Spring 2011 Campaign: Humility

Come join the Blue Ridge Church of Christ and our sister churches in Virginia as we strive to imitate Jesus’ humility. As a church we strive to become more like Jesus everyday; so what better way than to imitate His humility? This campaign focuses in on the second chapter of the letter to Philippians where we’ll study out what it means to have the same attitude of Christ Jesus. Join us in fasting and prayer; daily exercises in humility; lessons on humility; evangelistic outreach; Bible talks; Bible studies; and incredible church services on Wednesday and Sundays throughout the month of March!

To help supplement our focus to capture the attitude of Christ, we’ll be reading Prideful Souls Guide To Humility (available new and used on Amazon) by Thomas Jones and Michael Fontenot.

Download (courtesy of the Hampton Roads Church): Campaign Handout | Family Devotionals | Bible Talks | C.S.Lewis Mere Christianity Excerpt: The Great Sin

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”
~ Philippians 2.5

Christmas Vacation Studies

The Christmas Vacation studies are available online now at http://www.vcoc.org/blueridge/about-us/married-singles-campus-ministries/campus-ministry/. You can browse them individually or download the entire PDF. Let Bobby or Phil know if there are any other Bible study resources you’d like to see on the site. Oh, and Merry Christmas!! See you all in 2011.

Christmas Banquet Slideshow

Due to popular demand, the Christmas Banquet slideshow is available here. It is a 90MB Powerpoint file, so it might take a while to download. Enjoy, and Merry Christmas!

Thanksgiving Service 2010

On Thanksgiving Sunday, 28 November 2010, we will be meeting at the normal time and place: Burnley-Moran Elementary School at 10:30am. In past years we have held house church, but during this year the church has grown to the point where the typical holiday-season congregation no longer fits in any one (or even two!) homes. To God be the glory, and Happy Thanksgiving!

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”
~ Colossians 3:16

M ap sonje ou, M ap priye pou ou (I will miss you, I will pray for you)

By Dr. Mark Ottenweller

A few weeks ago, thirteen volunteers and I sat in a tent with some of the 80 poorest and most neglected children on earth – orphans living at the Cadre D’Action pour le Developpement (C.A.D.) orphanage in Ganthier, Haiti. Many were suffering from scabies, diarrhea and all sorts of parasites.

As I sat there I thought about the words we were teaching them in English, French and Creole. I said to them, “I will miss you. I will pray for you.” The children repeated those phrases and then it struck me…they had never heard those words nor had they uttered them to anyone. You could see it in their eyes. Then I experienced an “a-ha” moment, we are here to show the something they have never experienced or knew about - how God cares about each of them.

You can give these children food, clothing, medicine and shelter… but they crave love. They want what we provide for our children – love, respect, appreciation and validation of their worth. That’s what the HOPE worldwide volunteers are bringing to Haiti - lots of it.

This first HOPE worldwide Haiti Volunteer Corps was life-changing for the volunteers, the local HOPE worldwide team and the orphans. We taught English, math, health, science, art and dancing (or at least our dance moves). Plus, we had plenty of fun art projects and parties.

We had several great Bible lessons with the orphans. One afternoon the volunteers shared Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” It was awesome.

The volunteers were the real heroes. Despite the heat, the bugs, bucket showers and sleeping on the ground, no one complained. Instead, for one week they gave their hearts and souls to the children. What a difference they made! Each day the sun, the stars, and children’s faces got brighter and brighter.

As we prepared to leave, I have never seen so much crying. Through their tears, these beautiful children verbalized those words they had never said to anyone. “We will miss you. We will pray for you. We love you.” With sincere hearts the team replied, “We will miss you. We will pray for you. We love you.”

Please pray with us for the poor and the fatherless of Ganthier, Haiti, and others like them all over the world.

[Below is a video message from HOPE worldwide's relief efforts in Haiti.]

Monica’s Moving to Minneapolis

Our sister in Christ, Monica Wright, was recently selected second overall in the WNBA draft by the Minnesota Lynx.  We are all so proud of her many achievements at the University of Virginia and are excited to see what God has planned for the next phase of her life in Minneapolis.

Valentine’s Day Evening Service

Due to the marriage retreat on Valentine’s weekend, church service will be held at 6pm on Sunday, February 14th at Burnley-Moran.

Church Service Cancelled

There will be no Sunday church service at Burnley-Moran Elementary School tomorrow (31 January 2010) due to the snow and ice.  Instead, we will be meeting in house church for communion service.

HOPE Worldwide Haiti Disaster Relief

Thanks to the generosity of disciples and friends, the Blue Ridge Church of Christ raised $1500 for the relief work in Haiti. HOPE worldwide‘s first on-the-ground response began only a few days after the earthquake hit.  Dr. Mark Ottenweiler and evangelist Stanley Demornay managed to bring supplies and encouragement to the disciples in the Port-au-Prince Church of Christ.  You can read Dr Ottenweiler’s account on HOPE worldwide‘s website.  Please continue to pray for all of the work being done to rebuild Haiti and especially that of HOPE.  They have outlined a strategy with short-, medium-, and long-term goals for how to best impact Haiti:

• Meet the immediate needs of food, shelter and health care for all of the disciples who have lost everything and the 50 others relying on them.
• Train the disciples for new jobs. Hire disciples to carry out HOPE worldwide relief efforts.
• Over $300,000 has been donated and pledged to HOPE worldwide Haiti Disaster Relief.
• Another $700,000 is needed from you, your friends and other partners.
• $100 will support one person for one month.  Click here to donate.