See how students did what was “Required” by serving others at MC2
Youth on Mission This Summer
It’s September and for thousands of students all over the state of Virginia, summer is officially over. For many students, the typical question, “what did you do over summer vacation?” will be answered in a very untypical way. Rather than spending their summer sleeping late, watching TV, going to the pool, or simply working a summer job, hundreds of students across Virginia spent time this summer helping others. At Impact Virginia! camps, students repaired and upgraded 50 different homes. During MC2, students worked throughout the city of Lynchburg in healthcare facilities, a juvenile detention center, on construction projects, in apartment complexes ministering to children and distributing water, and at Eagle Eyrie sprucing up the camp with landscaping projects. For several students, the mission to help others took them all the way across the Atlantic to South Africa. Several of the participants on the mission teams ministering during the 2010 FIFA World Cup were high school and college students. Our Virginia Baptist students are not only the future of the church, they are being the church right now and giving everyone a beautiful example of what it means to be the presence of Christ in the world.
Check out all the following resources to see how your Virginia Baptist students spent their summer "vacations."
- Impact Virginia! Mission Camp Photos and Videos
- MC2 2010 Religious Herald Article
- MC2 Media
- 2010 FIFA World Cup Teams
Did your youth group have a special mission project this summer?
Tell us your students' stories. Do you have a video or photos you'd like to share with the rest of our Virginia Baptist family? Send us your stories!
This Month's Kingdom Vision with John Upton
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Ministry to children, teenagers, and young adults are important to Virginia Baptists, and we are coming up with exciting new ideas on how to approach all these ministries. Listen as John shares a story about a group of children who wrapped their friend Harlequin in a colorful costume of love and how this story reminded him of how much children can teach us about what it means to be church.
READ FULL ARTICLE
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Youth EnCounter: Waterview Four friends with a “can do” attitude did whatever it took to get their paralytic friend to Jesus. Are you ready to do whatever it takes to follow Jesus and bring your friends to him? Join students as they gather to hear Randy Cooksey, Associate Pastor, Mathews Baptist Church, and worship with Skyline Drive. Visit the Youth EnCounter website to get more information on this and other YEC events.
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Virginia Baptist Men’s Gathering Join with men from around the state as they gather for a one-day event, which begins with prayer and then the Bigger Breakfast. This year, the focus is on Hunger Ministries and is led by Randy Ashcraft, VBMB's Pastor in Residence. Register now for this event! |
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Virginia Baptist Women's Chorale Come hear female music leaders from all across the state present an inspiring concert of sacred music. |
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Junior High Weekend Power, when used for good, can be a transformational force in the world! God’s power through the Holy Spirit can help to change direction, impact events and relationships, and turn hearts toward God. Join students from across the state for a weekend of imagining how the Holy Spirit can work in and through their lives. The speaker for the weekend is David Rhodes of Wayfarer Ministries and the worship leader is Logan Jones, Worship Leader at Northminster Church, Richmond, VA. |
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All-State Choirs 2011 Auditions Any student (grades 4-12 and college freshmen) who is part of a BGAV church is invited to audition for the Virginia All-State Choirs. Students planning to participate should submit an audition tape/CD through their Minister of Music, Music Director, or Pastor – all forms and audition recordings should be postmarked by October 22, 2010. For more information, visit the All-State Choirs webpage or contact Debbie Cobb or Tom Ingram at the Office of Worship and Church Music Ministries at 800.255.2428, ext. 6235. |
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ACP—Data That Makes a Difference The Annual Church Profile (ACP) is a process of collecting data from Virginia Baptist Churches. By being a part of ACP Reporting, your church helps provide valuable data that enables a knowledgeable look at the growth and potential of Virginia Baptist Churches. Some of the information collected and compiled includes: church leadership, membership, Sunday school, baptisms, discipleship, financial information, Vacation Bible School, and missions. In addition, trends can be established and new ways to minister to churches can be researched. We at the Virginia Baptist Mission Board use this information to further the Kingdom Advance and are counting on you to help make a difference! Read about ACP for more information. |
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Our long-term response plans following the earthquake in Haiti are progressing with increased speed and intensity now that much of the paperwork and logistics have been settled. The Haiti Baptist Convention has worked diligently and has moved forward with great strides over the past several weeks. Homes are being built, a single mom of five children has accepted Christ as her Savior, and progress is being made in the construction of an orphanage for children whose parents died during the earthquake. To find out more details about all the wonderful work being done as Virginia Baptists work alongside their partners to minister to the Haitian people, visit the Haitian Earthquake webpage. |
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Southwest Virginia Partnership Churches and individuals from all over Virginia are investing their time and energies serving in Southwest Virginia. Groups from Bealeton Baptist Church, Bealeton, and Lakewood Baptist Church, Lynchburg, teamed up to replace a roof and complete numerous inside repairs involving insulation, installing drywall, and painting.
The homeowner said, “My life was truly blessed this week by the teams that worked at my house. God is awesome. Words can never express how blessed I was by this experience. Thanks to everyone!” Find out how you can get involved in serving your neighbors in southwest Virginia through the Southwest Virginia Partnership. |
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October is World Hunger Awareness Month and World Hunger Awareness Day is October 10. On October 16, the VBMB and WMUV are sponsoring a Hunger Summit to help churches and individuals learn how they can tackle hunger in their communities. For registration information and to find out about more opportunities for your church to address hunger, visit the VBMB Hunger Ministries webpage or the WMUV Hunger Initiatives webpage. For additional information, contact Maria Lynn or Dean Miller. |
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BGAV Connect:2010 Annual Meeting Come join us at the 187th BGAV Annual Meeting! This year’s theme, "A Story Worth Living," will explore how Virginia Baptists are living out their faith. Come hear our inspirational speakers who will share how their lives are living out the message of Christ. Churches of the BGAV are reaching out to those in their communities and the world more than ever before. Whether it’s a food pantry ,a clothes closet, or a soup kitchen ministry, or perhaps something more ambitious, the Program Committee wants to know about it. If you’ve posted a video on your website or submitted an article to your church newsletter, then the Program Committee just needs a copy of it. Write to Mila Spaulding to provide your outreach stories or call her at 804.749.8690. Messenger packets should arrive at churches in the coming weeks. Please contact Rita Smith at 800.255.2428, ext. 1204 if you do not receive your packet. For more information on lodging, breakout sessions, guest speakers, registration, and more, visit the BGAV Connect:2010 website. |
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At this time of the year, church budget committees begin the process of deciding how much
the church
will give to Cooperative Missions. It’s more than crunching the numbers.
It’s more than paying the bills.
It’s more than balancing the budget.
It’s how much the church multiplies its offerings to
reach the world for
Christ
through ministries supported by Cooperative Missions.
It’s a simple equation. Do the math.
Calculate the exponential growth of ministry
that is possible through
the combined giving power of over 1,400 Baptist General
Association
of Virginia churches
to Cooperative Missions. Go figure.
For free downloadable ads for use in your church bulletin,
click here.
