg. This acquisition opens up additional opportunities for us to continue the work of following Jesus and serving our community, Dr. Atchley said. The church plans to begin work on the site in the summer of 2014 and begin holding worship services at 50 Monroe later this year. Celebrating the church s birthday is exciting but it is not about celebrating this church. We are celebrating what God has done and is going to continue doing. Executive Pastor Richard Marsh said regarding the fi rst fi ve years, We are thankful we get to be a part of this and we want you to be a part of it too. Please join us on Sunday and see the great things God is doing here. For more information about the Church at Martinsburg, visit or fi nd us on twitter twitter.com/martinsburgch or Facebook at Pioneer and WVCSB Money at Work. This is a picture from a public school assembly in which Flame spoke. He talked about self-esteem and doing one s best. This event was headed up by Brandon Carter and was sponsored by Cross Lanes Baptist, The Pioneer Baptist Association, and The West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists. Flame did a concert that night at Cross Lanes Baptist Church. 10

11 News from West Virginia Churches EACH ONE START ONE! Will you and your church undertake the big task of starting at least one new Sunday School class or open small group this year? It is simple to do, but it is not easy! Starting a new class would be hard for some because there is no place to meet, there are not many people in the community, or some other reason. However, if we do Sunday School correctly, some things seem to be true. There are great benefi ts for those who can and do begin a new class. The most obvious benefi t is an increase in attendance. There are about 10 people who attend Sunday School for each class one has. Along with an attendance increase, a church will have more baptisms. Some of the new people in our classes will be lost, and, over time, will accept Jesus as their Lord. A side benefi t is that, usually, offerings will increase. Also, the new people are new ministers that will want to be part of church life. It may be in choir, or teaching, or visiting, or helping in some other way. HOW DO YOU START? First, who in the community is not being reached? It may be an age group, a people group, or maybe you need another class for the age already coming. A group generally reaches all its going to after two years. So, it may be time just to start a new class. Where is the new class going to meet? There may be many things to consider, depending on the age group that you are trying to reach. If you can, come up with a list of names of people who could be in the class. Not might be, but could be. Next, fi nd a person who wants to teach that age group. For adults, it is generally best to get someone close to the targeted group, within 10 years older or 10 years younger. It would really be nice if 2 or 3 people would help start the group, with the new teacher. One could serve as the class secretary, another as a care minister, and another be responsible for communicating with the class members and prospects. As new people joined, they could share the work. You will want to offer some training to the new leaders. There are lots of books available. There is good stuff at various web sites. You can check on TheMinistryGrid.com. Greg Wrigley would be happy to come to give some pointers. Or, a person who just follows the suggestions in the Teacher Commentary can do just fi ne. You have a target age group. You have some names. You have a place to meet. You have a leader, or a small team. NOW, go after the new folks and begin your group! Be graciously persistent: you may need to make many visits before a person comes. (top right) President Marie Davidson welcomed the attendees to the Celebration. Linda Davis gave a report from the Mary Ida Tidsworth Memorial Foundtion [MITME] and invited people to participate in the auction and in the country store. The purpose of the foundation is to support missions education in West Virginia. Ann Lovell represented the International Mission Board. She based her comments on Acts Danny Cunningham told about what God has opened for him in Uganda. He has begun a foundation to support the work there. (L) Sara Murray spoke about the mission and challenges of working with Lily s Place, in Huntington. The Missions Celebration was held at Northgate Baptist Church, in Beckley. Dr. Craig Stevens is pastor. WMU ANNUAL MISSIONS CELEBRATION July-August

12 Dungy Addresses Carson-Newman Football Players Monday, Mar 17, 2014 By Staff JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. (BP)--Super Bowl champion head coach and NFL on NBC analyst Tony Dungy told Carson-Newman's football players to follow Christ in a March 7 speech to the team. "Don't overlook the chance to grow spiritually," Dungy said. "You think you've got forever, and you can make a decision (to follow Christ) at 40. We don't know, you may not have that opportunity for yourself to grow, or to help others to grow." Dungy was in town to speak at the Carson-Newman Football Championship Coaching Clinic in Pigeon Forge that night. Following the presentation, Dungy took pictures with members of Carson- Newman's football team. LIBERTY IS IN JESUS We probably all know people that we think about and say if they only could see or if they only had or some similiar phrase. That person cannot understand what we do, and many others do, that they are enslaved to some habit or lifestyle. It is leading them astray. It is taking their energies. It is destroying their personhood--but they don t seem to care. Habits are hard to break. Destructive actions are tough to deal with. It is a trait of the human condition that we would rather put up with the bad thing than discipline ourselves to overcome the bad habit with a good one. The Bible says that we should fl ee from harmful desires, and at the same time chase after good and benefi cial things. [2 Timothy 2:22] Society is littered with people who have tried with the best intentions to overcome, but have failed. Call upon God. He wants us to overcome, to conquer, to be victorious. Admit to God that you have failed; that you need His help. Yes, more than His help, you need Him. Believe that Jesus is God s Son, and that He died on the cross for you. Confess Him as your only Boss, Lord, Authority, and Guide. He will save you from sin, and He will help you be an overcomer.