THE WEST VIRGINIA April, 2011 VOL. 41, NO. 3 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. SPRING IS SCHOLARSHIP TIME The applications for the Snedden- Slaughter Scholarship Fund will be sent to the pastors in April. Those who are members of a WVCSB church, in college or seminary, and studying to prepare for the ministry, are eligible to submit an application. Would you like to donate to this Fund? Contact Greg Wrigley at the state convention offi ce: 304-757-0944 xt 118, or at gregwrigley@wvcsb.org. April 2011
Executive Director Terry Harper My long awaited meeting with our NAMB Strategy Coordinator took place today (Wednesday, March 9). As is often the case I had heard many different rumors about what they (The North American Mission Board) were and were not going to do. Fortunately most of the rumors proved not to be the case or they were greatly exaggerated. Since NAMB has been in existence they have provided us with a cooperative budget that we could use to do much of our work. This budget has been added to a number of times and it has never been reduced. With the changes that have been mandated by our Convention, they are looking at ways to get more money to the pockets of greater lostness in our country. Many of those lost people THE WEST VIRGINIA SOUTHERN BAPTIST (USPS 097-990) Greg Wrigley, Editor gregwrigley@wvcsb.org Published nine times per year by The West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists Number One Mission Way Scott Depot WV 25560-9406. www.wvbaptists.org Note: No paid advertising or subscriptions accepted. This paper is fully funded by Southern Baptists in West Virginia. Periodicals Postage Paid Scott Depot, WV 25560 and additional mailing offices POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Number One Mission Way Scott Depot, WV 25560-9406 From the Executive Director: live right here in West Virginia. As a result of this new direction, I was told that of the $1.3 million that we receive annually from NAMB I would need to reduce that amount by $100,000. When I was fi rst told this, I felt that it would be no huge task to trim this amount away from our budget. But, when I sat down to look at things that I thought we could do without, it became much more diffi cult. Dr. Seth Polk, the President of our state convention, has appointed a task force that he is calling the Strategy Planning Group (SPG). This group of individuals is tasked with the responsibility of planning our strategy for the next number of years. This group is made up of two members from each association (one member that serves on the Executive Board and one member at large). There are also two associational missionaries on this group, the State WMU President, and our representative on the NAMB Board of trustees. The administrative committee and the state staff will also work with those mentioned above. This Planning Group will begin their work on March 31 and will bring their recommendations to the annual meeting of the state convention in November. When adopted, this report will set priorities and strategy for the state staff to follow in doing their work in the coming years. As diffi cult and as painful as this process has been for us as your state staff, I believe that in the long run, it will result in more people being saved and coming into the kingdom of God. So, we must see this as a great opportunity to re-dream the dream and catch a new vision of what we believe God wants to do here in West Virginia. One encouraging thing that I learned from our meeting is that our budget for this year (2011) is in place and will not be altered at all. If we are able to make the reductions in our budget of $100,000 for 2012, all of our current staff (including missionaries) will be in place through that year. The Coordinator and the Vice President will sit down with me in the fall of this year and they will let me know at that time of all the staff they believe will fi t into their new plan and which ones will not. We will then be given ample time to fi nd a way to support any that do not fi t the new NAMB or we can give them plenty of notice to fi nd other work. All associational missionaries will be given the opportunity to remain with us as long as they are willing to become involved in church planting and are willing to go to special training at NAMB. I must tell you that NAMB is being very cooperative in this and they are willing to work with us. This is not just something that the folks at NAMB decided to do. They have been given a mandate by the convention and they are seeking to fulfi ll it. We need to get on board and help make it happen. Southern Baptists are at our best when we work together to reach the lost for Christ. That is what we are all about! The WVCSB is Building Strong Foundations for a Strong Future We are focused on ministries that Build the Kingdom: Missions and Evangelism Prayer and Spiritual Renewal Communication and Public Relations Strengthening Churches Fellowship...Fulfilling the Great Commission 2
