Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 28, 1995 TAG: 9509280064
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FRANCES STEBBINS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
FOUR ROANOKE VALLEY CENTERS, St. Francis House, the Presbyterian Community Center, the West End Center and the Samaritan Inn, will receive a share of the funds from the Oct. 8 CROP Walk. The remaining funds go to needs outside the community through Church World Service. The four centers, all in inner-city Roanoke, provide food and other necessities for the needy.
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH will observe Salem World Communion Sunday with an international program at its 8:45 and 11 a.m. worship services Sunday. The program includes bagpipe music and a talk by Bret Gresham, a youth who recently returned from Russia.
BETHLEHEM BIBLE COLLEGE, an evangelical Christian program established in 1987, has extended its registration for the fall session through Oct. 15. Classes will be taught in New Testament Survey, Job, Romans, Acts and the art of preaching. Call 362-2586 for more information. The school is a ministry of Bethlehem Baptist Church at 3017 Ivyland Drive S.E.
THE CITY RESCUE MISSION, an evangelical Christian shelter serving the needy for more than 50 years, raised more than $4,500 in a recent "Great Sleep-out," a project where youth who spent a night outdoors on behalf of the mission, sought donations and sponsors.
CONNELLY MEMORIAL BAPTIST CHURCH, 3907 Hershberger Road N.W., will celebrate its 40th anniversary Oct. 8. The Rev. Richard Markham of Danville, will be the guest speaker for the 11 a.m. service, and a potluck lunch will be held on the grounds after the service. Former and present staff will be recognized at 2 p.m. Call 563-4971 for more information.
TWO ROANOKE CONGREGATIONS, St. John's Episcopal and Deliverance churches, have scheduled a pulpit exchange during October. On Sunday, members of the Episcopal parish and the Rev. Thomas O'Dell, rector, will go to Deliverance Church at 2002 Mercer Ave. N.W. for the 11:30 a.m. service.
On Oct. 29, the Rev. Lorraine Alston, pastor, will bring a group from Deliverance to St. John's at Elm Avenue and South Jefferson Street for the 9 a.m. worship. Special music will be part of each service.
THE CHILDREN OF PRAISE CHOIR of Bibleway Pentecostal Church of Christ, 501 13th St. N.W., will celebrate its first anniversary Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. with a concert at the church. Several individuals and the Fleming Gospel Chorus are on the program.
MARY SINK ST. JOHN, who is leaving the staff of the Camp Bethel conference center Oct. 15 after five years as its program director, will be honored Saturday at Summerdean Church of the Brethren, 6604 Plantation Road. A reception will be from 2 to 4 p.m.
EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCHin the Kingstown community will have revival services Monday through Friday nightly at 7. The Rev. J.A. Keaton of Central Baptist of Roanoke will speak Monday and Friday. The Rev. David Keaton of Macedonia Baptist will preach Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
INSPIRATION FOR YOU, a new Christian fellowship for women, will have its first dinner meeting on Saturday from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at the Chinatown Restaurant. A donation of $20 covers buffet dinner and material for the seminar. Call 981-0110 for more information.
COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH has chosen the Rev. Frank C. Preston, an intentional interim pastor for the past seven years, as its interim minister. A former Florida resident, Preston is under contract to the Southwest church to serve for a year or less. Covenant's former pastor, the Rev. James Riach, left for a Montana parish in late June.
MIKE CARROLL, a graduate of Salem High School and former staff member of Peters Creek Church of the Brethren, has become part-time youth director at Oak Grove Church of the Brethren. The church also has a community program for junior high youth each Wednesday from 7 to 8 p.m.
CHOSEN PEOPLE MINISTRIES, a national agency promoting the conversion of Jews to Christianity, will be the focus of a program at 6 p.m. Oct. 8 at Calvary Memorial Church, 2226 Colonial Ave. S.W. Speaker will be the Rev. Larry Jaffrey who will demonstrate customs of the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles service.
CHRISTIAN LIFE SEMINARS, four programs to promote simplicity in family living, will begin Wednesday at Oak Grove Church of the Brethren, 2138 McVitty Road S.W. Leading the sessions each Wednesday through Oct. 25 will be Dr. David Moore, a family therapist, and the Rev. Ed Woodard, pastor. The programs will begin with a meal at 5:45 p.m., followed by a Bible study at 6:30 p.m. Call 774-0595 for more information.
