Blume only happens once every four years and this is where we're "blume-ing" next summer:
July 13–16, 2011
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
Walt Disney World® Resort
Orlando, Florida

What can you expect at Blume?
- Personal interactions with missionaries
- Hands-on ministry projects
- Dynamic and challenging worship experiences, breakout conferences, and Bible studies
- A unique, customized Blume activity through Disney's Youth Education Series (Y.E.S.) program (an interactive, cultural experience in EPCOT)
- New friends from all over the country with a similar heart for God and for missions
- Outside of Blume memories made, even more group memories made with free time in the Disney parks, built into the overall Blume program
- To leave Blume with a greater understanding about what God has called a student to be

For more information or to register visit BLUMEFORGIRLS.COM.

The event is based on the book "Great Expectations." No, it's not the classic by Charles Dickens, but rather a new 48-page book with the subtitle "Planting Seeds for Sunday School Growth." The book, which is not required for the training, can be ordered or downloaded free at LifeWay.com/Sundayschool. The training sessions will focus on the three main characteristics of a Great Expectations class.


The three main training segments will be facilitated by widely respected Christian educators. Jeff Young, from Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, will facilitate the first session, "Expect New People Every Week." P.K. Spratt, from Jersey Baptist Church near Columbus, Ohio, will lead the second 20-minute session, "Expect People to Say Yes." Allan Taylor, from First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Ga., will lead the session titled "Expect Classes to Reproduce." I will also participate along with LifeWay's Bruce Raley and Ross Ramsey.

QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION

Participants will be able to text and/or e-mail questions, which a panel of leaders will answer to conclude the rapid-fire two-hour experience. I talked recently with a Sunday School director in South Carolina who is excited about the participation of all his leaders from 4-6 p.m. EDT and plans to follow the event with an appreciation supper prepared by other church members. Some West Coast churches are planning to serve lunch before participating from 1-3 p.m. PDT. Perhaps churches in the Hawaii-Pacific Baptist Convention will serve breakfast!

HOW TO GET READY

Find more details at http://www.lifeway.com/event/359/. Arrange for the technical aspects and test them before the event. Gather a crowd. Plan to make it fun. And pray that God will do something wonderful in your class, your church, your association, your state, and our continent -- and beyond -- as 20,000 leaders recommit themselves to leading Great Expectations Sunday Schools!

Download the June Edition of The West Virginia Southern Baptist Newspaper in PDF format.

Guest Speaker: Gerry Taillon,
Executive Director of Canadian Baptist Convention

Guest Speaker: Rick Via,
Evangelist for Rick Via World Reach Ministries

Ladies Guest Speaker: Connie Cavanaugh

Music: The Jason Lovins Band

Deadline for reservations is July 2.

Please mail your deposit to: Susan Carpenter, One Mission Way, Scott Depot, WV 25560

This event is made possible by gifts to the Cooperative Program of the SBC

Location:
Parchment Valley
Baptist Conference Center
Ripley, WV

Great Missions Opportunities! Meet Missionaries! Air Conditioned Cabins! Swimming Pool! Great Food Service! Come and develop your missions life and grow with God while having great fun!!!

For Students completing grades 3-12

Deposit: $65
Due June 9, 2010

Partial scholarships are available.
Please send request to the following:
WVCSB: Missions Camp Scholarship Application, One Mission Way, Scott Depot, WV 25560
Limited Number—Please send in by May 14, 2010

Downloads:
Mission Camp Poster
Mission Camp Brochure (p1)
Mission Camp Brochure (p2)
MC Sign-Up Sheet
MC Camper Scholarship Application
MC Camper Parent Permission / Release Form

Download the May Edition of The West Virginia Southern Baptist Newspaper in PDF format.

Please join in prayer to lift these people up and be part of their physical and spiritual renewal.

Go to www.namb.net/pray4Haiti to see Virtual Prayerwalks 1, 2, and 3.

Photo: Pastor Gerard Desimo stands atop the pile of rubble that once was his church, Eglise du Tabernacle de In Harmonie Celeste. Photo by Steve Nelson

Pastor Gaston, a Haitian pastor, says that, “overcoming FEAR is the number one prayer request of the people here.” One pastor said he decided to sleep in his house but his family refused. After several nights they decided to begin living in their home. There are about 1.3 million people who could sleep in their homes but do not for fear of an aftershock. Southern Baptist teams are working to help the Haitians overcome this fear. The Haiti leadership says, “We encourage and plea for more workers in the field because it truly is white unto harvest in Haiti.”

The work of our SBDR teams in Haiti is extremely demanding. Not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually. One moment the teams are singing songs of praise and the next they are mourning the death of an infant. Please continue to pray for this response and the spiritual revival going on in Haiti. Pray for the pastors who struggle with their own grief. Pray for our teams who are ministering in very difficult circumstances. Pray for the 150,000 buckets heading from Southern Baptist churches to Haitian churches and on to the people of Haiti.

Disaster Relief Ministries are continuing throughout the summer.

If you would be interested in going as either a Medical Team member or Recovery member, please contact your State Director of Missions at 304.757.0944 or deltonbeall@wvcsb.org.

Recently members from churches in the Allegheny, Mountain State, Coalfields and the Monongahela Associations completed training in introduction, mud out, and chain saw.

Each year your state convention works with our Associations to provide basic trainings in the major areas of ministry that is offered through Southern Baptist Disaster Relief.

