Our teams at the five sites are working with an approximate total of 500 persons from the various communities.  We expect to see this number grow tomorrow and again Friday.  We thank the Lord for the opportunity to serve each individual.  At most sites we have a good distribution of adults, youth and children.  Harold Cook and I visit each site each day (200 mile round trip).

Saturday, November 6, 2010, 7-9 pm

Hilltop Lanes

$10.00 per person (unlimited bowling and shoes)

We hope that many RVBA youth will take advantage of this fellowship opportunity.  We are asking our churches to notify the RVBA office concerning an approximate number of persons planning to participate in this event by October 23rd.  This will help Hilltop Lanes prepare for our event.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

10:00 am and 7:00 pm (1 ½ hour sessions)

Melrose Baptist Church

This conference is being sponsored by the Christian Leadership Council of the RVBA and hosted by Melrose Baptist Church.  The purpose is to help our churches and members become more effective in practicing Biblical stewardship in every area of life.  The conference will provide the following sessions:

INTRODUCTION TO FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY (Presenter:  Frank Terry, member, North Roanoke Baptist Church).  Several RVBA churches have offered Financial Peace University (FPU) through their ministry.  Frank Terry will share North Roanoke Baptist Church’s experience with this program and provide an overview concerning FPU.  FPU consists of a 13-week video curriculum—taught by financial expert Dave Ramsey—that incorporates small-group discussions to encourage accountability and discipleship.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID FOR COLLEGE (Presenter:  Sheila Nelson-Hensley, Director of Financial Aid, Bluefield College).  This session is designed for students and parents of students who are in college or are planning to enter college within the next two years.  The purpose is to provide information concerning financial resources to help with college as well as about the process of securing those resources.

WILLS AND ESTATES (Presenter:  Ann Green, attorney, member, Bonsack Baptist Church).  This session will help individuals and churches learn the importance of having a will and the process of writing a will.  The session will address the following:  what will happen if you pass away without a will, how assets are distributed through a will, what is included in a will, what are some differences between a will and trust, what is a healthcare directive and power of attorney, and more.

CHURCH FINANCES (Presenter: Jeff Cranford,,Financial Support Planning Specialist, Virginia Baptist Mission Board).  This session is designed for church treasurers, finance/stewardship committee members and others who are responsible for church finances.  The purpose of the session is to provide information concerning:  church budgets, proper accounting for receipts and expenditures; pastor/staff salaries, benefits and business expenses; legal concerns and other important issues.

Please keep making ditty bags, knitting scarves, collecting books for BookNet and money to fill the ditty bags.

We appreciate so much your support of this mission trip and as soon as we have more information to pass along we will send it to you.

If you have any questions, please call Debra Burgess at 345-6340 or Pat Dillon at 562-1118.

Thanks again,

RVBA & RVBA WMU

You can help by:

• sponsoring a $30 Angel Food box for a family that will feed them for one week.
• collecting non-perishable food for our upcoming emergency food pantry.
• purchasing food or donating funds for our After-School programs and Ladies programs

If desired, we can place the video on DVD for viewing for your small group or congregation. Literature can also be sent detailing the ways to connect with our neighbors at the mission centers. Please email Nathan (nathan@rvba.org) or call him at 540.632.2632.

The RVBA Evangelism Committee will emphasize reaching senior adults in 2011.  The last time we had such an emphasis upon senior adults was 2006.  We are excited about the possibilities and looking forward to what the Lord will do.

Our Standing Rock photographer, John Powell, is once again making his photos available for anyone who wants them. Proceeds from the discs will benefit our local mission efforts through the Baptist Mission Centers.

You may order photos of your site or of all the sites. All photo discs will include photos from the planning meetings and Sunday’s meeting at Cannon Ball.

You may order the photos by:

• contacting Nathan White at nathan@rvba.org or calling 540.632.2632. If you call, please leave a message with your details and phone number if I cannot answer.
• buying them at the August 24 Standing Rock Dinner at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. Please note that only the $10 data DVD will be for sale at the dinner

To receive your photos, you may:

• pick them up and pay at the Roanoke Valley Baptist Association office (3925 Plantation Road, NE, Roanoke, VA) after two business days
• pick them up and pay at the August 24 Standing Rock Dinner at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church
• have them mailed directly to you (please mail an additional $4 to 3925 Plantation Road, NE, Roanoke, VA)

You may order:

• Data CD of photos from one site: $5
• Data DVD of photos from all sites (including your site): $10
• Data CDs (4 of them) of photos from all sites (to clarify, these contain the same photos as the DVD, but are just burned on CDs instead): $15

If not paying with cash, please write checks to the “Roanoke Valley Baptist Association” with “Standing Rock Photos” in the memo.

Again, please email your order to Nathan White at nathan@rvba.org.

Please spread the word that these are available!