Team 360

Recently I was watching an infomercial (see, there is at least one person out there who watches them) which was promising me the ultimate body by working out 3 days a week for 30 minutes a day on the exercise equipment they were advertising. There was a male model and female model as spokespersons who were attempting to get me to believe that not only do they work out only 3 days a week for 30 minutes a day on the advertised piece of equipment, but that if I did I too would look like them. Needless to say there are things in life that are too good to be true. I am skeptical that I will ever look like the guy on the commercial, even if I bought and used the machine he was selling.

There are some things in life that seem too good to be true. But, there are things in life that may seem to be too good to be true, but they are as good if not better than advertised. What if I told you that you could change your life and the lives of those around you in as little as 360 minutes a month? You read it right! In just 360 minutes a month you can become an entirely new person. In just 12 minutes a day you could change your world forever. Would you be willing to give up less than 1% of your month to do that? Who wouldn’t? Would you be willing to commit with me to devoting a minimum of 360 minutes a month to change your community and world? If so, keep reading. If not, then go catch up on the latest news in the world www.cnn.com.

There are two parts, one inward and one outward, to the 360 Plan. The first part is that you commit to spend at least 10 minutes a day reading your Bible and praying. There are numerous devotional books and magazines available which can be useful in helping you with this task. For more information on devotional resources contact me or check out www.the fellowship.info. By spending at least 10 minutes a day in prayer and reading Scripture your life will be changed. You will begin to discover the eternal benefits of drawing closer to the heart of God.

The second part of the 360 Plan is to devote 60 minutes a month to G.R.O.W., CTBC’s ministry of outreach and in-reach. G.R.O.W. is a way that you can use your gifts and talents to touch the world with the love of Christ. Every person who is reading this has what it takes to be a vital part of G.R.O.W. Are you a person who enjoys sharing a cup of coffee and good conversation? Then you need to be a part of Going visiting. Do you have ideas for new ministries to reach the community or ways to strengthen existing ministries to make them more effective in reaching people? Reaching outward and inward is just for you. Do you enjoy sending and receiving email or do you have favorite links to Christian content on the web? Then help us touch peoples lives Online. Do you frequently send cards to people on their birthday or when they are sick or just because you thought about them? Are you someone who enjoys chatting with friends on the phone? Then Writing and Calling is tailor made for you. It takes everyone to do their part for CTBC to G.R.O.W.!

Are you ready to change your life and the community? Join Team 360 today by contacting Bland at 725-5917 or bcampbell@charlestownbaptist.org.

Summer Mission Trips

The week of June 22-28 we will be working with the Norfolk Area Baptist Association in Chesapeake, VA. We will have to opportunity to participate in various projects ranging from outreach to construction to social ministry. Bland is in Norfolk for the next couple of days on a pre-trip visit. He will be finalizing some details for the trip. There will be a meeting on June 1 at Noon for all interested. We need a critical mass in order to go on the trip, so if interested contact Bland NOW!

As you may recall, last summer a group from CTBC went to Lewiston, Maine to work with Pathway Community Church. Bland has been in contact with Mary Beth Caffey, Pastor of Pathway of Community Church, and she has expressed interest in CTBC coming back to Maine in July or August. At the present time there has not been a definite date set. More information will be on the blog and in the weekly bulletin when it comes available.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is much more than a three-day weekend that marks the beginning of summer. To many people, especially the nation's thousands of combat veterans, this day, which has a history stretching back all the way to the Civil War, is an important reminder of those who died in the service of their country. (http://www.history.com/minisites/memorial)

On this day we at CTBC remembers those who have died protecting our country. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all families who have lost loved ones to wars. Also, we salute all those who have served in out armed forces and are currently serving. We continually pray for the day in which there are no wars and the "peace that passes all understanding" reigns in our world.

Time of Celebration

Today CTBC celebrated the Groundbreaking Service for the new addition to our church. God blessed us with a wonderful day. The sun warmed the gathered as we lifted our prayers of thanks and celebration to our God who has continually lead our congregation throughout our "Step of Faith". Construction is scheduled to begin within the next couple of weeks.

