Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 17, 1994 TAG: 9402170276
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BY FRANCES STEBBINS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
\ SOUTHERN BAPTISTS in the Roanoke Valley Association experienced a decrease in baptisms in 1993 as well as in Sunday school attendance, according to the association's annual report. Baptisms for 1993 totaled 544 compared to 644 the year before. The Sunday school attendance figures fell from 11,127 to 10,521.
Increases, however, were noted in other areas. Enrollment at mission Bible schools was up from 266 to 393 pupils. Overall giving also was up from $12.1 million to $12.4 million although less was designated for mission causes. The figures also reveal that the valley's Southern Baptist congregations have few ethnic minority members.
\ LUTHERAN COOPERATIVE MINISTRIES has elected the Rev. Kenneth Lane of Trinity Church as its president and Corinne Gott of Christ Church as vice president. Lynda McConnell was named secretary, and Dick Toggweiler was named treasurer. They are members of St. John Church.
LUCOM, which includes representatives from Evangelical Lutheran Church in America congregations in the valley, is planning to build a third Habitat for Humanity house. It also will sponsor a lay school of theology next month.
\ WOMEN'S AGLOW day chapter will discuss "Marriage and Relationships" when it meets Wednesday. Call Vickie Reed at 344-3553 for the time and meeting place. The organization is for Christian women of charismatic preference. A nursery will be available.
\ JOINT LENTEN SERVICES will begin Wednesday for four Lutheran congregations in the North Roanoke area. Each will begin at 7:30 p.m. The Rev. Joseph Crowther of St. Paul Church will preach for the first service at St. Philip Church, 4040 Williamson Road, Hollins.
On March 2, the Rev. Robert Maier of Glade Creek Church will speak at Trinity Church, and on March 9, the Rev. Dr. Truman Jordahl of Emmanuel Church will speak at Glade Creek Church at Blue Ridge. On March 16 the Rev. Paul Gunsten of St. Phillip will speak at Emmanuel Church, and on March 23, the Rev. Kenneth Lane of Trinity will preach at St. Paul Church.
\ FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF HOLLINS, Womack Drive and Reservoir Road, will hold a black history program Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Sponsored by the youth committee, it will feature the Rev. Ivory Morton of First Baptist Church in the Indian Rock community in Botetourt County.
\ GLAD TIDINGS ASSEMBLY OF GOD, 7422 Deer Branch Road, has scheduled two evangelistic services Feb. 27. The Rev. Phil Dunn of St. Albans, W.Va., will preach at the 10:45 a.m. and 7 p.m. services.
\ THE INTERNATIONAL MALE QUARTET of Columbia Bible College will perform Sunday at 11 a.m. at Faith Alliance Church, 7505 Barrens Road, Hollins. A nursery will be provided.
The church also will begin its annual missions conference on Feb. 25. Michael Strecker of Chile and Milton Pierce of Burkina Faso will participate. Programs, for which a nursery is provided, will be scheduled through March 3. For details, call 366-1864.
\ A MUSICAL PROGRAM to celebrate the 14th anniversary of the Male Chorus is planned Sunday at Greater Mount Zion Baptist Church, 1810 Grayson Ave. N.W. The Rev. Verander Hughes and the choir of St. Paul Baptist Church will be featured.
\ VILLA HEIGHTS BAPTIST CHURCH is among those Virginia Southern Baptist congregations promoting the "True Love Can Wait" program for teens. The program asks that a promise be made to abstain from sexual intercourse until marriage. Some Roman Catholic congregations are joining the Baptists in supporting the campaign.
\ UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF ROANOKE, 2015 Grandin Road S.W., is continuing a series of videos to interpret the experience of being homosexual through March 27. Sunday's film is "Word Is Out: Stories of Some of Our Lives."
The films are shown at 12:30 p.m. and are documentary in style. They are part of a program the church has adopted to make itself open to adults of any sexual preference.
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