WVCSB Calendar WVCSB Calendar April 2 - Children s Missions Day 3 - SBC Seminaries Sunday 9 - WVCSB Executive Board Mtg 10 - Cooperative Program Sunday 10-15 - Baptist Doctrine Study 12-15 - Sunday School Dinner Dialogs 16 - Youth Sing Celebration 17 - Life Commitment Sunday 22 - Good Friday (Office Closed) 24 - Easter 29-30 - Disaster Relief Chaplaincy Training May 1 - Senior Adult Sunday 1-8 - Christian Home Week 7 - Children & Youth Bible Drill 7 - Church Planter Networks 8 - Mother s Day 10 - Sunday School Builders Trng 15-21 - Baptist Association Emphasis 22 - Day of Prayer & Fasting for World Evangelization 30 - Memorial Day (Office Closed) June 3 - Men & Boys Golf Tourney 11 - Crossover, Phoenix 14-15 - Southern Baptist Convention, Phoenix, AZ 19 - Father s Day 19 - Baptist Men s Emphasis 27-7/1 - Youth Camp HOW CAN A PERSON REALLY WORSHIP AT EASTER? People seem to know that the Easter Season has a special signifi cance relationship to God that they could humans could be forgiven, fi nd a new to it. Even heathen people like the never get or earn on their own, and idea of the rebirth of life that takes then to spend the rest of time, and place in spring. beyond, in fellowship with God. But this rebirth idea shallowly So how does a person really worship at Easter? By simply admitting covers up the resurrection proclamation by the angels to the disciples, to God that He is correct; that I the and later by the disciples to everyone else. There is an event here that His forgiveness. Believe that Jesus person am wrong and in need of does not take place every spring, but is who the Bible says He is, God s happened once. A man was killed, Son. And then commit personally to indeed, allowed Himself to be killed, Him to live for Him and to be obedient. Make Jesus the Boss in your life, on behalf of the billions of wayward, sinful, disobedient, and rebellious and that is what life is about. created humans, so that those same July 3 - Citizenship & Religious Liberty Sunday 4 - Independence Day (Office Closed) 13-16 - Blume, National Acteens Convention 17-18 - Missions Camp Volunteer Orientation 18-22 - Missions Camp August 7 - Social Issues Sunday 8-13 - Music Training Week 14-15 - Association Missionary Update 15-17 - Shepherding the Shepherd 17-18 - Church Planter Networks 20 - Foundation Directors Mtg April 2011 3
JULY 18-22, 2011 GPS ---God s Plan for Sharing There are several wonderful seasons to use the GPS strategy in order to share the gospel with lost people in your community and to bring them in to the church. We have some support materials here at the offi ce. Call to ask for some. Call Sarah Whitfi eld with questions at NAMB---770-410-6390, or swhitfi eld@namb.net. Or call Dick Church with questions about resources, 770-410-6318, or dchurch@namb.net. Get your Find It Here banner out. There will be some national media input from NAMB from April 10-May 1. Work the GPS strategy: 5 weeks before event---pray intently for the community and the event 2 weeks before event---conduct a prayer walk [drive] in the area you especially want to impact 1 week before event----go door to door in the area distributing gospel tracts, invitations to the event, and sharing the gospel with as many as possible Conduct the Event 6 weeks at least after the event--assign people who attended the event to a Sunday School class so the class can do follow up contacts. You can use this plan for any event. But it can be especially effective for events which by nature draw people anyway. Use the energy that is already built into the event: Easter, Vacation Bible School, revival meetings, Christmas, high attendance days in Sunday School. Contact us if we can assist you in any way with your plan for reaching your community for Christ. gregwrigley@wvcsb.org 304-757-0944 xt 118 4
