Each year, we honor the life and work of Annie Walker Armstrong (1850-1938) when we give to the annual offering for North American missions named after her. As a tireless servant of God and a contagious advocate and supporter of mission efforts throughout the world, Annie Armstrong led women to unite in mission endeavors that ultimately led to the formation of the Woman's Missionary Union, for which she served as the first corresponding secretary.

Annie believed in Christ with all of her heart, but it was her hands that expressed that belief in tangible ways. She spent a great amount of time typing and handwriting letters in support of missions. Many of these letters were quite lengthy and all were filled with conviction that more could

and should be done in our mission efforts.  In 1893 alone, she wrote almost 18,000 letters!

Annie also never hesitated to use her hands to reach out to hug a child or distribute food and clothing and the Word of God to those in need. Her hands held her own Bible as she studied to know how best to share Gods love with others. And, most importantly, Annie was a woman of prayer, folding her hands in prayer to intercede for the missionaries and for those they were helping to discover Christ.

Annie rallied churches to give more, pray more, and do more for reaching people for Christ. As we

continue to unite to make her vision a reality in North America today, we can be confident that her legacy will also be ours.

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

F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 1 3

Your

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering

HOW DO YOU HANDLE CHANGE?  

The french author Francois de la Rouchefoucauld once said, " The only thing constant in life .... is change." We have sure seen our share of change lately, haven't we?  On a national level - the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention this year decided to completely re-tool itself with the Great Commission Resurgence - a plan for greater effectiveness in starting new churches and reaching huge pockets of lost people in and around our major cities.  As a local Associational missionary - this has been a exciting - yet difficult change to deal with. On a local level we have also seen a lot of recent change.  I was sad to lose my friend and ministry mentor Dave Coblentz this past year.  Dave was such a HUGE proponent of local missions, and local churches working together .... he will truly be missed.  Likewise - our Association voted in the Fall to follow our State Baptist Convention's lead, and save money by leaving the physical office that we have been in for many years, and become a "virtual office".  While we anticipate that the level of services that you are accustomed to receiving from the Blue Ridge Baptist Association will be the same or improve, nevertheless - change never comes easy, or without bumps in the road. What about you?  What changes have you experienced recently?    For me personally - making a major decision to undergo surgery and lose weight to get healthier has brought massive change to my daily life.  Yes, I am glad that I made the decision, because the benefits are already

evident .... feeling better physically, not needing as many medications - to name a few.  I've even joined a gym recently (I covet your prayers for me in this, because I HATE exercising!). Many people avoid change at all costs.  I did for years when it came to my weight problems.  The problem is that by avoiding change, we allow things to get worse, or we can create even bigger problems.  The truth is that there are MANY people (and churches) out there who desperately need to change ... but they lack the courage to actually give it a try.  We all fear change, because we have a fear of the outcome.  As human beings, we like the predictability of a routine. Change means stepping into the unknown and losing your comfortable routine, and that can be frightening.

The other aspect of change that makes us uneasy - is the fact that we know that we will have to give up some control. That's scary too. Any change in your life  involves so many possible outcomes and factors that you just can't manipulate them all. When change makes us lose some control - we can feel vulnerable.  

So then what is the key to successful and lasting change in your life .... or in the life of your church .... as inevitable change comes your way?  The key is to include God in that process.  The scriptures assure us over and over that God supplies everything we need in life.  It tells us that He in unchanging, but that he can help us when change does eventually come (and it ALWAYS does).

from your Director of Missions - Bruce Conley

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Our Heavenly Father is omniscient, which means he knows all things, including the future. He can prepare you for the future in ways that you can't prepare yourself, and he works all things for the good of his followers (Romans 8:28, NIV). In short - God is the guide who is never surprised.

God is also in complete control of everything we see around us too.  The being who created the vast universe and keeps it operating in perfect harmony is also a personal God who intervenes in people's lives. He exercises His control to help keep those who obey Him in his will.

