•    Mission Friends:    Children ages 3-5

•    Kids for Christ:    Grades 1-5

•    Children’s Choir:    Grades 1-5

•    Youth on Mission:  Grades 6-12

SPECIAL NOTE FROM THE YOUTH:  Thank you for all your support for the Community Fun Day and Craft Show.  Due to the current economic situation the Youth did not wish to add extra work or expense for the congregation at this time.  There will be no Craft Show or Fun Day this year (2009) and we hope to be able to continue this tradition at a later date.

Wednesday Evening Suppers Will also Resume on Sept. 9

Our first Wednesday night supper will be September 9.  The prices will remain the same again this year.

•    Children 6 and under – Free

•    Children 7-12 – $2.00

•    Youth and Adults – $5.00

•    Family of four or more – $15.00

In order to have enough food to feed everyone who is signed up and also not to waste food and church resources, the Kitchen Committee asks that you PLEASE sign up or call to reserve supper if you plan to attend.
Also, it is just as important that you call before 5:00 pm Monday evenings if you plan to cancel your supper reservation.  If you fail to cancel, we ask you to pay for your supper the following Wednesday night.

This summer, I invited anyone “who is interested in the future of Azalea Baptist Church” to come to a Wednesday night service with NABA Associational Minister Roy Smith. At that gathering, Roy outlined the Here’s Hope Great Commission Cluster Process. In this process, there are three major components:
1- Monthly cluster meetings for the pastor for one year; 2- Consultations for each congregation; and 3- Lay training events during the year.

Our Association is so convinced that a major investment (roughly 80,000 dollars) is funded so churches can realistically receive this kind of intense training that is needed, but could not be easily affordable. Roy Smith is convinced this will help churches in our association. As your Pastor, I believe that nothing is more crucial for the present and future of this church. So, what would this process look like?

* A Congregational Self-Study – We will need two to three months to gather data. Several groups will be needed for our History, Demographic, and Community Studies. This information is then given to the consultant who will lead us in our weekend process.
If completed by November we can enjoy the Christmas season.

* Consultation Weekend: January 15-17
January 15 Friday – interviews all staff; Friday evening – Focus group with a cross section of the congregation (20- 30 people). Pastor introduces Consultant and then leaves the discussion. The agenda is only three questions: 1) What do you like about your church? 2) What would you change to improve your church?
3) If finding enough money and the right people is not a problem, what do you want your church to be or look like in the next 5-10 years?

January 16 Saturday morning 9AM – 3PM – Pastor and Lay leaders meet – Agenda:
Answer the same 3 questions above; provide an analysis of the congregation; and offer an initial evaluation of strengths, concerns, and prescriptions. Saturday Evening: Consultant writes the report that will be given to the congregation on Sunday

January 17 Sunday morning – Worship followed with Meal and Congregational Meeting: Following the service, during a meal brought in, the report is presented to the congregation. Every person gets a copy. The report includes the key five strengths of the congregation, the five biggest concerns, and five prescriptions that are sure to address the concerns while building on the strengths. Then there is Question/Answer time.

The next step is to spend one month in significant prayer about the prescriptions (Jan 17- Feb 17). This is to get the word out to people who may not have heard and to fervently pray about the prescriptions.

Following the month of prayer, the congregation will vote to pursue or reject the prescriptions. It’s all or nothing. If a doctor says you have cancer, you can’t just take two aspirins because that is the most appealing prescription.  (February)
When the congregation decides to implement the prescriptions, the pastor, lay leaders and consultant are committed to work for a minimum of one year. Every month there will be an on site visit for follow up on the progress of each goal.

This process has turned around an entire Baptist Association in California. Their story is told in the book Hit the Bullseye by Paul Borden. I joked that we had “80,000” reasons to consider pursuing this process. Really, there are only 2:
1) Its what Jesus wants us to do (I say that because of Jesus’ words in Matthew 28:18-20, the Great commission) and;
2) The needs of our congregational health demand it now more than ever.
See you at “the Sunday morning place to be”…for Here’s Hope!          Pastor John

HELP! The GEMS need your HELP!

To complete their current Mission project by September they are in desperate need of:
Any used flannel; shirts, sheets, Pj’s, etc
Bags of stuffing or even unwanted throw pillows

Just a quick Reminder:

While you are out there shopping or cleaning out your child’s toy boxes, why not start putting items to the side for the Angel Tree now.  You can hold onto the items until fall or drop off into the specially marked Mission’s box.  Used items MUST be in clean and excellent condition. We don’t want to give items that are in need of repair or simply ungiftable.

Don’t forget there is a box located outside the women’s restroom by the Mission box for the collection of:

    Twin size Flat sheets only (any color)
    bags of Stuffing or from old pillows
    Twin size blankets only (any color)
    Any used flannel; old shirts, sheets, Pj’s, etc
    Children sized sweat pants (the larger the better) up to adult small coats, gloves/mittens, hats
    And school supplies

Next GEM’s meeting will be Tue. Aug. 25 @ 7pm
Contact Joyce at Outdoorldy@aol.com ” put GEMS” in subject line or call 857-4823

SCHOOL SUPPLIES:
East Little Creek Primary

The following items are needed:
1.    16 or 24 pack of crayons
2.    #2 pencils
3.    red and black markers,
4.    notebook paper,
5.    wide-ruled notebook paper,
6.    wide ruled spiral composition books,
7.    scissors,
8.    school glue (bottle or stick),
9.    ball point pens
10.    school supply boxes.

