Shenandoah Baptist Association

Shenandoah Baptist Association

Children's Ministry Day February 13, 2016– CTBC

February 19, 2016– MSBC

Executive Board Meeting March 1, 2016

Fresh Expression Vision Day March 19, 2016– Winchester

116th WMU Annual Meeting April 2, 2016– FBC, Martinsburg

Mission Statement The Shenandoah Baptist

Association is a fellowship of

autonomous Baptist Churches

dedicated to mutual support,

equipping of churches, and the

fulfillment of the Great

Commission by combining

resources to engage in missions.

Vision Statement To have a strong, viable, well-

supported missions/ministry

presence in every community in

the Shenandoah Valley.

February/ March 2016 Up Coming Events


Children’s Ministry Day— please plan to attend one of these events or

plan one of your own— at Charles Town Baptist Church, February 13,2016 from 9-1, Ages 5 thru 5th grade. There will be a breakfast, snacks as well as lunch, bible stories, mission projects, music, games and lots of fun. Please Contact Dotsi Campbell, at 304-728-2019 if you plan to bring a group from your church. We would like a a count For planning purposes only. At Luray’s Main Street Baptist Church, Friday, February 19th, at 10:30 a.m., Interdenominational Mission Friends will celebrate Children’s Ministry Day in the Fellowship Hall by packing individual snack bags for children and parents living at Choices, a local shelter for those who temporarily need a safe place to stay. All preschoolers and their parents/grandparents/caregivers in the SBA are cordially invited to join with us in this service project, and we encourage you to attend! Robin Stevens, Services Coordinator for Choices, will visit and share with the children how the organization helps people. She will bring a scrapbook with photo-graphs of the facilities of Choices. The children will then present their gifts for families living at Choices. Material for the snack bags will be provided, and refreshments will be served to those attending. Please RSVP by Feb 15th, to Judy Roop 540– 743-4323 if you are planning to come. If you are unable to join event, we hope you will plan a service project for the children of your church , and, if I can be of help, please let me know. If you complete a service project, we’d love to hear about it! Judy Roop, SBA Mission Friends Consultant


Musing’s from the Moderator

TAX and compensation Planning Seminars 2016

To help church staff and church lay leaders understand and comply with the tax laws, a series of free seminars

sponsored by the Compensation Planning Ministry of the BGAV will be held across the state in February and

March. They will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 12:00 p.m. with refreshments provided.

Jeff Cranford, Compensation Planning Specialist, Congregational Field Staff, BGAV will lead the seminars. For

information or to register seminar in your region, registar online at BGAV.org/Tax Seminars or contact Angela

House, GuideStone Administrative Assistant at 800-255-2428 ext. 5293 or ange-

[email protected]

The seminars close to our association are as follows:

February 18, 2016 Fairview Baptist Church, Fredericksburg

February 22, 2016 Virginia Baptist Resource Center, Richmond

February 25, 2016 Culpeper Baptist Church, Culpeper

March 3, 2016 North Roanoke Baptist Church, Roanoke

Unless the gospel is personal, unless we take part, unless we get “hands on”, it loses some of

its relevance and power in your life! In John 2:1-11 Jesus, through changing the water into wine at the wedding in

Canon, demonstrates that the old order, the old way of doing things is changing, becoming new—a richer more vi-

brant and more personal. Isn’t that true for us as we make Christ the center of our lives? And is it not true for

church’s as well. When we, both individually and corporately, focus on that which is most important, the kingdom

advances. For the individual it’s not about me, but about Christ and what God wants us to do. Sometimes it means

making radical often frightening changes, at other times it is simply being faithful and steadfast, even in the midst of

adversity. Focusing on God rather than on ourselves! For a church, it is not about budget or schedule or programs,

but about People! Who are we called to witness to, to minister to, to seek out? The focus must be more than inward

but outward if we are to bedre what God wants us to be. Too often congregations fucs too much on numbers, but for-

get that those numbers are people! People who God loves, and expects us to love too.

As a Christian, my focus must be on Christ, os that I can be what God wants me to be! If I do that, then I can

participate in the ministry of my church so it can do what it is called to do. And if our churches do that, then our

Association will be strengthened and our focus more exact. We, as Shenandoah Baptist Association, are only as

strong as our local churches. And are churches are only as strong as their members. Together we make up the body

of Christ, young and old, weak and strong, rich and poor, male and female, and all of us are called to serve Him. As

we prepare for Lent and Easter, with all the celebrating Christ death and resurrection, I challenge each of you

reading this to spend some time praying about and examining your relationship to Christ, His calling to you, and

your response where is He calling you to served, and what do you need to do prepare. In Matthew28 Christ promises

to mever leave or forsake us so we can “let go” and “let God” Together we can change our valley, our world for

Christ, one person at a time! Starting with Me!

Your servant in Christ,


Church News Around the Association

Browntown– We remember their pastor Mike Normoyle in prayer as he recovers from double par tial knee

replacement surgery.

Calvary– will be holding a Browser’s Class after worship on January 24th with a light lunch served, This class is for peo-

ple who are new to the church and new members. The class will provide the basic’s of their beliefs how to plug into the church and

how we get things done at the church. Participants are not obligated to become members.

