A Cooperative Program Ministry June, 2007 Gladly telling the stories of God s work in and through WV Southern Baptists VOL. 37, NO. 6 Southern Baptists Give $150.1 million, Shatter Lottie Moon Giving Record By Shawn Hendricks RICHMOND, VA (BP) Southern Baptists topped the 2006 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goal, delivering the largest gift in the offering s 118-year history. After the books closed May 31, the final tally hit $150,178,098.06, an 8.9 percent increase over last year s $137.9 million. Southern Baptists last exceeded their goal three years ago by giving more than $136.2 million to the 2003 offering after missionary appointments lagged because of insufficient funds. The offering supports the work of more than 5,100 missionaries across the globe. This year s gift is expected to have a notable impact on the number of personnel being sent to the field. Board leaders anticipate sending 200 extra missionaries over the next two years, in addition to the normal appointment numbers. Because we are a missionary-sending organization, the number of missionaries we are able to send is directly related to the gifts we receive from Southern Baptists through the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, said Jerry Rankin, president of the International Mission Board. Not only will this unprecedented amount enable us to send more missionaries, it demonstrates the heart of Southern Baptists for missions and the high priority they give to reaching a lost world. More unreached people groups will have access to the Gospel, more people will be won and baptized, more churches planted and leaders discipled and trained around the world because of such a generous level of giving. Rankin credited Woman s Missionary Union s support and loyal friendship June 2007 with contributing to the offering s success. We are grateful for the partnership with WMU and their conscientious efforts in sponsoring and promoting the offering, as well as the personal sacrifice that gifts to the LMCO reflect in individuals throughout the convention. Wanda Lee, executive director/treasurer of national WMU, added her appreciation to faithful support of Southern Baptists. Support for international missionaries is critical, and we are so grateful to the men and women, boys and girls, who are a part of what God is doing around the world by supporting international missionaries through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, Lee said. When WMU sets the [Lottie Moon Christmas Offering] goal each year, we recognize that it can only be attained when believers prayerfully consider the need and give sacrificially so that others may hear the name of Jesus. Since the offering began in 1888, the total amount received through 2006 has exceeded $2.8 billion. GIVING LEADS TO MORE GOING David Steverson, IMB treasurer and vice president for finance, announced at a May trustee meeting that if early projections held up, the board would be able to send an extra 200 missionaries to the field. Now, the question is whether enough Southern Baptists will step forward to accept God s call to missions, he said. We are grateful to the Lord for the tremendous blessing of this record offering given through Southern Baptists, Steverson said. Pray to the Lord of the harvest to call out those who will go and proclaim His message throughout the world. Last year, the board reported that 104 new people groups were engaged with the Gospel, 23,486 churches were started and 475,072 people were baptized. Thank you, Southern Baptists, for stepping up to the challenge of global evangelization and funding the highest Lottie Moon offering in missions history, said Gordon Fort, vice president for overseas operations. As a result we will be taking new initiatives to engage unreached people groups and will have the financial resources to increase our capacity to send more missionaries to the front lines. To learn more about the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions, visit imb.org or call (800) 999-3113. REACHING THE GOAL: Because of Southern Baptist gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering more people can hear the Gospel. Southern Baptists topped the 2006 offering goal by giving $150,178,098.06. Here, members of Good News Baptist Church, along with several other churches, meet on the outskirts of Moscow for a baptismal service. IMB photo.
