MAKE AN IMPACT

Impact West Virginia, Saturday, July 19, 2008

 
IMPACT IS AN EVANGELISTIC EFFORT by Free Will Baptists to change the lives of those who live in the city hosting their annual convention. On July 19, volunteers from across the nation will arrive in Charleston, West Virginia, a day early to impact the city with the gospel of Christ.

How does IMPACT work?
 
The one-day evangelistic campaign will target churches and neighborhoods near the greater Charleston area (within a one-hour drive). By partnering with local churches, volunteers will carry out a variety of tasks, from door-to-door evangelism to work projects at homes and in local churches.
 
“This is a great opportunity to give back to the state of West Virginia, especially the area around Charleston,” said Convention Manager Keith Burden. “And for the churches who are participating, it is opportunity to get more done in one day than a church could usually accomplish in a month!”

Churches and organizations interested in participating should contact IMPACT Coordinator Burt Hall at (304) 343-2599 or burthall@hughes.net for more information. Pastor Hall will put volunteers in touch with the following pastors or contact persons from local churches hosting the event.
 

Current IMPACT opportunities include:

Bradley FWB Church, Bradley WV
Contact: Wayne Peters, pastor
(304) 222-1500
Description: Visitation teams, flooring to be laid in the church

Skelton FWB Church, Skelton, WV (near Beckley)
Contact: Bill Bennett, pastor
(304) 877-5903
Description: Bathrooms to be installed

Chesapeake FWB Church, Chesapeake, WV
Pastor Dwight Priestly
Contact: Dan Kelley
(304) 343-0050
Description: Visitation/outreach teams

Chapman Memorial FWB Church
Contact: Pastor Ottie Burke, Jr.
(304) 239-2402
Description: Visitation/outreach teams

Emmons FWB Church
Pastor Robert McCallister
Contact: Greg Sowers
(304) 744-0580
Description: Youth Rally on Saturday

Huntington Area Churches

Central FWB Church
Contact: Pastor Steve Williams
(304) 522-6183
 
Spring Valley FWB Church
Contact: Tom Dyer
(304) 429-3476
 
Sunshine FWB Church
Contact: Carl Lilly
(304) 429-3831

restoring the "church on the ridge"

FOR NEARLY 200 YEARS, the Church on the Ridge has stood above the town of New Durham, New Hampshire, as a monument to the early days of the Northern Free Will Baptist movement. The simple frame building, constructed in 1819, was home to the congregation started by Elder Benjamin Randall in 1780. The building is the oldest standing Free Will Baptist church in America. It lies just over a mile from the Randall family cemetery where Randall is buried.

Over the years, thousands of Free Will Baptists have visited the historic site to catch a glimpse of their legacy. In recent years, despite consistent maintenance efforts of First FWB Church in New Durham, the building has fallen into disrepair. The affects of time have caught up with the aging landmark.

Delegates to the 2007 National Convention in Little Rock, Arkansas, voted to fund efforts to restore the Church on the Ridge and to establish a perpetual fund to provide ongoing upkeep. Master’s Men Director Ken Akers will work in conjunction with the church in New Durham to coordinate teams of volunteers to complete the task.

The first step in the process began in July 2007 when a team of volunteers began the arduous task of removing the existing roof, replacing sagging rafters, providing additional framing, and replacing the deck and shingles.

Volunteers also removed the crumbling chimneys and rebuilt the newel posts of the pinnacles and railing around the belfry.

Planning for stage two of the restoration is now underway. The full restoration process will include:

• Painting the exterior.

• Painting the interior after repairs to the plaster walls and ceiling.

• Inspecting and replacing faulty wiring.

• Repairing deterioration in the stone foundation.

• Replacing carpet in the foyer, aisle, and on the platform.

• Repairing windows.

• Restoring the Randall cemetery.

To participate in the restoration of The Church on the Ridge, contact Ken Akers at (877) 767-8039 or visit www.fwbmastersmen.org. To help underwrite the cost of the project, call the Free Will Baptist Executive Office at (877) 767-7659 or visit www.nafwb.org.

ONE MAGAZINE REPRESENTS THE FOLLOWING FREE WILL BAPTIST ORGANIZATIONS:

The Board of Retirement

The Executive Office (nafwb.org)

Free Will Baptist Bible College (fwbbc.edu)

Free Will Baptist Foundation (fwbgifts.org)

Home Missions (homemissions.net)

International Missions (fwbgo.com)

Master’s Men (fwbmastersmen.org)

Randall House Publications (randallhouse.com)