8/6/2019 201107 Baptist Bridge

1/8

By the grace of God, the Philippi Baptist Church shall embrace,

model, and share the love of God through Jesus Christ by the

power of the Holy Spirit.

Philippi Baptist Church, Philippi, WV 26416 July, 2011

CATCH US ON THE RADIO LIVE

EVERY SUNDAY MORNING!

10:30a.m.

WQAB 91.3 FM

107 Church Street Philippi, WV 26416 (304) 457-3206 philippibaptist@frontier.comJon Villers, Pastor

Lisa Dadisman, Secretary

The Baptist BridgeThe Baptist Bridge

Inside this issue

From the Pastor2

Board of Christian Ed...3

Youth news...4

Announcements...5

Getting to know...6

Prayer list7

Birthdays7

Anniversaries...7

Introducing

the Cheesemans...8

8/6/2019 201107 Baptist Bridge

2/8

2

Saludos en el nombre de nuestro Seor y Salvador Jesu Cristo!

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

My heart is filled with joy! We have much to celebrate as followers of Christ in our American Baptist Churchesamily. We gathered in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with over 650 registered delegates and over 2,000 who gatheredor worship in the two year old convention center.

My three convention breakfasts included hearing from the Baptist World Alliance, International Ministries, andhe American Baptist Historical Society. We celebrated our connection to the great Baptist family from Africa to

Asian to Latin America. We celebrated with twenty of our international missionaries, including our own DebbieMulneix, who has spent twelve years in India. We celebrated with the Historical Society's announcement of

he 200th anniversary of Ann and Adinirom Judson's first missionary endeavor to Burma. The observance willegin in 2012.

can move on to the celebrations we had at lunch. I attended the Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Boarduncheon where we were celebrating the 100th anniversary of our pension agency. I also celebrated with theAmerican Baptist Home Mission Societies (formerly known as National Ministries) as we heard an incredible ac-ount of the Hyde Park Baptist Church as they positioned the church to actually reflect the current ethnic picturehey find themselves in. Their pastoral staff, which consists of a European American female lead pastor, an Afri-an American male associate pastor, and an Asian American discipleship pastor, gave a stirring account of beingpen to the Spirit's leading.

celebrated with my two alma maters at the A-B College dinner and the Eastern University/Palmer School of

heology dinner. President Creehan inspired us to recognize the college's need to move forward from a recentistory of declined enrollment and morale. We heard the West Virginians sing their songs of praise. Eastern

Baptist Theological Seminary has now relocated to the campus of Eastern University and is celebrating this newartnership which typifies the Baptist principle that we can do more together than we can apart.

Of course, we continued celebrating even when it didn't involve food. The three corporate worship services weremagnificent. We were encouraged through music of all styles and traditions along with messages focusing onCelebrating: God's Glory - God's Power - God's Way. Our keynote speakerThe Rev. Dr. Gary Nelson fromCanada, challenged us as United States churches to wake to the fact that unless we are investing in the commu-ity around the church we have lost our historic status.

He also said, I'm not sure it's right to ask for change to a congregation you have not invested in.

want you to know that I love each of you as a part of the body of Christ and more specifically the Philippi Bap-st family. Thank you for letting me be a part of your lives. We look forward to doing even more in the yearsnd decades to come.

We have much to celebrate!La benedicin de Dios para todos ustedes.God's blessing to you all!Bo poehnn vm vem

halom - Pastor Jon

8/6/2019 201107 Baptist Bridge

3/8

3

BOARD OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

Philippi Baptist Church VBSWe will be hosting a one-day Vacation Bible School on Saturday, July 16th. If you would like to help in any

way, please contact Sarah Ferguson (457-5606 or Cheryl Wolfe (457-2910)

The theme this year will be the Power Lab.

The Board of Christian Education is looking for volunteers to team teach (either together or

alternating weeks) Sunday School. We are hoping to add classes when school begins so that

we have Sunday School for all age levels: Pre-School and Kindergarten, Elementary (1st-4th),

Middle School (5th-8th) and High School (9th-12th). If you are

interested in volunteering please contact Sara Poling 677-3073 or Sarah Ferguson 457-5606.***

Our annual Idlewild Trip was such a fun time. As you can see from the picture!!!