Place all donations in Missions Box. Deadline for donations is August 23rd

WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THE NAME OF JESUS?

You continue to provide:

    Non-perishable food items for the food pantry
    Transportation for Doctor’s appointments, grocery     shopping and other needs are being met
    Baskets of Love are still bringing joy to the     recipients
    Busy hands are crocheting/knitting prayer shawls
    Sponsoring a child through the Door of Hope in     South Africa
    Collecting funds for Operation Smile
    Donating through a Diaper Bag Ministry to assist     work in Appalachia
    Our Youth are sponsoring a child in Africa

During the year we have many opportunities to participate in missions and ministry activities. You are never asked to fulfill all the needs, just let God guide you to the ones that touch your heart. If you are unable to do hands on missions, we encourage you to Become a Prayer Warrior: Pray for one another. Encourage one another in the faith.

ONGOING MISSIONS AND MINISTRIES:
USED EYEGLASSES FOR LIONS CLUB
CAMPBELL’S PRODUCT LABELS
BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION
COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY
BSU FOOD LION SHARE PROGRAM
BOOK SHARE MINISTRY

Jesus said, “When you have ministered to the least of these, you have ministered unto me.” (Paraphrased)

“LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, SOUL AND MIND. THIS IS THE FIRST AND GREATEST COMMANDMENT AND THE SECOND IS LIKE IT. LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” NIV. ADAPTED AZALEA ON MISSION

From the FAITH WALKERS

Faith Walkers – Over 500 books have been donated and most have been distributed to local health care facilities and the VA hospital. Keep bringing your unwanted books, Terri has places to share them with others.
Faith Walkers is still sponsoring “Operation Smile” and would welcome any monetary donations.

We have immediate job openings in Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Franklin for persons 55 years of age and older in the following areas: clerical, data entry, bookkeeping, food service, housekeeping, teacher’s aide, custodial, warehouse, maintenance an ground keeping.

We also help with resumes, job applications and interview techniques. No fees are ever involved.

CALL 625-7001

M-F 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Applications are taken at the following Locations: (Please call for an appointment.)

Monday thru Friday  201 Granby st., Suite 424, Norfolk – 625-7001

Tuesday thru Friday, City of Suffolk Workforce Center, N. Main St., Suite D- 514-7735

Mondays, Senior Station, 3500 Clifford St., Portsmouth- 391-3241

Tuesdays, Virginia Employment Commission, 504 Cedar Road, Chesapeake – 547-9717

ASK FOR  THE AARP REPRESENTATIVEA

The Property and Grounds Committee met on Tuesday, July 7. The topic of building security came up again. It was voted to put a note in the Sunday bulletin and the newsletter. People are entering our church building and departing without locking the doors. Please make doubly sure that you lock both locks on the doors you enter and leave. If you are not in too much of a hurry, take the time to check all the entry doors. It only takes a few minutes.
Thank you.

SON ROCK KIDS CAMP

By the time you receive this newsletter our Vacation Bible School – Son Rock Kids Camp – will soon be starting. Please keep the boys and girls and their leaders in your prayers during this exciting week. We would also like to remind you that you are invited to the Friday cookout at 6:00 PM followed by the VBS closing program. There is no cost, however, donations will be accepted to offset costs, please contact Lynne Galewski or the church office if you plan to join us for supper.

All my life I have wanted to be happy. What a surprise! God did not ask me to deny my desire for happiness. He asked me to allow Him to fulfill it.  Enjoying God offers a simple, six-step process to finding consistent joy in God:

    Learn to live a well-lived life.
    Express your joy in God in worship.
    Attack the enemy.
    Do the things that God has called you to do.
    Express your joy in God to others.
    Relate to others in healthy relationships.

As I prepare this newsletter article, I am also in the midst of writing encouraging notes to our youth and the youth leaders attending Centrifuge at Carson Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee.  This is the first time some of our youth have been able to share this Christ-filled experience.  The first time they are reading and studying God’s Work while understanding His plan and purpose for their lives.  We look forward each year to hearing the testimony of these young people when they return.  All they ask is our love and respect.  What a wonderful group they are; they are our future teachers, leaders, quite possibly, future pastors.

Please join us in Sunday School each Sunday morning beginning at 9:40 a.m.  There is a class for all ages.  You will be blessed.  Azalea’s teachers are the best.
Blessings to each of you,
Richard and Dana

From the Property Committee

The Property and Grounds Committee met on Tuesday, July 7. The topic of building security came up again. It was voted to put a note in the Sunday bulletin and the newsletter. People are entering our church building and departing without locking the doors. Please make doubly sure that you lock both locks on the doors you enter and leave. If you are not in too much of a hurry, take the time to check all the entry doors. It only takes a few minutes.
Thank you.

Vacation Bible School
August 3 to August 7