NAMB S NEW LEADER IN EVANGELISM ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) - The North American Mission Board trustees today (Feb. 9) approved the appointment of 57-year-old Larry Wynn - senior pastor of Hebron Baptist Church in Dacula, Ga., for the past 33 years - as the mission entity s new vice president of evangelism. Evangelism is not just a job for Larryit s his lifestyle, said NAMB president Kevin Ezell. In the 32 years Larry has been pastor of Hebron, the church has baptized more than 10,000 people. Ezell said Wynn will work closely with state convention partners to lead and equip Southern Baptists in the area of evangelism, with a special emphasis on GPS: God s Plan for Sharing. He understands that evangelism is part of everything we do, Ezell added. I am extremely excited, Wynn said. When I was called to Hebron 33 years ago, I knew that was my calling. I m just as convinced that this is a calling of God as well. My passion is evangelism. I really believe Southern Baptists have an opportunity to touch North America in an unprecedented way with today s technology, communications and with the focus I m now seeing at NAMB in church planting -- in regions where there is little or no Southern Baptist work going on now. In his new position at NAMB, Wynn said he views his role as helping churches to develop a passion for evangelism. I m convinced that if we re going to carry out our mission to reach North America, it cannot be done apart from church planting, he said. New churches have an excitement and a zeal that is contagious. Church planting has to be at the center of what we do, said Wynn, who himself once planted and pastored a mobile home park church in the Atlanta area. Wynn believes God prepared him for his new NAMB evangelism post through his 33-year history at Hebron Baptist. Hebron was in an extremely rural area when we fi rst came here. Dacula High across the street graduated only 60 that fi rst year. In back of the church were nothing but cattle and farms. We were running 70 each Sunday on a $25,000 annual budget. Today, Hebron is much bigger, the community has changed and the high school graduates 400 every year, Wynn said. So God has given me the privilege to pastor Hebron at every size church found in Southern Baptist life - but all in the same location. So it s given me insight into a small church and a large church. In his three decades at Hebron Baptist - which attracts some 4,800 each week for Sunday worship - Wynn and the church have recorded more than 10,000 baptisms. Hebron is a leading church in the Georgia Baptist Convention in Cooperative Program gifts, and is ranked among the top 20 churches in baptisms and church growth by the Southern Baptist Convention. A native of Fitzgerald, Ga., Wynn earned a B.A. degree, majoring in psychology and minoring in religion, at Mercer University in 1977. He is also an alumnus of Luther Rice Seminary. He and his wife, Ethel, have three grown children - Amanda Leigh, Dana Renee and Adam. They also have twin grandchildren, Ryleigh Lynn and Avery Lavon. Wynn has also served as a chaplain for the FBI, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security and the Gwinnett County Fire and Police departments. ----Wynn is a strong supporter and advocate of Sunday School as well.--the Editor Focus on SUNDAY SCHOOL, EVANGELISM, SMALL GROUPS, AND STUDENT MINISTRY visit C4CONFERENCE.COM for information and to register April 2011 5
Men and Boys Retreat September 16 and 17, 2011 Camp Caesar, Cowen, WV mark it down! GOD S GREAT OUTDOORS Family Fun Fossil Hunt! August 6, 2011, at CAESAR CREEK, in Ohio. Led by Dr. John Whitmore who teaches at Cedarville University, Cedarville, Ohio. Lots of fossils to discover and to have Dr. Whitmore tell you about them. Keep the fossils you fi nd. For more information call 937-698-3656, or visit www.ggoutdoors. org, or email ggoutdoors@aol.com BRAD JERMAN stands with the mount of the massive record setting whitetail deer he killed with a crossbow in Ohio, November 10, 2004. The 6 1/2 year old deer fi eld dressed at about 265 pounds. Its net Pope and Young score is 201 1/8. Brad s story of the hunt kept the 250 men at the FAIRLAWN BAPTIST CHURCH, in Parkersburg, intently listening. Jerman used the story of the hunt to relate the truths of the gospel story. He told how he had been lost and wayward in sin, and how God had gotten his attention and brought him to Himself. ---above--the Fairlawn Baptist Church auditorium had a new look with 30 3-D archery targets arranged across the platform; the targets belong to the Convention and may be used by the associations or churches for outreach events ---right--the men enjoying the meal 6
