AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014
YOUR 411
News for Blue Ridge Baptists
BRBA Annual Meeting The Annual Meeting of the Blue Ridge Baptist Association will be on Monday evening, October 13th, 2014 at 7:00 PM at Covenant Baptist Church in Shepherdstown, WV! Plan to arrive early as ministry tables will be open at 6:30. This year you will be blessed by: • reports from and about new church plants • strategic plans for Association sponsored Mission Trips • regional partnering with other churches in our area and Christian based ministries • sharing from missionaries in BRBA churches • representatives from many local church support organizations we are in partnership including Lifeway, Centrepoint Counseling, the Frederick Rescue Mission, Samaritan's Purse, and many more ….
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We urge representatives from EVERY BRBA church to support this once a year meeting that celebrates what God is doing in and through our churches, and that will share plans for effectiveness in missions and ministry in the years ahead. Please come out and support your Association as we gather together to celebrate God's movement in Blue Ridge churches!
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For more information contact Mae at the Association office via email mae@blueridgebaptist.org or by phone at 240-818-8760. We look forward to seeing a great number of our churches represented at this year's gathering.
BOB MCHENRY ORDAINED The Covenant Elder has been set apart for God’s service. See page 4 for the whole story
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL See page 6 for a request for feedback on VBS and a report from FBC Brunswick on ALL ABOUT KIDS PRODUCTIONS Camp.
Excitement is Building From Bruce Conley Your Director of Missions
This is my 5th year serving as Director of Missions in the Blue Ridge Baptist Association. I continue to be amazed at how God is working in and around our churches to transform people’s lives for the sake of the gospel. I explained to a local pastor recently who is not yet a part of our family of churches “it’s exciting to be a part of a fully functional and growing Association of churches that really does want to help each other, and make a difference in our region”. I’m hoping that his church and many others will soon join our partnership to advance mission work, church health, church planting, and church regeneration. Together – we can accomplish so much more than if we were to operate as 39 separate independent churches. Partnership missions always has the best impact.
! Plans are under way for the Blue Ridge Baptist Association’s annual Fall meeting which will be held this year at Covenant Baptist Church in Shepherdstown, WV - on Monday evening October 13th (Columbus Day) – with ministry information tables being open at 6:30 PM, and the worship celebration starting at 7:00 PM. It should be an enjoyable evening together as we celebrate what God has done, and what he IS doing in and around the Blue Ridge region.
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You definitely DON’T want to miss this event! Some of the plans for that night are: • An Association MASS CHOIR that will sing in worship (we need YOUR voice!) • Instrumentalists from all over BRBA will join together in a mass orchestra/praise band • Multiple ministry tables will give you information on how their work can help your church • Disaster Relief volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and enlist new missions workers • Members of our mission team to the Dominican Republic will report about their trip • A brief business session will share reports and establish new officers for service • There will be a time of food and fellowship afterwards and opportunity to exchange more conversation at and around the ministry tables.
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I am certain that many more exciting elements will be added to our annual meeting experience, but PLEASE mark this date on your calendars NOW! You will definitely want to be there. In Acts, before Jesus’ ascension, he told us “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Is YOUR church operating with that Holy Spirit power that has been promised? I’ll see you on October 13th!
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Bruce Conley Director of Missions !2
First Baptist Church of Upper Marlboro Saturday September 20, 2014 | 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM Cost is $25 per person Jesus told us in Mathew 28:19-20 to "go...teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you." TRANSFORM is designed to lead teachers to understand what it means to have a group with a central focus on seeing lives transformed through the teaching and ministry of the group The goal of the TRANSFORM...Lives Through Teaching is to equip every Bible study teacher to teach God's Word in a way that brings about transformation in their members' lives. One of the finest faculties in the nation will come together to provide a day of training for your leaders that could have a life changing impact on teaching in your church. Your teachers will be led to understand that teaching is more than just sharing information and that a teacher uses all of his or her relationships with class members and others to seek to teach. Visit http://www.lifeway.com/Event/Leadership-Training-Transform-2014-Maryland for registration and information.