My Dear Friends: What a wonderful spring Cheryl and I have enjoyed as we have traveled across West Virginia visiting in our churches and seeing what God is doing in our beautiful state. Cheryl had been helping out at Fairlawn Baptist Church in Dunbar for many months in their music ministry. She loved the folks there and enjoyed it very much, but feeling a greater need and desire to travel with me, she resigned in order to be on the road again. Cheryl sang and I preached at morning worship recently at the Cathedral of Prayer in Charleston. It was an exciting, spirit-filled service. We appreciate Pastor Kevin Norvell and his wife, Kelly and the work they are doing in this fine church. We were also at Trinity in St. Albans THE WEST VIRGINIA SOUTHERN BAPTIST (USPS 097-990) John W. Adams, Editor johnadams@wvcsb.org Published ten 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: recently for the morning service. We are happy to hear that they have now called a pastor and I know they are enjoying the preaching and singing of James Caldwell. He was on the staff at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth and he gave it up to come back to West Virginia to be near his aging parents and to pastor this fine church. How we welcome him back to West Virginia! We also attended First Baptist Church in Fairlea for their senior adult day. My, Mrs. Beulah Lilly and her assistants really had a great day planned. They had a wonderful worship time where I preached and then we feasted on a delicious salad luncheon. It was all really good, but fortunately for me, they had some amazing pies and other desserts. On May 13 it was our joy to travel up to Ryerson, PA for a wonderful time of fellowship with Pastor Phil Campbell and his wife Janice. I had never seen their new worship center. It is beautiful! A coal company had desired to mine coal under their old building, so they offered to build them a completely new worship facility. Phil also has a worship ensemble that is doing a wonderful job in leading worship. Then on May 15 we began a tent revival meeting in Inwood, West Virginia with Brother Donald Chandler of South Berkeley Baptist Church. The laymen of this church did a great job in getting ready for this meeting and we had an amazing time being there. On Memorial Day weekend, I traveled to Open Door Baptist Church in Colliers, West Virginia to be with Pastor Larry and Donna Garrison. They were dedicating their new worship center. It is beautiful and a great testimony to folks working together for the Glory of God. Cheryl and I are looking forward to Shepherding the Shepherd and hoping that many of our pastors and their families will make plans to attend this event. (See the article on page five.) Let me again remind those of you who live in Hancock County that you will vote on June 30 on the gambling issue. Those of you in Kanawha County will cast your votes on the gambling issue on August 11. And those who live in Jefferson and Ohio Counties should have voted on June 9. Please make sure you are registered and then get out and vote. We need to stop this gambling menace. I cannot understand why any committed Christian would have anything to do with this industry. It is an industry without a conscience. It takes food off the table and clothes from the backs of children and gives nothing back. We must do all we can to turn back the tide of this evil industry. My Upcoming Events : June 10-13 Southern Baptist Convention June 17 Cameron Baptist Church June 24 First Baptist Chelyean June 30 Good Shepherd Baptist Church, Men s Group July 1 First Baptist Chelyean July 8 Fairlawn Baptist Parkersburg July 29 Fairlawn Baptist Dunbar August 2-4 Shepherding the Shepherd at Canaan Thank you again for allowing me to serve as your Executive Director. It is a complete joy to get to travel across the state and visit with you wonderful people. Sincerely, Terry L. Harper 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
Editor John Adams What s Happening in His Father s House Today? All four Gospels indicate that Christ cleansed the temple in Jerusalem. Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell about a cleansing which took place at the end of Christ s earthly ministry. John tells about a similar event which took place at the beginning of his Messianic journey. In Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-17, and Luke 19:45-46, the Holman Christian Standard translation quotes Jesus as having said to the temple leadership, My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations, but you are making it a den of thieves! (Mark s Gospel alone adds the phrase for all nations following the words house of prayer. ) In John s record of Christ s cleansing of the temple (John 2:13-17), the HCSB translation quotes Jesus as having said to those selling doves in the temple, Get these things out of here! Stop turning My Father s house into a marketplace. Commentators identify some of the specifics that would have generated the righteous indignation seen in the actions of Jesus. For one thing, the temple authorities required Jewish males to pay their annual temple tax using coins that were ceremonially clean. The money changers whose tables Jesus overturned exchanged unclean Roman coins for the Tyrian coins accepted for use in the temple. Historic records indicate that the usury charged for this money changing service was so outlandish that the temple coffers were overflowing with excessive funds at the time of Christ s earthly ministry. The temple was a big business. Also, pilgrims who brought their own animals or birds to sacrifice at the temple commonly learned upon arrival that the offerings they had so laboriously transported were not acceptable to the priests. What was the solution? You guessed it. They could buy an acceptable offering on the grounds of the temple complex. Not only was this business venture offensive to Jesus, the fact that it was being carried out in the Court of the Gentiles crowded out non-jews from the only part of the temple they were allowed to visit if they desired to learn about or experience God. One of the images you and I likely see in our minds when we recall this part of Christ s ministry is of Him driving out animals and money changers alike from the court of the Gentiles. Depending on what movies you have seen of Christ s life, you may also picture Him with an imposing whip in hand, pummeling people and animals alike in a fit of rage over the