Our Executive Board meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 19, at Bethlehem Baptist Church on Route 24. We will begin at 7:00 p.m. This meeting will focus on evaluating some of our ministries and strategies. We look forward to good input from those who attend. Our churches will also be able to pick up their copies of the 2004 Annual Report.

We are still looking for volunteers for our 2005 mission projects. Unless missionaries volunteer to go we will have to cancel our trips. We have already had to cancel the Caribbean hurricane relief project. Please help us get the word out regarding these needs.

From May 13-20 we are needing people to travel to Barre, Vermont, to winterize a sister association's offices and missionary residence. This involves installing some vinyl siding and insulating around several windows. The cost will vary depending on the number of volunteers, but with 10 volunteers, the cost is estimated at $300 per person.

The Czech Republic is asking for our help in August to convert the basement of a church into a youth center for outreach and ministry. These dates are August 12-20. Cost for this trip will be $1,600.
More

Steve Manuel recently had the opportunity to visit Spain and spend some time with one of the Spanish Baptist Union leaders, Rev. Jorge Pastor. The Baptist Union has a number of very fruitful and interesting ministries going on, one of which involves a school in the town of Denia located on the Mediterranean coast. On occasion they ask for volunteer Christian families in the United States to host an exchange student for one year. Below is a letter from Jorge that outlines this unique opportunity. For more information, contact Steve.
More

An interactive multimedia workshop will teach skills in communication, conflict resolution, problem solving, and preserving fun and friendship in your marriage. It is offered on April 15-16 at CVCC, Merritt Hall, Room 5142. The Friday meeting is from 6:30-9:00 p.m. and Saturday is from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Cost is $40 per couple and includes lunch on Saturday and all materials. Pre-registration is required.

Susan Wise Bauer, author of The Well Trained Mind, will speak at New Covenant Schools of Bedford on Friday, April 29, at 7 p.m. Mrs. Bauer is known for her expertise in classical education and home schooling. NCSB is located on Big Island Highway (Route 122 North) beside Liberty High School. No cost for admission. Call 540-587-5423 with any questions.

Presented by the Coalition Against Domestic Violence for the 24th Judicial District, Inc. Registration deadline is April 15, 2005. Contact Pam Henderson, 434-332-9627, or email pchenderson@co.compbell.va.us.

Thanks to Mt. Olivet and Judy Ward for hosting our March 13 Youth Movie Night. There were over 70 in attendance, and things could not have gone better. The volunteers did an outstanding job of setting up and showing the movie and providing the after-movie snacks. We look forward to our next Association-wide youth ministry opportunity.

On April 8, at Liberty University's Vines Center, there will be a Christian Concert featuring Audio Adrenaline, Toby Mac, Kutless, and Hawk Nelson. Concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Ticket Prices: available at iTICKETS.COM or 800-965-9324. Then on April 14, 2005, you can hear Steven Curtis Chapman with Chris Tomlin & Casting Crowns at the Salem Civic Center, Salem, VA. Concert begins at 7 p.m. For more info on either of these concerts, go to www.spiritfm.com.

Bethlehem will celebrate Homecoming on April 3. Lunch will be served in the church fellowship hall; everyone is welcome. Revival services will be April 3-6, with former pastor, Rev. Andy Rice, as guest evangelist. Special music every night.

Hunting Creek has called Travis Bush as part-time Youth Director, effective March 13. Travis, a native of North Carolina, is currently a student at Liberty University. The church will sponsor a St. Jude Bike-A-Thon on Saturday, May 14.

Mentow will participate in Revival for Survival, Sunday, April 24 through Wednesday, April 27. Preachers are Joy Griffin, Greg Randall, and Jonathan Willis.
More

Women on Mission: Thaxton will lead devotionals at Oakwood Manor for April; Sedalia, in May. (Rosie Minter would appreciate churches volunteering to help with devotionals in October, November and December.) Palestine will host the April birthday party for residents of Bedford County Nursing Home; Flint Hill will host it in May.

A great big thank you to Shady Grove for hosting our WMU Annual Meeting on March 19. The theme was "Life Is Like a Patchwork Quilt." The following 21 churches had quilt squares to go into a Strawberry Association quilt: Beaverdam, Bedford, Big Island, Diamond Hill, Flint Hill, Hunting Creek, Mentow, Morgans, Mount Hermon, Mount Olivet, Mount Zion, North Bedford, Norwood, Pecks, Radford, Quaker, Sedalia, Shady Grove, Staunton, Thaxton, and Timber Ridge. (If your church is not listed, please try to create a square and get it to the association office by May 9—We would like to have a square from every church in our association. Miss Alma Hunt was unable to be with us due to illness. Her current mailing address is Loyalton of Roanoke, 3585 Brambleton Avenue, Roanoke, VA 24018.
More

Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center is seeking hosts/hostesses for the Voight Conference Center and the Cedar Crest Hotel. If interested, contact Eagle Eyrie at 434-384-2211.

Services will be held on Washington Street by the Tire Connection.

Special Thanks to the following who gave so generously of their time to help get the 2004 SBA Annual Report ready for distribution:

Ellen Mitchell
Melinda Nichols
Bailey Quarles
Laura Quarles
Olivia Quarles
Sarah Quarles
John Woodford

We would appreciate someone from each church coming by the office to pick up copies for their church.

May 3 Woody Elliott (Bethel)
May 5 Larry Ross (Mount Zion)
May 25 Jack Deans (Terrace View)

May 23 David & Tammy Williamson (Hunting Creek)

Congratulations to Dr. Rick Kallstrom and his wife, Kitty, who were married March 24, 2005. Rick is pastor at Mount Hermon Church.