We are grateful to the Lord for a wonderful worshipful spirit among our folks on October 25. The sanctuary at Trinity was packed with many having to sit in metal chairs and even the choir loft. Timothy Mark wove our theme throughout all the reports and testimonies as we regarded our call to be the "church across the street" to needy hurting people. Thanks to everyone who had a part in making this year's annual meeting such a positive and encouraging time. For those who didn't get a copy of our 2004 Book of Reports, visit our online Updates page to download your free copy in Adobe PDF format.

Please commit to pray for continued growth and participation in the ministries of the Association. We finished 2004 in strong financial standing and are excited about opportunities in 2005. We are already considering SBA mission trips to the northeast USA, Nicaragua, the Caribbean, and the Czech Republic. Without a doubt many more mission fields will be visited as our congregations respond to other needs. We also want you to consider how God would have you share your light throughout Bedford County. Remember the open doors and need for missionaries in ESL, CenterFest, youth ministries, and community outreach.

Have you visited www.sbava.org lately with some children? Check out our Kids' Page by clicking on Children's Ministry in the Quick Jump menu. There are links for children of all ages. You can color online, get help with homework, visit Dr. Dino and his world of dinosaurs, explore the universe through science, math and astronomy, and even visit AWANA and RA Websites. From time to time you will find contributions from other children around our own Association, so help a child you know explore some of the exciting sites though Strawberry's page!

Help see to it that copies of The Spirit, that you will find at your church, are distributed to Sunday School classes so that each week our ministries, praises, and needs can become part of the worship and Bible study time. Another tip worth remembering, promoting, and using is to get sufficient copies of our Strawberry Recipe Booklet to carry to neighbors in your communities as a free gift. What a unique way to meet neighbors, share something of your life and faith, and offer to pray for some specific need that they have. It is a fun and easy way to touch lives. You will be amazed at what God can do through such a simple mission.

Comparing our current financial situation with where we were at the same time last year, we see marked improvement. Even though expenditures through September this year are $2,200 more than last, our receipts have increased by more than $10,000. We appreciate the individuals and churches who saw the need and were willing to become part of the solution. Response to the "One Dollar per Day per Member for Seven Days" Associational Missions Week offering was great! Ideally, we would like to be able to meet budget needs through regular percentage giving by our churches and use Associational Missions Week offering receipts for special projects, but this year's offering gave a much needed boost to our budget receipts. Thanks for your support!

The October birth dates included in this newsletter were inadvertently left out last month.
December 19 Eldridge Cullum (Thaxton)
December 23 David Williamson (Hunting Creek)
December 24 Tim Mathia (Mentow)
December 31 Charles Stinson (North Bedford)

December 4 Jack & Carol Deans (Terrace View)
December 5 John & Esther Woodford (40 yrs) (SBA)

Messengers registered were 166.
Guests/visitors registered were 24.
Total attendance was 190.
Congregations represented were 28.

Congregations with full messenger representation: Flint Hill, Hunting Creek, Mentow, Norwood, Shady Grove, Suck Spring, and Thaxton.

Thanks to Rev. Dennis Moore for serving as our Moderator Pro Tem and to Trinity Church for their gracious hospitality. We also want to thank Ellen Mitchell, Hertha Nichols, and Melinda Nichols for helping with registration.

Responses to the impromptu survey indicated that 58 are in favor of continuing the Monday meeting day while 26 would like to try Sunday. We appreciate the comments that were submitted and are open to other suggestions of ways we could make it more convenient for folks whose work schedules don't allow them to attend the afternoon session while also considering those folks who prefer not to drive at night.

Next year's meeting will be at Timber Ridge on Monday, October 24.

Hunting Creek is searching for a permanent, part-time Music Director. For more information, contact Brenda Oliver at 434-299-5763.

Mentow is seeking a full-time Associate Pastor for Youth and Young Adults. Mentow is affiliated with SBC, CBF, and Virginia Baptist Kingdom Advance. Send resume with references to Mentow Baptist Church, Attn: Search Team, 3282 Mentow Drive, Huddleston, VA 24104

North Bedford was recognized at SBA's Annual Meeting for being the top giving church and the top per capita giving church in the Association to the Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions. On behalf of the congregation, Rev. Charles Stinson, pastor for 34 years, accepted certificates signed by Dr. Jerry Rankin and Rev. Steve Manuel.