Romans 8:31 says "If God is for us, who can be against us?"   Knowing the invincible God

is on your side can give you tremendous confidence in the midst of change.

My challenge to you in this new year is - if you or your church family have been putting off change for too long - then get busy, and don't fear the changes ahead.  As believers we should not make change harder than it has to be. We have a heavenly father who has our best interests at heart, and He WILL help us to navigate the waters of change. 

May you all have a blessed year with much positive change !!!!

In His continued service,

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On Saturday morning, March 2, 2013 - the Blue Ridge Baptist Association will host a breakfast for all the leaders in our churches who are responsible for Evangelism and Outreach in their local churches. The purpose of this meeting is to network together, and come up with ways that we can offer training to our churches to help them increase the evangelistic temperature of outreach to the lost in our communities. The Blue Ridge Association will be hosting some training

events this year for ALL of our churches to participate in as people are available, but we also want to hear from you on what training we can bring to YOUR church to help others feel more at ease with sharing their faith in Christ with others as a natural part of daily life. WHEN:   Saturday, March 2, 2013                8 AM - 11 AM WHERE:  THE BAVARIAN INN - Ludwig Room                164 Shepherd Grade Road                Shepherdstown, WV  25443   COST:   FREE to all leaders and directors of outreach / evangelism in the church We're hoping for LOTS of leaders for this very special event.  Come on out - and let's figure out together how to better reach people with the saving message of the Lord Jesus Christ!  

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At the annual meeting of the Blue Ridge Baptist Association on October 8th, 2012 - the messengers from our churches voted to approve a request for BRBA to give up it's current office space at Greenbrier Baptist Church, and become a "virtual office" for an 18-month trial period.  We are now in transition, and will be using our office space less until our projected full exit from that facility on March 30, 2013. We are so grateful to the church family at Greenbrier Baptist Church for partnering with us for many years and providing affordable office space for our association.  

Our associational staff will now be working from home offices, and in space that will be provided by Skycroft Conference Center, and several other churches that will allow us intermittent space as needed in 3 regions - Frederick County, Washington County, and the WV panhandle.    Please note that there will be NO CHANGE in contact information for BRBA.Mail delivery will still go to: 

            Blue Ridge Baptist Association            20810-A National Pike            Boonsboro, MD 21713

 Telephone numbers and e-mail contact info. for all BRBA staff are also unchanged: 

BRBA OFFICE - Mae Argilan - mae@blueridgebaptist.org  - (240) 818-8760DIRECTOR OF MISSIONS - Bruce Conley - bruce@blueridgebaptist.org - (301) 821-0370MEDIA/TECH CONSULTANT - Phil Graves - phil@blueridgebaptist.org - (301) 788-7424 It is our hope that this pilot program will accomplish several things for BRBA over the next 18 months:

• allow us to be better stewards of the financial resources of the Association.• create a situation where time and resources are used with greater efficiency.• lower operating expenses and decrease travel mileage reimbursements.•  increase responsiveness to the needs of our local churches.• allow better use of technology for ministry causes (video conferencing, etc.)

 We anticipate that this move will not only maintain the level of services that our churches have grown accustomed to, but will INCREASE it in the years ahead. Equipment that is loaned to churches will still be available to be borrowed via contact with a BRBA staff member.  The ministry loaner vehicles (van, block party trailer, etc.) will be stored at Skycroft. If you have any difficulties as we go through this test period - please contact the DOM directly to voice concerns.  The program will be evaluated for effectiveness in 2014 to determine if it is producing the desired results, and changes could be implemented at that time.  THANK YOU for your continued financial and prayerful support of the Blue Ridge Baptist Association.  God IS doing a great work in our region!

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Dr. Jerry Cooper started his education by getting a degree in civil engineering at the University of Delaware. He now serves as pastor of Virginia Avenue Baptist Church in Hagerstown, MD.

His wife Barbara is an indispensable God-given gift to his ministry. They have been married for 36 years, and have been blessed with three grown children and 2 grandchildren.

