Photo courtesy of SMDi Photography
Remedy Church pastor owner of ‘$1,000 beard’
Ryan Weaver, pastor of Remedy Church, Salisbury, was shocked when he was offered $1,000 to shave his trademark beard, but it was for a good cause—helping orphans in extreme poverty in Haiti.
The extreme shaving happened on July 14. Chris Marlow, from “Help One Now,” a partnership of businesses, churches and individuals who work together to assist those in extreme poverty, care for orphans and rescue slaves, recently spoke at Remedy Church. Marlow jokingly reminded the congregation that Weaver had committed to cut his beard if someone would donate $1,000 to engage extreme poverty.
An anonymous donor gave the $1,000 before the end of the service.
“When I followed Chris on stage to give a final challenge and provide transition toward our communion gatherings… I mentioned that if it took me growing (or even cutting my beard) to encourage our church to further engage the global orphan crisis then my beard was totally for sale.
“I should have known better than to give such a challenge to this church full of generous and messy followers of Christ. The donation was given anonymously before we even sang the final song,” Weaver said on his blog.
Though his sons Ryland and Rance were heartbroken, Weaver said it was a “teachable moment.”
“And I am now the proud grower of a $1,000 beard.”
Long Green installs elders and ministers locally,nationally and internationally
Long Green Baptist Church, Glen Arm, installed four elders on June 30. Ceremonies were held at both the 8:30 and 11 a.m. services. The elders are: Donald Bennett, Curtis Childs, Bob Mackey, and David Moyer. Pastor Dale South led a prayer for the men. South shared a message based on I Peter 5:1-4, an exhortation to elders, “Be shepherds of God’s flock…”
The church is having a busy summer. They’re having backyard Bible clubs at the church and in the community, a five-person mission team served in Lochgilphead, Scotland, for a partnership mission trip. Another team travelled to Seattle to work with a Hispanic ministry.
Lee Street hosts art and music camp and draws church visitors
Ten children attended Lee Street Memorial Church’s art and music day camp, most of them from the Federal Hill neighborhood. A mission team from Alabama and Peabody students helped with the camp. Families attended an end-of-week event celebration. As a result of the camp, several families have visited the church.
Bible Bee at Bethany Church
Bethany Church, Columbia, will host the state “Bible Bee” competition from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Aug. 24. The church is combining the “Bee” with a community block party on the church’s parking lot with games, food and exhibits.
Twenty-two families are participating in the local event. Contestants, ages 6-17, will compete in oral and written tests covering 24 Bible memory passages for a chance to advance to the national level where they can win part of the $260,000 prize money.
“I think it’s a fantastic program,” said Rachel Parson, Bethany’s minister of children. Parson said she distributed a questionnaire during a “birthday party for Jesus” last year asking if families would be interested in having material for a family devotional time. “All of them marked yes,” she said.
She began researching family discipleship material and discovered the Bible Bee program, which offers families the opportunity to spend 20 minutes a day in Bible study, learning and memorizing two Bible passages a week as a family.
For more information about the contest, see www.Biblebee.org. For information about participating in Bethany’s block party, contact Parson at Rachel@bethanylanebaptist.org.