abuse of power to which He objected. Since weapons were not allowed in the temple complex, it is unlikely that Jesus had anything more imposing than a few cords he could have found lying in the vicinity from which He formed a makeshift whip. The look on His face and the authority of his words were more than adequate to frighten all of the power brokers from the temple. God needs no whip! Perhaps a new image needs to imprint itself on our spiritual senses. His actions on the occasions recorded in the four Gospels are compelling but His words are even more profound and timeless. Notice that in both cleansings He makes it very clear that the temple belonged to God, not the Jews. In the synoptic Gospels He called the temple My house, and in John s Gospel He called it My Father s house. John tells the readers of his Gospel that when the disciples saw His actions and heard His words they were reminded of the Messianic Psalm 69:9 that states, Zeal for Your house will consume me. In fact, Christ s action was a clear fulfillment of Malachi 3:1-3 in which the coming Messiah is pictured as coming to the temple to cleanse it and the Levis who administered worship therein. Each of these scripture passages reminds us of issues that trouble each of us who are serious about 2007 - The Year of Prayer and Spiritual Awakening in WV. For one thing, we are reminded that the modern day equivalents of the Jerusalem temple still belong to God. I can think of three different ways to define modern day temple. You may think of other ways. Here are mine. First, individual believers are the temple of God. Paul the apostle teaches that clearly. Our body is His temple. Second the Church is the Body of Christ. His Body is His temple today. Third, in the same sense that the Jerusalem temple was a building that housed public worship, Christian worship facilities are contemporary forms of the temple of God today. Since God still owns his temple in the three forms I have just described, it seems fair to me to conclude that Jesus is still passionate about what s going on in His Father s house. The purposes for God s Jerusalem temple were to enable people to find redemptive faith, to discover gracious forgiveness, to offer up sacrifices in worship, to be accountable to a community of God s faithful people, and to encounter God in life-changing worship. So what is happening in His Father s House today? Thinking about our hearts, our Church, and the things that go on in our worship facilities, how pleased can we be? What s happening in His Father s house that pleases Jesus? On the other hand, what is happening that would cause His righteous indignation to loose itself on today s Christian world? Do you feel that too much of our Christian life is consumed by efforts to use the Church and God to meet our own needs? The priests were doing exactly that in the court of the Gentiles. Do you feel that you, your Church, and all your facilities truly belong to God? Oh Father God, awaken us today! Come to your temple and cleanse us! June 2007 3
Church Planters Meet at Cross Lanes for Fellowship and Training West Virginia Southern Baptist church planters met for the annual CGA Retreat during the WMU Missions Celebration at Cross Lanes Baptist Church April 27 and 28. The conference theme for this year was Together Building the Kingdom with twenty church planters and spouses in attendance. The theme focused attention upon the need to cooperate in the planting of churches across West Virginia to reach the lost. Each session was led by a church planter to underscore the need to learn from each other and to assist in the planting of new churches across the state. Sessions on a variety of topics were led by West Virginia Southern Baptist Church Planters. Jimmy Morton, Jr., church planter in Kanawha City s Freedom Baptist Church focused on Understanding the Call into Church Planting. Morton made it very clear that church planting is something to which one must be God-called rather than to do it simply because it is a convenient avenue of service. Stephen Button of Faith Baptist Church in Winfield spoke on Preaching to Meet the Needs of People. Button stressed the need to preach the Gospel message to meet the needs of the person in the pew and in the community at the by Randy Tate Bryan Frazier addresses the group during one of the training sessions. critical point in their life where they need to encounter Christ. West Virginia Southern Baptist resort ministry director, Mark Joseph, spoke on planting churches through resort ministry. He stressed the importance of exploring community strengths, community weaknesses, church strengths, and church weaknesses for the creation of new ministry ideas. Bryan Frazier of Peterstown Oak Creek Baptist Church led a session on preparing to use mission teams. Brian Harmon of Nehemiah Baptist Church in Cool Ridge led a session on new member training. Gene Johnson of Glade Community Church in Glade Springs shared about planting a new church in a gated community. Sam Cox of Faith Baptist Church in Athens shared the lessons that he has learned as a church planter. Jerry Rice of the Bridge in Matoaka spoke about the need for passion in a church planter. The CGA Retreat is an annual event for West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists church planters. Every other year the event is held just prior to the Shepherding the Shepherd Conference at Canaan Valley State Resort Park. On the alternate years, the conference is held in conjunction with state convention meetings around the state. This is a training/ inspiration conference provided by Southern Baptist gifts through the Cooperative Program. Thank you West Virginia Southern Baptists for your missions gifts that make it possible to provide programs such as the CGA Retreat. Some of the church planters who convened at Cross Lanes Bapt. April 27-28. Ministers Wives Retreat May 4-5 at Rippling Waters Retreat Center With a theme of Returning to Holiness, around a dozen ministers wives from around the state of West Virginia took a weekend to retreat together at the relaxing facilities of the Rippling Waters retreat center near Ripley on May 4 & 5. This is the official group photo but one of the group was busy running the camera and was left out of this photo. Happy faces abounded during the overnight event. Cheryl Adams and Helen Mellquist 4 Claudia Wrigley and Emily Polk Jerilyn Smith and event coordinator, Cheryl Harper take time to relax.
