Bill Parker

These classes are meant to include all family members of all ages…parents, kids, teens, young adults. Nursery will be available for ages 3 and younger.

Join us on June 9th as we have a Kick-off Rally in the sanctuary to get ready for our family classes that will start on June 16th. Please let us know you’re planning on joining by registering in the foyer on May 19 or June 2, or going to Community Builder.

With our busy schedules and family activities, we can find it a challenge to get involved in another Bible study or make time to study on our own. It takes another evening away from the family or just doesn’t fit our schedule. Have you ever considered learning to share your faith as a family? Why not take an opportunity to equip yourself, teach and engage your kids in the gospel, and be an example to your kids all at the same time? The barrier for you may be not knowing where to start or what options are available. The Local Missions Team has a resource called “The Way of the Master.” It’s a DVD series with a workbook and includes several applications that have you actually go out and practice what you are learning. It’s not perfect, and we all have different styles; however, it presents a solid foundation designed to better prepare you to share your faith. I found the applications to be challenging and very eye-opening. They raised my awareness of the people that cr oss my path each day and the opportunities (or really missed opportunities) to engage those people in spiritual conversations. Doing it with a family is a great way to have accountability, as well. WARNING: I have found that my kids have been one of my greatest sources of accountability, and they are watching carefully! I have had numerous conversations with my kids as they asked why I didn’t approach someone or reminded me to take some tracts along when going out. It is challenging and convicting!

Our mission at Blue Ridge is Communicating Christ, Building Believers, and Sending Servants. It is based on the Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20), in which we are all called to participate as ambassadors for Christ. As part of that, we need to be prepared to Communicate Christ. It’s not just enough to know the Gospel; we need to know how to communicate it to others.

If you are interested in getting a copy of “The Way of the Master” DVD series and workbooks, email the Local Missions Team at localmissions@brbible.org or contact Peter LaRock (peter.larock@gmail.com) directly.

By Jeff Stocker

“When you come bring the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments.”

The Apostle Paul to his disciple Timothy, as written in 2 Tim. 4:13

I love to read.

I mean, I love it. I usually go through about ten books at a time, alternating between different books and topics constantly. I keep a list of books that I want to tackle next, and I keep a record of what I have covered on the website Goodreads.com. Evidently, the apostle Paul had a love for reading too. Writing from a cold and lonely dungeon, he asked his faithful protegé Timothy to bring his coat, and his books. That’s it.

My love for reading was cultivated in me by my parents years ago. We lived a few doors down from a small library just before I entered elementary school. My dad bribed me with the enticing lure of one penny for every book I read in that library. (To a six year old in the early 70’s, it might as well have been $10 a book!) I would go down in the summer days, pick out about ten books, sit at a table, and start going—and I’ve been doing it ever since—only nobody pays me today.

Oh, I’ve had a few times in life in which I didn’t read as much, or times in which my reading material was dictated to me by the Navy, or flight school, or seminary, but I continued to read. However, despite all of my reading, I never really learned how to effectively read and engage a book until about ten years ago when I picked up Mortimer Adler’s How to Read a Book, along with Howard Hendrick’s Living by the Book. Those two authors changed how I even approach a book to begin with. Mortimer Adler explained that reading is like a pitcher and a catcher. Just as one person is throwing the ball (the author) there must be a catcher (the reader) that is anticipating and reacting to the ball’s trajectory. So too do we come to a book—ready to anticipate and interact with it. That means I keep a pen handy to jot things down, ask questions, and highlight or emphasize things that I want to remember or desire to find out from the author later. I keep a page in Microsoft Onenote of things I need to remember or hold fast to, or great quotes I find.

Along those lines, Howard Hendricks challenged me in the way that I read the Bible. I need to read it in different ways, and from different angles. He gave me lots of ideas on how to change my reading approach, as I seek to read it meditatively, or purposefully, or like a love letter. Reading is a craft and skill that must be continually honed and practiced deliberately. As a result, I’ve learned that the better you read overall, the better you will read your Bible!

This month, I want to encourage you to pick up a particular book. Take some time this summer to read Lit! A Christian Guide to Reading Books by Tony Reinke. Whether or not you are an avid, sporadic, or seasoned reader, this book will challenge and encourage your reading practices. Reinke does a great job of spurring us on to consider what and how we will read. His book follows the format that many of the epistles do: the first half is theology—a theology of reading. The second half is all about practical advice on how and what to read outside of the Bible. Reinke makes a great case for reading different types of books, how to read books, how to adjust to books, when to put a book away and not finish it, and considerations when choosing books. Once again, I found an author that has challenged me to think about how and what I read. Reinke has helped me to change my perspective on fiction (which I seldom have read in the past), as well as how to select what my next book even ought to be.

