From the Pastor…
We are entering the new church year with a lot of great things happening here at Roberdel! Our new officers and committees will take office beginning September 1st, a new year in Sunday School begins, and our Preschool launches a new year as well. If you are not involved in a Sunday School class, I encourage you to start off the new church year by resolving to make Sunday School a priority for you and your family. We have classes for every person in the family. For adults, we have multiple classes from which you can choose. I encourage you to visit several of these classes until you find the best fit.
This month we are making final preparations for our October mission trip to West Virginia. The cost per person is only $200, which includes lodging and meals. We will once again host a block party, do ministry in the men’s prison and local churches, give away clothing and food, visit nursing home residents, make home repairs, and minister to the women and children at the Greenbrier Birthing Center (a federal prison for women who are new mothers). We are accepting donations of gently used winter coats, hoodies and sweatshirts, jeans, tennis shoes, toys, bedding, and linens. We also hope to host another health fair and maybe even a local music concert! If you are interested in going, please make a $100 deposit with your commitment by September 15th. The balance will be due before we leave on October 6th. The only expenses you will have will be meals while traveling and souvenirs/incidentals. We are also accepting donations of cash for scholarships and to help pay for food to give away and to cover fuel and construction materials. This mission trip is suitable for everyone and will be a wonderful week that could change your life!
An additional opportunity for travel that I would like to propose is still at least 1-2 years away. I would like to find out if there is interest from anyone to visit the Holy Land. While the cost is quite a bit more than going to West Virginia, it will be a once-in-a-lifetime trip! No dates have been set as of yet, but the trip would last 7-10 days and cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $4,000 per person. I do not need a hard commitment right now, but would really like to get a feel for who would be interested in taking a biblical tour of Israel in the future. Please see the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board to indicate your interest.
On a personal note, I would like to express my thanks to our leadership and all of you for your support during my current health circumstances. I should have all of my testing complete and have an idea of the path we are going to take to fight the cancer by the middle of this month. I am now seeing doctors at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and their Comprehensive Cancer Center with the high hopes of a successful outcome. Sandy and I certainly appreciate your continued prayers as we follow the Lord’s guidance. We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and encouragement from everyone here at RBC – and every church we have ever served – since we shared the news of my diagnosis. It is humbling, yet empowering, to know that brothers and sisters all over are lifting us in prayer. God hears and He answers the prayers of His people!
In Christian Love,
Billy Dennis
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