Blue Ridge Baptist Association Annual Meeting

YOUR 411OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

News for Blue Ridge Baptists

The Blue Ridge Baptist Association Annual meeting & celebration will take place at Paramount Baptist Church in Hagerstown on October 12, 2015, 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

We urge leaders and church members from EVERY church to attend this year's celebration of the work that God is doing in our 6 county/3 state region!

In an effort to get a RECORD ATTENDANCE at this year's BRBA annual meeting and celebration, we are offering two vacation get away opportunities to the Pastor who gets the highest percentage of his regular attending membership to attend with him on October 12th! Gift cards will go to the pastor and a runner up to go to Eden Resort in nearby Lancaster PA. (First "prize" $200. get away, second= $100). They can be used for hotel accommodations, restaurant, etc. The guidelines for your pastor to be eligible for these gifts are as follows: 1. Your church must be a current supporting

member of the Blue Ridge Baptist Association. (churches that gave no financial support in 2015 are ineligible)

2. Between October 4-11 your church must inform the association office what your actual average weekly membership is that attends worship (adults only)- so that we

can calculate percentages the night of the annual meeting.

3. Bring as many adult members from your church as possible on Columbus Day evening, and try to get your pastor a free resort get-away!

This is the one opportunity that we have each year to hear what God is doing in and through

our churches - and to celebrate our connection together as a family of churches enjoying greater success in reaching our region for Christ through partnership and cooperation! This year you will

experience:

•Many Ministry Resource Tables that can help your church increase outreach.

•Mass Choir that is open to all (rehearsal begins at the church at 5:30 PM).

•Updates on Association sponsored Mission Trips (new youth trip in 2016).

•New resources available to our churches will be on display.

•Networking/regional partnering with our State Convention and other groups.

•Opportunities for musicians to get involved in new musical groups forming.

•Introductions of new Associational contractors and staff.

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The Mid-Atlantic Baptist Network will host it’s Annual meeting & celebration at Clarion Hotel in Ocean City, Maryland Date: November 8 -10, 2015,

Each Year the MABN hosts a celebration of the ministry that is happening in our area. Please consider making the trip down to Ocean City. Find out more at http://bcmd.org.

Annual Meeting Keynote Speaker

The BLUE RIDGE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION is proud to announce that our keynote speaker for the Annual Meeting at Paramount Baptist Church on October 12th at 7 PM will be REV. CARMON HARTSFIELD. Carmon pastored churches for over 40 years in Texas and Maryland before retiring in 2003 in Gordonsville, VA. He served as senior pastor at Landover Hills Baptist Church for over 25 years, and taught seminary extension classes to local new pastors and leaders. You will be blessed by this wonderful servant of God!

Annual Meeting Resource Tables

The BRBA Annual meeting will feature many resource tables to assist you in your ministry. Just to name a few: •MY HOPE with Billy Graham, •OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD •DOMINICAN REPUBLIC MISSIONS •SBC DISASTER RELIEF •FREDERICK RESCUE MISSION •THE HOPE CENTER AT THE HAGERSTOWN

RESCUE MISSION •BUILDING HOPE MINISTRIES • many more!

Communications Specialist/Newsletter - Carissa Beard Carissa has a B.A. in English from Pensacola Christian College and is currently working towards a M.A. in Professional Counseling from Liberty University. She taught high school and middle school English for 8 years before becoming a full-time stay at home mom. She has done freelance writing for various organizations. She is passionate about local churches impacting their communities to communicate the Gospel. In her “free” time she enjoys reading, playing the piano, gardening, and playing chauffeur to her four children.

Carissa's husband Jay has served on staff at 3 churches in BRBA, and they currently serve at First Baptist Church of Thurmont

together. Carissa will be writing and editing the association’s bi-monthly newsletter, disseminating information to our member churches, and generally keeping you in the know about what is going on and how to better connect with other churches, opportunities in the region, and resources for missions and ministry.