As the spring season lures you outside to take a few moments of sun with a book in hand, take Lit! with you, and let it change how you will read in the future! (We have a copy of Lit! in our church library, but you might have to wrestle it out of the hands of my wife for now…)

May 12, 2013

Summer is coming when we have more time to try new things. Here are just a few places where we are always in need of people just like you with your specific gifts. And if you don’t know your gifts, you won’t find out by just reading books or attending classes. Start moving and the Holy Spirit will confirm them.

CHECK-IN TEAM – Many of you have used or noticed our new computer check-in system. We need a team of people who can be at the kiosks on both levels before each worship service and Sunday School to set up the stations and to be that friendly guide for anyone who is unfamiliar with the system or are first-time visitors. You don’t have to be a tech person to learn and run these…just “comfortable” with computers is all that’s necessary. Contact me (debbie@brbible.org) for more information.

COFFEE SERVICE – This has been a dream of the deacons since the task has fallen to them for quite some time. We are looking for a couple or single person who loves coffee and wants to provide hospitality by staffing the coffee bar each Sunday. This would include making sure supplies are available, coffee pots are kept full, and all is kept cleaned. Contact me (debbie@brbible.org) for more information.

GREETING TEAM – We need some additional friendly smiles for our Greeting Team. A team of 7-8 people serve each Sunday for one month each quarter. This is an enjoyable way to meet people and it happens when you are already going to be here, so no extra evenings or meetings required. Contact me (debbie@brbible.org) for more information.

KITCHEN MAINTENANCE – Our beautiful kitchen gets used a lot by individuals and groups and on Sunday mornings. We are looking for someone who thrives on keeping things clean and orderly, and has just a few minutes a week to maintain the kitchen. It just involves clearing and cleaning the counter tops, mopping the floor, and washing the towels as needed. Contact me (debbie@brbible.org) for more information.

CHILDREN’S CLASSES – Our Children’s Ministry Director, Regina Gossage is always in need of teachers and volunteers to serve in our ever-growing children’s classes during Sunday School and the worship services. Most of the classes have rotation schedules, so you could sign up for just one Sunday a month, or more if you can. Contact me (debbie@brbible.org) for more information.

MUSICAL TALENT – If you have singing abilities or play a musical instrument, our worship pastor Tom Gossage is always looking for new talent. Contact Tom at tom@brbible.org for further information.

LIFE GROUPS – Please contact our discipleship pastor, Rich Shipe if you are interested in hosting a LIFE group or if you want to find out qualifications for leading a LIFE group. We always need more groups. And of course, getting involved as a participant opens up opportunities to serve within your group. Contact Rich at rich@brbible.org for details.

MINISTERING AS FAMILIES – Teach your kids how to serve and spend time together by working in some of these areas together. Moms and older children are welcome to come in during the week to clean our classrooms and toys. Or kids who need service hours for Scouts, AHG or Awana can contact the church office. Sometimes there are other small projects to do in the church building for kids and parents. Contact me at debbie@brbible.org for details.

There are two choices: Tuesday evenings (6/4 to 8/13), 7:00-9:00pm (no childcare) OR Wednesday mornings (6/5 to 8/14), 9:30-11:30am (with childcare). For the final video session on August 20 both groups will meet at 7:00pm.

For more info and to register, go to brbible.org/bf or contact Karen Gill (jkgillfam@comcast.net) or Debbie Stevenson (debbie@brbible.org). Cost is $20 plus $75 total per family for childcare for the 10 weeks. If you are purchasing a book, deadline to register is May 20. Note: The “updated version” will be used in the study.

Feel free to bring a friend or neighbor who does not attend Blue Ridge.

Women’s Ministry Committee

For my part, this was a vacation! Going on safari seriously can’t be beat. God also used the trip to refresh me physically, emotionally, and spiritually during my time off work. It was great to have extra time to spend studying the Word and reflecting and just to rest. Africa is certainly a different pace! Chrissy and her Uganda community taught me by example about prioritizing people over tasks and being all there in the moment. In addition, it is an awesome thing to fellowship and worship with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ from other cultures and countries!