Charles Town– is starting a small group study starting in January meeting at a host home, Experiencing God focusing on the sev-

en realities for Experiencing God. The new group Heart scheduled to meet on January 30th has been rescheduled for April 30th

this group is starting to meet on the 5th Saturday of the month and will be focused on sharing old and new skills to build our

homes into strong places filled with God’s love.

First, Front Royal-Rev. Mark Jordan is retired at the end of January and the church will be did him a retirement luncheon and

honoring him as he begins a new chapter in his life. Lenten Season begins on Feb. 10 with Ash Wednesday service at 7:00 p.m.

this is a joint service with Front Royal United Methodist Church at FBC, FR sanctuary. Rev. Alan Combs will deliver the message.

First, Winchester– is working with Healthy Churches to enter into a visioning process for the church, with the following

outcomes, Clarify the congregations unique identity, Identify the congregations core values, Identify the areas of mission and min-

istry about which the congregation feels most passionate and feels called to pursue, and project the type of facilities needed fulfill

the congregation’s sense of call for future mission and ministry. Pastor George Fletcher has announced his retirement effective

June 21, 2016.

Main Street– the church has offered continuous Mission education through Mission Fr iends for 40 years from 1975-2015.

Summit Point- had " Jam the Church" Sunday on January 31 with food and fellowship following the service. The men are

meeting for breakfast at Railside Market Saturday February 8. The women are observing Focus On WMU with their meeting and

lunch following worship on February 7 and will be guests at a Ladies Valentine Brunch prepared by the men on February 13.

This section is for us to learn and encourage each other as we work together to further God’s Kingdom. Would you like to see your church’s

name above? Please send or email news from your church or your church’s newsletter to the associational office so that we can include your

church’s news in our newsletter.

Executive Board Meeting

March 1, 2016

First Baptist, Front Royal

Each church is asked to send their Pastor and a Lay

Representative to the meeting. We would like to

have each of our churches represented at the

meeting.

Join Betty Gibson

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Save the Date! SAMSON– The strongest man who ever

lived! He killed a lion with his bare hands and defeated a

thousand soldier's! But, he is not a hero because of the

strength of his hands, he is a hero

because of the faith in his heart.

Schrock bus trip depart the Schrock Terminal, Winchester @ 7:00 a.m.

Grab-N-Go breakfast stop on the way

11:00 a.m. SAMSON at Sight & Sound Theatre

2:00 p.m. PA Dutch Family Style Meal at Hershey Farm

Stop & Shop at Bird –N-Hand Farmers Market

5:15 p.m. Depart for home

9:00 p.m. Estimated time of arrival to Winchester

Cost: $125.00 /Adult For more information: Contact Betty Gibson 540-955-2185

Sight & Sound Theatre


Calendar of Events

February

8-14 ~ Focus on WMU Week

13 ~ 9:30 a.m Children’s Ministry Day / Charles Town Baptist

(children 5 years thru 5th grade)

14 ~ Valentine’s Day

15 ~ President’s Day/ Office Closed

16 ~ 12:00 p.m. Pastor's Lunch Meeting/ Perkins Restaurant– Winchester

March

1 ~ 7:00 p.m. Executive Board Meeting/ First Front Royal

15 ~ 12:00 p.m. Pastor’s Lunch Meeting/Perkins Restaurant Winchester

20 ~ Palm Sunday

27 ~ Easter Sunday

April

2 ~ WMU Anuual Meeting/ First, Martinsburg

5 ~ 5:30 p.m. Council Meeting/ First, Front Royal

5 ~ 6:30 p.m. Ministry Team Meetings/ First, Front Royal

19 ~ 12:00 p.m. Pastor's Lunch Meeting/ First, Front Royal

27 ~ Administrative Professionals Day

To be added to our mailing list please send

your name, address & email address to us at:

P.O. Box 950

Front Royal, VA 22630

[email protected]

To be removed from our mailing list please

contact us by email or at the address above.

Churches Growing Together

PHONE: (540) 635-4886

E-MAIL: [email protected]

WEB SITE: www.sbaonline.org

MODERATOR— Jim Heath

VICE MODERATOR –Doug Frazier

TREASURER– Chuck Jolley

ADMINISTRATOR: Michele Heath

Inclement Weather Policy: When schools are closed or dismissed early for bad

weather then the association meetings will be rescheduled for the following Tuesday.

Save the Date: Watch for More Details

116th WMU Annual Meeting First Baptist, Martinsburg

April 2, 2016 ~ 10 :00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Guest Speaker: Kathy Kim Multi cultural Ministry Representative to the Board of Trustees

Rhonda Pedigo, Student Missions Consultant and

Rhonda Marstin, Children’s Mission Consultant

Mission Offering: bring pillowcases & Walmart gift

cards to buy pillows when the team arrives at Standing

Rock,

The world has changed, Does your church have a vision for the future? Fresh

Expressions Vision Days are a one day interactive

learning experiences that inspire and equip

individuals, church leaders, and denominational

executives to pioneer new ways to be the Church. At

the Vision Day you will discover:

How Fresh Expressions are renewing the church

around the world

What it means to be a Mission-Shaped Church

Tools for starting Fresh Expressions in your area

Two upcoming Vision Days will take place

Danville– February 4

Winchester, VA March 19 -Braddock Street

United Methodist Church

Register & more information @

www.freshexpressionsus.org

Documents

Shenandoah Baptist Association