T H E N E W S J O U R N A L O F T H E B L U E R I D G E B A P T I S T A S S O C I A T I O N

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 2 / J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 3

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Who Was Lottie Moon?Lottie Moon - the namesake of the international missions offering - has become something of a legend to us. But in her time Lottie was anything but an untouchable hero. In fact, she was like today's missionaries. She was a hard-working, deep-loving Southern Baptist who labored tirelessly so her people group could know Jesus.

Throughout her career, Lottie Moon wrote numerous letters home, urging Southern Baptists to greater missions involvement and support. One of those letters triggered Southern Baptists' first Christmas offering for international missions - enough to send three new missionaries to China.

2012 Tribute to Lottie

Dec. 24, 2012, will mark 100 years since the death of Lottie Moon. During the of Week of

Prayer this year (Dec. 2-9) the final day is dedicated to Lottie Moon, a portrait of

obedience who influenced thousands to follow her, going just as boldly, obediently and sacrificially.

Get More Information

Promotional packages are available in the BRBA office and you can find out all about Lottie Moon, who she was and what she did, and get photos, videos and

stories for use in your church at www.imb.org.

The national goal for the 2012 offering is $175 million. How much does your church plan to give

to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering this year?

Rev. David L. Coblentz of Middletown, Maryland was called home by his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Friday, October 19, 2012, at the age of 58. He was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, and grew up in Hagerstown, Middletown and Laurel.

Dave graduated from Arundel High School, received a B.S. in Management and Marketing from the University of Maryland, a Masters of Divinity from the Southern Baptist Southern Seminary, and was working on a Doctorate in Biblical Counseling from Trinity College of the Bible and Theological Seminary.

David was the former pastor of Greenbrier Baptist Church in Boonsboro, Maryland from 1995-2010 and chaplain from 2010-present. He was ordained into the ministry by Greenbrier Baptist Church. He served as Deacon at South End Baptist Church for several years before being licensed as a minister by South End Baptist Church. He loved Jesus, loved working for his Lord and deeply committed to the Great Commission. He was involved in many ministries such as Sunday School teacher, visiting prisoners and foreign sailors in port at Baltimore, truck stop ministry, youth ministry, nursing home ministry, and Appalachian mission trips. In all things he gave God the glory.

Prior to becoming a pastor, Dave worked in various jobs and ministries which prepared him well for the pastorate. He was an orderly

in Frederick Memorial Hospital, a 911 dispatcher for Frederick County when it was just one phone and a couple of operators, a tenant farmer, assistant manager at McDonalds and other food service companies, a turnkey in the Frederick jail, life insurance salesman, and water and sewer products salesman at General Engineering Company.

For the past few years, he served as a volunteer chaplain for the

Middletown Valley Fire Company (MVFC), fire chaplain for the Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association (FCVF&RA), assistant chaplain for the Maryland State Firemen's Association, and President of the Everett Gaver Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Firefighters.

As a member of the MVFC for 37 years, Dave served the community as a firefighter and

Emergency Medical Technician, and had the joy of delivering five babies. He was given the FCVF&RA Hall of Fame award, FCVF&RA Heart of a Volunteer award, MVFC Life Member award, and MVFC Everett W. Gaver Memorial Award.

He was a founding member of the Frederick County Fire and Rescue Museum. He loved singing, fishing, photography, baseball, basketball, bowling, reading the Bible and other Christian literature, traveling, and socializing with his many friends.

Well Done Thou Good and Faithful Servant...

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Dave was in the Boy Scouts and the Little League and received sportsmanship awards. He was on Bowling Fun TV Show in 1968 and won the trophy.

Everyone who knew Dave from a small child always thought he was a really nice person and during his illnesses people would tell him he was a wonderful, sweet man and a pleasure to be around. Many people would say he helped them with his kind words of comfort and advice and that it was easy to talk to him.

Through all his health struggles, he remained positive and hopeful. Many times people with serious health issues would tell him that he

was an inspiration and gave them hope. He will be greatly missed but we are comforted that he is in the everlasting arms of Jesus.