Clergy Families Invited to Shepherding the Shepherd Retreat by Terry Harper Shepherding the Shepherd is a retreat for pastors and their families and it has been held for several years with the sponsorship of the West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists. It will be held once again this year at Canaan Resort and State Park in Davis, West Virginia on August 2-4, 2007. Once again the cost for a family to attend is $35.00. All meals will be provided and lodging is included. This year the schedule is slightly changed. The program will end just a bit earlier. It will conclude with breakfast on Saturday morning. Most pastors are anxious to get back to their church fields in preparation for Sunday morning, so it is believed by those planning the event that this will be advantageous. If folks do not need to rush home, they can use the extra free time on Saturday to do something with their family and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. The theme for this year s conference will be Renewal of God s Servants. Three different speakers will address this issue from their perspective. Dr. Danny Akin, (See photo in left column) President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary will speak on Renewal in the Home. Dr. Jeff Hessinger of the Florida Baptist Convention (See photo in the center column) will speak on Renewing Your Pas- sion for Evangelism. Mrs. Ellen Moore of the Counseling Center for Abundant Living will speak on Renewal Before/From Burnout. Dr. Akin is a great theologian and has written a great deal in the area of theology, but he has also written extensively on the family. Included is the book, God on Sex, published by Broadman in 2003. Dr. Akin will use his keen insights and his great sense of humor to drive home his points on renewal in the family. Those attending will surely enjoy his messages. His wife Charlotte will attend the conference with him. Dr. Jeff Hessinger is in the department of Evangelism of the Florida Baptist Convention and works specifically with personal evangelism and youth evangelism. He also works with churches in FAITH evangelism clinics. Dr. Hessinger will encourage us and challenge our hearts to serve Christ more faithfully. Mrs. Ellen Moore is the Director of the Counseling Center for Abundant Living in Richmond, Virginia. (See the photo in the right column) She has done oneon-one counseling for years as well as leading groups. She is a licensed Professional Counselor with the Commonwealth of Virginia having graduated from Mary Baldwin College. She received her Masters degree from Penn State University in counseling. She has completed extensive additional graduate hours in Marriage and Family Life from Liberty University in Lynchburg. Mrs. Moore will be available to meet with couples or individuals if they so desire during the free time. She will be speaking to the wives on Dealing with the Ministry during their sessions. She will discuss Burnout in the Ministry during her sessions with the entire group. Sessions are also planned for the youth. These will be directed by Dan Byrd, campus minister for Marshall University. Assisting him in these sessions will be two young men who are serving as NAMB summer missionaries at the state office, Grady Johnson and Andrew Austin. A team from Florida will be coming to lead the children and to provide preschool care. They are with the Parkway Baptist Church in Tallahassee and will be led by their pastor, Dr. Don McLaughlin. We appreciate this group coming at their own expense to minister to us during this time. Space is limited but still available. Reservations can be made by contacting Joy Garrett in our office at 1-800-411-5758 extension 101, or by sending your deposit of $35.00 to our office noting on the check that it is for the Shepherding the Shepherd retreat. Dr Daniel Akin Dr. Jeff Hessinger Mrs. Ellen Moore June 2007 5
PHOTOS FROM THE MISSIONS CELEBRATION Arlene Joseph, resort missionary. Betty Jordan making a presentation. Cookie Ranson, Gretchen Simpson and Billy Reynolds, Cross Lanes musicians Children s Missions Day activities Dawn Phillips, a featured speaker. Barbara Ertel clowning around Children s Missions Day activities D.D. and June Elwell with Jacob Betty Jo Stout at a registration desk. Clacy Williams singing his heart out. What would a Missions Celebration be without ample refreshments and good friends who can share it with joy. 6 Children s Choir with Tracy leading Earl Stout discussed the RA ministry.
