TONIGHT

We'll have all our usual Wednesday night activities tonight, including Youth Mission Group and Children's Choirs at 6:15 PM, Weeknight Worship and Adult Bible Study/Small Group at 6:30 PM, and Chancel Choir at 7:30 PM. We hope to see you tonight!

Walking the Aisle

What process did you follow when you became a Christian? Maybe you come from a background of catechesis and confirmation classes. Your relationship with Christ did not begin with a decision you made on a specific day and time, but rather gradually unfolded as you went through the process of your church’s tradition or denomination. Or maybe, your relationship with Christ began while you were attending a youth camp or revival service. At the close of worship, the pastor asked for “every eye closed and head bowed”; the preacher then recited a version of the sinner’s prayer and prompted the congregation to repeat those words if any desired to give their heart to Christ. Once those words were repeated, you were invited to “walk the aisle” and pray with a pastor or leader at the altar. Following the service, the congregation celebrated your decision to follow Christ.

My process of becoming a Christian included elements from both of these models. I grew up in a Baptist church, and we did not have any formal classes for becoming a Christian. It was a decision that unfolded through regular participation in Sunday School, worship, and all of the other ministries and opportunities of the church. I was nine years old when I was baptized. Two weeks before I stood in those waters with Pastor Norman, I walked the aisle and joined him at the front of the sanctuary. It was a deeply meaningful experience in my walk with Christ that remains a vivid memory today. It was a burning bush moment, as I clearly felt the presence of God through the affirmation of my church family and the shared joy that surrounded us.

Though “walking the aisle” was a deeply moving experience for some of us in our faith history, the origins of this practice are relatively new, dating back to George Whitefield during the First Great Awakening of the 1700’s. Whitefield would encourage congregants to walk the aisle in order to marry their lives to Christ at the altar. This practice became more popular in the Second Great Awakening of the 1800’s led by Charles Finny. During his revivals, Finny developed what he called the “anxious bench,” wherein unconverted listeners were invited to sit at the close of the service in order to pray and be prayed for by a pastor. These sessions usually led to an emotional breakthrough of the one who came forward and sat on that bench, followed by the pastor’s public announcement of their decision to follow Christ.

The history of altar calls has deep roots in the Baptist tradition, and continues to be an important component of faith for many believers. For others, though deeply committed to their belief in Christ, the altar call has become a stumbling block for entering the waters of baptism and joining a local church. Though a number of denominations have recognized and addressed this dilemma, this remains a relatively new conversation among Baptist churches.

Historically speaking, some of the most notable Christian leaders of the protestant church such as Martin Luther, Jonathan Edwards, and Charles Spurgeon, would have had little to no experience with this practice. However, for some of the most prominent pastors in modern history such as Billy Graham, the tradition of walking the aisle was foundational to their ministry. Biblically speaking, becoming a Christian has always involved a public profession of faith. Paul wrote, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart, leading to righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, leading to salvation” (Rm 10:9-10).

Though the Greek word for confession (homologeo) and profession (homologia) are slightly different, the connotation of their usage is often the same. Both involve a public proclamation of a personal decision to accept Christ as one’s Savior and commit to following him. For early Christians, baptism was one’s public profession of faith. This is evident throughout the New Testament in accounts such as Philip’s encounter with the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40). By entering the waters of baptism and confessing one’s faith in Christ before those in attendance (even if the baptizer was the only one in attendance, as was the case with Philip and the Eunuch), the believer was confessing with their mouth the belief in their heart. In response, they were welcomed as a member of the body of Christ.

At Vinton Baptist, we want to hold on to the personal significance of an altar call for some, as well as acknowledge the stumbling block it poses for others. We want to continue to embrace the deeply meaningful traditions of our denomination, while also making room to form new traditions under the guidance of the Holy Spirit in accordance with Scripture. As we welcome new members and candidates for baptism, we will continue to offer an invitation at the close of the service. For some, their response will remain walking the aisle to stand at the front of the sanctuary, as a member of our pastoral staff shares with the church their decision to follow Christ. Others will be invited to stand where they are, as a member of the pastoral staff shares with the church their decision to follow Christ, and then invites the congregation to stand with them in affirmation. Before walking the aisle or standing in the pew, candidates will meet with a member of the pastoral staff to discuss and pray about their decision. Following the public acknowledgment by the congregation of each candidate’s decision at the close of worship, all new believers will enter the waters of baptism at a later date (as is our custom).