Please keep Daveʼs wife Brenda in your prayers as she mourns her loss.

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The BCM/D Youth Evangelism Conference is reBOOT; a 2-night, 3 day winter retreat focused on growth and outreach through a variety of activities. reBOOT is designed as a shortened version of our summer camp. Students and adults will be challenged by Bible Study, worship, recreation, fellowship and circuits

For more information or to register please visit call Skycroft Conference Center at 800-536-6759 or go online to:ampedministry.org/events/winter

December 7-9, 2012 or January 4-6, 2013 | $70 per person

"HOME" FOR THE HOLIDAYSKEEPING CHRIST AT THE CENTER OF CHRISTMAS

We had 25 family members celebrating Thanksgiving at our newly constructed home this past week.  Indeed we all talked about how blessed we were by God, to have the wonderful provision of food, family, and freedom - many things that others in the world do not have.  So many in our world experience major life distractions that detract from experiencing the blessings of this life that come from Almighty God.  I found my thoughts turning to people in the Middle East this Thanksgiving week - many Israeli families who - instead of enjoying a meal around a table with their families, might be running to the protection of bomb shelters instead.  We are truly a blessed nation.

Yet - in the midst of those blessings, stories about Christmas being "banned" because it's message offends one group or another - have become almost as common place in this festive season as holly and ivy, or mistletoe. I was overjoyed to read this month about how the Loudon County VA board of supervisors had decided to reinstate their "holiday display" outside the courthouse in downtown Leesburg this year, making Christmas the centerpiece - with a full fledged community Christmas Tree lighting for all to attend. Of course they are also planning to make space for a crèche, menorah, Santa and sleigh depiction, and an area designated for the "American Atheists", but this year the local political leaders said that they would no longer try to remove Christmas as the main event being celebrated. 

Last year Loudoun County opened their holiday display to many different groups - and had them apply for use of 9 spaces that the local government provided.  That system resulted in one group putting up a skeleton dressed in a Santa suit - which prompted outrage from local residents, and vandalism of the display. "That was the most disgusting and reprehensible thing that any of these groups has done on the courthouse lawn," Leesburg councilman and supervisor-elect Ken Reid said at the time.

The Leesburg Town Council also decided in October to change the annual community parade from being tiled the "Holiday Parade" to the "Christmas and Holiday Parade."  That name change also made way for the "Holiday Tree Lighting" event to become a "Christmas Tree and Menorah Lighting."  I must say that I am proud of the local politicians in nearby Loudon County for standing up for what Christmas should be - something that is built around the celebration of the greatest gift ever given --- the birth of the Christ child.

Over 140 years ago - President Ulysses S. Grant made Christmas a legal holiday by declaration in 1870.  Commercialization and complaining by detractors have eroded things over time to the point in 2012 where it is harder than ever to keep Christ in Christmas. "Merry Christmas!" has been replaced in many places with the greeting "Happy Holidays!"

Without Christ, there can be no Christmas. The love of the Father came down at Christmas!  Jesus WAS the greatest gift ever given - a gift from God to mankind - to save us all from our sins. 

Isaiah 9:6 says: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

I sincerely hope that you and your family have a blessed Christmas season, and that Christ would be foremost in your hearts as you seek to reach out and bless someone else with the powerful gift of the Lord Jesus Christ this season.  Remember - someone out there needs the gift of Jesus this Christmas.  Will you be the one to present that gift to them??

Merry Christmas!

from your Director of Missions - Bruce Conley

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William Taylor,  at Paramount Baptist Church  says that they are in need of some young men to help lead their Boy Scout Troop at the church. Anyone who may have interest or feel God calling them to help with this should call William at 240-291-6733. They are also looking for more scouts as well. God bless you as you consider this need ....

The Annual Meeting of BRBA was held at Smithsburg Valley Baptist Church on October 8, 2012 at 7 PM. The theme was “Un-Divided” and it lived up to its name. All of the reports and recommendations from various committees passed unanimously. That included the proposal for the BRBA office to go virtual for an 18-month trial period beginning April 2013. The contact information for mailing, emailing and telephoning will remain unchanged.

