ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, January 18, 1997 TAG: 9701200012
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: religion
SOURCE: MARY LOU BRUTON
For a small church, Asbury United Methodist Church in Christiansburg knows how to keep things moving.
It's known to be small but progressive, and it continues to live up to that reputation. The 106-year-old congregation numbers 112, and is predominately black. It has been integrated for about five years, and during the past year, two more white families joined the church.
The members are involved in the local NAACP and meetings are often held at the church, located at 490 Stuart St. Alcoholics Anonymous meets at the church every day. Members are active in the Christiansburg Community Center. For several years, summer Vacation Bible School activities have been successfully combined with the neighboring white congregation of Park United Methodist Church.
And a brand new sister-congregation project just got started. At the second meeting of Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship of the New River Valley and Asbury, to be held Sunday at 4 p.m., they will explore how the two congregations can work together to develop better human relations in the New River Valley. And now, add a building project to all of the above: a new sanctuary is being constructed next to the 19th-century structure now in use, and the membership expects to move into the new quarters this spring.
The Rev. John Price is once again Asbury's minister. Although now in retirement status, Price doesn't appear to be slowing down. He served Asbury from 1983 to 1988, and then was a member of the staff of the Virginia Conference of United Methodists on the Social and Ethnic Minority Ministries Committee from 1988 to 1994.
His early years in the ministry, from 1965 through 1980, involved work with the civil rights movement in the Southeast. He was involved in community field work to help get information for affirmative action as a part of his appointment beyond the local church. His responsibilities included helping the poor in youth training and the Head Start movement for the Office of Economic Opportunity at local, state and regional levels.
Price met Martin Luther King at the staff retreat of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference held at Black Mountain, N.C., in January 1964. The Rev. Rudi Gelsey of Blacksburg's Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, who also was in Selma, Ala., during those historic years, said that Price is "a dedicated person active in community affairs who stands by his principles, as Dr. King did." Price will be the speaker at the Martin Luther King Day worship service Monday at 4:30 p.m., at the Virginia Tech War Memorial Chapel. His topic at the interfaith service will be "Visions of a Beloved Community."
Beginning Sunday morning at 11, Asbury will be hosting one of four Sunday morning worship/celebration services in conjunction with Black History Month observances that are being presented by the Division of Student Affairs at Virginia Tech. That service will celebrate positive efforts toward better human relations worldwide. On Feb. 9, the youth of Asbury will be in charge of the service about their relationship with King. Black educators from Radford and Virginia Tech will lead worship services on educational themes on Feb. 16 and 23.
Everyone is invited to visit at Asbury and to attend the Black History Month programs.
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The Rev. Cal Maas, director of Outreach Ministries for Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church, will be the speaker for the fifth annual Missionary Sunday at Grove United Methodist Church, 1020 Tyler Ave., Radford on Sunday at 11 a.m. The annual service raises support for its adopted missionaries. Currently the church supports Bill and Grace Warnock in Lithuania; Harry Howe, a church and community worker in Marion, Va.; and Marilyn Brock, a nurse at Red Bird Medical Center in Beverly, Ky. Missionary Sunday will use the Faith-Promise Plan for securing support, in which the participants promise an amount in faith, trusting God will enable them to meet their promises, often from unexpected sources.
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Those who wish to attend the 10 a.m. Sunday School Hour at Community Christian Church, Newbern, but find that transportation is a problem because of the weather, may call the church office at 674-4308 by Friday of each week for a van ride. Classes are offered for all ages, including a "20-Something" class and three other adult classes.
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The Rev. Eric Baker, missionary from Brazil, will share his work on Jan. 26 at Open Door Baptist Tabernacle, Miller Lane (Wurno community), Pulaski. Baker's visit is a part of the church's 23rd anniversary celebration. He will present a video in the Sunday school at 10 a.m. and a movie in the worship service at 11 a.m. Guest singer Kenny Farley will perform at 12:15 p.m.
LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Priceby CNB