The "Golden" shovel breaks ground

Asking God's continual blessing on CTBC building project.




Dr.Hall delivers a groundbreaking homily.



Trustees Jim Griffith and Bill Custer prepare to turn a shovel of ground
(not pictured CTBC trustee Bill Brown)

CTBC Building Committee




Dr. Bland Campbell, III, Associate Pastor &
Mrs. Donna Coyle, Organist



CTBC Deacons



CTBC congregation receives a chance to turn a shovel of dirt.

How Brave Are You?

El Caminito del Rey (The King's pathway) is a walkway, now fallen into disrepair, pinned along the steep walls of a narrow gorge in El Chorro, near Álora in Málaga, Spain. The walkway has gone many years without maintenance, and is in a highly deteriorated and dangerous state. It is only one meter in width, and over a 700-meter fall, and over time it has also lost its handrail. Some parts of the walkway have completely collapsed and have been replaced by a beam and a metallic wire on the wall. Many people have lost their lives on the walkway in recent years. After four people died in two accidents in 1999 and 2000, the local government closed the entrances. However, adventurous tourists still find their way into the walkway.

Note Signing

Yesterday, the CTBC trustees and Dr. Hall signed the note for the loan on our new building project. This paves the way for our Groundbreaking Ceremony on May 25 at 10:30 AM.

House Razing

CTBC has begun the preparation of our building expantion. Over the past couple of days we have razed a house owned by the church in order to have the needed space to add a Fellowship Hall and Education space to our existing buildings.

The Time Draws Nigh...

As the staff arrived at work today, they were greeted with the sound of a bulldozer doing it's thing. It was here to begin prep work for the razing the house next door to CTBC. This house, owned by CTBC, is being razed to make room for the expantion of our facilities. If all goes as planned the razing of the house will begin tomorrow. Be sure to check back for pics and videos.

The following is an article written by CTBC's Senior Pastor, Dr. Wyman Hall. It appeared in the May 2008 edition of The Beacon, the CTBC monthly newsletter.

THE PASTOR’S PARAGRAPHS

Our Revival was excellent, Evangelist Steve Freeman brought us God-sent sermons from His Holy Word. We all quickly fell in love with Steve and his lovely family. Sunday morning services were well attended and Sunday evening we had 138 present. Monday through Wednesday we had well over 100 present each evening, with 123 present in the closing service. We had two professions of faith, one to move their membership to our church, numerous recommitments and re-dedications. And I understand that one of the children presented themselves last Sunday on profession of faith. The Lord has blessed us greatly!

I really didn’t know how the noontime meals would go since we had never done anything like this before. Well, we had 32 on Monday, 36 on Tuesday and somewhere around 52 on Wednesday (they just kept coming in). Rev. Freeman did an excellent job on his devotions or mini sermons. And we kept our promise of being done by 12:45 p.m. We did have people from the larger community and I saw a number of them in our evening services.

I want to thank our Fellowship Ministry Team and all their recruits for the wonderful lunches and suppers, it is just impossible to name everyone who helped. Thanks to our music people; from Kerri Sisk who led the song services, to Donna Coyle our organist, to a number of revolving pianists, to special music people, the choir and the congregation who really involved themselves in singing. Also thanks to those who helped with the sound board and sound equipment. I just think everything was excellent, especially the response through the week and the afterglow which I hope will continue.

Your Pastor

Salvage Update

As of today, there have been several items which have been salvaged from the house we will be razing at the end of the month. If there are items which you are interested in then please contact the church office to inquire to the availability of the items.

Happy Mother's Day

It was a wonderful weekend of celebrating womanhood at CTBC. The weekend began with a lovely Women's Breakfast Tea hosted at CTBC by the Fellowship Ministry Team. Each woman in attendance was treated to a special breakfast especially prepared for them as well as a heart felt program honoring them as Christian women.