After the business session there was a celebration of our churches. Two different praise groups shared musical duties. SVBC praise band led the congregation in song, while the Haitian singers sang in a cappella in French. Several leaders then shared their focus on special ministries in their communities in 2012. The worship session ended with a big welcome to the churches and pastors & staff that united with BRBA this year.

WELCOME NEW CHURCHES IN BRBA

Battlefield Bible – Fairplay, MD(sponsored under watch-care by Smithsburg Valley)

Mt. Moriah – Knoxville, MD(sponsored under watch-care by Pleasant Valley)

Tri-State CC – Hancock, MD(partnered with West End as a mission plant)

Eglise Baptiste Haitienne du Calvaire – Hagerstown, MD(sponsored under watch-care by FBC Hagerstown;Thanks to Paramount for previously assisting this congregation)

WELCOME NEW PASTORS / STAFF

Nathan Cherry – Minister of Connections, Harvest PointeBilly Hestand – Youth Director, New LifeTracy Willett – Childrenʼs Director, New LifeGordon Fox – Sr. Pastor, Mt. Moriah BaptistEric Kersten – Sr. Pastor, Rivers Edge Ministries (formerly Crossroads)Bob Gerstmyer – Executive Pastor, CovenantDianne McQuillan – Secretary, Faith BCDavid Hays – Assoc. Pastor, Battlefield BibleBrian Colbert – Sr. Pastor, Battlefield BibleJerry Cooper – Sr. Pastor, Virginia AveKimberly Walter – Children, FBC BrunswickJacob Smalls – Youth, FBC HagerstownRicky Simpson – Associate Pastor, South End

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Haitian Church Choir

Nathan Cherry shares about The Family Policy Council

Small Church Conference Wrap-Up

On Saturday, November 3, ministers and lay people from the Blue Ridge Baptist Association and around the state, met at the Summit Trace Ministry Center in Jefferson Maryland for the Small Church Growth Conference.

The speakers were 2 Pastors from our State Convention. Brian Corrick, formerly of Nanjemoy Baptist Church, in rural Charles County, shared the methods that he used to grow this small rural church into a vibrant body of outreaching followers of Christ. When he arrived at Nanjemoy in September of 2007 the average worship attendance was in the mid 60's. Nanjemoy had been experiencing a slow and steady decline for a number of years and for a variety of reasons. By 2012 their average worship attendance was hovering around 100. Brian now serves at Gethsemene Baptist Church in Glenwood, MD.

John Smith, of First Baptist Church of Essex, in suburban Baltimore, shared his expertise on how his suburban church went from potentially closing it's doors for good - to success for God. They increased from 35 on Sundays to 120 , and over 200 coming on special days! Nearly 100 people have come to Christ through FBC-Essex in the last two years, and 67 have been baptized as new believers.

Everyone who attended was blessed by the insights these men shared. We plan to do a similar training again in the future, and hope for these types of training sessions to be of help to many more churches.

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Saturday - January 12th, 2013from 10 AM - 2 PM at the ....Historic Ceresville Mansion

8529 Liberty RoadFrederick, Maryland 21701

This is a FREE event for all pastors and staff. We want to express our deep appreciation for all that you do in and for our churches. BUT - you must RSVP with Mae Argilan at the BRBA office no later than January 2nd, to make your reservations. Please call (240) 818-8760, or e-mail Mae at mae@blueridgebaptist.org

The menu includes:• Assorted Fruit Danish• Red Potato Home Fries• Homemade Quiche• Crisp Bacon• Seasonal Fresh Fruits and Berries• Chilled Juices• Coffee and Tea Service• Whipped Sweet Butter ~ Assorted Jams

and Jellies

Note: Please bring a "Yankee Swap" or "White Elephant" gift with you for a gift exchange. Re-gifting of items that you received at Christmas is fine, especially if it will get a laugh. Please choose inexpensive items, and wrap what you bring with no gift card on it. Come and enjoy great food, fun, worship music and fellowship with us!