TOM ELLIFF NOMINATED AS NEXT IMB PRESIDENT By Erich Bridges RICHMOND, Va. (BP)--Thomas (Tom) D. Elliff, longtime Oklahoma pastor, Southern Baptist Convention leader and former missionary, is the unanimous recommendation of a 15-member trustee search committee to be the next president of International Mission Board. The nomination of Elliff -- who served as a missionary to Zimbabwe with his wife, Jeannie, in the early 1980s -- will be presented to the full board of trustees for consideration and a possible vote when they meet March 15-16 in Dallas. If elected, Elliff would succeed Jerry Rankin as leader of the mission board, which coordinates the work of more than 5,000 Southern Baptist missionaries worldwide. Rankin retired as IMB president July 31, 2010, after 17 years at the helm. Veteran missionary and Executive Vice President Clyde Meador currently serves as interim president. IMB trustee chairman Jimmy Pritchard, who has led the presidential search committee throughout its selection process, announced the nomination Feb. 17. He said Elliff emerged as the committee s clear and unanimous choice in January. Throughout the process, we talked to some great and godly men, but we just could not get a sense of God s peace about any one of them, said Pritchard, pastor of First Baptist Church in Forney, Texas. When Dr. Elliff s name came before us, we had a subtle sense of God s Spirit speaking to our hearts. That may sound mystical, but that s really what happened. Every one of us senses that God spoke and said, This is the moment you ve been praying for. Here is your man. Elliff, 66, a Texas native, was twice elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention, in 1996 and 1997, and also served as president of the SBC Pastors Conference in 1990. He has led several key churches in the denomination, including First Southern Baptist Church of Del City, Okla., where he was pastor for 20 years. From 2005 to 2009, Elliff served as IMB senior vice president for spiritual nurture and church relations. In that role, he taught and counseled missionaries and helped mobilize churches throughout the convention for mission involvement. Currently he leads Living in The Word Publications, a writing and speaking ministry he founded in 2005. He frequently speaks about spiritual awakening and family life in churches and conferences through the United States and abroad. Reached for comment, Elliff asked Southern Baptists to pray for him, his wife and family -- and for IMB trustees as they consider his nomination. Both Jeannie and I were incredibly humbled when the search committee approached us, he said. Obviously, we would not have moved forward to this moment had we not spent a great deal of time in prayer seeking the face of the Lord. Now we feel humbled once again that they are going to present us to the board. Along with all the members of the board, we would just encourage people to pray with us during these days. We love missions and we ve given our hearts to it, but this was not on our radar screen, Elliff said. It has just driven us to our knees in prayer. We certainly couldn t do this if we didn t sense the Lord s leadership to do it. But we recognize that God speaks not only to individuals but to groups of people. We re confi dent that He will have His way as the board deals with this. Born in Paris, Texas, Elliff is a third-generation Southern Baptist pastor. The Elliffs, who married in 1966, have four grown children and 25 grandchildren. He received a bachelor of arts degree from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Ark.; a master of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas; and a doctor of ministry degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. He led several churches while in college and seminary and was pastor of Eastwood Baptist Church in Tulsa, Okla., for nearly a decade before being appointed with his wife as missionaries to Zimbabwe in 1981. They served in the East African nation for about two years, but resigned in 1983 after their teenage daughter, Beth, was seriously injured in a car accident there. After they returned to the United States, Elliff led Applewood Baptist Church in Lakewood, Colo., before being called to First Southern Baptist Church of Del City, where he was pastor from 1985 to 2005. He is the author of numerous books about prayer, spiritual awakening and family life. Erich Bridges is an International