The Executive Board looked at eleven options available to the churches, each with its own set of positive and negative results. Everyone present was given copies of what was shared to carry back to their respective churches. Listed here are the highlights of each option. For a more detailed description, see your Executive Board representatives or contact the SBA office.
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Our Association, in partnership with the Green Mountain Baptist Association of Vermont, is putting together a mission trip for the week of June 1-7, 2008. At present we have five men and women signed up, but if you are interested, please call us immediately regarding arrangements.

Our team will be doing construction at Capstone Baptist Church, formally the Old Stone Church in North Bennington. Our assignment is to do finish trim work, install rebuilt windows, put up sheetrock, paint, and build a hallway in the lower part of the structure. With volunteers from around the country, Capstone hopes to complete work on the church in 2008 so the mission group meeting in the town may move into the remodeled facility.

Total cost per individual for the trip should not exceed $600. This includes gasoline, lodging, and meals. If several are able to travel together the cost per person will be adjusted accordingly, and it may be possible to do it for about $450. The Association will also help with a small portion of the expenses when the team returns and turns in their receipts.

Please pray to the Lord of Hosts to see how you might become involved.

Good News from the WMU Oakwood Manor Ministry—For some years, Radford has lead the devotionals at Oakwood Manor during the months of January, February, and March. Due to the fire code there, part of the group leads singing with the residents on the first floor while the pastor brings a message on third floor. After 30 minutes, they switch places. It was a joyful time of celebration recently as the song leaders rotated to the third floor and learned that a lady there had accepted Christ into her life during the worship service. Lessons learned: We must never assume that the residents have already accepted Christ. Also, not only are the residents blessed by this ministry, so are the ones ministering!

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Beaverdam will host a Beth Moore Live Simulcast on Friday, August 1, 7:30 to 10:00 p.m., and Saturday, August 2, 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Tickets are now available at $25.00 per person (non-refundable). To purchase tickets, please call Ellen Karnes at 540.890.5648.

Glade Creek (GCBC) has kicked-off their Fishers of Men Club. This ministry is opened to children ages 8-15 who will learn to fish for food as well as fish for souls. The Fishing Club meets the first and third Sundays each month from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m., with fishing trips scheduled each month. Contact Robert Deitz at GCBCFOM@comcast.net for additional information.

Scrapbooking to Eternity meets the second Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is an opportunity to learn not only new techniques and sharing skills, but to fellowship and preserve your faith in memories through scrapbooking. Contact Debbie Burch at 540.520.6882 for additional information.

GCBC has also scheduled their Spring Revival with David Benoit of Glory Ministries, starting on Sunday, April 27, in the 11:00 a.m. worship service and at 7:00 nightly through Wednesday, April 30.

GCBC has scheduled their VBS for June 22-25 for grades K-6. Their Amazon Expedition starts off with a Hot Dog Supper on Sunday night at 6:00 and then each nightly trek begins at 7:00. They will be equipped to answer the world's arguments pertaining to Creation, the Great Sin, the Great Flood, where all languages began, and Christ's Life.
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Church librarians and friends are invited to join in the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Virginia Baptist Library Association at the 2008 Spring Conference for Church Librarians, May 16-18, at Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center. For study course topics and more details, see the newsletter mailed to church librarians listed on the ACP letters or contact Nancy King at 804.781.0151. Registration forms available at www.eagleeyrie.org.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the Pastors in the Association for sending the lovely arrangement of flowers to the office on Administrative Professionals Day. It certainly made my day! -Esther

Rebecca Woolard and Jeanne Willis will lead a VBS Clinic on Thursday, May 29, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., at Bedford Baptist Church. This clinic will be presented specifically to help teachers and workers reach their target groups and will NOT be designed around any single VBS curriculum. This will be a great advantage, because no matter what material your church decides to use the clinic will enable you to better communicate your message by sharpening your teaching skills and methods. We look forward to your participation in this Association-wide training event!

June 22 David Williamson (Pastor/Hunting Creek/5 years)

We want to thank Mount Hermon for hosting our 2008 Executive Board meeting on Tuesday, April 15. They did an outstanding job preparing and making everyone feel welcome. The efforts of the kitchen crew and audio/visual techs (thanks Melvin) went well beyond the call of duty. Great job!

Attendance of 57 included 13 pastors, 28 lay representatives, and 16 visitors, with 23 churches represented.

Mount Olivet is in need of a paid piano player immediately. If you know of someone qualified to help, please contact Kelly Daniel at 540.587.5536.

Based on the Old Testament book, Oh, Jonah! is a frolicking, fun-filled children's musical that carries a serious message about responsibility. Diverse in musical styles, it is immediately appealing—especially the whale's song!

Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center has a service opportunity for you. We are starting a program of renovating some of our lodges and would like to put valances on all of our lodge windows. If you have a box of material pieces suitable for curtains that are larger than 1 yard we would be happy to use them for this project. Most of the bedrooms are dreary with just brown carpet and metal brown bunk beds. The valances have really brightened the rooms. We also could use seamstresses to make the valances. We would appreciate any donations of material or time.

I would also like to explain our volunteer program. If your group wants to get away and volunteer during the day working here, we would be happy to provide your accommodations and meals during your stay. There are many chores available such as: painting, spring cleaning, washing windows, carpet cleaning, landscaping, and raking. You would be able to have group study time in the evenings and service and fellowship during the day.

I would be happy to speak with you about these opportunities. Please call me at 434.384.2211 or email stephanie.harrison@eagleeyrie.org. I look forward to having you here.

Stephanie Harrison
Landscaper and Volunteer Coordinator

June 2 Mike & Debbie Jones (Sedalia)
June 13 Woody & Phyllis Elliott (Retired/Bethel)
June 17 Philip & Lois Ayers (Glade Creek)
June 20 Harry & Nilah Leland(Shady Grove)
June 23 Daren & Shawna Davis (IMB Missionaries)
June 27 Charles & Irene Stinson (Retired/North Bedford)
June 28 Mark & Julia Flores (Mount Hermon)
June 29 Michael & Connie Cox (Suck Spring)