Music selections will be presented by musicians within our BRBA churches who have volunteered to help honor our Ministers for this special event.

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Ministers and Church Staff Appreciation Brunch

Thank You!

Giving from our Churches through the 3rd Quarter

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Mt. Moriah, Knoxville, MD:Mt. Moriah Baptist Church is seeking a Christian musician to play a blended mix of music for our morning worship service. If you have a love for music and for the Lord, and wish to use your gifts for His glory, then Mt. Moriah is the place for you! This is not a worship leader position, but may grow into such.  Send resume to Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, 19436 Garretts Mill Road, Knoxville, MD, 21758, ATTN: Worship Leader, or e-mail to mtmoriah.baptist@yahoo.com.

Birthdays

DECEMBER5# Mae Argilan15 # Everett Powell22# Fred Argilan30# Wendell McClellan

JANUARY4# Thom Smith13# Sandy Marsico16# Roget Rich23# Gail Scheffers

Anniversaries

JANUARY

08# Alan & Billee Jo Myers

Event Calendar

DECEMBER

1 - 31 - Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. For more information visit www.imb.org.

2 - 9 - Week of Prayer and Mission Study for International Missions and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

5 at 8:00 AM - Pastorʼs Fellowship Breakfast at the Red Byrd in Keedysville.

12 - Elevate! Growing Your Church Plant Seminar at the BCM/D. For more info visit www.bcmd.org/elevate.

JANUARY

1 - 31 - Call to Prayer Month

2 at 8:00 AM - Pastorʼs Fellowship Breakfast at Bob Evans on Route 40 in Frederick

4 - Church PlanterOrientation/ Tax & legal Seminar at the BCM/D. For more info please visit www.bcmd.org/cporientation.

12 from 10 AM - 1 PM - Pastor and Staff Appreciation Brunch at Ceresville Mansion. See article on page 8 for more information.

20 - Sanctity of Human Life Sunday

25 - March for life in Washington DC. For more info visit www.marchforlife.org.

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Mt. Moriah - Knoxville, MD:Mt. Moriah Women's Fellowship Ministry will be collecting canned goods during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. We will also be collecting for the "Annette Brown 'Pajamas for the Children' Drive" in December. We'll donate pajamas in sizes 0 to 18 for needy children in the Frederick community. Please contact Ms. Lauren Harris at 301-695-5029 or Pastor Gordon Fox at (301) 865-5093.

Faith Baptist Church, Knoxville, MD:Sunday, December 2, 2012, 10:50am. The "BigKidz" Children's Choir will present the Christmas Musical and Drama "In a Galilee Far, Far Away." Take your family on an interplanetary exploration to discover the glory of God throughout the universe. It all leads back to the manger in Bethlehem and the Savior of the world. Free worship service, and childcare is provided.

Sunday, December 9, 2012, 3:00pm. Join us for an exciting Combined Community Christmas Concert as we celebrate the birth of the Christ-child! Five local churches will join together to present exciting Christmas Choral anthems, congregational singing, handbells, liturgical dancers, solos, piano specials, and additional ensemble music. Free to the community and childcare is provided.

Monday, December 24, 2012, 6:00pm. Christmas Eve at Faith Baptist Church is a wonderful family time of worship and celebration. Join us for special music, congregational singing of Christmas Carols, a wonderful message of hope and love, Communion, and a moving candle-lighting service as we reflect the light of Christ to the world. Free Childcare available for babies under 3 yrs old.

In the Churches

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Battlefield Bible, Fairplay, MD: Marjorie Colbert, wife of Pastor Brian Colbert, is offering to wrap your Christmas packages for you. You will be proud to present these creations to anyone. Simply drop off your packages to be beautifully wrapped. Prices start at $5.00 per package. Contact Marjorie Colbert at 301-223-5184 for more information.

Congratulations to Rev. Brian Colbert on his recent retirement from the Federal Court System.