If you are looking for ways to care for and minister to people in times of crisis, contact your State Disaster Relief Director, Delton Beall, SDOM at deltonbeall@wvcsb.org or by calling the state office at 304.757.0944 or by contacting your Associational Missionary.

Next Training Event: Blue Hat Training May 1

West Virginia Disaster Relief a ministry of the Cooperative Program.

Updated April 2, 2010
Thank you West Virginia Southern Baptists!!

Also, to date $ 58,573.69 dollars have been given through your state convention office to Disaster Relief’s Special Offering. Again, I say thank you for the outpouring of love to this country so devastated by the recent earthquake.

Disaster Relief Ministries are continuing throughout the summer.

If you would be interested in going as either a Medical Team member or Recovery member, please contact your State Director of Missions at 304.757.0944 or deltonbeall@wvcsb.org.

Let me ask you to pray for these Buckets of Hope not only to feed a family but open the door for the Hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

With a grateful heart,

Delton Beall
State Director of Missions
West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists

What could we do?

We took a hard look in the mirror. We had the Terry Mission money sitting in an account, drawing almost no interest, while overseas seminaries were preparing to shut their doors. Prayerfully, we decided to release the entire $50,000 because someday, we surmised, Jesus was going to come back and there would sit $50,000 in the bank. Those missionaries needed it now and we believed the Terrys would have wanted to provide a BAILOUT of their own. We made that decision on a Sunday. The very next day, our church got a call from Hollywood, CA. Their film crew was coming to Huntington and had read online about our food and exercise ministries. We told them we wanted to finish our building project so the community could come as families and cook dinner and exercise together. Over the last few months they continued to film in our area and decided to adopt our project. Due to their hard work, and the Lord's good blessings, their people finishing up much of our building project. In total, they have provided nearly $200,000 in goods and services to First Baptist Kenova. Now what would inspire a secular TV company to feature a gospel-preaching church on national television and at the same time help fund their building project? My friends, it is clearly the Lord's way of rewarding us for stepping up our commitment to missions. Bless others and don't miss out on the blessings God has for you. He may have something special stored away for your congregation, but the key to His storage building is a thing called generosity.

Good Morning America where pastor Steve is interviewed.

Download the March / April Edition of The West Virginia Southern Baptist Newspaper in PDF format.

WHO------Southern Baptists from West Virginia and maybe from elsewhere; at least 14 years old [this is negotiable with the team leader]

WHAT-----assisting with Backyard Bible Club using the SaddleRidge Ranch VBS material, and helping with the Bible stories, the music, crafts, recreation; maybe some painting or yard work; other community service projects

WHEN-----need to be in Tyrone on Saturday, July 18, mid afternoon; a group will leave from the Convention Office at 9 AM.

WHERE---Emmanuel Baptist Church, Tyrone, Pennsylvania, Conemaugh Valley Baptist Association, I-99 north of Altoona, PA

HOW-------by van, car, or truck; leave from Charleston, get people along the way, or meet there

HOW MUCH---no more than $150 per person; will be less if you can ride with someone else; some meals will be provided; some meals on your own; housing provided

REGISTRATION---deadline to sign up to go is Wednesday, June 30, 2010. Space is limited to about 30 people because of the sleeping space and by the number of workers needed.

I need your name, mailing address, best phone number to reach you, email address, the church you attend, and [if under18] your age. You can fill out the registration form on the web site.

PREPARATION: What do you need to do to be ready to go?
1--Go to the association VBS training or to the training at your church. Go to either music, crafts, or Grade 3 or 4 Bible study. Help with your church VBS.
2--Prepare your testimony using this outline. Please write this out; not necessarily in detail, but full enough for you to tell it in story form that makes sense.
a) your life before Christ
b) how you knew you needed Jesus and how you accepted Christ
c) your life since becoming a Christian
3--You must be able to take directions from the Team Leader [Dr. Wrigley]
4--You must be able to be away from home for a week
5-- Practice smiling and having fun
CLOTHING AND SUPPLIES----traveling, dress comfortably; Sunday--dress nicely [pants, skirt, dress, nice shirt, no shorts, no t-shirts]; work days---shorts and t-shirts ok, shorts must pass the fingertip length test; long pants are suggested; tennis shoes for work and walk are highly recommended; take a light jacket---it might get cool! You may want to pack a swimming suit but I cannot promise you will get a chance to use it; ball glove
a camera would be nice, cell phones are ok, other electronics are ok but discouraged---you must take care of them!! Electronics that interfere with work or fellowship will be taken away from you until the end of the trip; cell phones will be off while we are working.
money---the $150 will cover your expenses, if you really like eating lots of snacks or buying souvenirs you will need more money than that
bedding---you need to bring your sleeping gear, you will be on the floor; an air mattress is highly recommended; a sleeping bag is handy, or sheets and a blanket; remember your pillow; bring your Bible; we will be housed at the church building; the church has a kitchen we can utilize for some meals bring CD’s or audio tapes you can sing with, or an instrument you play.

Space for the trip will be limited to 30 people. Contact Greg Wrigley, State Sunday School Director, West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists if you want to participate. gregwrigley@wvcsb.org OR 1-800-411-5758 ext. 118

Download the January Edition of The West Virginia Southern Baptist Newspaper in PDF format.

Download the January Edition of The West Virginia Southern Baptist Newspaper in PDF format.

Download the December Edition of The West Virginia Southern Baptist Newspaper in PDF format.