Brother Jerry graduated with MDiv from International School of Theology, San Bernardino, CA. and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Trinity International University, Deerfield, IL. His wife has worked as a nurse in neo-natal nursing for 30 years. She has also served on the board of directors of a Crisis Pregnancy Center, and as a counselor in the center. She has led womenʼs retreats, taught childrenʼs classes, played piano for worship, and written Christian articles for women.

Jerry has written Christian articles for weekly column in a local newspaper in Rocky Mount, NC, and wrote 15 Christian articles that were published in Alliance Life. Along the way he learned Spanish and Portuguese in order to preach the gospel overseas. His hobbies are woodworking, and playing the harmonica.

Jerry feels that God has given him a special calling in making disciples. As he has matured in the gospel he realizes more and more that retirement is not a biblical teaching. He plans to be a pastor until God takes him home. Dr. Cooper says, “My hope is in God and His Word, not in anything I bring.  God has

commanded me to lead by example, and to teach and preach His Word (1 Peter 5:1-3, 1 Timothy 5:17). I pray that I will be faithful and give Jesus all the glory.  For I am what I am by the grace of God (1 Cor. 15:10). In 2013, I look forward to seeing the Spirit of God take the Word of God to transform Virginia Ave Baptist Church members.”

Meet Dr. Jerry Cooper

!

Iʼve had a heart for the success of the churches of the Blue Ridge Baptist Association for over 20 years, ever since I served as the pastor of Elders Baptist Church in Carroll County. You were my “brethren to the West”; for the past 15 years, youʼve been my “brethren to the East”, as I serve as the Associational Missionary (Director of Missions) for the Western Baptist Association. Iʼve been close friends with your D.O.M., Bruce Conley, and David Burt, before him.

As of 1/1/13, our Southern Baptist North American Mission Board expanded my “Church Planter Catalyst” responsibilities to cover both of our associations. All across the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware, NAMB has taken a similar approach, as about half of our associationsʼ directors of missions, like Bruce, receive no funding from NAMB. About ¼ of my salary, plus some insurance, comes from Cooperative Program giving, coming by way of NAMB. The remainder comes from our associationʼs churchesʼ giving.

$My purpose, as I see it, is to be used by the Lord to help your church in the area of church planting, as you direct me through Bruce. What a blessing to have a servant like him, who is more experienced and capable in church planting than I am, and to team up with an association like yours that already has a healthy approach to winning the lost to Jesus through church planting!$I have no authority over Bruce nor your association, and I will answer to him in all things pertaining to Blue Ridge. I will receive no funding from your association, nor do I want it. Hereʼs what I do want to do:

• Know about BRBAʼs church plants, and pray for both them and your associationʼs established congregations;

• Share with our WBA churches your prayer requests r.e. planting, and share ours with you (Would you, please, pray for our Bruce Outreach Center, a plant just launching in Westernport);

• Pass along to Bruce things from NAMB that may be helpful to you( Every 6 months, I attend a Northeast Region meeting with NAMB leadership. Also, they have maintained excellent one-on-one communication with me.).

$Bruce and I already stay in e-mail contact with each other, and see each other at monthly directors of missions meetings for BCM/D. In addition, we two will meet at least every 60 days (Bruceʼs suggestion, and a mighty good one).$Iʼve already had the opportunity to break bread with some of your pastors in Blue Ridge, and many of you are old friends (and you still claim me!). Thereʼs a lot Iʼd like to let you know about me, but this one “factoid” will probably suffice: look at that picture of me, and know that, as Iʼm writing this, Iʼm in my typical “uniform” - jeans and a flannel shirt!