Spending Easter at Kasana Community Church was such a treat. Hearing both American and Ugandan staff share what motivated them to get connected with NHU built my faith. I also learned so much more about the history and goals of NHU and am extremely impressed with this group of people who are committed to bring the fatherhood of God to the fatherless of Uganda. I experienced what it’s like to grow up, for example, in “Samuel Family”—the family group that knows Chrissy as an “auntie.” Each of the seven family groups at NHU consist of a Ugandan mom and dad, their biological kids, and the 10-15 fatherless Ugandan kids who are blessed to grow up in a loving and real family environment. The night that we ate dinner with the family group, I learned all about ox-plowing and got to try posho and beans, traditional Ugandan fare.

It seems to me like I was the one who clearly benefitted from taking this trip, yet Chrissy assures me it meant much to her as well. I can support Chrissy so much better now that I have experienced what it’s like to live in her community. I can actually picture who and what she describes when we talk on the phone and I ask her what’s happening and how she’s doing. I can pray with more detail. I am also attached now in a very tangible way to the New Hope community and their mission: I know more about what it takes to make sure the NHU sons and daughter have good homes and I know what it takes to support the Ugandan staff who sacrificially live and work there.

And I was able to bless Chrissy, her two housemates, and several Ugandan friends by bringing a whole suitcase-load of gifts and items less readily available in Africa. It struck me that so many times during my trip, Ugandans at New Hope would thank me for coming to visit. To me, I thought this was backwards—they were the ones being welcoming, letting me visit and being a part of their lives—I should be thanking them. However, they continually thanked me because they considered it such an honor that I would consider them worth visiting.

Before this trip, I’m afraid I may have thought going to visit a missionary would be a waste of money that could have been otherwise donated to them. Yet God has been teaching me how important it is to continually grow in knowing Him. And often this is better done in relationship with others. God was gracious to cause growth in my life in just the two weeks of being in Uganda, plus I got to benefit first-hand from all the ways Chrissy has grown in the past six months of living and trusting God in the new and unfamiliar. God definitely works in us all in individual, personal ways—the right answer isn’t always going to be to give money; the right answer isn’t always going to be go visit a missionary. Pray to be sensitive to His Spirit’s leading and then respond! Is He prompting you to pray consistently for a missionary? To give financial or other resources? To bless someone by making the effort to visit? Consider innovative ways you might support a missionary you know!

By Brittany Paist

May 05, 2013

Luke 13:22-35

Jack Gill

Thank you to all of our directors, leaders and clubbers who worked so hard to make this a successful Awana year! We had 45 dedicated leaders who tirelessly came each week to listen to verses and model consistent godly character to the clubbers. Club nights could not run without their service. Please take a moment to thank each of them. Special thank you to our dedicated directors who go above and beyond to make sure records are kept and awards are received. They take time each week outside of club to do all the paper work that ensures clubbers are rewarded. Kudos to Courtney Shipe, Shelly Farley, Peter Forbes, Leah Garber, Carissa Davis, Jon Garber, Jonathan Monroe, Tom and Chelli Monroe, and Todd Harris.

Over 100+ clubbers finished their books this year! Clubbers deserve special recognition who achieved the Sparks Plaque, Timothy, Meritorious and Citation Awards.

The Sparks Plaque is for completing our Sparks program and all three books in it, totaling 150 memorized verses. All recipients are in second grade. Congratulations to Jimmy Chaplin, Tyler Gregory, Kailey Jones, Julia McKenzie, Kenna Powell, Lane Stocker, and Brianna Van.

Timothy Award is the completion of four books, with over 432 verses memorized! Winners this year are: Catherine Fernandes, Renee Garvis, Sarah Murphy, Marissa Nuss, Kaleigh Robinson, Kelsey Robinson, Reagan Hall, Tyler Holdridge, Bailey Brohard, Jessica Jones, Jonathan Nuss, and Chris Nuss.

Meritorious Award is for the completion of six books, including memorizing over 625 verses! Winners this year are: Joe Baer, Beto Berry, Chris Nuss, Jonathan Nuss, and Drew Stocker.

Our Citation Award is the most coveted accomplishment representing the completion of 10 books, including over 1,000 verses memorized, plus reading through the entire Bible and summarizing each book. This award also requires service and missions projects along the way. We have only awarded eight Citation awards in our previous 15 years of Awana at Blue Ridge Bible Church. This year’s awards recipient is Micalah Harris.

Congratulations to all our clubbers who memorized God’s Word. Our goal is to reach boys and girls with the Gospel of Christ and train them to serve Him. Please consider joining us again on September 8th when we begin our 17th year of Awana here.