...increasing numbers of transformed lives

SPIRITTHE

Light in DarknessPg. 2

New Coats,Warm SoulsPg. 3

A Mistake CanBe a BlessingPg. 4

Caring for the SoulPg. 5

Open your Bibles to...Pg. 5

Hand in Hand, Heart to HeartPg. 6

A BABC Connection to the World—the Baptist World AlliancePg. 7

December 2012BOn Air BAPTisT CHurCH

Andrew Peterson & Friends in Concert

Thursday, December 6, 2012 7 p.m.

Buford road Commons

Purchase tickets online at EvangelismTickets.com

Cost: $10 online, $15 at the door

For information callnorthstar Community

800.908.2377

All-Campus Choir & Orchestra

with

Guest SoloistsLisa Edwards-Burrs

Tracee Prillaman Jeff Prillaman James Lynn

Sunday, December 93:30 & 7:00 p.m.

Childcare available during the 3:30 p.m. presentation.

Bon Air Baptist presents...

Light in DarknessBy Valerie Carter

The name of the ministry does not sound very churchy—“street walking.” it has been suggested that we call it “street sharing” or “prayer walking.” Well, it is both of those! Each third Friday

night from 10 p.m. until saturday morning about 1:30 a.m., volun-teers gather, including our senior pastor, to walk, pray and share in what is known as the “prostitution zone” of our city.

On the september walk, Becky Jackson, BABC member, and Peggy Eggleston, second Branch Baptist Church member, met a woman in the early morning hours. As they engaged in conversation about God’s love for her, Becky realized she knew this young lady’s mother and had known the young lady when she was a girl. Becky and her husband, Eden, took this lady (formerly a practicing registered nurse) home for the night. it would be three weeks later that she would use the “Do You Want Out?” resource list that was given her that night to call Bon Air Baptist for help. The following day an intervention op-portunity for this young lady to be restored by God’s amazing grace was provided by our northstar Minister, Teresa McBean.

We have been “street walking” in the prostitution zone of our city for two years now. These very hurt, abused, battered and lost individu-als are coming to know us by name; we are coming to know them by

name, too! The com-mon response from the girls we meet on the street is that “we can’t believe you care enough to be out here in this unsafe place at night.” Additionally they say that “this is not the kind of church we know because you show us love.”

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Photo: Travis Collins, Chris Poole and Shelley McCord

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Sign up now! CARiTAS We will shelter 40 homeless men, April 13–19, 2013

VOLunTEEr to prepare & serve meals.Contact sue Barsanti 323.1623

For other volunteer opportunities, contact nancy Barnes, ngbarnes@aol.com

ALL-CAmPus Ash Wednesday Service

Wednesday February 13 • 6:15 p.m. Buford Road sanctuary

Kelvin stopped by the robious Hall campus on november 7 to let me know he had used his new coat for the first time this year as tem-

peratures of the week hovered in the mid 40’s during the day and fell to near freezing during the night. Kelvin and 59 other kids received new coats as a result of the Bon Air Baptist Coat Drive led by the Clothes Ministry team at robious Hall Campus dur-ing the month of October. The Clothes Ministry used to be called the Clothes Closet, and the clothes were literally in the front closet at the robious Hall Campus. But no more. The team took the time to examine the purpose and methodology of the clothing distribution and came away with a new vision. The first change was dis-tribution. Donated clothes are now received at the Buford road Campus and distributed between the robious Hall Campus and the Baptist centers twice a month.

The next change was a conscious effort to get to know the people who came to be served—to know their names, their life situation and most important of all what their relationship was with Christ.

An immediate need for children’s coats surfaced, and the team of Pat sprouse, Tom and sandra Bundick, Tori, Martha Pittman, Billy stancill and Kathy Krieger mounted a successful campaign. The effects in the community that result from the ministry at robious Hall continue. A lady we will call Debbie,

who works in the robious Hall Plaza, observes the weekly ministry efforts of the campus. At the coat distribution she called me to the side to say she had received numerous blessings recently and wanted to share. she wanted to make a monetary contribution to robious Hall because in her words, “Ya’ll love the people so much.”

The mission statement of Bon Air Baptist Church says we are Proclaiming the Grace of God Growing Followers of Christ. Our weekly Messenger encour-ages us to put ourselves to the task of ….increasing numbers of transformed lives. We thank God for the Clothing Ministry team who helps us see oppor-tunities for transformation not only in our commu-nity, but also in ourselves and find ways to represent God’s love to His human creation.

Photo:Pat Sprouse, Sandra Bundick, Tom Bundick, Tori, Kathy Krieger, Martha Pittman, Kelvin. Not pictured Billy Stancil.