GRACE CHURCH, an evangelical Christian congregation at 2731 Edgewood St. S.W., will sponsor an Evangelism Conference Oct. 13-15. Keynote speaker will be the Rev. Jimmy Gallant III, an associate evangelist for the John Guest Evangelism team and inner city worker. He also will speak on Friday and Saturday nights at 7, on Sunday at 10:45 a.m. and will lead a discussion on Sunday night at 6.
Also participating in the weekend event are: Tim Martin, representing Roanoke Child Evangelism Fellowship; Mike Ashburne of Young Life; and Tom Oster, state director of Inner Varsity. Call 982-0105 for more information.
SALLY JOHNSTON has joined the staff of Raleigh Court Presbyterian Church as its part-time youth director. She holds master's and doctoral degrees from the Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond and has taught at Union Theological Seminary. She will work Thursday afternoons and Sunday evenings.
REVIVAL SERVICES will be held Oct. 9 through 13 at St. John African Methodist Episcopal Church, 3019 Rutrough Road S.E. Worship will begin nightly with prayers at 7:30. The guest evangelist is the Rev. Clifton R. Wilson, pastor of Union Chapel A.M.E. Church in Norfolk.
THE REV. G. ELMO RENEGAR, pastor of Clifftop Baptist Church in Beaver, W. Va., will conduct revival services Sunday through Friday at Grace and Truth Baptist Church 3541 Orange Avenue N.E. Sunday night service will begin at 7 with others at 7:30.
A NEW CONGREGATION known as St. Nicholas Giver of Gifts has become affiliated with Friends Catholic Community Church, an independent group that considers itself part of the apostolic lineage. Its pastor is Bishop Anthony Hash, who was consecrated in June.
For more information about the congregation, which meets at a home in the Vinton area, call 977-7811.
SECOND CHANCE, a Southern gospel trio, will perform at 5 p.m. Oct. 7 at Belmont United Methodist Church, 806 Jamison Ave. S.E. The free program is part of the church's Neighborhood Appreciation Days.
ROANOKE VALLEY CONGREGATION IN in the Virginia Baptist State Convention are trying to raise $10,000 to support the Virginia Baptist Children's Home in Petersburg. The drive was launched Sept. 24 with a program, led by the home's director, Janice Mack,and its children's choir, at First Baptist Church of Salem.
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH in downtown Salem will have a concert by Say-So Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. A love offering will be taken.
The church also has begun a $220,000 project to renovate its buildings, some of which date back more than 40 years. The project will include improved accessibility for the handicapped, window and carpet replacement, painting, and improved lighting of the fellowship hall.
LAKESIDE BAPTIST CHURCH, 447 Dalewood Ave. in Salem, has planned a Round-up Day on Sunday. Beginning with Sunday school at 9:45 a.m., the activity will include worship at 10:55 and a cookout lunch and music by the Star City Singers. Those coming may wear old-fashioned dress.
THE WALK FOR THE HUNGRY, the annual six-mile hike known as CROP - for Christian Rural Overseas Program - will be Oct. 8 and workers and sponsors are needed. Wasena Park will be the starting and ending site, and registration will begin at 1:30 p.m.
A fourth of the money raised remains in the Roanoke Valley to buy food for shelters and pantries for the needy. The rest of the money, administered by Church World Service, goes to emergency and ongoing needs elsewhere. Call 890-3128 for sponsor forms and other information.
CHILDREN'S SABBATH, a nationally supported weekend observance for people of all faiths concerned about child poverty, is set for Oct. 20-22. The Mental Health Association of the Roanoke Valley is sponsoring the observance and has free materials suitable for several religious groups. Call 344-0931 for more information.
ERNIE PHILLIPS, a Southern Gospel singer formerly with The Kingsmen quartet, will perform Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church, 4404 Williamson Road N.W. An offering will be taken.
RENEWAL SERVICES will begin Oct. 1 at Blue Ridge Church of the Brethren on U.S. 460 in Blue Ridge. The Rev. Paul Fike, a retired pastor, will preach then.
The Rev. David Shumate, Virlina District executive, will preach Oct. 8. Other retired pastors, the Rev. Robert Jones and the Rev. Richard Gottshall, will be heard on Oct. 22 and 29 respectively. Paul Foster will lead the singing. All services start at 7 p.m.
Send information to Frances Stebbins, Neighbors, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke 24010-2491 by noon Thursday. Include a daytime telephone 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.
Memo: NOTE: Shorter version ran in East, South & West editions.