It is an exciting day in the life of a church when so many are interested in baptism and membership. May we continue to pray for them as they prepare to publicly share the personal decision they have made, and commit to joining with them as they begin this new journey with Christ. May it be a burning bush moment for them, as they feel the presence of God through the affirmation of their church family and the shared joy that surrounds us all.

-- Travis

This Sunday @ VBC

This Sunday we will have a special treat: the Pandemonium Steel Drum Band! Travis' message is "Generosity?" and is based in 2 Corinthians 9:10-15. If you cannot join us in person at 10:30 AM, you can livestream at www.vintonbaptistchurch.org and on our Facebook group page.

Youth Volleyball practice will take place at 1:30 PM; our season is winding down, and the tournament is scheduled for April 20th at VBC.

Art from the Heart & Mission Kids will have their last meeting for this school year at 4:00 PM Sunday in the small dining room. All K - 5th grade students are invited. We'll be done by 5:30 PM.

Preteens Event

Preteens (3rd - 5th graders) will be heading to Snowflex April 28th, 2:00 - 6:00 PM.

JOY Seniors Activities

Bonsack Baptist has invited us to the following event. Please sign up online or call Rhon Williams (540-977-5701) if interested: Lunch & Seminar on Identity Theft & Fraud, Tuesday, April 16th, 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM. Shannon Abell will be the presenter. Lunch is chicken parmesan. Cost is $15/person. Location is Bonsack Baptist's Community Life Center - Roanoke Hall. Please click here to sign up and pay.

Our “Senior Break Out” to The Blue Lady Restaurant on Tuesday, April 30th is now full! You are welcome to sign up on a waitlist. Departure from VBC is 10:45 AM.

On Saturday, May 4th we will see the matinee showing of the hysterical Dearly Beloved at the Attic Theater (think Hee Haw meets Gone with the Wind). The bus will leave VBC at 1:15 PM; you may ride it or drive separately. Lunch will be at Bellacino’s after the play. See other details and sign up at the JOY Senior table.

Upcoming trips:

• We are planning a June 29th day trip to see the Rock Churches of Buffalo Mountain. We will see about six churches and be able to go in two of them. We will tour the Hillsville Courthouse and have lunch at Meadows of Dan. See more details at the JOY Senior table.
• Join us September 24th - 26th for an extended trip to see “Daniel” at the Sight & Sound Theatre and enjoy guided tours of both Philadelphia and Baltimore. Details, including lodging costs, are available at the JOY Senior table, or see Barbara Shutt.

Baptism Sunday: April 28th

A baptism service has been scheduled for Sunday, April 28th. If you are interested in being baptized, please reach out to a minister as soon as possible.

Youth Choir Mission Tour

The Youth Choir will be going on a mission tour June 8th -13th. The cost of the trip is $240 per person. Members and chaperones are encouraged to pay for the trip by this Friday, April 12th. Financial donations are needed for travel assistance and with some meals. All contributions are much appreciated.

Fundraisers for Dinwiddie Youth Missions Trip

In late June, our youth and chaperones will spend a week on mission in Dinwiddie, Virginia participating in home repair projects such as building wheelchair ramps, home weatherization, repairing porches, beautification projects, and other small home repairs.

Mark your calendars for April 28th, when we will have a BBQ Fundraiser Luncheon for this trip. Brad Radford will prepare the BBQ, which can be purchased by the plate (BBQ sandwich, homemade BBQ sauce, chips, coleslaw, cold drink, & dessert). The cost is $15/plate, with a $40 cap per family. You can pick up your plate(s) in the kitchen and enjoy fellowship, trivia, and games while we eat in the gym, or you can get your plate(s) to go. We need your orders by Sunday, April 21st so that we will know how many plates to prepare. You can place your order at the Welcome Center or online by clicking here.