New Coats, Warm SoulsBy Les Venable

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A Mistake Can Be a Blessing

From the time God led my hus-band, Bill, and me to join Bon Air Bap-tist Church, He has led us to various places of service. We were aware of the church Prison Ministry, and we felt very strongly God wanted us to be a part of it.

Through the years Bill shared in the preaching ministry, witnessed to those who were incarcerated, answered questions and gave them hope. i have shared music vocally as well as on the keyboard.

recently i was called by one of the volunteers to substitute and play for a Thursday evening prison service. i called to ask which week i would be needed. When my phone call was returned, i responded that i could go. i usually consult my calendar but did not at that time, thinking very clearly i had nothing else to attend.

Wrong! When i finally checked my cal-endar, i realized i had an evening train-ing session to include updates on other

church ministries. i immediately tried to reach the volunteer but could not. With this, i said, ”Okay, God, i guess i am sup-posed to go to prison!”

You have the background; now please listen carefully. in the 15+ years involve-ment in going to prisons, i have to say the men were more intent that evening than i have EVEr seen them. i believe with all of my heart they were listening to and hearing God’s message through the minister. They talked with our people afterwards and hopefully made eternal decisions.

Was this MY plan – not at all! Was it God’s plan?; i believe so; very much so! As i reflect on the timing and His work that evening, i have been strengthened, totally blessed and further directed as a believer!

Through my negligence this became a life changing experience i shall not forget.

By Jackie Hollis

Buford road Campus

Family Christmas Eve

service, 5:30 p.m., in the Commons

Traditional Christmas Eve service, 7:30 p.m.

in the sanctuary

Carols and Communion service, 10 p.m. in the

sanctuary

JamesriverCampus

Christmas Eve service, 7:30 p.m.

James river High school

roBious Hall Campus

Both spanish and English speaking

congregations will join Buford road Campus

for Christmas Eve services

Christmaseve

serviCesat Bon air Baptist

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My heart is touched by people who go

to the Care-A-Van and are feeling “low.” Our spiritual well-being is so closely in tune with our physical well-being. How can one think much about growing spiritually or seeking the Lord when you have an awful headache, toothache or backache? One way people can receive medical help is through the Bon secours Care-A-Van which is located in the Buford road Cam-pus parking lot on 2nd Fridays. On one occasion, a young woman named Ann told me that a few years ago she and her little son

had to go to a free clinic and stand in a long line for care. she was recently divorced and felt dejected...a “loser.” she couldn’t really help her circumstances. since that time, Ann has moved on and has become a nurse.

she has worked on the Care-A-Van with me. Ann said now she always tries to say something positive to each patient and give a compliment to each one about something that they are doing right. Ann says she has been in their shoes, and she knows how much of a failure one feels to be need-ing free care. Ann’s testimo-nial has never left me.

As the Care-A-Van patients go to our Buford road Campus, i can give a smile as a friend, a book or little toy to a child, and a bottle of shampoo to an adult in addition to providing cookies and a drink as people wait in the gym. i do not proselytize, but i think showing a little friendship speaks volumes for the love of God to us all.

Caring for the SoulBy Cheryl Omaña - BABC Parish nurse

Our son, a first grader, recently received his Bible during a wor-ship service at the Buford road

Campus. When the ceremony was over, and we were back in our seats, Travis asked the congregation to open their Bibles to Proverbs 3:1-6. i heard him whispering to his sister and leaned over to shush him, then real-ized he was asking her to help him find the book of Proverbs. As Travis read the verses, he followed along, running his finger along the bottom of the words, his sister helping him with the “hard” words.

seeing this interaction between a little brother and big sister just made my heart so full...and he pro-ceeded to page through his new Bible throughout the rest of the service (sorry Travis!). Our new little reader found Jonah and the whale and noah’s

ark plus some passages he had not heard of before. He read down the list of the books of the Bible and found some “cool maps.”

Thank you, Bon Air Baptist, for simple ceremo-nies, such as the First Grade Bible Presentation. These mile-stone moments strengthen and enrich our fami-lies at all our campuses. Our son loves his new Bible!

Open your Bibles to...

GENEROSITY

New

SermoN SerieS

starting in January!

GeNeroSiTY by

Dr. Travis Collins

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By Christine shepard

January 13-February 3

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Hand in Hand, Heart to HeartStanding Rock Mission TripBy randy Lynn

standing rock reservation covers an area about the size of Connecticut on the border of north and south Dakota. The reserva-

tion is home to about 8,500 people who struggle with the issues of unemployment, alcoholism, poverty and domestic violence. Desolate land and ex-treme weather condi-tions make this area a difficult place to live and work.

