Haven Lutheran
Haven Lutheran Church, 207 W. Harrison St., will celebrate homecoming on Sunday, Aug. 9, at the 10:30 a.m. service. The Rev. Ronald Fink, former pastor, will preach.
Fink is a son of Worth and Clarene Fink of Faith. He is also a ministerial son of Faith Lutheran Church in Faith. He is a graduate of East Rowan High School, Lenoir-Rhyne College, and Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, S.C.
He was ordained into the Lutheran ministry in 1973. Fink served Haven as pastor from 1992-2002. He has also served Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Welcome, Good Hope Lutheran Church in Hickory, St. John’s Lutheran Church in Cherryville, and is currently pastor of Advent Lutheran Church in Spindale.
During his pastorates, he has held a number of leadership positions within the North Carolina Synod. He has also been active in community activities such as Civitan, Lions and Rotary.
He is married to the former Swannetta Boone of Burlington, and they are the parents of one daughter, Susan Shell, and the grandparents of a grandson, Max, of Cary.
Family and friends of Haven are invited to attend Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and worship at 10:30.
Following worship, a lunch will be held in the fellowship hall. Everyone is asked to bring a well-filled basket of food to share with family and friends.
The Rev. Ed Harper serves as interim pastor of Haven and Mrs. Franklin Merrell serves as organist-choir director.
Outreach Christian
Evangelist Deneice L. Edmonds of Outreach Christian Ministries will be hosting a youth conference, “2009 Victory Is Mine,” a three-day event.
The conference will take place at Outreach Christian Ministries, 722 W. Horah St., Aug. 12 through 14, 7 p.m. nightly.
The event will include Kujamani praise dancers and drum line, gospel rap, and the Charlotte Praise team. Friday night’s theme is “Teens and Jeans.” Guest speakers will be Minister Anthony Ward, Evangelist Angeel Johnson of Winston-Salem and Prophet Justin Dorest of Charlotte.
The conference will end with Community Day on Aug 15 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Back to school supplies will be given, and there will be a moon bounce, food, music, games, prizes and more.
There will be an hour seminar on gang intervention led by a Salisbury police officer.
Pastor Anthony Wall of Greensboro, will join Johnson for Community Day.
For more information, contact Edmonds at 704-630-6952.
Fairview Heights
Missionary Circle of Fairview Heights Baptist Church will sponsor a program Sunday at 4 p.m. Guest speaker will be the Rev. Nasby Mills Jr. of Progressive Outreach Ministry of Salisbury. The Rev. Clarence Marlin is pastor.
Calvary Baptist
Vacation Bible school will be held at Calvary Baptist church Aug. 9 through 13.
The kick-off starts on Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. with hot dogs, snow cones and inflatables behind the church parking lot. The program times are from 6 to 8:30 p.m. each evening.
Calvary Baptist Church’s theme for the week will be “Wildwood Forest: Discover the Untamed Nature of God!” Children through adults are included and invited. Special gifts will be given away nightly, including VBS T-Shirts, gift cards, electronics, and Bibles.
The final night of VBS will include the annual building of the giant banana split to be devoured right out of the trough
The vacation Bible school director is Misty Sells.
Calvary Baptist is located on East Ridge Road, just pass Ellis Crossroads.
For more information, call the church office at 704-633-2567.
Messiah Lutheran
Messiah Lutheran Church, 701 E. Lafayette St., will celebrate its 67th Homecoming on Sunday, August 16, at the 11:00 a.m. worship service.
Guest speaker Rev. Gilmer Boggs will preach. Liturgy will be led by Interim Pastor Don Safrit.
Messiah congregation extends an invitation to help celebrate their homecoming to all former members, friends and neighbors. Bring a covered dish and stay for a luncheon to be served following the worship service.Antioch Missionary
Antioch Missionary Bible Church will celebrate their annual homecoming and revival this Sunday at 3 p.m.
The 11 a.m. speaker will be Antioch’s the Rev Rickey Johnson.
Lunch will be served at 1:30 p.m.
The afternoon speaker will be the Rev. Hubert Miller, pastor of First Baptist Church of Lexington. He will be accompanied by his choir and congregation.
The church will host the revival Aug. 10-14 at 7:30 p.m. nightly.