New Hope Community Church in Arundel Association is selling 150+ blue fabric stacking church chairs. We will sell part of lot. Willing to make a deal if all are purchased. All chairs interlock to abide with fire code and have back pocket. Great condition. If interested please contact Tracy Yeager at 443.623.2592 or yeager_tracy@yahoo.com.
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Ministry Spotlight Bob McHenry Ordination Service
On Sunday, July 6th COVENANT BAPTIST CHURCH held an ordination ceremony for Elder Bob McHenry. Bob has been very active in the ministry at Covenant, in fact moving to the area after picking the church first .... not the other way around. Bob is very active with the Blue Ridge Baptist Association, and is always involved in some mission trip or cause - including Operation Christmas Child and many others. It's great to have Bob as an officially ordained minister of the gospel - but those of us who know him realize that not much will change with the title. He's always been "all in" for Jesus!
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You are invited to attend a Lead Like Jesus Leadership Encounter on September 18-19, 2014 at Skycroft Conference Center. This is a Church Wellness event hosted by Randy Millwood, Church Wellness Strategist for the Mid-Atlantic Baptist Network/BCMD.
! Leadership Encounter is a 1.5 day workshop, helping people to lead like Jesus. ! For more information and to register visit: www.bcmd.org/llj DEADLINE: August 29, 2014.
We want to know! !
How did things go with your Vacation Bible School or other summer community outreach ministries? We would love to share what God has done through your church in our next newsletter. Please send your updates to newsletter@blueridgebaptist.org
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Join us September 29 - October 1 at Middle Creek Christian Retreat Center in Fairfield , PA , for a few days of relaxation and refreshment. Our special guest speaker will be former BCM/D Executive Director, Dr. David Lee.
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For more information or to register, please contact Pastor Gary Buchman of Emmitsburg Community Church at pastorgarybuchman@gmail.com or 410-259-1490.
ALL ABOUT KIDS PRODUCTION CAMP From July 13 - 18 First Baptist Church of Brunswick, Faith Baptist Church and Summit Trace Church partnered with Lamplight Artists to present a one-week performing arts day camp for kids.
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Designed for kids who are entering grades 2 through 8, ALL ABOUT KIDS PRODUCTIONS is a highenergy, kid-oriented performing arts day camp. Music, acting, stage movement and dance are combined with Bible study, handson instruction, plenty of laughter, and just the right amount of hard work to create an awesome week of challenge and growth. Kids learn Biblical principles for life’s choices as they enjoy a great week in the performing arts!
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This year about 30 kids participate din the camp and 19 of them made professions of faith!
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For information on hosting a camp at your church for 2015, please visit lamplightartists.com. !6
! Event Calendar ! August 4-8 - Adventure Camp at Skycroft. ! August 7-10 - Boy’s Camp at Wo-Me-To. ! August 10 - Student Evangelism Sunday (SBC). ! August 14-15 - Global Leadership Summit at Riva Trace. ! August 17-23 - Worship Music Week (SBC) ! August 21 - Nominating Comm. - 10 AM FBC Hagerstown ! August 28 - Personnel Comm. - 9 AM FBC Hagerstown ! September 1 - Labor Day !
September 3 - Pastor/Staff Fellowship breakfast at the Red Byrd in Keedysville.
! September 4 - Stewardship Comm. - 9 AM FBC Hagerstown !
September 7 - Single Adult Sunday/Asian Concert of Prayer at Hahnuri Baptist Church – Silver Spring, MD.
! September 7- 14 - Week of Prayer for BCM/D Missions. ! September 18 - Lead Like Jesus Encounter at Skycroft ! September 20 - Transform Conference at FBC Upper Marlboro.
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September 20 from 9 AM - 10:30 AM -- Mass Choir & instrumentalist rehearsal for worship music for BRBA annual meeting --- at Covenant Baptist, Shepherdstown, WV
! September 24 - Youth See You at the Pole !
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! ! Birthdays !
