ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, November 16, 1996 TAG: 9611180021
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: In Religion
SOURCE: MARY LOU BRUTON
In April, the civil war in the African nation of Liberia worsened, and even the emergency aid groups left the seaside capital city of Monrovia. Included in the large number of evacuated people were Assemblies of God missionaries John and Judy Young, who had been in West Africa since 1984.
The Youngs are both ordained ministers with the Assemblies of God and have been in active ministry since 1975. Originally from the Virginia Beach area, they were instrumental in establishing Higher Ground, a retreat center in Hillsville.
In Africa, they first served in northern Nigeria. At the Bible school they started there, they helped to train the first Assemblies of God Fulani-tribe convert to Christianity, who then became a missionary to his own people.
In 1993, the Youngs went to Cameroon, where John Young oversaw the building of the first French-speaking Pentecostal Bible school. While in Cameroon, they became aware of the plight of the many young boys in Liberia who were suffering because of the country's devastating six-year war. The boys had been removed from their homes and forced to fight as soldiers.
In July 1995, the Youngs arrived in Liberia to start work on "The Redemption Center," a place where they hoped to help rehabilitate the children involved in the war. As the work progressed toward opening the center, so did the political unrest. On April 12, the Youngs were evacuated from Monrovia, where they were living.
The unrest continues in West Africa, but the missionaries are already planning to return. Early next year they will go to the small West Coast country of Gambia, where they will open a new field of ministry. They still hope to return to Liberia and finish the work they started there.
The Youngs will be special guests Sunday at Tried-Stone Christian Center, 2100 North Main St., Blacksburg. The Rev. Vincent Guerra invites the community to the 10:45 a.m. service, where the missionaries will address the children in the service, and then the adults.
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Grace Episcopal Church, Fourth and Harvey streets, Radford, has called the Rev. Jim Workman to be the new rector. Workman was called from St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Fincastle. Previously a Presbyterian pastor in North Carolina and in Florida, he said he was converted to Episcopal worship while in England "through the words of the 1662 Communion liturgy."
A parish pancake breakfast will be served at 9:30 a.m. Sunday as part of Workman's welcome.
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A new congregation in Christiansburg will mark its beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday with the first gathering of its Sunday school. The Congregational Holiness Church is establishing a new church at 1040 South Harless St. The Rev. and Mrs. David Jones invite the community to worship with them at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
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First Baptist Church, 1730 West St., Radford will celebrate its 125th anniversary Sunday at 3:30 p.m., with special guests the Rev. Adrian Dowell and the congregation from Shiloh Baptist Church, Roanoke. The church is historically linked with the beginnings of Shaeffer Memorial Baptist, Christiansburg; First Missionary Baptist, New River; Zion Hill Baptist, Radford; and Slate Hill Baptist. The Rev. Coles Casey invites the public to attend.
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The Redeemers Quartet will sing at the Word of Faith Pentecostal Church in Rich Creek on Sunday at 6 p.m. The Rev. Kevin English is the pastor of the church, located on Virginia 642 and 219 in the Midway area of Giles County.
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Workmanby CNB