You can reach Carissa at 240-575-4495 or via email: carissa@blueridgebaptist.org

Media and IT Contractor - Phil Graves Phil Graves has been working with the BRBA as a media and IT person for the past 13 years. He lives in Brunswick, MD and owns his own company called All Saints Media. They do web and graphic design, IT, and Search Engine Optimization (SEO). He is also the senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Brunswick, where he has served for the past four years. He and his wife Kristie, have 3 children, Kara who is 11, Ethan who is 9, and Owen who is 5. They are currently working to adopt a fourth child from Eastern Europe. She has special needs and they covet your prayers as they work their way through this process. If there is anything that he can do to help your church with your

technology needs, please let him know.

You can reach Phil at 301-788-7424 or via email at: phil@blueridgebaptist.org

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BRBA Introduces New Staff & Private Contractors

Administrative Assistant - Liz Coleman Liz Coleman holds a AA degree from Kaplan University and a BS degree from Liberty University in Education. She has worked as a teacher, done administrative work with Citicorp in Hagerstown, and was certified as a EMT while living in Alaska. She is excited about working with the churches in the Blue Ridge Baptist Association and is an active member at New Hope Church in Inwood, WV. She lives in Martinsburg, WV with her 11 year old daughter and also works as a substitute teacher at Faith Christian Academy in Martinsburg. In her spare time Liz likes volunteering with several charities in the Eastern Panhandle region.

Liz will work 12-15 hours weekly as administrative support to our churches, and in most cases will answer the BRBA phone or return your call when you contact us by phone. We're happy to have Liz aboard!

You can reach Liz at 240-818-8760 or via email: liz@blueridgebaptist.org

Youth Ministry Coordinator - Matt Gregory Pastor Matt Gregory is our volunteer Youth Ministry coordinator. He is in charge of helping our churches work together to equip teens to share Christ in our communities. Matt and his wife Donna have served in several BRBA churches. They currently attend Summit Trace Church in Frederick. Matt works in the Plumbing Department at Lowes and Donna is an Administrative assistant at Rev Drill in Frederick.

Matt can be reached at 240-575-4346 or via email: youth@blueridgebaptist.org

Fleet Manager - Dave Hays Pastor Dave Hays is the new BRBA contact person for your church to make reservations to borrow Associational vehicles for church mission trips, events, and transportation needs. Dave is a native of Hagerstown, MD. He is married to his wife Ilze, and they have two children - Paul, age 4 and Esther, age 2. He attended Heritage Academy locally in the 1980's and then got an advanced degree from Cedarville University. He also has a master's degree in Christian counseling. He is the pastor of Battlefield Bible Church, where most of our vehicles are housed and available for pick up.

Dave can be reached at 301-991-2084 or via email: dave@blueridgebaptist.org

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More Private ContractorsTreasurer/Bookeeper/Financial Secretary - Lisa Molnar Lisa Molnar graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a BS in Business Administration in Accounting and Management Information Science. She worked with Mellon Bank in Pittsburgh for 14 years as a Internal/IT Auditor, and Business Application Design Analyst. Lisa and her family settled in Hagerstown MD in 2003. Lisa was an active member of Virginia Avenue Baptist Church, where she was served as Church Clerk, Librarian, and with the Women’s and Children’s ministries. Lisa has been the volunteer Assistant Treasurer for BRBA since January, 2012. In her spare time, Lisa enjoys reading, walking, and quilting. At this time Lisa, her husband of 34 years - Terry, and their daughters Crystalyn (26)

and Deanna (23) attend Paramount Baptist Church. You can reach Lisa at 301-582-4484 or via email: lisa@blueridgebaptist.org

Birthdays

October 05 Don Cherry 07 Brian Hamilton 17 Brenda Coblentz 20 Allen Youngbar 24 Jon Beall

November 05 Janeen Lyche 10 Kristie Graves 12 Joan Stalls 17 Scott Johnston 18 Joan Overly 19 Jennifer Dukes 22 Clint Cuthrie 23 Ken Oyerly 25 Larry Zecher

Anniversary

Oct 5 Johnston Oct 18 Simpson Nov 1 Burcher Nov 4 Zecher Nov 19 Youngbar

Event Calendar

October is Pastor Appreciation Month!