Mission Board global correspondent. NEWS FROM SOME OF OUR WV MISSIONARIES ON THE FOREIGN FIELD ---some information censored for security reasons-- The M family has settled into life in the UK. Having a 9-5 job was a big adjustment after 2+ years of other assignments, but it has been a blessing to see how M s skills are being used to support our colleagues around the world. C and the kids enjoyed a special 2 weeks in the States last fall and it was a privilege to see friends and family and especially to meet with churches and our friends at the WVCSB. Back in the UK, we do most of the same things people in the U.S. do. L just turned 4 and loves going to preschool and both kids love mums and tots at our local church. We have play dates, run errands, go shopping, and hold down the fort at home so M can focus on his work. He is also taking seminary classes as we look ahead to future service. Through it all, we take advantage of opportunities to share with those around us. We are still learning our way around the culture and are especially blessed to join with national believers in outreach activities. We are really excited about some upcoming opportunities...m will be joining the youth at a retreat in March and there will be some community events before Easter. Please pray for hearts to be softened as the Truth is shared! Thank you so much for your prayers and for your support through your gifts to the Cooperative Program and Lottie Moon Christmas Offering! It is awesome and humbling to see how God is working around the world and such a privilege to partner with you and be a part of that work! April 2011 7
AN INVITATION TO PRAYER We are in the midst of a campaign to raise awareness about a three-day event for Senior Pastors which our church is hosting in Pigeon Forge, TN, on April 12th-14th. It is called REFUGE, based upon Jeremiah 16:19. This is not a typical church conference, but rather a prayer gathering during which Senior Pastors will be encouraged and mentored to carry the fi re of corporate prayer back to their fl ocks in advance of Easter Sunday. We are trusting that the Holy Spirit will produce a great harvest of souls on Easter because Pastors cared enough to take time to come to the beautiful Smoky Mountains to PRAY together for our churches, our counties, and our country. REFUGE 2011 is being underwritten by private sponsorship and is being offered absolutely FREE of charge to the registering Senior Pastors, as well as their spouses, staff, and lay leadership. This gathering is not about money. It s about what we believe to be the only hope for America, according to 2 Chronicles 7:14. Some great men of God are coming to share their hearts with these pastors including JONATHAN FALWELL of Thomas Road Baptist Church and Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA and Southern Baptist evangelist, patriot, & Vietnam war hero Dr. TIM LEE. Our own Senior Pastor, Gene Wolfenbarger, was an itinerant Southern Baptist evangelist for 12 years prior to receiving God s call to birth The Gathering church here in 2000. The event itself is interdenominational. Please visit our website at www.myrefuge2011.com to learn more about REF- UGE 2011. STATE VBS TRAINING HELD AT FREEDOM BAPTIST IN NUTTER FORT Fifty-two excited and enthused Vacation Bible School workers gathered in Nutter Fort for the state Vacation Bible School Clinic. The association workers were trained in the main LifeWay VBS material, The Big Apple Adventure. The association workers will conduct clinics in each of their associations for the church leadership, so they will know how to lead their VBS this year. The state VBS team (L) traveled to Ridgecrest to receive training in January. Nathan Ertel (center) took about 20 minutes during the lunch time to talk about sharing the gospel with children. In the picture he is demonstrating how to use the evangecube. The pastor and people of Freedom Baptist provided lunch, snacks, and child care for the visitors. 8