8/6/2019 201107 Baptist Bridge

4/8

4

8/6/2019 201107 Baptist Bridge

5/8

5

Heart & Hand needs are help!

This church does not run a food pantry. It does not operate a clothing closet. It

does not locate housing for the homeless. Instead, this congregation depends upon

Heart & Hand Ministries to provide these services, and to that end a small monthlydonation is made through the Deacons Fund.

Thats fine. But its not enough. Thats why a few members of the congregation go

once a month to work in the H&H Thrift Storethe first Monday of every month,

6:30 to 8:00 p.m. BUT last monthJuneonly two volunteers showed up. Come

onsupport our local mission, those who minister on our behalf. First Monday

evenings (exception: July 11 instead of July 4) or any other spare time you may

have. Be a Heart & Hand volunteer!

The Final Secret

The final secret, I think, is this: that the words You shall love the Lord your God

become in the end less a command than a promise. And the promise is that, yes, on

the weary feet of faith and the fragile wings of hope, we will come to love him at

last as from the first he has loved usloved us even in the wilderness, especially in

the wilderness, because he has been in the wilderness with us. He has been in the

wilderness for us. He has been acquainted with our grief. And, loving him, we willcome at last to love each other too....That is the promise, and the greatest of all

promises.

--Frederick Buechner inListening to Your Life

From the June 19th congregational business meeting:Gratitude is expressed to Gerald Fogg for repairing the Elevette, Olin Campbell for

renovating the womens restroom, to Greg Mouser for attending to the plantings in

front of the church, and to the Ervins for repairing the front steps.

8/6/2019 201107 Baptist Bridge

6/8

6

Hail and Farewell!

t was 42 years ago this fall that Marija and George Sommer, with two suitcases and twenty dollars, left Czechoslova-

a and headed for the United States. Dr. Richard Shearer and his wife, Ruth, had been in Europe the previous spring

nd had asked a Baptist minister in Prague if he knew anyone who could teach piano at Alderson-Broaddus College.

With the political situation in upheaval in Czechoslovakia, the young couple sold or gave away almost all of their be-

ngings and headed for the great unknown.

rriving at last in Philippi, their biggest problem was language. He knew no English, Marija only a little. The Shearers,

eir only contacts in this country, took the Sommerses to the guest apartment on the third floor of Old Main. Theyund their way that Sunday to Philippi Baptist Church. George laughs, reminding Marija of their reaction when Al and

ady Byrne, who was serving as President Shearers receptionist, invited them to go to the county fair for hot dogs.

We looked up the two words in our dictionary, George says, and decided to refuse the invitation. HOT DOGS?

heir tangle with language continued when Chuck and Carol Ervin hosted a shower for them. Imagine our surprise,

arija says, when we were given much-needed household items. And then came

hanksgiving and a complete holiday dinner with the Don Smith family. Weve all been close friends ever since.

nother shock came when Betty Jean Digman, then organist at the church, asked Marija to substitute for her. Marija

greed, but when she went to practice, she discovered that the church organ was of a type that she had never seen be-

re. Somehow we managed that Sunday and every other crisis, Marija nods, at the church, at home, and at the col-

ge. Over the years, the Sommerses have sponsored other Czechoslovak and Yugoslav citizens in their emigration,

cluding John Prusa (Marijas cousin). Zvezdana and Jovan Vlasic (Marijas brother) and their children also followed

eorge and Marija to Philippi.

arija became Associate Professor of Music and Music Education at A-B, and George served as Director of Media Ser-

ces. Marija eventually served as president of the West Virginia Music Teachers Association and earned

ertification in numerous teaching methods. They also became associated with the Czechoslovak Baptist Convention of

e USA and Canada, which George has served as Executive Secretary for over thirty years. Marija has been their or-

anist and pianist and president of the Womens Missionary Union. George has also edited their trilingual

agazine, Glorious Hope.

