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

DATE: THURSDAY, July 13, 1995                   TAG: 9507140104
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: E-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: FRANCES STEBBINS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RELIGION BRIEFS

ROANOKE'S NEW HAITIAN BAPTIST CHURCH, believed to be the first of its kind in Virginia, now has an ordained pastor, the Rev. Castin Mesadieu, approved by the Roanoke Valley Association of Southern Baptists. The group meets at Ridgewood Baptist Church at 703 Hemlock Road N.W. Call 344-9547 for more information. The new congregation is being assisted by Ridgewood Baptist.

COLONIAL BIBLE INSTITUTE, a ministry of Colonial Baptist Church at Blue Ridge, is open for registration for its tenth year. It offers a diploma in General Bible Studies or a certificate in Advanced Bible Studies for evangelical Christians. Call 977-2936 for registration details.

ROANOKE CITY RESCUE MISSION, an evangelical Christian shelter for individuals and families, has opened its two camps for children for the summer. The new Jubilee Acres Day Camp near Salem provides recreation and care for youngsters whose parents are temporarily living at the mission and who need the freedom to seek work. Grace Bible Camp is a residential program for low-income children and teens held in the community of Goshen. The mission seeks scholarship funds for the children. Call 343-7227 for more information.

JERUSALEM BAPTIST CHURCH, 1014 Norfolk Ave. S.W., has scheduled a concert by the choir of Loudon Avenue Christian Church (Disciples of Christ.) The program will take place Sunday at 5 p.m. The director is Fletcher Nichols.

AT GREENE MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH the new pastor is the Rev. Robert Lewis Watts. Reared in Alexandria, Watts, 59, has previously served Calvary United Methodist of Salem and Highland Park Church in Roanoke. He also has been at congregations in Remington, Altavista, Lynchburg, Norfolk and most recently at Washington Street Church in Alexandria. Educated at the University of Virginia and Drew Theological Seminary, Watts is married to Jean Watts, a registered nurse. The family includes an adult son, Ben, who lives in Arlington. The Rev. Jerry Campbell, at Greene Memorial for seven years, has moved to Norfolk.

Send information to Frances Stebbins, Neighbors Religion, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010-2491 by noon Thursday and include a number where you can be reached during the day.

Want to know what's going on in the religion 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