Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 25, 1995 TAG: 9503270018
SECTION: RELIGION PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Staff & wire reports
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Billy Graham last week completed the most widely disseminated evangelistic crusade of his life through a globally broadcast mission from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
A potential worldwide audience of more than 1 billion people was urged to accept Jesus Christ as savior during the three-day event that ended March 18. The meetings were interpreted into 116 languages and transmitted live by satellite to 3,000 mission locations in 185 countries.
Videotaped versions of Graham's messages are scheduled to be broadcast Easter week on national television networks in 117 countries.
Barter play
The ministry, Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ are the subject of the season-opening play at the Barter Theater in Abingdon next week.
"On the Third Day," written by Joseph Kline for the Barter, opens Wednesday. Kline and Richard Rose, the Barter's artistic director, consulted with "an interdenominational pastoral advisory committee" is preparing the play. The words spoken by Christ during the Passion are "taken directly from the Bible," according to the theater's promotional material.
"The events leading up to the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ are intertwined with a story about an artist who is struggling with questions of faith," Rose said. The Passion is performed, in the play, by a group of Renaissance artists.
The play will be staged Wednesday through Saturday evenings, and Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons through April 22. Ticket prices range from $13 to $17, with discounts for groups and students. Information and reservations are available by calling (800) 368-3240 or (703) 628-3991.
Prayer retreat
E. Glenn Hinson, a leader in the modern renewal of interest in spirituality, will lead a prayer retreat April 7 and 8 at Glade Baptist Church, 1600 Glade Road, Blacksburg.
Hinson is professor of church history at Baptist Theological Seminary in Richmond and a past vice president of the Thomas Merton Society. He has published numerous books and articles and is currently writing a biography of Quaker spiritualist Douglas Steere.
The retreat will focus on "how prayer informs everyday life," and will use Hinson's latest book, "A Serious Call to a Contemplative Lifestyle."
The book will be sold for $10. Registration is $15 in advance and $25 at the door. Information and registration are available by calling the church at 552-3394.
Dove Awards party
Spirit FM 90.3, a Roanoke contemporary Christian radio station, will sponsor a Dove Awards party April 27 at Parker's Seafood Restaurant, 1336 Peters Creek Road N.W.
The Dove Awards are the most widely recognized Christian music industry awards.
An all-you-can-eat seafood buffet will begin at 6 p.m. Roanoke Christian group Holy Wind will perform songs from its newest cassette, and the radio station will give away cassettes and CDs of many of the Dove Award nominees.
The awards program will be viewed live via satellite on two large TV screens in the restuarant.
The buffet will cost $7.95 per adult, not including tax, tip or drink. Children under 12 will be charged 25-cents per year of age.
Additional information is available by calling the radio station at 774-9798.
Spirituality check-up
Registration is open for a "Spring Spirituality Check-up" to be held May 14-18 at Resurrection Catholic Church in Moneta.
An evangelical team from the Wisconsin-based Thomas More Center for Preaching and Prayer. The format will include preaching, prayer and discussion. The first session will begin May 14 at 7 p.m. For each of the next four days, there will be two daily two-hour sessions - 9:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Though the sessions build on each other, each unit is self-contained for those who cannot attend each session.
For more information, contact Jeanne Wagoner, 297-4243; Maureen Fanelli, 297-1916; or Kathryn Shay, 721-8510.
Ecumenical workshop
Blacksburg Presbyterian Church will be the host of an ecumenical workshop on the civil war in Sudan and the ensuing human crises there Friday through April 2.
Sponsored by the Virginia Interfaith Coalition for Sudan, the workshop will include reports from Sudanese men and women working to restore peace and specialists in relief work.
Information about the workshop is available by calling 961-3590.
Summer at Camp Bethel
Registration is open for summer conferences at Camp Bethel, a Church of the Brethren facility at 2743 Bethel Road in Botetourt County. Backpacking camps as well as residential programs for children and youth are scheduled from May 19 through Oct. 22. A Memorial Day weekend program for family groups, spiritual retreat times and the annual Brethren Heritage Day fair on Oct. 7 are among the programs. All are open to the public. Call 992-2940 for a full schedule. Mary St. John is program director.
Trumpet concert
Brent Barnhart, a nationally recorded trumpet soloist, will present Christian country music April 2 at 10:15 a.m. at East Gate Church of the Nazarene. From Nashville, Tenn., Barnhart currently is show trumpeter with the Grand Ole Opry. While at Vanderbilt University, the musician traveled extensively and has been featured with the Marine Band in Washington, D.C. The concert is free. Call 343-9530 for more information. The church is at 2002 East Gate Ave. N.E.
Historical program
Marion Baptist Church, in celebration of its 150th anniversary, plans a historical program Sunday at 11 a.m. with lunch following. Fred Anderson, director of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society in Richmond, will portray the Rev. Noah Baldwin, founder of the congregation in 1845. He will arrive by horse-drawn wagon. Special Appalachian dulcimer music will be included as well as Sacred Harp hymns by the Adult Choir. Worshipers are invited to wear attire of an earlier period.
The church recently chose Mary M. Wrye as its minister of education.
by CNB