Today's worship service was dedicated in honor and memory of all the important women in our lives.

This beautiful floral arrangement was provided by the CTBC Flower Ministry in celebration of all women. It was bore out in our worship service that every woman in our lives serve as a mother to us. They may be our biological mother who gave birth to us or she may be our adoptive or foster mother. This woman may be someone who has experienced the death of a child or by choice or medical reason have never had a child of their own. In our lives every woman serves as a mother to us...a spiritual mother who unconditionally loves us and points us toward Jesus Christ. A woman who is the presence of our Savior in flesh and blood. We at CTBC celebrate all women on this Mother's Day 2008.

During Mission Friends and Children in Action (CiA) our children made gifts for the special women in their lives. Our Children in Action Mission Group Leader, Mrs. Donna Hartless, wrote the following in honor of Mother's Day and was include with each gift.

Today we discussed the most amazing missionary!
They are called to the toughest mission field there is!
This person gives 100% of themselves, 100% of their time.
They are never too tired, sick, hungry, or busy to respond when called upon.
Sometimes they feel like their loving words go unheard and their kind actions go unnoticed, but that is not so!
For you are the missionary, Mother, and your family is the mission field.
I just wanted you to let you know that I love you very much and appreciate you. Thank You Mother for answering God's call!

Children in Action hard at

work on their special gifts.

Everybody Loves A Picnic!

7^th Annual Shenandoah Baptist Association Picnic

May 17^th, 2008

Begins at 3:00 p.m.

Sherando Park

Stephens City, VA

There will be softball, games for all ages, music, bingo and FOOD! Don’t miss it! Join in with fellow Baptist from across the Shenandoah Valley, from Martinsburg, WV to Stanley, VA. Bring your family and friends!

Ladies Breakfast

Ladies’ Breakfast

Saturday, May 10^th

9:30 a.m.

Ladies! You are invited to be our guest for breakfast in the Fellowship Hall to honor all women. Please bring a teacup and saucer for your beverage.

May Calendar

Click on the calendar to enlarge or to print

Salvage Items

If you read yesterday's post, you know that it is an exciting time at CTBC as we prepare to start construction on our new building. Part of the preliminary process is to raze a church owned house on the corner of Samuel Street and Avis Street. Contained within the house are several items which we believe to be salvageable. Below are pictures and descriptions of the items. If you have questions concerning the items please contact CTBC via email or phone (725-5917). All items are free of charge, but CTBC does request that you make a donation to our building fund for any items which you salvage. All items will be available until May 31, 2008.

Bathrooms

Banisters













8 ' Outside Post









Doors









These 8' pocket door have all the needed hardware














Windows

CTBC New Building Program On Schedule

Here is an article from our pastor, Dr. Wyman Hall, regarding exciting news at CTBC.

The church met in Called Business Meeting on Sunday April 20^th 2008 at 1:30 p.m. with lunch provided by the Fellowship Ministry Team to consider the report of the Building Committee. The meeting was called to order after opening prayer, and James Griffith, Jr., Building Committee Chairman presented the recommendations of the Committee. They recommended we approve the architect’s report to accept the low bid package and all alternatives of $1,441,800 for the all purpose Fellowship Hall and Educational space addition, from Excel Contrators, Inc. After discussion and secret ballot the vote was 1 abstention, 10 no’s, and 56 yes’s (83.6%). On the suggestion of our architect and recommendation of the Building Committee, the church also voted to get an estimate on the completion of the second floor from Excel Inc. The church had voted for the empty second floor loft because of the estimated cost. The bid was actually over $500,000 below that original estimate.

Upon recommendation of the Building Committee the church voted to accept the letter of intent of the Bank of Charles Town to loan up to $1,500,000 to the church for 20 years, first 10 year fixed rate at 7%, to be reconsidered for the last 10 years. This was the lowest interest rate of the two banks who bid on the loan.

The church voted to reserve one year’s payment for back up from the Building Fund.