BEULAH ANN MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH NEWSLETTER
VOLUME 66 NUMBER 9 SEPTEMBER 2023
FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK…
1 KINGS 18:35 – And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
Israel was without rain for three years. They dried up physically and spiritually. They needed literal showers of blessings. And so, during this battle of faith, Elijah confronts and challenges the false prophets of Baal. When things dry up and out, they tend to burn easily—the wildfires in the West bear witness. Yet, when the enemy’s cries to their god went unheard and unanswered, Elijah poured it on.
His altar was twelve stones. He prepared the wood for the sacrifice and poured twelve water barrels over them. He drenched the altar until the water ran down and filled the trench. Our faith dries out and up because we don’t moisten our prayer altar with tears of repentance and heartbreak. I want revival for me and our church! I want it for our community and sister churches. I want it for America! And I want it for you. I’m willing to pour it on my altar. Will you join me? Will you pour it on over the next few weeks? You’ve got needs and problems. Are they important enough for you to drench the altar?
Jesus knelt in Gethsemane and poured it on. “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22:44). In the shadow of the cross, Christ prayed! Revival results from tear-stained, sweat-glistened altars, dampened in anguish, groaning, and brokenness. We’ll only have revival if we pour it on the altar. ‘Preacher, do I have to cry?’ Jesus wasn’t crying. He was sweating from exertion. Sweat is an acceptable substitute for tears if it’s earnest. It was after Elijah poured it on that the fire of God came down! Plead for Revival! Pray for Revival! And pour it on! ~~ Pastor Greg
AUGUST SUNDAY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
August 6 113
August 13 105
August 20 138
August 27 136
4) 492 (123 average)
The church is thoroughly cleaned between all services. If you cannot attend, all services are streamed live on these Facebook pages: Beulah Ann Missionary Baptist (church building is the profile pic); Greg Lunsford; and Erin McComas-Carter and broadcast live on FM radio 89.5 which can be heard from the church parking lot. Immediately after services, you can watch on YouTube channel “Beulah Ann Missionary Baptist Church.”
Prayer requests may be sent directly to the prayer line which is maintained by Sharon Chapman at babcprayer@aol.com, or called in to the church at 304-743-5854.
Offerings may be mailed to the church at P. O. Box 247, Ona, WV 25545. Please mail Sunday School Class (and other groups) offerings directly to your class treasurer.
Your attendance is very much welcome at any time. Love to see everybody back!
OVER 80 BIRTHDAYS
Phyllis Noble, Sept. 8, 80 yrs.
Mary Lunsford, Sept. 22, 89 yrs.
Juanita Nance, Sept. 24, 82 yrs.
Patty Dailey, Sept. 29, 85 yrs.
Bill Ryder, Oct. 1, 87 yrs.
Gladys Burns, Oct. 2, 87 yrs.
OVER 50 ANNIVERSARIES
Garry & Carol Woody, Oct. 8, 58 yrs.
BIBLE READING PROGRAMS
WVBC ABWM 5-year Bible Reading Plan:
September: Obadiah
October: I Corinthians
Evangelistic Outreach Bible Reading Calendars give an Old and New Testament selection to read each day of the year.
A chronological Bible Reading schedule is also available. All these plans are on the front foyer table.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO NEWSLETTER FUND
Thru church treasury $225.00
Willing Workers SS Class $20.00
Thank you for your generous support.
MISSION PROJECTS
Our project for August was the Salvation Army, which is an international movement with a message based on the Bible. They reach out to meet spiritual and physical needs, especially in times of disaster, such as the recent wildfire crisis in Maui. We sent $130 to this wonderful organization.
In September, we are getting an early start on shipping costs for Operation Christmas Child Love in a Shoebox. We hope to have between four and five hundred boxes again this year. Each box costs $10.00 to ship. We take ours to a collection center at Lewis Memorial Baptist Church, and from there they are trucked to North Carolina, then by plane all over the world. To give, just put Shoebox on the memo line of your check.
The ABWM has resumed meeting after a short summer break. The ABWM Community Outreach Project for September is body wash and wipes for the Huntington Hospice House. If you would like to help, place items in the basket in the foyer. Thank you!
CONGRATULATIONS to Chris & Erin Carter, who welcomed Thomas Drew “TD” Carter into the world August 24. He is little brother of Keeley Carter, and grandson of Tom and Susan McComas, Susie and the late Drew Carter, and great-grandson of Gene Caldwell.
