Volume 1, Issue 3 December 2014 PAGE 1 http://www.firstafricanbaptist.org FABC TODAY VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3
First African Baptist Church Celebrating 234 Years Dinner Theater The FABC Drama Ministry Presents Stage Play by Roosevelt Wright, Jr. The Devil on Trial Fellowship Fun & Laughter VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3 FABC TODAY http://www.firstafricanbaptist.org PAGE 2
A Historical Moment Michelle L. Betts, Editor Unveiling of the Virginia Highway State Marker Location: Original Site of 14 th and Broad Streets On October 4, 2014 a dedication ceremony was held commemorating the history, many contributions and acknowledgements of the congregation of First African Baptist Church. Speakers for this momentous occasion were our Pastor, Rev. Dr. Rodney D. Waller Dr. James Somerville (Pastor of First Baptist Church) and Julie Langan (Director of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources). For more information regarding the history of First African Baptist Church, please visit our website (Section Connect: About Us) at http://firstafricanbaptist.org/connect.html. PAGE 3 http://www.firstafricanbaptist.org FABC TODAY VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3
First African Baptist Church I needed clothes and you clothed me; I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. - Matthew 25:36 Deacon Jonathan Davis Ministry Chairperson T he First African Baptist Church (FABC) Prison Ministry was a vision that our Pastor, Rev. Dr. Rodney D. Waller shared with the church during year 2012. FABC was built on a reputation of ministry. In keeping with that strong tradition and Pastor's desire for us to be more ministry oriented, the Prison Ministry was launched. Early 2013, Pastor asked Deacon Jonathan Davis to spearhead an effort to organize the ministry. April of 2013, Deacon Davis presented a proposal to immediately begin ministering to juvenile boys and girls at Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center with plans to expand the ministry to the City Jail in the future. T he ministry's desire is to have a rotating schedule of volunteers who are reaching out to juveniles and adults and sharing the gospel with them. The organization's mission is To assist in the rehabilitation of residents through spiritual understanding and to win souls by building a closer relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Since its inception, the ministry has grown to 13 persons, including members from other churches, who have a heart for helping others. Continued on next page VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3 FABC TODAY http://www.firstafricanbaptist.org PAGE 4
Continued (FABC Prison Ministry) ersons who volunteer at the Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center minister to teenage boys and girls. The volunteers can go in groups of two or individually and they meet for one hour with small groups on a consistent basis. Schedules are set by the volunteers and can be weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. All persons who work with the youth must undergo a background check prior to approval to minister. The majority of the youth at Bon Air are babes in Christ, having been saved since their first arrest. Many do not get family visits and for them, the visits from the ministry s volunteers is the highlight of their week. Helen Vines and Jennifer Spann minister to the girls at Bon Air and they stated, that the girls are very responsive; they meet before each session to pray and plan their activities. Jennifer said their main purpose is to share the gospel and to share the Word in a way that it may be helpful to young people in confinement and after release. T P he ministry has been in contact with the Richmond City Jail and plans to develop an outreach there in early 2015. The ministry is still young and is actively recruiting new members to work with either the youth at Bon Air or the adults at the City Jail. If you have a heart for reaching out to individuals who have gone down the wrong road, please contact Deacon Davis or leave your contact information in the church office. PAGE 5 http://www.firstafricanbaptist.org FABC TODAY VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3
Welcome to Our New Members Right Hand of Fellowship Month August Wayne McKinnie September T. Anthony Baylor Alton Wells October Lisa Barrett Mary Gordon Angelia Height Iris Lewis Marie Melvin Claude Ranson Sheila Ranson Nikora Roots Pamela Smith November Ja Kirah Allen Shawnese Allen Natalie Blackwell Saperia Cockrell Eonshaé Crawley Linda Farmer Destin Henderson LaRhonda Henderson Wayne Hicks Matthew Hunter Antoinette Smith December Gwendolyn Hicks Thyisha Hicks Angela Johnson Jada Johnson Johnae Macklin-Terry Dwaneesha Terry A Church That Brings Glory to God & Hope to the World VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3 FABC TODAY http://www.firstafricanbaptist.org PAGE 6
Happy Birthday & Merry Christmas to Our Beloved Pastor Pastor s Cheer PAGE 7 http://www.firstafricanbaptist.org FABC TODAY VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3
First African Baptist Church A Great Place to Grow in Grace I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. Jeremiah 3:15 KJV We pray that you have enjoyed and been blessed by this edition of our quarterly newsletter. Stay tuned for the next edition. Advisor and Senior Editor Dr. Rodney D. Waller, Pastor Editor Michelle L. Betts Visit Us On-line! http://www.firstafricanbaptist.org/ Like Us on Facebook! VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3 FABC TODAY http://www.firstafricanbaptist.org PAGE 8