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. New Work: The Crossings in St Albans is a new work of sorts. It is two SBC churches joined together to create a new SBC work. In the past few months they have seen a new formed unity, passion and commitment to community. Just this week they have had many decisions for Christ and are planning a baptism service bringing their 2011 baptism just for the past 4 months to over 15! How exciting to see God s people on fi re for Him. Church Planting: Here in West Virginia we have a Church Planters Network. This network brings those working as church planters all over our state together to be equipped, encouraged and to network. Church planting can be a long and lonely process. Pray for your CPN today and lift up and encourage the church planters in your association. Scripture Promise:, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fi xing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 Ministry Focus: Easter Sunday! Start praying today for 3 people that you know who are not engaged in a local church. Pray for them daily by name and ask for an opportunity to invite them to church with you. Use Easter Sunday as the day to invite your people and pray for their hearts to be turned to Christ and the Word. Weekend Focus: Get outside. Springtime inspires us all to be active in tree trimming, fl ower planting and yard work. As you spend more and more time outside, make it a point to talk with your neighbors about your faith. Changing the conversation from daffodils and shrubbery to God s glory and creation is a great way to enter a conversation about faith. Resource: Homelife Magazine is a monthly publication from LifeWay Christian Resources. The magazine is for men, women, marrieds, singles, seniors, basically anyone wanting to infuse their home life with daily Christian living. Order your subscription at www.lifeway. com. Some of the church planters meeting February 28, at the Convention Offi ce in the Church Planting Network. Ideas are shared, information is given, and needs are discussed among the group. Delton Beall leads the group. Date Apr. 4 Apr. 5 Apr. 6 Apr. 7 Apr. 8 Apr. 11 Apr. 12 Apr. 13 Apr. 14 Apr. 15 Apr. 18 Apr. 19 Apr. 20 Apr. 21 Apr. 25 Apr. 26 Apr. 27 Apr. 28 Apr. 29 May 2 May 3 May 4 May 5 May 6 Association 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 Campus Bluefield State Charleston Area Concord Univ. Marshall Univ. Mt. State Univ. WVU Morgantown Bluefield State Charleston Area Concord Univ. Marshall Univ. Mt. State Univ. WVU Morgantown Bluefield State Charleston Area Concord Univ. Marshall Univ. Mt. State Univ. WVU Morgantown Bluefield State Charleston Area Concord Univ. Marshall Univ. Mt. State Univ. WVU Morgantown Church Zoar, St. Mary s Abundant Life, Triadelphia Altizer Amazing Grace, Capon Bridge Ansted Avondale Baker Heights Beaver Creek Berean Berkeley Big Spring Blackwolf Bluewell Borderland Bradshaw Mountain Brenton Brooksville Brushfork Burke Memorial Calvary, Belington Calvary, Bluefield Calary, Bolair Calvary, Chapmanville Calvary, Follansbee Church Plant Abundant Hope The Bridge Carpendale Centerpointe, Hurricane Chinese Mission The Church at Martinsburg Crossroads, Burnsville Faith, Winfield Faith Community, Wheeling Freedom Biker Church Friendly Gateway, Peytona Grace, Pleasant Valley Harbor Light, Steubenville HarborLight, Oceana Hatsal Korean Hope, Richwood Lifesong Lighthouse, Follansbee Living Hope, Petersburg Living River Marland Heights Marshall Community Fllwshp Ministry of Salvation April 2011 9
COALFIELDS ASSOCIATION Church planter Kevin Mullins started services on February 13 at the Harts Veterans and Community Center. According to the Coalfi elds Newsletter, It was a great fi rst service and we are looking forward to what God is going to do in and through Kevin and his family (wife Ange, Kevin Jr., Kacie, Kamrin, Kenzie). Calvary Baptist in War, has been busy since celebrating 93 years as a church in September 2010. They held a Women in Ministry conference led by a team of ladies from Prince Avenue Baptist Church in Athens, GA. Lunch was provided by the men of the church and served by the men and boys. This group also brought school supplies, including electric pencil sharpeners, for Southside K-8, and art supplies for the new Riverview High School. Over 150 families were served with food boxes for Thanksgiving. The children and youth participated in the Community Christmas JOY Musical, and also performed a Christmas program for the congregation. Dr. Clyde Meador from the International Mission Board spoke to the church and a fi lm crew from IMB recorded the church s activities surrounding the Lottie Moon offering. Calvary s total for the offering for 2010 was $8,000. -- Thanks to Pastor Travis and Cathy Hyde for this information. New Covenant Fellowship held a wonderful Valentine s Dinner in February sponsored by the youth. It was a great time of fellowship with savory food, fun games and the dessert to die for with