PHOTOS FROM THE MISSIONS CELEBRATION Tammy Vickers face painting on Children s Missions Day. David George accepted a check from Jaylyne Morgan given by Fairlawn, Parkersburg in memory of Janet McVay. Maxine Bumgarner Ginger Smith, Houston, Texas NAMB missionary and Baptist Center director Lynn Talley expressing appreciation. Kaylene Whitt and her daughters, Kaytlin and Shelby Wilmoth singing Henry Blackford and Terry Vaughan Mark Joseph talking about missions. Nathan Polk, son of Seth Polk the pastor of Cross Lanes Baptist, is shown here while he was telling the story of his call to be a missionary to an Asian country. Still a young lad, Nathan felt God calling him to be a missionary a few years ago. He is a very focused boy! Jane Pack, in black, led the Cross Lanes Baptist choir in beautiful music selections during the MC conference. Matt Shamblin leading worship. June 2007 7
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 chapels by name each day. We invite our readers to pray as well. Pray for, New Work: Wayne in Greater Huntington Association, Darrell Clark, church planter. Pray for: 1. Darrell as he transitions from being a deacon at Westmoreland Baptist Church to a church planter who also works as a restaurant manager, leads his family, grows in his walk with the Lord and develops his skills as a pastor and church planter. Pray for wisdom to know how to reach the 79% of Wayne county that is unchurched and for the Lord to call more men into the church planting ministry. Also remember this Ministry Focus: Revival and Spiritual Renewal and recall this Weekend Prayer Focus: Churches in your association. Read this Scripture: Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy,... (Numbers 14:19 NKJV) Finally, consult this Resource: And the Place Was Shaken by John Franklin. Date July 16 July 17 July 18 July 19 July 20 July 23 July 24 July 25 July 26 July 27 July 30 July 31 Aug. 1 Aug. 2 Aug. 3 Aug. 6 Aug. 7 Aug. 8 Aug. 9 Aug. 10 Aug. 13 Aug. 14 Aug. 15 Aug. 16 Aug. 17 Aug. 20 Aug. 21 Aug. 22 Aug. 23 Aug. 24 Aug. 27 Aug. 28 Aug. 29 Aug. 30 Aug. 31 Association 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 Potomac Highland Tri-County Upper Ohio Valley Allegheny Coalfields Campus Church Trinity, Buckeye Trinity, St. Albans Twentieth St., Kenova Twin Lakes Tyler Victory, Belmont Wayside, Buckhannon Wayside, Franklin West Charleston West Ripley Westmoreland Westview, Caesar Mtn. Westview, Martinsburg Wharton White Sulphur Springs Williams Creek Willowbrook Witcher Zoar Abundant Life Altizer Amazing Grace Avondale Baker Heights Beacon Beaver Creek Berean Berkeley Blackwolf Bluewell Borderland Bradshaw Mountain Brenton Brooksville Brushfork Chapel The Bridge Camden Flats Carpendale Chinese Mission Christian Family Fellowship Faith, Winfield Faith Fellowship, Athens Freedom, Charleston Gateway Glade Community Greater Things HarborLight Harvest Time Hope, Richwood Lighthouse, Charleston Lighthouse, Ivydale Marland Heights New Life, Arnoldsburg Oak Creek Shining Light Solid Rock South Wheeling So. Bapt. at Salt Rock SBC at Wayne The Bridge Camden Flats Carpendale Chinese Mission Christian Family Fellowship Faith, Winfield Faith Fellowship, Athens Freedom, Charleston Gateway Glade Community Greater Things Broken Before the Throne 2007 Prayer for Spiritual Awakening Conference November 3-11 Westview Baptist Church in Martinsburg June 2007 9
News from West Virginia Churches Berkeley s Easter celebration began with a Good Friday service which included a soliloquy and special music as well as a message from Pastor George Hopkins. Easter Sonrise featured the baptism of twelve people. Nine new members have been welcomed. The church surpassed its Annie Armstrong Offering goal with a total of $1699. Thirteen ladies enjoyed a time of fellowship, activities and devotions at the Signal Knob Retreat Center in Strasberg, VA. The church campout was a success. The children spent the time riding around the church on bikes and scooters on the newly blacktopped parking lot. More than fifty people enjoyed the fish fry and covered dish dinner. First, Fairlea, held a Dedication Service of its Family Activity Center, followed by a reception. Senior Sunday was held May 6, with Senior Citizens conducting the morning worship service and hosting a salad luncheon. The Youth had their turn conducting the service on May 20, highlighting the High