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| November 2006 |
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May I recommend a book to you? LifeWay's Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger of Christ Fellowship Church in Florida have written a most interesting book that challenges the way we do church. According to their studies most of our churches have stopped growing and no longer impact their communities, because they have become too complex and have lost their way. Simple Church aims at helping us understand that our task is simple and requires us to keep things that way as we journey through discipleship. Please consider the following excerpt. Defining a Simple Church Here it is. Here is the definition for a simple church: A simple church is a congregation designed around a straight-forward and strategic process that moves people through the stages of spiritual growth. This definition has some weight to it. Let's walk through the definition one phrase at a time. The church is designed; it is not carelessly thrown together. It is not haphazardly planned. The ministry does more than "just happen." It is thought-out. It is structured. It is designed with care.
Also, it is designed around…. The design of the church is centered on something. The programs and ministries revolve around something. They are just not plugged into the church calendar and brochure. Everything is designed around something. And that something is not a nebulous abstract concept. The design for discipleship in a simple church revolves around the process.
Statistical info from the Two Hundred Thirtieth Annual Meeting, Monday, October 30, 2006
Theme: "Unto the Least of These"
Messengers registered: 167 Congregations with full messenger representation: Bedford, Flint Hill, Hunting Creek, Mentow, Mount Hermon, Norwood, Quaker, Staunton, Thaxton, and Timber Ridge. Heartfelt thanks to Hunting Creek for their gracious hospitality. Thanks also to Ellen Mitchell, Hertha Nichols, and Melinda Nichols for their invaluable help with registration. Next year's meeting will be at Palestine on Monday, October 29.
The Southwest Virginia Christian Leadership Network invites you to take part in their upcoming workshop and lunch. The Overcoming Overload workshop is designed to help us learn to better manage the spiritual, physical, relational, and professional side of things while living in such a high pressure environment with which we are all too familiar.
The gathering begins at 10:00 a.m., on November 7, at the Halesford Baptist Church. It concludes with a free lunch at noon. For directions, visit the Halesford Website at
Mentow and Palestine will share in the annual Community Thanksgiving Service which will be hosted by Huddleston United Methodist Church on Sunday, November 19.
Mount Hermon will have a deacon ordination service on Sunday, November 12, 1:30 p.m. Candidates for ordination are Wayne Abbott, David Arrington, James Arrington, Gene Nichols, and Dwayne Parker. Ordained pastors/deacons from area churches are invited to the service.
Ten of our churches and four pastors took part in our CenterFest 2006 ministry this year. Thank you so much for your willingness to set a few hours aside to reach out to the Bedford area community. The baby changing station has grown to be very popular with young families. For 2006 we set up a separate booth to better handle demand. The "cup of cold water" ministry did not do as well this year, because at the last minute we discovered that Bedford had moved us from the center of events to the backside of the desert. A number of people were unable to find us. We are praying for a better location next year.
Big Island Baptist Church
Seeking part-time Youth Minister
Ministerial training/experience desired
Send resume to Youth Committee
Big Island Baptist Church
P.O. Box 348
Big Island, VA 24526
Christmas in April is looking for houses to fix for free!! On the 4th Sunday in April each year, Christmas in April does repairs that improve living conditions for qualified homeowners in need. Call 540.586.4721 if you know of a home that needs repairs that can be completed in one day. Applications are accepted on a "first come—first served" basis and are due by December 1, 2006. Additional information is being included in the newsletter packets that go to each church in the Association.
A new 6,300 square foot LifeWay Christian Store is coming to Mountview Commons on Wards Road in Lynchburg. The store will open on Wednesday, November 8, and the grand opening celebration will run November 11-18.
The Annie Mae Broyles Group Meeting took place Thursday, October 19, 2006, at 10 a.m., at Quaker Baptist Church. The theme for the meeting was Jesus Loves Me...Pass It On...The Joy of Missions. Rev. David Timma, host pastor, brought the devotional and led in prayer. Alice Meador presented special music. Guest speaker was Ilga Melo who has recently returned from serving a two-year ISC/2+2 missionary assignment in Lithuania. She and her husband are currently in the candidate process for career appointment to Greece. The offering of $176.85 will go toward their ministry. Following the program, a covered-dish lunch was served in the church fellowship hall. Next year the group will meet at Sedalia Church on Thursday, October 18.
Dr. Kunjumon Chacko, founder of the Precious Children's Home in India, will be speaking at First Baptist Church, Gretna, Virginia, on Saturday evening, November 11, and again on Sunday morning, November 12. Everyone is welcome to take advantage of this opportunity to meet Dr. Chacko and hear first-hand about this vital ministry. Call the association office for more details.
WMU Dues ($2.00 for each member of Women on Mission and leaders of age-level organizations) are due now for the 2006-2007 year. Checks should be payable to Strawberry WMU and mailed to Mrs. Emily Morris, 2161 Penns Mill Rd., Big Island, VA 24526. Please mail by November 15. The following churches have already submitted their dues: Bedford, Big Island, Hunting Creek, Mount Olivet, Norwood, Quaker, Sedalia, Shady Grove, Suck Spring, and Thaxton.
The association office now has details and patterns for the cross stitch project for the Albania House in Athens, Greece. Bob and Janice Newell, missionaries to Albanian immigrants in Athens, invite individuals and groups to have a personal connection and make a practical contribution to the opening of The Albania House in Athens. Every first-time Albanian visitor to the AHA will receive a framed, handmade, cross stitched gift. This handcraft from Christians in America will decorate Albanian homes all over Athens and will communicate love to these immigrant families. Five hundred cross-stitched gifts are needed by April 2007. (This will allow them time to have the items framed before the opening of the House in June.) Please note: If you plan to participate in this ministry, you need to allow at least 4 weeks for shipping.
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Copyright© Strawberry Baptist Association
Updated 11/6/2006
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