Advance Notice, June 2007

All of the contents in this eNewsletter are for your use. Please feel free to use the information and illustrations in sermons, in newsletters, church bulletins, and on your website.

John V. Upton, Executive Director

Welcome to the latest edition of Advance Notice. We hope that this monthly eNewsletter provides you with relevant, useful information and resources.

“Church Life in the Summer Starts with the Children”

As a pastor, one of my favorite duties was the dedication of babies. Mom and Dad stand there holding the child. We present him or her, and the parents say the child’s name. We ask them if they’ll raise the child in the love of God, and they say, “We will.” We ask the church if they will do their part to love and nurture the child in faith, and they say, “We will.” Then we all pray for the child and for the parents.

Then comes my favorite part. You take the child in your arms as pastor and walk into the congregation, showing the child’s face to the congregation and the congregation’s face to the child. This is especially fun if the child has gotten old enough to stare at you and study you and look amused or concerned. As this walk is made, the pastor talks to the child, tells the child that these people are all his or her new big brothers and sisters, and says: “Don’t they look interesting?” and “All of them are going to love you and watch you grow” and “We’ll listen to you and learn from you” and “We’ll tell you the greatest of all stories.” Up and down the aisle we go, saying such fun words.

More...

SMC is a great annual tradition that gets better each year! Children who completed grades 4-8 in 2007 can join the fun.

Are you ready to “Take the Next Step” to advance God’s kingdom? Then join us at MC2 (Missions Connection Celebration) for a week of hands-on mission/service projects, Bible study, skill development, worship, fellowshipping, and story sharing.

NEW name! NEW location! NEW schedule! Check out the ALL NEW YEC!

• Five days in the Blue Ridge Mountains • Private dorm rooms or campsites available • Full meal service cafeteria style • Flexible days to do what you wish

June is always celebrated for the emancipation of the slaves in the United States. On June 19, 1865, the slaves in Galveston, Texas, heard a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation; and forever after, “Juneteenth” has been celebrated around the world. The full legal steps also were taken in June 1865, following the Civil War, when the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed, thereby abolishing slavery.

Prior to the Civil War and to the constitutional change, there were some Virginia Baptists who freed their slaves. Thaddeus Herndon and Traverse Herndon, two brothers from Fauquier County, Virginia, were among the progressive Baptists who sent their slaves to Liberia. More...

As always, we want to hear from you with your feedback. How can we better communicate with you? How can we better serve you? Let us know your thoughts by sending an e-mail to Paige Peak at paige.peak@vbmb.org.

Each month in this space we feature a different BGAV ministry partner. We hope these articles will help you gain a greater understanding of the Baptist General Association of Virginia.

In April 2007, the Virginia Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services changed its name to “HopeTree Family Services.” The Mission of HopeTree Family Services is to provide Christian residential and support services to at-risk children and youth, and to adults with developmental disabilities.

HopeTree provides care to at-risk children and youth through six programs: (1) Emergency Care, (2) Foster Care & Adoption, (3) the Gus Mitchell School, (4) Residential Care, (5) Independent Living, and (6) WOODS (Wilderness Outdoor Opportunity Discovery Schools). HopeTree also has a Developmental Disabilities Ministry that operates group homes for adults with developmental disabilities.

Visit www.HopeTreeFS.org.

That HopeTree was originally founded in 1890 as the Baptist Orphanage of Virginia?
That HopeTree provides care to over 400 families every 12 months?
That by the end of this summer, HopeTree will have 15 group homes across the state to provide residential care to adults with developmental disabilities?
That HopeTree has facilities in 12 different communities in the state?
That HopeTree offers home studies for those participating in private or international adoptions?

When disaster strikes, Virginia Baptists respond to the call for help and the call to serve. Whether it’s hurricane or homelessness, tragedy or poverty, Virginia Baptists are ready to go as witnesses to our state, nation, and world. We go to feed. We go to shovel mud and haul debris. We go to offer emotional and spiritual care. We go to provide child care. We go to teach missions. We go to live missions. When it’s time to go, we can because of the combined giving power of over 1,400 Baptist General Association of Virginia churches to Cooperative Missions.

For free downloadable ads for use in your church bulletin, eNewsletter and/or website, click here.

Each month, we will provide you with downloadable calendars to guide you in reading the Bible through in 2007. This month, we are including the July 2007 calendar. We are strong believers in reading God’s Holy Word, and we pray that these calendars will help you and your church in reading the Bible regularly. Each calendar is provided in two formats (8.5 x 11 and 5.5 x 8.5, the latter designed for bulletin inserts) and may be viewed and downloaded here.

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