THANK YOU
We appreciate you guys so much for your donation to our Knight’s Great Hall. We are able to help more kids and families weekly.
~~Tracy Urian, CMHS Counselor
CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF:
TIMOTHY DALE BECKETT, 61, of Milton, who passed away Sept. 10. He was the brother of Marty Beckett (LeeAnn).
CONNIE SUE COCHRAN, 65, of Milton, whose funeral was Sept. 1. She was an aunt of Tyler Smith.
BECKY SUE SHELTON CONRAD, 75, of Milton, whose funeral was Sept. 2. She was a friend to many in the church.
CHARLES MACARTHUR “MAC” KREPPS, 81, of Hurricane, whose funeral was Aug. 22. He was a friend of several in our church.
EDDY GENE STEPHESON, 85, of Huntington, whose funeral was Aug. 23. He was a friend and co-worker of James Perry.
NEW MEMBERS
On Sunday, August 27, the Hanson family presented themselves for church membership. Rob and Jennifer, husband and wife, and their sons Caleb and Logan come to us from the First Baptist Church of Portland in Portland, TN. Welcome, family!
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY NEWS
We thought the adults would like to know our Bible Hero for August was Peter and for September it is David! The kids have been working on their trivia questions for awards on the last Sunday night of September. Better get started studying adults!
On Sunday August 20th the Children’s Ministry had a Back-to-School party. Please keep them in your prayers along with their teachers this year. Also, on that evening the Jesus Kids began practicing again! They actually went singing to Paramount Senior Living this past Sunday. The Jesus Kids sounded wonderful and looked so good in their new Jesus Kids shirts. Thank you, Christy & Scotty Holley for engraving our shirts. The kids will be singing in church on Sunday night September 24th at 7 pm during their Awards. They have a surprise coming up too and they will share that on that Sunday night. Don’t miss it.
On October 25th we will be having our Circle of Treats in the Gym after evening service. We all look forward to that. We love seeing the new families that have started coming. ~~Children’s Ministry Team
GRACIE BRUMFIELD BELLOMY graduated from Marshall University with honors and a BA in Nursing. She is the daughter of Julie and Steve Brumfield, niece of Jeanne and Greg Lunsford, and granddaughter of Phyllis and the late Joe Noble.
Gracie and her husband Hunter Bellomy have moved to McDonough, GA (about 20 miles south of Atlanta). He is to be an associate pastor at Henry Baptist Church. They have already taken a mission trip to Jamaica and held several church camps in the area. Hunter is to be ordained Oct. 14th.
Gracie is working as an R.N. at Atlanta Surgical Urology Center. She has week-ends off and will be helping Hunter in his ministry.
Those who know Gracie and Hunter are aware of their calling to do God’s work. The family has heavy hearts about their leaving but know this is God’s plan for them. God bless them and wish them God’s speed.
YOUR AFTERGLOW
The leaves of autumn are coming,
The sands of summer run low;
Across the hill to tomorrow
Today’s just an afterglow.
The voices that laughed in the springtime
Are gone when the winter appears;
Dreams we had for the moment
Are lost in the sea of years.
So spend all your days in goodness,
For life is but one short climb;
The best is all you’ll remember
When life has run out of time.
So at the gate of September,
Where the sands of your summer run low,
You’ll be glad to cross to tomorrow,
With good for your afterglow.
(Author Unknown)
MISSIONARIES FROM ISRAEL VISIT
We had not seen them for a while, so it was good to welcome Simcha and Bella Davidov back on August 27! Simcha told us how although the Jews are God’s chosen people, most Jews do not believe Yeshua (Jesus) is the Messiah, and how when you plant the seed, it is a long process before they may accept Christ. This was true in Simcha’s life, who was saved in Fairmont WV in 1973. The Israeli’s have only heard negative things about Jesus for 2,000 years, lies against the truth.
At the end of their presentation, he brought us the blessing from Numbers 6:24-26, “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee. The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” Then he blew the shofar, a horn from a male sheep. He said the call meant “Come to God.” Find them on Facebook at simbelldavidov. Their website is yeshuatami.com. They appreciate support, both in prayer and financially.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Over the years, we have been blessed to have many young men step out from the pews and accept God’s call to the ministry. In addition to our own Pastor Greg Lunsford (Jeanne), here’s where some of them have been planted:
Jason Salmons (Amy) is the Pastor of Salt Rock Community Church in Salt Rock, WV.