Group Mission Trips has also set up an online store where you can purchase merchandise (t-shirts, hoodies, water bottles, etc.) that benefits our mission group. Following is the link. $10 from each purchase goes toward our group's expenses. Vinton Baptist Church (checkoutstores.com)

Audrey Ferguson

3120 Richard Avenue NE

Roanoke VA 24012

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

Weeknight Worship: 31

Sunday, April 7, 2024

Sunday School: 183

10:30 AM Worship:

• 291 in person
• 261 online

Thank you to the Dorcas Sunday School class for their donations to the Dinwiddie Youth Mission Trip and to the Youth Choir Mission Tour.

Thank you to the Open Door Sunday School class for their donation to Passport Kids' Camp.

Thank you to the Esther Sunday School class for their donations to the Dinwiddie Youth Mission Trip, Vacation Bible School, the Youth Choir Mission Tour, and Passport Kids' Camp.

Duke Divinity School Graduation

Travis officially finished his coursework at Duke Divinity School last fall. He will formally graduate from Duke the second weekend in May. We know that you want to share your congratulations and words of affirmation with him. There is a table set up in the Welcome Center with cards available for you to do so.

Bible Reading Plan

We only have two more days of reading in Hosea, then we'll have a couple of catch-up days. Joel is next, but it's short and will only take two days to read. Then we'll have another catch-up day and jump into Amos. These upcoming minor prophets are much shorter books, so we'll be jumping from book to book over the next few weeks as we finish out the Old Testament by mid-May.

Just a few notes that may help as you read over the next week:

1- In Hosea, when the scripture speaks of Ephraim, that's just another name for Israel (the northern kingdom).

2- Fee & Stuart explain Hosea's extensive use of metaphors. "Watch how Yahweh is lion, leopard, bear, eagle (vulture), trapper (5:14; 11:10; 13:7-8; 8:1; 7:12), as well as husband, lover, parent, green pine tree (2:14-23; 14:3-7; 11:8-9; 14:8). And Israel in her sins is even more vividly described: adulterous wife, stubborn heifer, snare and net, heated oven, half-baked bread, senseless dove, faulty bow, headless stalk, a baby refusing birth (2:2; 4:16; 5:1; 7:4, 8, 11, 16; 8:7; 13:13)...."

3- I hope you don't get tired of watching the BibleProject videos on various books. Click here for the Hosea video. BibleProject always seems to do such a great job explaining the scripture in ways that I can understand.

4- In Joel, there is no concrete information about exactly when or where this particular prophet lived and prophesied.

5- Fee & Stuart describe four scenes that make up Joel - each one referencing, in its own way, "... the concept of 'the day of the Lord.'" First, there is a plague of locusts that is so bad that people are led to pray to God for relief. Second is the idea of God himself enforcing his judgment on his people: "... now the plague is likened to - or perhaps implicitly identified as - an army with Yahweh at their head, accompanied by cosmic signs (vv. 10-11), and the summons to repentance is based on Yahweh's character (vv. 12-17)." Next comes the explanation of God's grace in responding to the locust plague, as well as a future time when God's people will be blessed. Fourth is a narrative of "... judgment against the nations ... in the form of a great battle (in the Valley of Jehoshaphat, whose name means 'Yahweh judges/has judged'). This scene ends with a picture of God's extraordinary blessings on his forgiven, purified people (vv. 17-21)."

Free Cybersecurity Workshop for Anyone

Melrose Baptist Church has invited our congregation to a free workshop on Scams & Schemes and Other Ways to Keep from Getting Ripped Off! Learn steps to protect yourself and reduce your chances of being a victim of crime. The workshop will be presented by IT professional Jeff Poore in the Fellowship Hall at Melrose Baptist on April 20th, 10 AM - noon. Please sign up by calling Melrose Baptist's church office at 540-366-6631. The format will be a general lecture with questions and answers on each topic.

Thank you, Vinton Baptist friends and classes, for the lovely box of all kinds of wonderful goodies. I'm so grateful for your love and kindness, and I miss everyone. Lots of love,

Audrey Ferguson