As I write this month's article we are privileged to be in Vermont as we share in one of our Partnership Mission experiences. It's been a good week, and the most enjoyable aspect of all was meeting many first generation believers in this pioneer area that are so excited about their faith that they regularly share their faith and lives with the vast lost population that fills this small state.

The Green Mountain Baptist Association covers a huge geographic area in New England, but they have just a little over two dozen Baptist churches. Only about four of these congregations are able to support a full-time pastor, but there is a spiritual awakening taking place here that I've not seen in any other part of the United States. Christians are hungry to share the Gospel message and grow in Christ, and the churches are doing many creative things to love their neighbors.

One church runs a soup lunch in the heart of Barre that feeds between 40 and 50 homeless and emotionally crippled people each day. These are the castoffs that most people try to ignore, but the believers here have committed themselves to the long-term care of these needy folks. What is really amazing is that they do all of this without great financial means. It is a work of faith and love in progress.

We took part in another church in a village about 15 minutes from Barre, and they too understand what it means to be salt and light in a world without hope. Each Thursday they have a pasta supper for the community. Between 120 and 150 people attend this weekly event. In fact, this is how the church was started in the first place. A handful of believers came together and decided to feed their community once a week. It wasn't long before a small Bible study and worship group formed, and now they are a vibrant growing congregation. Following the supper everyone is invited upstairs for prayer and sharing. It doesn't offend the Christians that about half of the supper crowd chooses to leave, for they know that God is at work through these relationships, and many more will come into God's family as the months roll by.
More

On Friday evening, beginning at 6 o'clock, everyone is invited to a snack supper and a presentation by the kids of :

For registration and other information, see the folder in this month's church newsletter packet.

Women on Mission: Palestine will lead devotionals at Oakwood Manor for June. (Rosie Minter would appreciate churches volunteering to help with devotionals in October, November and December.) Beaverdam will host the June birthday party for residents of Bedford County Nursing Home; Radford will host it in July. Sedalia's Women on Mission, the Sedalia Stars, have recently completed the following mission projects:

Flint Hill will have Vacation Bible School June 26-30.

Mentow will have Vacation Bible School June 19-23. A team from the church will be leading VBS in the inner city of York, Pennsylvania, July 9-14.

Mount Hermon has accepted the May 17 resignation of Dr. Rick Kallstrom as pastor of the church.

Dr. William T. Vest, pastor of Norwood, has announced plans to retire at the end of May 2005. On Sunday, May 22, he baptized four youth and adults.

Quaker will have Vacation Bible School June 13-17.
More

July 8 Ed Greer (Retired)
July 11 Bryon LePere (Big Island)
July 23 Harry Leland (Shady Grove)
July 31 Esther Woodford (SBA)

July 1 Ken & Evelyn Butterworth (Diamond Hill)
July 18 Eldridge & Jennie Cullum (Thaxton)
July 19 Bryon & Annie LePere (Big Island)
July 29 Tim & Rebecca Mathia (Mentow)
July 31 Jackie & Glenda Carver (Palestine)
July 31 Marc & Cari Jantomaso (River Rock)

In the 2004 Annual Report of the SBA, in the list of WMU Directors on page 18, please mark through Walnut Grove and write Trinity beside Wanda DeLong's name.