eginning soon after their arrival, and with the exception of four years when they were associated with the First Baptist

hurch of Fairmont, Marija has been the organist at Philippi Baptist Church, and George, after assisting Clyde Hibbs,

as been the electronic engineer. He designed and installed the sound and video systems.

has been a long and busy road from where Marija was bornKikinda, Yugoslavia, and from where George was

ornOstrava, Czechoslovakiato where they have spent most of their adult yearsPhilippi, West Virginia. And

ow they are on the move againretiring to Naples, Florida.

here are no words to express the gratitude of the congregation of PBC and the faculty and staff of A-B for the bless-

gs that George and Marija Sommer have brought to this community. May Gods grace and care be with them

rever!

8/6/2019 201107 Baptist Bridge

7/8

7

2 - Thomas Villers

2- Bobby Villers

3-Terry Wilfong

6-Pastor Don Walls

9-Carol Ervin

16-Bruce Blankenship

20-Randy Moore

21-Alice Tenney

22-Richard Hepler23-Kathy Prusa

23-Jared Kirchberg

26-Eliza Hodge

27-Jeannie Mozley

29-Taylor Smith

30-Acie Vestal

30-Erin Davis

30-Marie Gribble

30-Evan Bartram

31-Caleb Villers

Anniversaries in July

2-John&Kathy Prusa

3-George&Marija Sommer

8-Terry Jr. and Melissa Wilfong

11-Gary and Brenda Price

16-Jud & Kelly Bracey

29-Pete&Sarah Ferguson

30-Bruce & Cheryl Blankenship

31-Wes&Crystal Gray

A-B College faculty, staff and students,

Albert Carman,

Susan Ball,

Ronald Ball,

Albert Carman,

Billy Coontz,

Blaine Corder,

Audrey Cross,

The family of Carl Tideman,

Grace Delaney,Regina Edens,

Becky & Mike Elmore,

Otilia Franke,

Jim Friend,

Carl Gant,

Jane Gibbons,

Joe & Beverly Gouer,

Billie Moore,

Chrissy Maddy,

Donna Moore,

Randy Moore,

Violet Mouser,

Don Murray,

Newborn baby girl Magda Palko,

The family of Savannah Mae Nestor,

Brenda & Gary Price,

Isaac Reed,

Rev. Victor Shields,

Jacob Scheick,

Vangie Shaffer,

Dr. Richard Shearer,Andy & Camella Watson,

Unspoken requests for family members, unsaved,

person and community concerns, those with job and

home loss, financial difficulties. Our national, state,

and country leaders and officials. Victims, the

families and friends of crime, war and violence

throughout our country. Military personnel and their

families throughout the world. Relatives and friends

those serving our country: Tim Jenkins, Chris

Mossburg, Taylor Smith, Major Kris Wood. CaptainAaron Cross who was deployed to Afghanistan.

8/6/2019 201107 Baptist Bridge

8/8

8

Philippi Baptist Church107 Church StreetPhilippi, West Virginia 26416

Nonprofit OrganizationU.S. POSTAGEPermit NO. 36

Philippi, WV 26416

A young couple is moving to Barbour County and the husband has been in youth ministry for the last six years. He has just

been hired as a full-time teacher for Barbour County. Our Deacon Board had the privilege of sitting down with Adam and Lisa

Cheeseman on June 17th to hear their heart and calling God is placing on their lives. Adam expressed to us his desire to con-

tinue to be in ministry in Barbour County. He feels called to minister with Middle School, High School and College Students.

It was nice to see the favorable response at our Quarterly Business Meeting on June 19th for Adam to come as a volunteer on

staff at our church. The Deacon Board has suggested we set aside July 10 th as a day in which our church family can meet

Adam, Lisa and their beautiful 2yr old daughter Aleigh (pronounced Allie). Adam would say words of greeting and share his

personal testimony in the morning worship and then have a time to meet their family afterwards. Adam will then lead youth at

6pm that evening.

A special business meeting as been called for July 17th following the morning worship service. We will be hearing recommen-

dations from the Church Council regarding long range planning for youth and young adult ministry at Philippi Baptist Church.