VIRGINIA STATE ASSOCIATION OF FREE WILL BAPTISTS
ARTICLES IN THIS EDITION
May 2016
A Publication of Virginia Free Will Baptists
Each of the links below will take you directly to that article on this page.
78th VAFWB Convention, June 16-17
Good News FWB Church, Chesterfield
This year's Virginia Association of Free Will Baptists will meet June 16-17 at Good News Free Will Baptist Church in Chesterfield, VA. The theme is “A Burden for the Ministry” and will feature messages by Dr. Dave Nobles, Rev. Glen Johnson, Rev. Marty Puckett, Dr. Bruce Barnes, and Mr. Tommy Goodfellow. The schedule, message themes, and times are provided below.
Thursday Morning
8:00 Executive Board Meeting
9:30 Registration Begins
10:30 Prayer
10:50 Break
11:00 Music: Rejoice, Welch College
Message: Commitment to the Ministry
Messenger: Rev. Glen Johnson
12:00 Lunch
Thursday Afternoon
1:00 Message: Safeguards in Ministry
Messenger: Dr. Bruce Barnes
2:00 Message: Security in Ministry
Messenger: Mr. Tommy Goodfellow
Thursday Evening
6:00 Registration
7:00 Business Session
Hymn
Welcome by the Host Pastor
Welcome by the Clerk
Introduction of Officers
Appointment of Committees
Nominating
Registration & Credentials
Adjourn to Worship
7:15 Music by Host Church
Message: God’s Call to Ministry
Messenger: Dr. Dave Nobles
Friday Morning
8:00 Registration
8:30 Scripture Reading and Prayer
8:40 Business Session Begins
Approval of the Minutes
Report of the Credentials Committee
Treasurer
Executive Board
Promotional Director
General Board Member
Home Missions
Camp Jacob
Harvest Child-Care Ministry
FWB Home for Children
National Departments
Other ministries
10:50 Break
11:00 Music: Rejoice, Welch College
Message: Encouragement in Ministry
Messenger: Rev. Marty Puckett
12:00 Lunch
Friday Afternoon
1:15 Business Session Resumes
Old Business
New Business
Report of Nominating Committee
Election of Officers
Election of National Delegates
Memorial Prayer
Rising vote of thanks to the host church
Announcements
Adjournment
Rev. Tim York
Each One Plant One Missions Offering
Thanks go out to all the pastors, churches, and individuals who gave to the special missions offering: Each One Plant One. As of this writing, the missions account has received over $9,500.00 through this promotion. The complete figure will be given in a special presentation at the state meeting in June. You have done a wonderful work for our Lord through your sacrificial giving!
Promotional Office Update
Funding has come up a little since the beginning of the year, but it will not be enough to realize a fully-funded office for the 2015-2016 fiscal year. We will discuss and provide the details at the state meeting in June once we see the final figures at the end of this month (the end of our fiscal year). I cannot express enough gratitude for those who faithfully give month after month or from your church budgets. I am also grateful for how many since January have responded to increase giving to the office, and you have done so because you believe in what the promotional office offers our state. As I have shared with you various times before, I am committed to this office, its work and you. Pray with us as we are presently working on new avenues to increase funding for the promotional office.
Latest Missionary News
Lifegate Free Will Baptist Church, Winchester
Jason Weaver reports that their average attendance in April was nineteen, three first-time guests, and ten in weekly Bible study. They have made an offer on a piece of property for the church and, as of this writing, they are still waiting for the final paperwork to be approved and submitted by the sellers. Pray that this will run smoothly. The most urgent prayer request for Jason and Holly is for their daughter, Anna Leigh. As most of you know, she had surgery on her skull six months ago and suffered several strokes. Anna Leigh will be having another skull surgery on May 13. They will remove the front half of her skull, reshape, and replace it. Updates will be made through the e-News. (To subscribe to the VAFWB e-News, go to the “Contact” page of the state website.) You may reach Jason at jhweaver06@yahoo.com.
Harrisonburg Free Will Baptist Church
Paul Collins reports that in April, they had an average attendance Sunday mornings of sixty-five, twenty-eight on Sunday evenings, and thirty-six in weekly Bible study. They were blessed to have seven conversions in April, ten baptisms, and fifteen first-time guests. Paul shares that they are still $1,000 short in the needed monthly income. Pray that they will be able to realize this increase. They have a contract on the sale of the 2.5 acres that has been for sale. The buyers have 120 days to work out the details of the purchase. Please pray that this sale can go through so that the church indebtedness will decrease. Contact Paul at vacollins5@yahoo.com.
Restore Church, Portsmouth
For the month of March, Marc Neppl reports that they have had forty first-time guests, Sunday morning average of 142, and with fifty in weekly Bible study. Since their launch service, they have realized twenty-one conversions. They are having their first baptisms in May. Their prayer request right now is that you help them pray as they contemplate going to two services; they don’t want to move without God’s leading. You may contact Marc at marcneppl@gmail.com.
Faith Free Will Baptist Church, Wytheville
David Osborne shares that they averaged twenty on Sunday mornings in April, twelve on Sunday evenings, and nineteen in weekly Bible study. With their launch service held recently, they had forty-one first-time guests with sixty in overall attendance on that day. They have been able to move into a storefront building next to a K-Mart, which draws much more interest than before. David recently held a funeral where many unsaved people were present, and he hopes to have inroads to these families through this passing. They also just conducted a GRACE Outreach Revival and are beginning training for many who want to learn how to be effective soul winners. Pray for their efforts in reaching out. You may contact David at do4sfwbc@yahoo.com.
Reignite Church, Virginia Beach
Just getting started in his deputation is Marshall Boney, an African-American Free Will Baptist missionary pastor; his goal is that of building a multi-ethnic congregation. He already has thirty-five attending and as of May 1st, they are meeting at the Princess Anne Middle School. On May 21st, they will reach out by passing out flyers in the surrounding neighborhoods. Please consider having Brother Marshall in your churches for a mission’s service; he will be a blessing to each congregation! His greatest prayer request right now is for open doors into churches. Pray for more and more of these doors to open! You can contact Marshall at reignitechurch@gmail.com.
Casa de Dios, Woodbridge
Diego Cueva reports that in April, they had six first-time guests, an average attendance of 104, and thirty in weekly Bible study. In the last two months, they have lost four families because they did not agree with Free Will Baptist doctrine, the doctrine which Brother Diego faithfully preaches. The loss of these families has affected the attendance some as well as the finances. Their prayer request is that you partner with them in asking the Lord to bring conviction upon the congregation so that the people will not be affected by false doctrines. You may reach Diego at discipulos6@yahoo.com.
Constitution & ByLaws Now Online
The entire Virginia Constitution and Bylaws are now available here on the state website under the “Information” tab. Hyperlinks are provided at the top of the page to take you to specific places within the document. Check it out!
Dr. Bruce Barnes, Promotional Director Virginia Free Will Baptist Ministries
dbrucebarnes@vafwb.org www.facebook.com/vafwb
www.vafwb.org 757-407-1183