School Seniors. Kevin Prevett is the pastor. Thomas Koh from Singapore has been conducting Saturday evening Bible studies and Sunday morning church services for the Chinese Mission for the months of May and June. First, Ceredo, is rejoicing over two recent salvations. The Funagers held church services at an area nursing home and traveled to a Dinner and Drama Theatre in Dayton, Ohio. The annual Ladies Day Event was held in April with the theme The Fruit of the Spirit. The church hosted the annual Wayne County Community Educational Outreach Service. The Men s Fellowship Golf League began in April. Rodney Hale is the pastor. Lincoln held revival services in April, conducted by Dr. Wayne Bryant from Sarasota, FL. Responses included a salvation, several rededications and two transfers of letter. April 29 was a special day for Sunday School Superintendent Jack Roy. Pastor Dennis Tabor conducted a surprise Honor Jack Roy day. Jack s daughter and son-in-law and friend from the group Bound and Determined sang two of his favorite songs at the service attended by family and friends, and he was presented with a framed poem. The children and youth of Locust 10 Grove, where Randall Robertson is the pastor, presented an Easter program on Palm Sunday. Teen L.I.F.E. assisted with the annual Easter egg hunt for the children. A movie night and lock-in for the teens was attended by more than 70 youth as well as the adults who chaperoned. The teens also hosted a bean dinner following the morning service the last Sunday of April. The church was blessed by the addition of nine new members by letter. Congratulations to Seth Howerton from Westmoreland who has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and was honored with an award ceremony on May 8. The church celebrated two baptisms and received two by letter. C.J. Adkins is pastor. Calvary, Belington, where Brian Corrick pastors, has begun a new addition to their building, which will provide much needed educational space and a larger fellowship hall. Many hearts were touched at recent revival services at Charity, Wyatt. Three new Christians were baptized May 6. The church has begun a renewal/restoration project on the building: cleaning, painting, handicap parking improvements, construction of a canopy, and a new sign at one entrance. Dan Adkins is the pastor. Mission volunteer to Russia, Tommy Williams, was the guest speaker for revival services at Evangel, Bridgeport. Jeff Ramsey is the pastor. Rowlesburg, Ken Lake pastor, celebrated Mother s Day with a spaghetti dinner prepared by the men of the church. Erica Smith from Bremen, GA, is working with the youth for the month of June. She led a Mountain State Association Youth Rally on June 9, with the theme Dare 2 B. Central, Bluefield, has their clothes closet up and running. They have refinished two rooms for the children s Sunday School class. Jimmie Beale is the pastor. Congratulations to Fellowship, Princeton, where Lyle Mullins pastors, for paying off their $15,000 interest-free loan three months early. Glade Community, a new church start, had 43 people in worship recently. A Bible study was started in the home of a member, with 12 present. Gene Johnson is pastor. Cameron, Ron McCoy pastor, celebrated Mother s Day with a Mother- Daughter Tea. Bea Thomas was selected Mother of the Year. The church will be providing a meal and housing for Bike and Build, a group of college students who raise money to travel from New York to California on bicycles to raise awareness for Habitat for Humanity. Heritage, Elkview, is rejoicing over fifteen baptisms in the last few months. The church hosted the L.E.R.M.A. (an area church supported program to help needy families in the community) Easter Sunrise Service, with over 100 in attendance. Revival services were held in May with Bill Baker, Rhyme and Reason, and Don Kinder. Dean Meadows is the pastor. West Charleston, where Norm Cannada is pastor, was able to purchase the nearby storefront building they had rented several years ago. Some of the plans for the building include recovery ministries and an employment ministry for folks who are struggling to maintain employment. Easter Sunday at Riverwood was an exciting day, starting with a sunrise service followed by breakfast, a full-house morning worship service, and a successful egg hunt in the afternoon. A cell-phone tower has been raised on their property, resulting in a greatly expanded parking area. Pastor Stan Smith is leading a study of The Purpose Driven Life. Brian Barnett led the annual Doctrine Study. The Annie Armstrong Offering Goal was exceeded, with well over $700. The photo above was taken the day Hope Chapel, Richwood, and Nettie Baptist Church celebrated a joint baptismal service, with a total of fourteen baptized. Dave Gage is the pastor at Nettie, and Jerry and Kay Simms are serving as volunteers at Hope. A group from Second, Martinsburg,