chocolate covered strawberries. Ron Chambers is the pastor. Big Springs Baptist hosted a missionary from the Philippines, Mark Caluag, in January. You can see Mark speak from Big Springs Missionary Baptist Church s Facebook site. Pastor John Cain posts his weekly preaching News from West Virginia Churches on the site. Borderland Baptist has called Rick Gannon as pastor. He and wife Kathy will be moving from Glencoe, Kentucky. GREATER HUNTINGTON ASSOC. A Lunar New Year Celebration was held Feb. 6 for the Chinese Mission. They had record attendance for the morning worship service and a great crowd for the luncheon which followed. Paul Noh, a Korean who is fl uent in Mandarin, has moved to Huntington with his wife, Yujin, a student at Marshall University, and their two sons, Howard and Jason. Paul speaks at the church three times a month. He is also reaching out to students and once a month will lead the Bible study group in Charleston. Eastwood Baptist Church had a presentation by Christi Gibson, Director of A New Beginning Crisis Pregnancy Center, along with one of their clients. The congregation is fi lling baby bottles with money as a special missions project for the pregnancy center. Brady Lipscomb is pastor. Youth Sunday was held January 30 at Hamlin Baptist, and three young ladies from the student ministry were baptized. The WMU held their annual winter slumber party and hand made over fi fty Valentines which were sent to the sick, shut-ins, college students and friends. They also hosted a party for the local nursing home. The Youth & Missions in Action collected items for the Ronald McDonald House and delivered them, along with Valentines made by the Sunday School classes. Hamlin s pastor is James Caldwell, and their Youth Pastor is Will Basham. Locust Grove Baptist sponsors the Bible Club at Buffalo Elementary after school, and four children have accepted Christ. The Teen Life group held a pajama party at the Huntington City Mission, where they distributed new pajamas to all the children, played games, had a devotion, and did crafts. Pastor Randall Robertson and members Randy and Brenda Lincoln participated in a recent mission trip to the Philippines. C. J. Adkins, pastor of Westmoreland Baptist Church, reports that the 2011 trip will go down as one of the greatest projects they have ever participated in. Distributed during the trip were: 1,780 Cebuano Dialect Bibles, Bible Story Coloring Books and crayons, gospel tracts, hundreds of pounds of rice, basketballs, soccer balls, and laundry detergent. Their eleven days of evangelism included outdoor evangelistic crusades, preaching in local churches, jail ministry, hospital ministry, Bible studies, and house-to-house evangelism. Many decisions and rededications were made, including 859 recorded professions of faith in Jesus Christ. Here are a couple of photos of the American, and Joint Mission teams for the Feb 1-14 Mission trip to the Philippines. The fi rst photo is of the Philippinos who labored with the American team. The photo below is of the American Teams, who are [L to R] Randy and Brenda Lincoln (Locust Grove) Gene Bennett (of Ashland, KY) Thamer Calhoun (Westmoreland) Randall Robertson (Locust Grove), and C. J. Adkins. IMMANUEL ASSOCIATION Grace Baptist Church, Parkersburg, held a deacon ordination service on January 30 for Gary Swisher and Wes Erwin. Pastor Todd Hill brought the ordination message, Jerry Marks gave the charge to the candidates, and Chuck Tommey offered the ordination prayer. Congratulations to Jon Jon Schultz, from Jackson Avenue Baptist Church, who was awarded the 4-H All-Star Award, recognizing him for outstanding service. Southern Baptist Community Ministry, a new church start in Reedy, has called as their fi rst pastor Jason Spade. Jason has been an adult Sunday School teacher at Fairlawn Baptist for a number 10