Fellowship, Middletown, MD: Pastor Jeff Moss has resigned. Director of Missions, Bruce Conley will help lead the church for the next three months as they look toward the future.

FBC Brunswick, Brunswick, MD: Will present their Childrenʼs Christmas program on Sunday, December 16, during their morning worship service at 11:00 AM.

Pastor Philʼs Christmas series “Personal Connection” will begin on Sunday, December 2 and continue each week through December 23.

Paramount, Hagerstown, MD: Paramount will host their Annual Community Christmas Carol Sing-along on Sunday December 2, at 6:00 PM.

Paramount will present their Christmas musical “And On Earth Peace” at 10:30 AM on Sunday December 16.

FBC Frederick, Frederick, MD: Will present their annual Christmas musical production on Sunday, December 16, at 7:00 PM.

Smithsburg Valley, Smithsburg, MD: Will present their Kidʼs Christmas Celebration on Sunday, December 9, at 12:30 PM.

Valley, Jefferson, MD: Will be hosting their annual Christmas dinner at 5:30 PM on December 15, at 5:30 PM.

Their annual caroling hay ride will be on December 22, 5:30 PM.

Larry Nelson will be retiring from the pastorate at Valley Baptist effective at the end of December. Many of you fondly remember Larry from his days as director of Skycroft. Why not send Pastor Larry a not thanking him for his many years of service?

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PRAYER FIRSTBrenda Coblentz as she mourns the loss of her husband David.

Pray for disaster relief volunteers who will answer the call from the SBC to continue to serve in storm-stricken areas on the Eastern seaboard until the end of December 2012.  Some regions are still desperately in need of Red Cross additional support, and feeding kitchen assistance. Pray for members of Harvest Pointe Church - Charles Town, WV as they continue to minister for Kingdom work in Andaray, Peru. Pray for Pastor Brian Remsch who is going through assessment to possibly become a church planter in the Frederick County side of Mt. Airy, MD.  He and his wife are expecting their first child in the Spring of 2013. Pray for Alan Myers, church planting Pastor of Tri-State Community Church, a SBC work in Hancock, MD.  Pray that God would bring more workers in, and that they would be increasingly more effective in reaching that area for Christ. Pray for Myersville Baptist Church, as their search committee seeks a new Pastor for the church. Pray also that BRBA will be able to connect them with a larger, stronger church in 2013 as well for some extra support needed to get the church back into a position of strength and growth under God's Holy Spirit. Pray for the Moss family, and Pastor Jeff Moss - who recently stepped down as Pastor at Fellowship Baptist Church - Middletown, MD.  Pray for that church to stay strong during this time of transition. Pray that Boonsboro Bible Church will find enough people to do a mission trip this coming summer to the Navajo Indians July 20-27, 2013. Currently only 8 have signed up, and they need a minimum of 20 for the VBS team. The cost is $1,200 with a $100. deposit needed in December.   If YOU can help, contact Pastor Rob Welty at (240)527-1170 or e-mail boonsborobible_sbc@myactv.net. Pray for Dr. Jerry Cooper, new Pastor at Virginia Avenue Baptist Church as they embark together on a new era of reaching their part of Hagerstown for Christ. Pray for a new Korean Mission Church that has begun to meet at First Baptist Church of Frederick, MD Sunday afternoons at 2 PM.  Also pray for their Pastor, Kyungsoon Park as he leads. Pray for the many people who will visit evangelical churches this Christmas season, many who do not yet have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  Pray this THIS year, they will give their hearts and loves to Him, and begin a wonderful journey of redemption, grace, and new life in Christ.   Pray for Dr. David Lee - Executive Director of the Baptist Convention of MD/DE as he prepares to step down and enter retirement in the summer of 2013.  Pray for our State Convention too as they begin a process to search for a new leader. Pray for the BRBA staff as we begin to transition away from using our physical office at Greenbrier Baptist Church, and work more from home offices and in our churches. 

20810A National PikeBoonsboro, MD 21713

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