News from West Virginia Churches had plans to take a day trip to Richmond, VA, to tour the facilities of the International Mission Board and the Missionary Learning Center where all of our international missionaries receive training before being deployed to the mission field. The church surpassed its Annie Armstrong Offering goal, giving over $2500. Jeff Rose is the pastor. Witcher celebrated one baptism and has another awaiting baptism. Revival services were held, with preaching by Seth Polk, Pastor at Cross Lanes Baptist. A Mothers & Others Tea was held in May. Prayer meeting is being held on Thursdays from 3:00-9:00 p.m. Bernard Toppings is the pastor. Graydon, Paul Syner pastor, held a Homecoming Revival featuring Danny Anderson. Highlawn, Huntington, welcomed five new members in May. The senior adults enjoyed a trip to Wytheville, VA, and the children spent a day at the Columbus Zoo. All mothers in attendance on Mothers Day were honored with a small gift. Fourteen high school and college graduates were recognized on May 20. Approximately twenty ladies enjoyed a retreat in May. Congratulations to Susan and Matt McKenzie (Minister of Music & Worship) on the birth of Josiah Matthew on May 17. Josiah spent a week and a half in NICU with lung/respiratory problems, but praise God this little miracle is home now and doing well! Kenneth Ayers serves as Transitional Pastor. This paper received the following request from the Upper Ohio Valley Association: We are looking for a donation of a good used piano for the new church start at Friendly, WV. Services are planned to begin July 8. We have a piano player already in place, but no piano. An electronic piano would be acceptable if available. Please contact Phyllis or Mike Watson, Associational Missionary, at RR 2 Box 155, Valley Grove, WV 26060, by phone 304-336-7607 or e-mail circuitrider@wv-cis.net. The Coalfields Association, Mike and Carolyn York missionaries, opened a new ministry in the Harts Veterans and Community Center on Rt. 10, a mile south of Harts, WV. Its grand opening and open house took place May 12 with around 50 persons in attendance. The new ministry called the Happy Hearts Cafe joins the Veterans group and several small businesses including gift shops, used furniture and clothing stores, a farmer s market, a computer shop, county government offices and a daycare center in a facility formerly occupied by the Ferrelsburg School. The coffeehouse ministry is open several days a week offering free coffee and homemade treats. Bible studies are also planned plus Celebrate Freedom meetings to deal with weight loss and addiction recovery needs. In addition, scrapbooking classes, musical entertainment and other ministries will be used to target unchurched people with the Gospel. The Yorks are pictured below standing in front of a mural in the Happy Hearts Cafe. The State Bible Drill was conducted May 5 at the state offices in Scott Depot. Eleven boys and girls participated in the contest. Pictured below is Adra Johnson, a sixth grader from Good Shepherd Baptist in Scott Depot who was declared Letter Perfect meaning she made a perfect score of 100%. Churches represented besides Good Shepherd were Burke Memorial, First and Silver Springs in Princton, and Fairlawn in Parkersburg. The group, and state Bible drill coordinator Tom Young, are grateful for Connie Woodyard, Sylvia Keown and Burk Bell who served as judges and for Bob keown who served as timekeeper. Terry Harper recently served as the evangelist for a tent revival at South Berkeley Baptist where Don Chandler pastors. (See photos above and below.) June 2007 11
Calendar July 9-14 Centrifuge July 15-16 Missions Camp Orientation July 16-20 Missions Camp August 2-4 Shepherding the Shepherd August 6-11 Bldg. Effective Worship August 17-18 Back To School Project August 25 Baptist Foundation Board Meeting