ROANOKE TIMES

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

DATE: THURSDAY, August 25, 1994                   TAG: 9410010033
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S20   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: FRANCES STEBBINS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium


RELIGION BRIEFS

A BETHANY HALL BENEFIT CONCERT is scheduled Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Christ Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 1101 Franklin Road S.W. It will include music of Broadway, a 1930s Hit Parade and a sing-a-long, as well as selections by choral groups from the church.

Bethany Hall is a home for women who are recovering from addiction.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $2.50 for children ages 2 and under. Call 343-4261 for more information.

THREE ROANOKE VALLEY RESIDENTSwere recently approved for ministerial service by the Virginia Assembly of the Church of God with headquarters in Anderson, Ind. The Rev. Joani Tabor of Roanoke and the Rev. Allen Woodie of Vinton were ordained during a special service at the Virginia Camp Meeting in Christiansburg. Judith Ann Jones of Roanoke was licensed to the ministry.

BETHLEHEM BIBLE COLLEGE, an evangelical Christian training program, is open for registration through Sept. 12, but classes will begin Monday. Discussion topics will include Isaiah, Joshua, Old Testament Survey, Christian Counseling, Basic Theology and Greek Word Studies. Scholarship aid is available. Call 362-2586 for more information.

A RICHES AND HONOR WORKSHOP, featuring a Unity couple, the Rev. Edwene Gaines and her husband, Bert Carson, is scheduled Sept. 11 from 2 to 5:30 p.m. at Unity of Roanoke Valley, 3300 Green Ridge Road. Child care will be provided, and an offering received.

The couple, who operate The Masters School, a commercial retreat center in Mentone, Ala., define prosperity as "full health, perfect relationships, satisfying work and all the cash you can spend." In addition to leading the workshop, they will speak at the 9 and 11 a.m. services.

HOMECOMING will take place Sunday at St. Matthew Church of God Apostolic, 1422 Abbott St. N.W. The 11 a.m. service will be followed by lunch and a musical program featuring the Noel Taylor Community Choir and other choral groups.

VILLA HEIGHTS BAPTIST CHURCH, 4080 Challenger Ave. N.E., will begin a video series, "The Measure of Spiritual Maturity," on Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. Included among the teachers in the 11-week series are Chuck Colson, Luis Palau, Josh McDowell and Bill Bright, evangelical Christians.

Those who commit to regular attendance will receive a journal to help them with their spiritual growth. Call 977-7305 for more information.

THE REV. KARLA GEE has been chosen minister of youth and children, a part-time staff position, at Colonial Avenue Baptist Church. Gee, currently minister of education and youth at Bedford Baptist Church, is a graduate of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and has been on the staffs of Cave Spring and Villa Heights Baptist churches of Roanoke.

THE REV. FRANK SAUNDERS is being honored through Friday at Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church, 2128 Melrose Ave. N.W. Saunders has been in the ministry for 18 years and pastor at Mount Zion since 1992.

Tonight the service will be led by the Rev. Irvin Ward of New Dimensional Church of God in Christ. The final service will be led by the Rev. Frank Feather of Forest Park Baptist Church.

LOVE HUNGER, a 12-step Christian support group for those with a dependence on food brought about by emotional needs that are not being met, will begin its fall sessions Sept. 20. Child care will be available for meetings each Tuesday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Grace Covenant Church, 1857 Grandin Road S.W. Call 982-2784 for more information.

THE PRESBYTERIAN COMMUNITY CENTER at 1228 Jamison Ave. S.E. has joined with Literacy Volunteers of America to tutor elementary-school children from September through June.

The center also is working with Belmont Presbyterian Church in setting up a free clinic in cooperation with the Roanoke City Health Department.

The center, which has been open for more than 25 years, is an inner-city ministry of congregations in Presbytery of the Peaks. In 1982, it gave financial help to 493 families and food to 205 families. Last year's corresponding figures were 2,500 and 1,250, with about 3,000 children served. Pat Dillard is executive director.

ROANOKE AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH, 2202 Roanoke Ave. S.W., plans a homecoming weekend and revival services starting Saturday with a picnic and softball game at 6 p.m. in Norwich Park next to the church.

Sunday activities will begin at 9:45 a.m. and will include lunch. That night at 7, a four-night revival meeting will begin, led by the Rev. J. Michael Palmer of Green Ridge Baptist Church.

VINTON BAPTIST CHURCH members are engaged in two human service projects - a Habitat for Humanity house at 820 Kellogg Ave. N.W., and a respite care center in a former bank building near the church in downtown Vinton.

The center is being made wheelchair-accessible and will provide periods of fellowship and recreation for elderly and handicapped adults with staffing by church volunteers.

EVELYN CONNER, Salem gospel singer, will perform Sunday at Bethel Baptist Church, 1601 Colorado St. in Salem. The concert will start at 6 p.m.

AN ECKANKAR DISCUSSION relating to "the religion of the light and sound of God" will be held Tuesday at 2400 Gate House Lane in Salem at 8 p.m. Call 389-8043 for more information.



 by CNB