Palestine will host Mentow Baptist and Huddleston United Methodist churches for the Huddleston Community Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, November 21, 7 p.m. Rev. Tim Mathia of Mentow will bring the message.

Palestine would like to welcome our new Associate Pastor Robert (Bert) Kirk. Prepare your hearts for the Christmas season by joining us in the Drama/Musical Production Comfort and Joy directed by Don Clark. One performance will be on December 11 at 7:00 p.m., with another performance on December 12 at 7:00 p.m. Also our Children's Christmas Play will be December 19. There will be plenty of room for everyone—we will be in our new Family Life Center. Come Join Us!!

Rainbow Forest is offering their 6th Annual Missions Institute for the Family from February 7 through April 25, 2005. Please pray about this opportunity and start to make plans to attend this exciting 12-week time of worship, prayer, chapel, elective classes and Missions Bible Study. Classes are offered for all ages, from Kindergartners through Senior Adults. You will learn what your role is in completing the Great Commission from experienced teachers, many of which have spent time on the foreign field. You will also learn God's plan for the Nations through an awesome age appropriate Bible Study. You will also build relationships with others in your small group time that have a passion for reaching the lost with the gospel of Jesus Christ. If you have questions please feel free to call Pastor Jonathan Grooms at 540-977-1789 x.109. Don't miss out on this awesome opportunity!
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Women on Mission: Beaverdam/Diamond Hill are leading devotionals at Oakwood Manor for October, November, and December. Pecks will host the November birthday party for residents of Bedford County Nursing Home; Mentow will host it in December.

The Annie Mae Broyles Group Meeting was held at Mount Zion on Thursday, October 21, with 17 churches represented. The offering went to the Hambricks, missionaries to Venezuela, who provided the program. Pecks will host next year's meeting on October 20.

WMU Dues ($2.00 for each member of Women on Mission and leaders for age-level organizations) are due now for the 2004-2005 year. Checks should be payable to Strawberry WMU and mailed to Mrs. Jeanette Southall, 2306 Old Farm Road, Lynchburg, VA 24503. Please mail by November 15.

Lynn Litchfield, Chaplain for the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women has requested the following items which should be brought to the SBA office no later than Monday, November 15: Greeting cards and stationery (with a special focus on Christmas cards and stamps). Also, take a one-gallon zip-lock style plastic bag with a hole punched in it and place the following items in it: 1-16 oz. shampoo
1-16 oz. lotion
2-full-size bars of soap
1-individually wrapped toothbrush
1 full-size toothpaste
1 full-size deodorant
1 non-mechanical pencil
She would also like to provide hair conditioner or hair grease for each of the 1200 inmates (don't include in zip-lock bag).

DivorceCare for Kids
Introducing DivorceCare for Kids, a powerful new resource to help your church minister to the child of divorce The DC4K curriculum provides the resources you need to start and sustain an effective lay-led ministry for children ages five through twelve.

Some children struggle deeply with separation and divorce while others seem to bounce back quickly. But in the long run, all children are affected. The DivorceCare for Kids program will help minimize and eliminate the short- and long-term negative effects of divorce on a child's schoolwork, relationships, emotional health and spiritual life. It provides the opportunity for children of divorce to experience hope, help, and restoration in their lives today and in the future.

For more information, visit www.dc4k.org, or call 800-395-5755.
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Rev. Rick Mallory and his wife Laura are the proud parents of a son, Joseph William, born at 12:11 a.m., Thursday, October 21, 2004. He weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces, and was 19 3/4 inches long. Big brothers are Andy, Sam, and Daniel; and big sister is Rachel.

Sympathy is extended to the family of Mrs. Ella Profitt on her death October 16. She was the widow of Rev. Gilbert Profitt, pastor emeritus of Quaker. Also, we offer sympathy to Mrs. Annie LePere and family on the death of her father on October 30. (Annie is married to Bryon LePere, the pastor at Big Island.)