Missions/Ministries

Mission Opportunities in the Valley and around the World

Volunteers on missions has become an important element in the strategy to reach the world for Christ. Is has always been an important part of the mission of the RVBA, and now, in cooperation with the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, North American Mission Board, and the International Mission Board, we are joining to send volunteers everywhere! Teams from our RVBA churches have gone across town and across the world.

Below is a list of the ways our association provides opportunties to become involved in mission work here in the Valley. If you do not find a place you feel you can help, let us know. We always have a longer list.

Local Mission Volunteer Needs

After-School Care---With more school children needing care between the time school is dismissed and parents get off work, churches are considering beginning an after-school ministry. Already several of our churches have such programs. Leonard Southern serves as the coordinator of this ministry. You can reach him at 380-2044 for assistance.
Acts2---The association helped in developing a ministry to the highly transitional population of the central-city with a ministry called Acts 2. Patterned after the New Testament church, the mission uses house church and cell group dynamics as a means to win those who live in the central- city. Call Todd Meyer at 345-6423 for more information.
Baptist Mission Centers---The association supports two inner-city mission centers--Community Center on Wise and 17th St. and Friendship House on Elm Ave. These centers provide a free pre-school program, children and youth functions, study groups with adults and other programs, including a food pantry. One of the primary ministries of these centers is that of developing loving, redemptive relatiolnships with folks in the neighborhood. Volunteers are always needed for a variety of ministries. Jeri Harris (342-8452) is the director of Community Center. Jane Aliff (343-5437) is the director of Friendship House.
Encourager Ministry---An Encourager ministers for two years as an "Associational Missionary" assisting a church by providing a ministry and developing a leader who will eventually lead that ministry. Eleven Encouragers have been linked to four churches. For more information contact the RVBA Office at 366-7631.
Summer Missions---Every summer the association calls several college students to assist with short-term local mission projects. They have been involved in working at our Baptist Mission Centers, backyard Bible clubs, mobile home parks, serving at some of our small churches, conducted surveys and been involved in new church starts.
Haitian Mission---The association helped assist Ridgewood Baptist in a ministry to the Haitian community in the Valley. The church now has their own building on Cove Road. The pastor of the church uses the Creole language to share the good news. Over 100 persons have been a part of this congregation. Castin Mesadieu is the pastor and can be reached at 981-0819.
Literacy Ministry---Twenty-five tutors have been trained to serve students who need assistance with reading skills. A search is underway to find a volunteer who will discover new pupils for this important ministry. Currently, we need to identify more prospects. Know someone we can help? If interested in this ministry, call the associational office at 366-7631.
Transformers (Operation Fix-Up)---This is a ministry which links owners of substandard housing with church groups willing to be involved in local construction ministry. Paul McDaniel is the project coordinator of this ministry. Call him at 977-2168, if you or your church would like to assist in fix-up or renovation projects in our Valley.
Partnership Missions---Our Valley sent a number of individuals and teams to countries which partner with Virginia Baptists. In addition, a number of our people went to many other places to do mission work. The Missions Development Council gives financial assistance to stimulate churches and individuals to become involved in Partnership Missions. Guidelines for aid have been developed. Preference is given to churches sending more than two persons for the first time. James Reese leads this program and can be reached by calling 890-6686. See the information below.
Parish Nursing---The association plans to have a nurse on staff who will assist churches in developing a parish nursing ministry in each church. The parish nurse would be available to the congregation for nursing needs, referrals and advice. Gerri McDaniel is developing this ministry and can be reached at 977-3903.
Campus Ministry---The association has recently moved to a church-based campus ministry. A Lead Church takes responsibility for a particular campus. The Lead Church provides a Lead Church Campus Minister (staff member of volunteer) who serves on the campus. Partner Churches are those who desire to work on an on-going or event basis in cooperation with the Lead Church.
Truck Stop Ministry---The Truck Stop at Troutville is one of the largest on the east coast. Olin Glidden (562-0635) serves as the volunteer chaplain for this unique ministry. He and other volunteers conduct Sunday services and offers counsel and guidance to truckers who need pastoral care. The management of the truck stop provides an office and other assistance to this ministry. Volunteers are always needed and cookies and other "goodies" are welcomed as a gift to these truckers.
WMU---The RVBA Woman's Missionary Union networks with all churches, state and national WMU organizations to offer all sorts of mission opportunities. Call Judy Hetherington (890-6630) for the latest opportunities.
Disaster Relief---The association makes every attempt to be prepared for inevitable disasters--both personal and those which may be regional in nature. We maintain disaster readiness with supplies for a regional disaster, and have furniture and clean-up crews to help when fire or other disaster strikes an individual or family. Call Paul McDaniel (977-2168) for information or assistance. Call him to volunteer to help in this important ministry.
WMU Witnessing Booth at the Salem Fair --- Thanks for your help with the 2004 Fair!. For more information contact Jeanne Dudley at 375-3246 or jdgmm@QuixNet.net.
Other Ministry Needs Served by the Mission Development Council
The Council also serves as the liaison for our WMU, the Baptist Missionary and Social Union, Baptist Men, and our two Baptist Mission Centers. It is the hope of the Missions Development Council that each church will have a similar Council to coordinate the mission efforts of the entire church as well as the mission organizations of the church.
Partnership Missions

