Lindsey Jackson, 19, is from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. She is a sophomore at Middle Tennessee State University and is studying Advertising. She enjoys drama and "interpretive movement".

Mattie Gordon, 22, is from Vinton and a recent graduate of Liberty University. She majored in Communications, enjoys working with young people, and plans to return to Liberty this fall to take some youth ministry classes.
More

Youth Ministry Ideas

Monthly after-church get-togethers
These times of fellowship can be done at church or in homes. Volunteers will prepare refreshments and a brief program will be planned. The young people can sing, play games, or just sit around and relax as they share.

Bible studies It is very important in any youth ministry to have a balance between recreational and spiritual activity. Bible studies should be designed with the teenager in mind.
More

Dear Strawberry Family,

Thanks so much for praying for our ministry and the start of River Rock Family Church. Our first service was on June 14. God provided in great ways....
More

Thanks to Lindsey and Mattie, our student summer missionaries, for designing and helping get this issue of the newsletter printed and distributed.

During the recent tornado in Bedford, the associational office’s roof was damaged. We received a love gift of $200 designated to help victims of the tornado from one of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board’s partners.

May freedom be seen, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to please to do what is right. May it ever be understood that our liberty is under God and can be found nowhere else.

May our faith be something that is not merely stamped upon our coins, but expressed in our lives.... To the extent that America honors thee, wilt thou bless America, and keep her true as thou hast kept her free, and make her good as thou hast made her rich. Amen. --From The Prayers of Peter Marshall in the U.S. Senate

Would you be willing to become part of an Internet prayer team? The idea is to allow visitors to place a prayer request on our Website that would immediately be sent to prayer@sbava.org. This mailbox in turn would automatically and confidentially forward the requests directly to you. You would then add these items to your personal daily prayer time. Please consider the great need of this ministry. If you are willing to commit to prayer, let us know at sba@sbava.org.
Thanks!

In order to keep folks updated on events in the association and to have input from representatives of the churches, we feel it necessary to have an Executive Board meeting in July as was the custom several years ago. (This involves pastors, committee chairmen, and the two elected representatives from each church.) Please be in prayer for the ministry of the association and make every effort to attend this meeting.

Bethlehem Baptist Church

• Raised $24,520.50 for the Relay for Life Cancer Fund
• Collected 94 packages of seeds for Liberia
• Made 110 witnessing bracelets for Ocoee Outreach Ministries in Cleveland, TN
• Sent 5 backpacks to Armenia
• VBS will be Monday-Friday, July 22-26 at 7:00p.m.
  More

  ---

  Spanish Classes

  We have recently begun Spanish classes on Monday afternoons at the Associational office. As we continue to be sensitive to the needs of the growing Hispanic community many of our folks are accepting the rewarding challenge of learning another language that will help them communicate their love in Christ.

  If you would like to find out more about these classes, give us a call at 540-586-8345.

  ---

  Birthdays
  August 18 - Beth Vinson (Thaxton)

  ---

  Wedding Anniversaries

  August 4 Tim & Ruby Dooley (Bethlehem)
  August 9 Steve & Barbara Manuel (SBA)
  August 12 Rick & Laura Mallory (Morgans)
  August 12 Frank & Bobbie Schmitt (Staunton)
  August 17 David & Donna Henderson (Bedford)
  August 19 Dennis & Mary Moore (Beaverdam)
  August 19 Bob & Mary Sherrill (50 years) (Pecks)
  August 20 Gary & Becky Fowler (Flint Hill)
  August 22 Grover & Mi Hwa Stevens (Quaker)
  August 22 Beth & Kevin Vinson (Thaxton)
  August 26 Mike & Edith Grooms (Rainbow Forest)
  August 30 Paul & Calais Blevins (55 years) (Retired)
  August 30 J.R. & Vickie Hume (Timber Ridge)

  ---

  SBA's Mission

  Under the Lordship of Christ, to equip, support, and involve our family of churches in meeting the spiritual and physical needs of a changing community and world.