AUGUST 1 Richard Kraus 3 Ed Jordan 11 Susan Smith 11 Debbie Cherry 12 Alan Myers 13 Chrissy Crawford 14 Terry Crawford 16 Michael Knight 18 Christine McClellan 25 Becky Krauss 28 Greg Wills 30 Larry Eubanks
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SEPTEMBER 1 Kimberly Pope 5 Steve Rose 6 John Sumpter 11 Jamie Beall 11 Drew Dukes 23 Phil Graves
! Anniversary ! August 6 August 8 August 19 Sept 18
Housam Rose Knight McHenry
September 27 - 28 - Women’s Breathless Conference at Faith Baptist, Glen Burnie.
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September 29 - October 1 - Pastor and Spouse Retreat at Middle Creek Christian Retreat Center in Fairfield, PA.
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In the Churches First Baptist Church - Frederick FBC has a mission team in Belize - Belize City and will be departing for Punta Gorda. Thank you for your continued prayers for safe travels, and blessings for the people of Belize. Emmitsburg Community Church - Emmitsburg: The church had 12 members participate in a trip to Mexico on July 27 for a short-term mission.
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The church will host it’s second annual Pastor and Spouse Retreat from September 29 — October 1. See the calendar on page 5 for more information.
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NorthStar Community Church - Ijamsville: NorthStar will host their annual Aloha Sunday on September 7.
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Join the church for the Global Leadership Summit webcast on August 14 and 15.
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First Baptist Church - Brunswick: The church will be participating with other local churches and Planting Hope to bring the Day to Serve to their community on Saturday September 27. Visit ServeBrunswick.org for more information.
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Paramount Baptist Church - Hagerstown: Pastor Larry Rickard has announced that he will retire effective the end of 2014. Pray for the Rickard family as they transition during this wonderful season of life, and for Paramount Baptist as they begin the process of forming a search committee to find a new pastor for the church.
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River’s Edge Ministries - Martinsburg: The church will host an outdoor movie night with free popcorn and snow cones. The movie “Heaven is for Real” is showing at the Marlowe Ruritan Club in Falling Waters WV on August 1.
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PRAYER REQUESTS:
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The family of ERIN YOUNGBAR who is now resting with Jesus after a long battle with brain cancer. DAVID BURT and family - as David's father went home to be with the Lord after a long illness. TERRY WILBURN (new editor of the 411 newsletter) who is home resting after abdominal surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital. ERNIE BEST and family (Boonsboro Bible Baptist) - as Ernie's mother, Kathryn went home to heaven. WEST END BAPTIST CHURCH as they begin the search process for a 2nd staff minister. Former Minister of Youth and Children at FBC Brunswick, KIMBERLY WALTER, as she heads to Grace Theological Seminary to pursue a Masters of Divinity in Biblical languages.
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LARRY & KATHY RICKARD (Paramount Baptist) as they both recover from medical procedures in July. SEVEN LOCKS BAPTIST CHURCH who lost their pastor of only 5 months to a massive stroke in July. Pray for the pastor's family too - that just relocated to Maryland.
! JOHN NOKES, Pastor Phil Graves’ brother who has been diagnosed with ALS. !
JAMES AND ELIZABETH HOLCOMBE and family as they move from Tennessee to Maryland to join the staff of First Baptist Church of Brunswick.
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PASTOR DAN HOUSAM of Summit Trace Church in Frederick, MD as he is recovering from throat cancer surgery.
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Please pray for REV. MIKE CALLAHAN and REV. KEITH MARSTON who are on mission in India working with several churches and an orphanage. They are with BUILDING HOPE MINISTRIES and spoke about their calling to India missions at our Men's Missions Breakfast in June. Pray for the following churches in the region who are (or soon will be) searching for pastors/staff: West End Baptist Chapel - Hagerstown, MD Paramount Baptist Church - Hagerstown, MD Boonsboro Bible Baptist Church - Boonsboro, MD Fellowship Baptist Church - Fairfield, PA Berkeley Baptist Church - Berkeley Springs, WV New Vision Baptist Church - Berkeley Springs, WV
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THE NEWS JOURNAL OF THE BLUE RIDGE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION
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