God Bless You, and may He continue to bless the associations of Western Maryland!---Kenny Heath

MEET OUR CHURCH PLANTING CATALYST

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Birthdays

FEBRUARY5# Tunnea Burt9 # Larry Rickard15# Kathryn Rich15# Deb Youngbar24# Jon Beall

MARCH13# Pam Eubanks23# Delbert Pope26# Shane Wilt

Anniversaries

March

13 # Smith

17# Crawford

Event Calendar

FEBRUARY True Love Waits Emphasis Month

01 - Next Steps for Church Planters - for more information visit bcmd.org/next-steps.

02 - Children’s Seminar - at The Church at Covenant Park in Ellicott City. Visit bcmd.org/childrens-seminar for more info.

05 - Tour for Language Pastors - Introducing language pastors to various ministries in the BCM/D. Visit bcmd.org/tour-for-language-pastors for more info. 06 - BRBA Pastor's Fellowship Breakfast - Bonnie's Red Byrd - Keedysville, MD  - see blueridgebaptist.org for info.

10 - Racial Reconciliation Sunday - n SBC churches - see sbc.net for more info.

11 - 17 - Focus on WMU - in SBC churches - see sbc.net for more info.  17 - Children’s Ministry Sunday - in SBC churches - see sbc.net for more info.

23 - VBS Expo - at The Church at Severn Run in Severn, MD.Visit bcmd.org/vbs-training2 for more info.

MARCH

03 -10 - North America: Week of Prayer and Mission Study and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering - in SBC churches - see anniearmstrong.com for more info.

03 - Evangelism & Outreach Breakfast at the Bavarian Inn - See page 3 for details.

06 - BRBA Pastor's Fellowship Breakfast - Bob Evans - Rt. 40  - Frederick, MD _ see blueridgebaptist.org for info.       

17 - Church Planting Emphasis Week - in SBC churches - see sbc.net for more info.

17 - Substance Abuse Sunday - in SBC churches - see sbc.net for more info.

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First Baptist - Brunswick:Our menʼs ministry will be having our monthly breakfasts at Ingrahamʼs Diner in Jefferson at 8:30 am on 2/16 and 3/16. We will be having our Kidʼs Winter party on Saturday February 23

Faith Baptist - Knoxville:Our Upward basketball season begins February 2

Faith Baptist Church is accepting resumes for Associate Pastor of Education and Family Ministry. This is a full-time position. The principle function is to develop, plan, coordinate, and evaluate the Educational and Family Ministries. We encourage all interested candidates to print all documents relating to the position and submit a completed application packet to the church via email (jobs@faithsbc.org) by Feb 8, 2013. Complete application packets will include a cover letter, resume, questionnaire and other pertinent information. Any applications received after this date will not be considered. The compensation for this position is up to $55,000 / year which includes benefits.

Paramount Baptist - Hagerstown:Paramount will be having a Valentineʼs banquet on February 8 at 6:00 PM.

Will be presenting the Easter musical "Eyes of Faith" on Easter Sunday morning at 10:30 AM.  The musical is about seeing and believing in the Messiah. 

In the ChurchesPleasant Valley - Rhorersville:Christian Music Fest 2013: Saturday, February 16 from 5:00-7:30pm. Admission is free. We ask that you bring at least one canned food item. Contact Tallon at 240-586-0529 (leave a message).

Will also be hosting the Is Faith in God Reasonable webcast on February 1 beginning at 7:00 PM. Admission is free.

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The church will also have an Easter egg hunt and gospel magic show on March 23 at 1pm for children. 2500 eggs will be stuffed with goodies and lots of fun is planned for ages 3 years old to 4th grade.

First Baptist Church - Frederick:

As of February FBC Frederickʼs Little Lights Child Development Center will have 28 children enrolled at the center! They have 3 new employees working with them and have 4 rooms open for children... an Infant Room, a Toddlers and Twos Class, a 3s and 4s Class, and the Pre-K and Before and After School Program!

Please continue to pray for this ministry to families in our community. And check out our website at littlelightscdc.org.

First Baptist Church of Frederick will have a choral led Maundy Thursday / Tenebrae service the Thursday evening before Easter this year.