Tim Messinger (Kandi) is the Pastor of the Lighthouse Baptist Church in Milton, WV.
Jeff Fetty (Ilene) is the Pastor of Main Street Baptist Church in Point Pleasant, WV.
Tyler Sansom (Sarah) is lead Pastor at the First Capital Christian Church in Corydon, IN. and is a Christian filmmaker.
I just did a week’s worth of cardio after walking into a spider web.
CALENDAR
**Sun., Sept. 17, 24, 6 pm – Jesus Kids Practice, downstairs.
**Mon., Sept. 18 – Mon., Oct. 30 – Ladies Bible Study, Family Center. The group will be using In the Footsteps of the Savior, by Max Lucado. (Books can be purchased on Amazon.) Snacks will begin at 5:30 pm, and study will begin at 6 pm. See Connie Chapman for more details.
**Tues., Sept. 19, 26, 10 am – Sew Blest, Family Center.
**Thurs., Sept. 21, 5:30 pm – Guyandotte Baptist Association Annual Meeting at Camp Ona. Hot dogs and desserts at 5:30 pm, business session at 6:30 pm. Important business to be discussed. Our delegates are Pastor Greg, Vera Miller, Patty Morrison, Jo Ross, Jeanne Lunsford, and Jim Ross is an alternate. Everyone is invited.
**Thus., Sept. 21, 28, 6 pm – In Stitches Quilt Group, Family Center.
**Fri., Sept 22 – “I CAN” a movie for the whole family will be playing at Pullman Square in Huntington. This movie was directed by Tyler Sansom. A sign–up sheet is on the foyer table.
**Sun., Sept. 24, 7 pm – Children’s Ministry Awards.
**Tues., Sept. 26, 6 pm – Guyandotte Baptist Association American Baptist Women’s Ministries Fall Rally, in the Family Center. Dinner at 6 pm ($10.00), and program at 7. Global Servant Sarah McCloy will speak to us from Japan via internet. All ladies invited. Please let Jo Ross know if you plan to attend.
**Sept 29–Oct. 1 – Fall Camp-a-Rama at Beech Fork State Park.
Looking Ahead:
**Sun.-Fri., Oct. 8-13, 7 pm nightly – Fall Revival. Evangelist: Tommy Reed.
**Oct. 19–20 – WVBC Annual Meeting, South Parkersburg Baptist Church.
**Oct. 21- Oct. 22 – Youth Ministries Retreat, Camp Ona.
**Oct. 25, 8:15 pm – Circle of Treats, Family Center.
**Nov. 22 – Horn–of-Plenty Service.
**Nov. 30–Dec. 1 – Prepare & Distribute Christmas Baskets.
**Dec. 2 – Church Christmas Dinner.
**Dec. 10 – Children’s Ministry Christmas Play.
I just made me some synonym rolls. Just like grammar used to make.
GOOD NEWS NUGGETS
J James Perry brought our special music on Aug. 20, and did a wonderful job. His heartfelt testimony and singing touched so many. He sang, “You’re the One Who Makes Mountains Move,” and Jesus Does.”
J Who knew that our Church Secretary, Debbie Sansom, could sing so pretty? On Sunday evening, Sept. 3, Pastor Greg said, does anyone have testimony or a song? Debbie stepped forward and gave a wonderful testimony about her late mother, then sang, “On the Wings of a Dove,” which she used to sing with her mother. It was a wonderful blessing.
J The Jesus Kids are sporting new bright orange t-shirts, thanks to Scotty and Christy Holley. Lookin’ good!
J Lighthouse Baptist Church invited our Widows/Widowers and Singles group to join them at lunch Sunday, Sept. 3. They enjoyed a good lunch followed by special speaker Jennifer Chapman, Director of Development at Lily’s Place.
J The Caldwell Class recently enjoyed a class meeting at the home of Tom and Susan McComas, where they had a great dinner, and a few of them even splashed in the pool! Good times!
Experts: A serving size of chips is 10 chips.
Me: I eat 10 chips while standing in the pantry with the bag open, trying to decide if I want to eat chips.
Beulah Ann Missionary Baptist Church 