Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 29, 1994 TAG: 9401310270
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Rick Lindquist
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
With studios in downtown Blacksburg, the listener-supported station is the first in the planned five-station Positive Alternative Radio Network. A Roanoke station will come on the air very soon at 91.3 FM; others are planned for Bluefield, Martinsville and Bristol.
The signal from WPIN's low-wattage transmitter near Pulaski may not be listenable from all parts of the New River Valley. The network plans to install a small translator to rebroadcast the station at 102.5 on the FM dial. PAR Network General Manager George McNerlin, who's also the station's on-air morning host, said that should improve its coverage over Blacksburg and Christiansburg.
The music relies on performers like Amy Grant, Sandi Patti, Steven Curtis Chapman, Bebe and Cece Winans, Susan Ashton and Wayne Watson, among others.
The station also airs four Christian-oriented vignettes, a nationally-broadcast two-hour afternoon talk program, and news from the USA Radio Network.
Featurettes include ``Media Update,'' ``Money Minute,'' ``Family Workshop,'' and ``Family Commentary,'' with Dr. James Dobson. The station also airs Dobson's ``Focus on the Family'' each day at noon.
Listeners can become charter financial supporters by sending donations to The PAR Network, P.O. Box 889, Blacksburg, Va. 24063-0889. Its local telephone is 951-9791. The network's toll-free number is (800) 627-9747.
On the gospel music circuit:
The LIGHT SINGERS from Liberty University will appear in concert Sunday at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. at Radford Pentecostal Holiness Church, 1820 Second St. The group has traveled extensively and last year completed an evangelistic tour of Eastern Europe. For more information, call 639-6287.
BOB and SANDY MULLINS of Second Chance Ministries will begin their 1994 round of appearances tonight at 7 at Lords Full Gospel Mission in Pilot.
Sunday, they'll sing at services of the Calvary Assembly of God, which meets in the Marriott Inn, Prices Fork Road, Blacksburg.
Sunday evening at 7, the duo will be at New River Community Holiness Church, which is about one mile east of the Radford Army Ammunition Plant on Virginia 114.
Call 639-6271 evenings for details.
The SOUNDS OF HARMONY will sing at the Riner Grace Brethren Church, Sunday, 7 p.m. The church is on Virginia 8, three miles south of Auburn High School.
The SOUTHERN STATESMEN will be in concert next Saturday, 6 p.m., at St. John's Fellowship, 710 Church St., Christiansburg. The church is right behind the Cambria Post Office.
Call Pastor Charles Smith for more information at 381-2887.
The music committee at COPPER HILL CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN will sponsor a Fifth Sunday Night singing program Sunday at 7 p.m.
Groups and solo performers are welcome.
The Merrimac Pentecostal Holiness Church will hold REVIVAL SERVICES with the Rev.. Bob Ely Sunday through Wednesday. Services Sunday at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., and Monday through Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
``Touching as the True Revolution,'' a presentation of poetry and reflections by Nikki Giovanni, will be offered Sunday, 10:30, at the UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP of the New River Valley, 1301 Gladewood Drive, Blacksburg.
A discussion follows the service.
Call 552-8050 or 552-4749 to find out more.
The Lynchburg College LAY THEOLOGY COURSE is set to begin the week of Feb. 14 in several Disciples of Christ churches in Western Virginia. In Radford the Rev. Dr. Gina Rhea will teach day and evening sessions at First Christian Church, 400 Tyler Ave.
Singing the Lord's Song, a study of Chapters 40 through 55 of the Old Testament Book of Isaiah, is the study's focus.
The cost is $14, which includes the textbook. Six two-hour sessions are planned, and participants will pick the exact times.
The class is open to all. To learn more or to sign up, call Rhea at 639-3696.
``Journey of a Lifetime'' - a BIBLE STUDY COURSE - will continue through the year each Sunday evening at 6 at the Salvation Army Auditorium, 525 Commerce St., Pulaski.
Participants will get a 226-page commentary with maps, charts and diagrams to help make the journey more meaningful.
Enroll by calling Sgt. Tom Atkins, 980-2400.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, 1730 West St., Radford, will celebrate its pastor's anniversary Sunday,Feb. 6, at 3 p.m.
The Rev. M. Guy Wood of Mount Woodland Baptist Church in Greenfield, Va., will speak, and the New River Gospel Singers will provide the music.
Member churches of the Presbytery of the Peaks contributed just over $115,000 for the 2 Cents-A-Meal program during 1993, according to the Presbytery's Hunger Action Committee. Under the program, each person sets aside two cents for every meal to combat hunger in this country and abroad. The presbytery also reports that nearly $37,180 was donated to its Midwest flood and disaster relief fund.
Church names in the news:
WILL WHITTIER of Blacksburg is serving as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Neuquen, the southernmost city in Argentina.
Whittier plans to continue his studies at Brigham Young University in Utah after his two-year stint in South America. He earned the money to finance his mission by working on a local dairy farm.
Contact Denise Allen for details, 961-0755.
In Religion is a regular Saturday feature of the New River Current. Please send news of your church or religious organization in care of Rick Lindquist, New River Current, Roanoke Times & World-News, P.O. Box 540, Christiansburg 24073. Clear, sharp photographs accompanying news items are welcome. Items must be received by noon Wednesday for use in that week's column.
by CNB