
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, October 7, 1993                   TAG: 9310070475
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: E-12   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BY FRANCES STEBBINS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RELIGION BRIEFS

BELMONT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 1005 Ninth St. S.E., will observe on Sunday the 60th anniversary of its adopting a Covenant Renewal Plan in 1933. This stewardship program allowed the debt-ridden congregation to pay off its obligations. The Rev. G.L. Whiteley, the pastor at the time, introduced the plan to other churches who found it successful.

The Rev. G.P. Whiteley, son of the former minister, will preach Sunday at 11 a.m. for the observance. The observance also will include a lunch for which donations will be accepted.

\ "ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE," a 12-hour course for those who wish to help with Vietnamese ministries or other projects relating to immigrants to the United States, will be offered Oct. 14 to Oct. 16 at the Roanoke Valley Baptist Association office, 3926 Plantation Road N.E.

\ Doris Rudd, who has taught literacy classes, will instruct. Call 366-7631 for the time and more information.

\ MORE THAN 1,000 COATS were sent from the Roanoke Valley through a Church World Service appeal to help residents of war-torn Armenia keep warm this winter. The garments filled 300 boxes and many contributed money for postage.

\ THE MARY-ELIZABETH PROJECT is a new ministry of the Woman's Missionary Union of Southern Baptists. WMU members will be matched with pregnant teen-agers to offer emotional support and some basic infant supplies, if needed.

The name refers to the pregnant mothers of Jesus and John the Baptist sharing their feelings about their unique roles in the time before their sons' births. For more information, call Mary Evelyn Divers, 992-5450.

\ A DISASTER RELIEF TEAM from the Roanoke Valley Association of Southern Baptists will be in Illinois from Oct. 18 to Oct. 23 to assist in the cleanup from recent floods. For details or to offer the use of a recreational vehicle or camper, call 344-8120.

Deadline for religion briefs for Neighbors is Thursday. Material must be delivered to Neighbors Religion Briefs, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke 24010, by noon in order to run in the following Thursday edition.

by CNB