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

DATE: THURSDAY, April 6, 1995                   TAG: 9504210005
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: E10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: FRANCES STEBBINS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RELIGION BRIEFS

HOUSE OF PRAYER, a Roanoke congregation dating from 1947 and worshipping at 1335 Kirk Ave. S.E., is relocating to the corner of Hardy and Feather roads in Vinton. Construction has begun on a new building for which Hughes and Associates are architects. Tony Feazell, a member of the church, is the job superintendent.

The Rev. Steve Parker, pastor since 1993, said growth of the congregation necessitated the move. The new church will include space for worship and education with an activities building to be added later.

The new church will have the name Parkway House of Prayer. The congregation was served for many years by the Rev. Robert L. Painter, an evangelical Christian who organized it after his conversion following World War II. Painter, 82, now lives in Roanoke in retirement.

MINERAL SPRINGS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL near Vinton is accepting registrations for its fall semester. The school, a ministry of Mineral Springs Baptist Church, accepts children ages 3 through 5 in its preschool, and kindergarten through second grade for its elementary program. Accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International, it uses the Abeka Curriculum. For information, call 890-4465.

STEVE and BARBARA MANUEL, who entered foreign mission service from Lynn Haven Baptist Church of Vinton, are serving in the Mexican town of Moroleon. Recently, their shell church building, used for the past seven years, was rebuilt by a mission team from Arkansas.

Before becoming a missionary, Steve Manuel worked with several Roanoke-area Southern Baptist congregations.

THE REV. KENNETH BURGER, formerly pastor of Bedford Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), is serving as interim minister at Melrose Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Melrose's former pastor, the Rev. Terry Willis, is now at Pembroke Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Giles County.

WOMAN'S DAY will be observed Sunday at 11 a.m. at Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church, 2128 Melrose Ave. N.W. Ruth Claytor, a former bank manager now studying teaching at Hollins College, will speak. She is a member of the new Spirit of Life Full Gospel Baptist Church and co-leader of a modeling course for young women.

ROANOKE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH members are converting vacant space on their property at Brandon Avenue and Grandin Road Southwest into a small park to fulfill a goal of beautifying the environment. Last year, trees and shrubs were planted on the busy corner property in lieu of sale for urban development. On April 23, two discussion groups, meeting at 9:30 a.m., will consider further ways to improve the environment. Call Robert K. Egbert, 384-7448, for more information.

Send information to Frances Stebbins, Neighbors Religion, PO Box 2491, Roanoke 24010-2491, by noon Thursday and include a daytime phone number.

Want to know what's going on in the religious community? Get on the Internet and find this listing of religion briefs as well as other Neighbors columns in the news section of InfiNet. Call 800-849-7214 to subscribe.

by CNB