
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 17, 1993                   TAG: 9306170447
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: E-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BY FRANCES STEBBINS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

RELIGION BRIEFS

BELMONT BAPTIST CHURCH has chosen the Rev. Wayne C. Harrison as its next pastor. Currently at First Baptist Church of Norton, where he has been since 1987, Harrison will begin his work July 18. He will succeed the Rev. Dr. Thomas Cribb who moved to Gastonia, N.C., six months ago.

Harrison, 40, is a native of Franklin and was educated at Averett College and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is studying for a ministerial doctorate. Since beginning his ministry 12 years ago, Harrison also served congregations in Essex County and in Suffolk.

He and his wife, Debbie, have a daughter, Holly, 6.

\ THE REV. ALVORD M. BEARDSLEE, chaplain and religion faculty member at Hollins College for more than 30 years, has retired to Litchfield, Conn. Beardslee, a United Church of Christ minister, was active in many Roanoke Valley ecumenical and humanitarian projects.

\ THE TRANSITIONAL LIVING CENTER has received $4,000 from the Board of Missions and Church Extension Inc. of the Roanoke District of the Methodist Church.

The center, operated by Total Action Against Poverty, provides housing to the homeless and relies on community donations for support. The donations are matched by a federal grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Deadline for religion briefs for Neighbors is Thursday. Material must be delivered to Neighbors Religion Briefs, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke 24010, by noon in order to run in the following Thursday edition.

by CNB