Even though we are all living in the u.s., the culture of the La-kota and Dakota people is very different. The rich native culture intertwined with the demoral-izing treatment and relocation during the 1800’s still plague native Americans today. A level of distrust is under-standable. This is a huge barrier to cross and will take many years to overcome.

Women’s Missionary union of Virginia coordinates the partnership with Pastor Boots and Jackie Marsh of Tipi Wakan Mission. This has truly been a hand-in-hand, heart-to-heart effort to bring hope to native Americans living in the Dakotas. For 8 years Virginia Baptists have made the 1700 mile trip, taking the hope and love of Jesus to the wonder-ful people of standing rock. This past year close to 400 mission volunteers participated in the “Hand in Hand, Heart to Heart” effort.

i’ve been participating for 4 years and have wit-nessed the amazing work Virginians are doing. The main endeavor is to reach out and love the children. small communities are spread out across this huge reservation. Teams adopt a community and for a week have activities for kids and adults. They return every year building relationships and forming friend-

ships where trust blossoms and bonds are formed. A cool thing has happened. To explain this you must understand that when we call this native American

group “The sioux nation,” it’s really “The sioux Family.” They relate to each other as family. All are related. They use family terms to relate to one

another such as mom, sister, uncle, aunt, etc. so, when i show up and want to have a conversation, it seems like they do not want to talk. This happens because they need to figure out how we are related so we can communicate. We were first known as “blue shirts” from Vir-ginia because we have blue team shirts. More

recently we have been called the ”Jesus” or “God people.”

Well, this past summer after 8 years, the children started referring to some in the group with adoption language, call-ing them uncle, aunt, sister, grandpa, etc. To me, being accepted in this way is huge. What an honor! Please pray this acceptance continues and that Jesus will be-come known as the head of the family. God bless our native American friends…family.

A BABC Connection to the World—the Baptist World Alliance

By Dr. Travis Collins

John upton is a member of Bon Air Bap-

tist Church, the Executive Direc-tor of the Baptist General Associa-tion of Virginia, and President of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA). i hope you will be as glad as i am, after reading this brief interview with John, to be part of a world-wide connection of Baptists.

What makes you most ap-preciative of your asso-ciation with BWA?

When i travel around the world, i am con-tinually reminded how important a global community of Baptists really is. For those

who are in persecution because of their faith, the BWA is their only voice to speak to gov-ernments and their only hope of encouragement. As i write, for example, i’m in daily communica-tion with pastors and leaders in Lebanon and syria.

I know you have been responsible for issuing statements on behalf of the BWA during tense and perilous times for our Baptist

brothers and sisters around the world. Tell me about that.

it was a year or so ago when the church in Florida threatened to burn a Koran. i received a plea from many of our Baptist unions in the Arab world to make a state-ment that the BWA does not sup-port the actions of that church and that we expect respectful treat-ment of all people. i was driving when those requests came in so i had to stop and write a state-ment (using the back of a napkin) to be released by the BWA office. The next day two Baptist unions thanked me for the statement and informed me their churches were not burned, and lives had been spared, because of it. something like that will take you to your knees. This kind of experience has happened over and over again.

{ Continues on back cover }

C e l e b R A T e miSSionS

around the world during the Christmas season!

Pray • Learn • Go • Give…

…help us meet our 2012 offering goal of $140,000 for international missions

Be His Heart, His Hands, His voice!

For those who are in persecution

because of their faith, the BWA is

their only voice to speak to governments

and their only hope of encouragement.

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Buford Road Campus2531 Buford RoadRichmond, VA 23235bonairbaptist.org

>> SpeCiAl CAlled buSineSS meeTingDecember 5 at 6:15 p.m. Buford road CommonsDiscussion & vote on new Covenant Baptist Church merger

>> QuARTeRly buSineSS meeTingJanuary 16 at 6:15 p.m. in the Buford road Commons

MEE

TING

S

BABC Daily Email Devotionals!

Sign up now to receive devotions written by our BABC family from December 1-January 12. During our winter sermon series, January 13-February 9, receive devotions written by our senior

and executive pastors.

Contact rosemary.williams@bonairbaptist.org to sign up, if you are not already receiving Travis’ weekly email.

{ Continued from page 7 }

Why should members of Bon Air Baptist be glad we contribute to BWA?

Bon Air Baptist is a courageous people who stand firm in their commitments to Jesus Christ. The BWA is one of the most courageous communities of believers i have ever met. All over the world they take stands that require of them sacrifice and place

them in much danger. Through the BWA they do not stand alone.

Also, there are areas of the world where the gospel is booming with thousands coming to faith in Jesus Christ. i’m thinking about Africa, south America, and areas of Asia. These churches can be a great inspira-tion to churches like ours. The BWA offers connec-tions for shared ministries and exchange of mission teams to help one another catch the fire and keep it growing.