ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, March 15, 1997 TAG: 9703170013
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-7 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: in religion
SOURCE: MARY LOU BRUTON
In a small town in the Midwest some 50 years ago, a kind Sunday school teacher took one of her pupils to her home for the afternoon. The little girl was from the wrong side of the tracks and was ostracized by children and adults alike because of her family circumstances. The teacher taught the child a simple hymn, "Safe am I, safe am I, no harm shall come to me."
Sonia Oliphant remembers that song and the teacher as the beginning of her spiritual journey. That journey has been a lifetime of joys and sorrows, mirroring so many of the troubles shared by the rest of us. After a difficult and sometimes abusive childhood, Oliphant has shared a life of ministry with her husband of 39 years, the Rev. Tom Oliphant. The Oliphants' experiences were full of challenges as they served in different churches and different denominations before coming to Christiansburg five years ago. Tom Oliphant has been pastor of Piedmont Pentecostal Holiness Church in Shawsville for three years.
Sonia Oliphant gained strength from her faith, and wants to share her knowledge to help other women. She shares the pulpit at Piedmont Church once a month with her husband. She will be ordained in June.
She gives thanks for the painful memories from her past, because she can now offer help to others. She is developing a "parachurch" ministry for women in the New River Valley, which will welcome all denominations as well as those who are outside of the church. Beginning emphasis will be on fellowship, practical teaching from the Bible, praise and worship. New Life Ministries of Radford will have its first "Ingathering" for women on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Stone's Cafeteria in Christiansburg. Oliphant, Nancy Lane, Nancy Brown and Renee Oliphant, New Life Ministries' worship team, invite women who have had difficult times to attend. "We want them to know that people do care about them," said Nancy Lane. Call 639-0061 for more information.
Revivals and events this week:
Christian Peacemaker Teams, a nonprofit initiative of Mennonite, Church of the Brethren and Friends groups, has joined with Blacksburg volunteers to sponsor an alternative toy fair to highlight creative possibilities for children's play. The free-admission fair, "The Magic Toybox: Toys for Peaceful Play," takes place today 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at Margaret Beeks Elementary School, 709 Airport Road, Blacksburg. Call 951-2788 for more information.
Merrimac Pentecostal Holiness Church, 894 Merrimac Road, Blacksburg, begins revival services Sunday at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Services continue Monday through Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Guest speaker will be the Rev. Don Sigmon from Winston-Salem, N.C.
The Dublin Church of God, 632 E. Main St., will be in revival beginning Sunday at 6 p.m., with services Monday through Friday at 7 p.m. William McCarty, singer and evangelist, will be guest minister.
Spring revival services at Schaeffer Memorial Baptist Church, High Street, Christiansburg, will be held Monday through Thursday at 7 p.m. Guest evangelist will be the Rev. Ronald Brown Jr. of First Missionary Baptist Church, New River.
A new contemporary Christian video program, "Power Source," airs Mondays at 7 p.m. on WTOB-Channel 2 of Booth Communications Cable, Channel 9 of American Cable, or VTTV-Channel 33 on the Virginia Tech campus.
The Wesley Singers, a 40-voice group of Virginia Tech students from the Wesley Foundation, Blacksburg, will present a concert, "God With Us," on Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. at Grove United Methodist Church, 1020 Tyler Ave., Radford. Glenn Tyndall, director of the United Methodist campus ministry, leads the group.
Harry and Lori Sharley will be the guest speakers at the Christiansburg Seventh-day Adventist Fellowship, held at Park Street Methodist Church, 306 Park St., Christiansburg. The service begins at 10 a.m. March 22. A vegetarian lunch will be served following the service. Call 381-3782 or 382-1761 for information.
The Berea College Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, directed by Dr. Stephen Bolster, will perform at Blacksburg Baptist Church, 550 N. Main St., March 22 at 7 p.m. Music lecturer Peter Latona will provide organ accompaniment, in addition to a solo performance. The Chamber Singers, an ensemble within the choir, is made up of members who specialize in vocal chamber music, both sacred and secular.
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