– Monday: Pastor Carolyn Bratton, Moore’s Chapel AME Zion Church;
– Tuesday: Pastor David Bracken, Jerusalem Baptist Church;
– Wednesday: Pastor Paul Jones, New Zion Baptist Church;
– Thursday: Dr. Nilous Avery, Mt. Zion Baptist Church;
– Friday: Pastor John Cade: Files Chapel Baptist Church.
Each pastor will be accompanied by his choir.
Antioch is located at 602 S. Salisbury Ave., Granite Quarry.
Mt. Zion Baptist
Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Boyden Quarters will have its annual Family and Friends Day this Sunday, at 11 a.m. The morning speaker is the Rev. Corey Barr.
Mt. Zion will have revival services Aug. 10-14 at 7 p.m.
– Monday: Rev. Hannah, Erwin Temple CME Church, Cooleemee;
– Tuesday: Rev. Eldridge, Henderson Grove Baptist Church, Salisbury;
– Wednesday: Rev. Scott, Union Chapel AME Zion Church, Churchland;
– Thursday: Rev. Bratton, Moore’s Chapel AME Zion Church;
– Friday: Bishop Kelly, New Faith Full Gospel, Lexington.
Moore’s Chapel
CLEVELAND ó Moore’s Chapel AME Zion Church in Cleveland will host its annual homecoming service Sunday at 3 p.m.
The speaker will be the Rev. Rodney Coleman, pastor of Cedar Grove Baptist Church, Mocksville. He will be accompanied by his congregation.
The annual revival will be August 10-14 at 7:30 nightly.
– Monday: Pastor Sadie Campbell, Refuge Church of God, Statesville;
– Tuesday: the Rev. Jimmy Griffin, Center Grove AME Zion Church, Tobaccoville;
– Wednesday: the Rev. James Millsap, Knox Grove Baptist Church, Cleveland;
– Thursday: the Rev. Paul Jones Sr., New Zion Baptist Church, Salisbury;
– Friday: the Rev. Kinston Jones, Siloam AME Zion Church, Statesville.
First Calvary Baptist
The Rev. Leamon E. Brown, pastor of First Calvary Baptist Church, extends a special invitation to men, families and area youth to participate in upcoming services and community day activities at the church , located at 400 S. Long St.
First Calvary will observe Men’s Day at the 11 a.m. worship service Aug. 9. Guest speaker will be evangelist Christopher V. Tillman of Statesville.
Tillman, a graduate of Gardner-Webb University with a BA Degree in religious studies, is currently pursuing a Masters degree in rehab counseling at Winston-Salem State University. He is employed by the Salisbury National Cemetery.
Next Saturday, Aug. 15, the church will host a Family/ Community Fun Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is free and open to the public (all ages) and will feature a variety of sports activities (including horseshoes, basketball, volleyball), children’s games and activities, information tables, board games, refreshments and more.
Youth Day will be observed Sunday, Aug. 16. Pastor Brown will deliver the message at the 11 a.m. worship service. The Rev. Timothy Bates, a Salisbury native and youth advocate, will speak at the 3 p.m. Youth Day program. Bates is the pastor of two Statesville-area churches, Cameron Presbyterian Church and Calvary Presbyterian.
For more information about any of these events, call 704-633-2818 and leave a message and telephone number.
New minister
ROCKWELL ó The Rev. Matthew R. Laughter was named senior pastor of First Baptist Church on Aug. 2.
He grew up in Hickory, and graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in religious studies from Gardner Webb College. He graduated from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2007 with a Master’s degree in Divinity.
He has served as minister of youth/children at First Baptist since July, 2007. He is married to Crystal Robertson Laughter, and they have one daughter, Hannah Marie. They will live in the church parsonage.
Outdoor Service
CHINA GROVE ó This Sunday at 6:30 p.m., the South China Grove Church of God, 163 Third Ave. in China Grove, will host a community outdoor service under the shelter by their fellowship hall.
Gospel Music will be presented by local singers and musicians, and the pastor will deliver a brief message from The Purpose Driven Life.
Bring lawn chairs. Free ice cold lemonade will be served.
For more information, call the pastor, the Rev. Joyce Miles, at 704-467-4555.