First Baptist Church - Hagerstown:

Sharon Renaldo is the outgoing secretary at FBC Hagerstown.  She has been with the church for about 8 years.   They are holding a reception to honor her years of service with the church on Sunday, Feb. 17th after the morning worship service. Donna Gregory, formerly at Faith, Knoxville, will be the new secretary.

Harvest Pointe Community Church - Ranson, WV:

This is the new ministry "base of operations" center for Harvest Pointe Community Church, in Charles Town, WV.  The building is located at 513 W. 3rd Avenue in Ranson, WV .... and will serve as office and ministry space for everything except Sunday morning services. 

Every month LifeWay offers a myriad of webcasts to help your church and itʼs members learn how to “be the church” and engage our culture. Please visit the following link to see the assortment of training opportunities available: lifeway.com/n/Simulcasts-&-Webcasts?type=events. Some of the options include:

• The Exchange with Ed Stetzer• Lifeway Women Live• Stand Firm Menʼs Ministry

Pastor Shane Wilt (West End) was recently hospitalized with kidney stones.  He's back in action and doing much better, praise the Lord! DOM for the Potomac Association, Richard Logsdon is retiring from the ministry.  We celebrate with Richard his many years of faithful service to the Lord.  Rev. David Keyser will be acting DOM there while they search for a permanent replacement. Pray for Dr. David Lee - Executive Director of the BCM/D as he prepares to retire this summer.  Pray for the search committee already in place to seek a new leader for our State Convention. Pray for the KEYSTONE Association's (PA) "Winter Escape" Youth retreat Feb. 8-10.  Pray that many youth (our SBC neighbors to the north) will draw closer to God through their experience. Pray for Pastor Larry Zecher (former pastor - Pinesburg) as he is being seen at Johns Hopkins Hospital to address a paralyzed vocal chord. Pray for MYERSVILLE BAPTIST as they are possibly getting close to calling a new Pastor. Pray for FELLOWSHIP BAPTIST - Middletown, MD as they begin to seek a new pastor/leader to help their church to the next level of ministry. So many have had flu and illness this winter.  Pray for their comfort and healing. Pray for Pastor Gary Buchman (Emmitsburg), his wife Debbie, and their extended family as they recently lost Gary's mom.   Pray for Pastor Ed Jordan (Faith Baptist - Knoxville) as he recovers from knee replacement surgery.

Erin Youngbar (Smithsburg Valley) is undergoing medical tests for what may be a brain tumor. Pray for her and her family as she meets with a neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins.

Please pray for June Deener (First Brunswick) as she recuperates from a fall.

Gail Scheffers a ministry leader at Covenant is recovering from knee surgery.

Please remember Marilyn Blank (Pleasant Valley) as she battles cancer.

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PRAYER LIGHTS

The Frederick County Convoy of Hope returns to the Frederick Fairgrounds on Saturday, June 1, 2013!

This compassion outreach, reaching the poor and struggling in our community, partnered with over 200 businesses, community and government agencies and 67 churches last year to serve over 6,300 guests, with over 2,300 volunteers from the Frederick community.  This outreach brings to our community a completely free, fun day of community resources, free haircuts, free family portraits, shoes, groceries, health and dental services, entertainment, a huge Kid Zone play area, lunch and connection churches to bring prayer and hope in Jesus name.

Informational meetings for 2013 will be held at the Golden Corral, in Frederick, MD on February 16th, February 23rd, March 9th and March 23rd from 7:30am-9:30am to discuss the needs and how your church may play a part.  Please join us this year; you will be glad you did!  

For more information or to reserve your spot, please contact:  Paul Foss, Convoy of Hope Church Relations, at paulfoss777@comcast.net or 240-285-2650 or Sharon Blache, Convoy of Hope Coordinator at sharon@mynorthstar.org or 301-401-2456.

For those of you in Washington County, Convoy of Hope is coming to Hagerstown. Please check the website at hopeforhagerstown.org for details.

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20810A National PikeBoonsboro, MD 21713

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

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