The Virginia Baptist Mission Board has partnered with several states and foreign countries to provide economical, strategic, well-planned mission trips. They maintain a list of places in Pennsylvania, Slovenia, Czech Republic and South Brazil for teams and individuals. Next year Austria will be a partner. To get a list of the opportunities for these places, check out their web site for the most up-to-date information or call 1-800-255-2428 and ask for Partnership Missions.

Going on a Partnership Mission Trip through Virginia Baptists is the best way to go in many cases. These trips are very economical (as such trips go!) and are well-planned. The trips are ones the local missionaries have asked for and those which are strategically planned. For instance, you may go and develop a congregation, and then a team will build a building, the next team will do leadership development, the next team Vacation Bible School in a progressive, intentional order. You will have folks to meet you at the airport and help you get settled, select places for you to stay and eat, and all the things that you cannot do for you or your team. It saves you time and the missionaries time, too. Often Virginia Baptists employs someone from Virginia to serve as the local coordinator, thus freeing up the career missionary from these details. Buying airline tickets in bulk also help cut the costs.
Click here to go to the Virginia Baptist Mission Board Partnership Missions Information
When at the site, click missions, and then volunteer missions.
Financial Grants Are Available From The RVBA
Check it out to see if you qualify..Your association wants to help you go on a mission trip!
The association wants to assist churches and individuals go on Partnership Mission trips. We include a small amount in our budget for scholarships. Those funds are managed by the Missions Development Council. We believe those who volunteer for a mission trip should be aware of the financial costs of the trip and be willing to make a sacrifice to go. The association will help as we are able, and usually a church will rally around the volunteer and give assistance. It is unfair to expect others to finance your trip, and volunteers need to assume they will pay their own way if necessary.
The guidelines for the Missions Development Council grants are as follows:
The Missions Development Council (MDC) will evaluate and make decisions regarding grants. The MDC meets every other month of the year.
Because we feel churches need to give assistance to volunteers, applications from individuals will not generally be accepted unless his/her church has had other recent individual or group volunteers.
Because a church may find it difficult to assist a large team, church which send two or more persons on a team may apply.
Because of our partnership relationships, preference will be given to those who participate in a partnership mission trip through the RVBA or Virginia Baptist Mission Board.
Applications should be sent as soon as possible, but will not be reviewed prior to a year from anticipated service.
Because we want to encourage churches who have never had a volunteer or team go on a partnership mission trip, preference will be given to churches who have never received grants.
The associational Partnership Missions Coordinator is encouraged to utilize the grant funds in order to maintain his/her mission awareness.
Scholarships for any individual shall not exceed 50% of the cost of the trip.
Forms may be obtained by calling the RVBA Office at 540-366-7631 or e-mailing at RVBAssn@aol.com
The MDC reserves the right to hear special appeals when requests which might not meet these guidelines.

Campus Ministry in the Roanoke Valley
The association has an active ministry among college students at Roanoke College, Hollins University, the College of Health Sciences, National College of Business and Technology , and Virginia Western Community College.
For information on the Roanoke College BSU click here.
For more information on the Hollins University BSU click here.
For more information on our ministry at the College of Health Sciences click here.
For more information about BSU in general, or BSUs on other campuses click here.
Our campus ministry is guided by the RVBA and the regional campus minister for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, Vacant. You can e-mail the RVBA at RVBAssn@aol.com.