of years and recently felt called into the ministry. He and his wife Karmen began their ministry at SBCM in January. They are meeting in a recently remodeled building which is quickly becoming too small! MONONGAHELA ASSOCIATION Calvary Baptist, Belington, had a meet & greet at Shop n Save where members spoke to people, gave out pocket pals of Gospel of John, hot drinks, snacks and a church newsletter. The church sponsored a basketball team for 11-13 year olds in the community league as an outreach to middle school students. Team members were invited to the worship service on Feb. 20 to receive their certifi cates. Also, on that day the church rejoiced to see ten people baptized, including two sisters and two families (husband, wife & kids)! Jesse Mesa is the pastor. Real Life Church in Weston, led by Rick Brown, rejoiced at the baptism of six new believers on Feb. 27. Several men participated in a one-day mission project, helping paint and work on the building of Redemption Hill Church. [above, left] Pastor John Dixon, Southern Baptist Church of Philippi, explains to the congregation the process and desire of the Vision for Mission discovery concepts being used. Greg Wrigley of the State Convention is assisting the church to formulate a ministry plan. In November members of Rowlesburg Baptist were given envelopes containing a sum of cash for ministry. They were challenged to fi nd a way to minister to someone and report back during a service in the month of December. Pastor Ken Lake reports that twelve accepted the challenge and the results were phenomenal! Members of the church have tied and distributed 37 God Loves Me blankets to homebound, elderly, babies, widows and widowers in their town along with a Bible, tract, and Easter invitation. MOUNTAIN STATE ASSOCIATION Grace Baptist Church, Fayetteville, has called Delbert Walker as their fulltime pastor. He has left his secular job to begin his full-time ministry. News from West Virginia Churches Memorial Baptist in Beckley recently baptized twelve people - eight at their church and four at the prison. They also ordained two new deacons. Paul Blizard is the pastor. TRI-COUNTY ASSOCIATION Second Southern, Martinsburg, has been busy with a Give Your Heart to Jesus Valentine Banquet, youth game night, Sunday night movie and book talk discussion. The fl ag football game pitted the Youth and Oldies team against the Middle of the Roaders. Happy Birthday to Floyd Webber on his 100th birthday! Brian Persinger is the church s pastor. UPPER OHIO VALLEY ASSOC. Twenty-fi ve youth and nine chaperones from Cameron Baptist attended their winter youth retreat at Windy Ridge Lodge at Wind Ridge, PA. All of these young people and their parents and sponsors took part in a True Love Waits Service on Feb. 27. Ron McCoy pastors the church, and Dustin Cowden is the Associate Pastor. Mike Watson reports from Upper Ohio Valley Baptist Association that they have three new church starts and a church that has recently come into the Association. We rejoice with you! Rev Ozelle Hays, Harbor Light Baptist Church, Steubenville, Ohio, 43952 Rev. Dick Ryan, Lighthouse Church, Follansbee, WV 26037 Rev. Dan Cook, Grace Church at Pleasant Valley, Cameron, WV 26033 Rev. Michael Renforth, Ministry of Salvation Baptist Church, Steubenville, Ohio 43952 The fi rst 3 churches are new church starts and Ministry of Salvation is now in the Association. [below] Snyder addresses about 35 pastors, deacons, and their wives at the dinner and training in the Tri-County Association. FORTY-FIVE IN SUPER BOWL PARTY Riverview Baptist Chapel had a great turn out for their Super Bowl Party. They started out with Pastor Lawrence Kimball bringing a sermon, at 5:00 PM. Then they went to the Fellowship Hall to eat and to watch the game. This was the fi rst time the church had attempted a super bowl party. They decorated the hall in black and gold and all had on their Steelers shirts. They enjoyed the party even though the Steelers lost. The congregation is planning to have a super bowl party again next year. [below]---ray Kemp doing the wave when the Steelers scored. [below] Randy Spurgeon (L) stands with (L to R) Tommy Snyder, Paul Drake, Pastor, Southside Baptist Church, Parkersburg, and Immanuel Association Missionary Dick Howie, at the deacon training session in Immanuel Association. About 80 pastors, deacons, and their wives enjoyed a meal and Snyder s teaching related to the character and ministry of a deacon. --left association vacation bible school clinics [or check with your association office] march 19--upper ohio valley march 26---coalfields March 26--Immanuel march 28--mountain state april 12---tri-county april 26---potomac highland april 28 and 30--greater huntington April 2011 11
JACOB ATCHLEY, camp pastor WADE MORRIS, guest teacher $200 non-refundable group deposit, required to register, applied to your fi nal balance, not an additional charge $165 per person if group deposit received by May 1 $185 per person after May 1 JASON LOVINS BAND, music, and more 14 great aftenoon study and skill classes! Swimming! Good food! Old and new friends!