October - Cooperative Program Emphasis Month (SBC).

October 7 - Pastor/Staff Fellowship breakfast at Bonnie’s at the Red Byrd in Keedysville.

October 10 - Disaster Relief Training ay First Baptist Church of Delaware in New Castle, DE. See bcmd.org/dr-trainings for details.

October 11- World Hunger Sunday (SBC).

October 12 - BRBA Annual Meeting at Paramount Baptist Church in Hagerstown. Doors open at 6:30.

NOVEMBER

November 4 - Pastor/Staff Fellowship breakfast at Boob Evans on Route 40 in Frederick.

November 8 - 10 - 180th BCM/D Annual Celebration in Ocean City. See bcmd.org/calendar for details.

November 1- Children’s Mission Celebration Day (SBC).

November 26- December 6 - Week of Prayer for Lottie Moon International Missions Offering (SBC).

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Summit Trace Church - Frederick Summit Trace is hosting a Chili Cook-off to benefit their host school, Lincoln Elementary School on Saturday, October 24 from 12-2pm.

First Baptist Church- Frederick First Baptist Church of Frederick is hosting a trunk or treat on Saturday October 10 from 3-6pm.

In the Churches

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South End Baptist Church - Frederick South End Baptist is hosting a Trunk or Treat on Saturday October 31 from 6-8 pm.

Several member churches are participating in CareNet’s Walk for Life on Sunday October 4 at Baker Park Bandshell in Frederick beginning at 1 pm.

First Baptist Church - Hagerstown First Baptist Church of Hagerstown and the Blue Ridge Baptist Association will sponsor a breakfast featuring the pastor that we always connect with in the Dominican Republic each Spring for our mission trips - where

Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes are distributed. Pastor Fidel will be with us for a very special time of fellowship and opportunity to learn about and sign up for BRBA - DR missions - on Saturday morning, October 24th at 9 AM. There is no cost for this breakfast event. Details for the Spring 2016 mission tour will be available that morning. Come hear what God is doing through our partnership missions in the DR!

Pleasant Valley Baptist Church - Rohrersville Pleasant Valley Baptist Church will be opening their food bank to the community on Saturday, October 17 and Saturday, November 21 from 9am-12pm

PRAYER REQUESTS:

Our Director of Missions, Bruce Conley who is going through a very difficult time with a family matter at this time.

Our nation's leaders and the decisions being made - that God would be honored and asked for guidance as crucial matters are decided in our country.

Please pray for Rev. Bob Mackey - Director of Missions with the Baltimore Association who is going through some tests and treatments for a illness. PRAISE GOD for the appointment of Pastor Rick Hancock to serve as Director of Missions with the Mid-Maryland Baptist Association - our neighbors to the east of BRBA. Rick is a former President of the Baptist Convention of MD/DE and has served churches in Maryland for many years.

Please pray for the following churches that are (or will soon be) searching for pastors:• Covenant Church in Shepherdstown, WV• Faith Baptist Church in Knoxville, MD• Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in• South End Baptist Church• First Baptist of Brunswick, MD (youth and children's minister) Pray for our Director of Missions, Bruce Conley who is going through a verydifficult time with family matters at this time.

Pray for the leaders in our nation, and the ones who aspire to positions of leadership. Pray for Western Baptist Association and some very hard decisions that will need to be made in the future. Kenny Heath is DOM. Pray for the MABN (State Baptist Convention) as they seek a new leader and Executive Director. Pray that their annual meeting in Ocean City will be a true celebration of what God is doing in our 550+ churches from Ocean City to Deep Creek Lake! Pray for Ruth Miller, wife of retired pastor Bill Miller (members FBC Hagerstown) who is in Meritus Hospital with health issues. Pray for Mae and Fred Argilan as they enter into a new season of life - retirement! Pray that God would bless them for their many years of service to the Association and local churches, and give them wonderful travels together!

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20810A National Pike Boonsboro, MD 21713

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