“Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it. Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman wakes in vain.” (Ps. 127:1)
“Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Jesus: Mt. 5:16)
“… and that with your good works and well doing you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men and even those who speak against you.” (I Peter 2:12-15)
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Listed below are now 14 great spring events, all designed to defend and promote our Judeo-Christian values and Constitutional principles, to restore the Founders’ vision of America as a City on a Hill, and to rebuild a culture of Faith and Virtue in our communities. Laus Deo!
This is a remarkable collection of events that reflect the special nature and Christian character of the Valley. We may not be able to participate in all of them, but they are all worthy of our support.
Therefore, please mark your calendars and participate when and where possible. For required reservations, contact the appropriate sponsoring organizations.
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Shenandoah Valley Prayer Breakfast
2. Thursday, March 23: You are invited to the 54th Valley Prayer Breakfast beginning at 6:50 a.m. in the JMU Festival Conference and Student Center. Reservations are available online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2017-shenandoah-valley-prayer-breakfast-tickets-32074125573.
Back to the Bible: God Has Spoken
3. Two Bible Conferences: “Man will be ruled by either the Bible or the bayonet.” (John Winthrop). In an age variously described as Post-Modern, Post-Christian, and Post-Truth, several churches in the Valley are hosting area-wide conferences with nationally known speakers aimed at affirming the Bible as the authoritative Word of God by which we are called to live our lives.
— Friday and Saturday, March 31 – April 1: One such conference will be held at Covenant Presbyterian Church located at 546 W. Mosby Rd. in Harrisonburg from 7:00 p.m. Friday to 3:00 p.m. Saturday. To register and for more information, go to www.alliancenet.org/god-has-spoken.
— Saturday, April 22: Another will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Antioch Church of the Brethren located in Woodstock at 23502 Senedo Rd. For details, call (540) 459-3661 or write to gbyrd@shentel.net.
WRE Spring Concert
4. Saturday, April 1: The annual Weekday Religious Education spring concert will be held in the EMU Commons at 1200 Park Road in Harrisonburg beginning at 4:00 p.m. Some 600 students from all 15 Rockingham County elementary schools will present songs of praise and worship that they have learned throughout the year. A free-will offering will be taken to help support this great educational program.
Brad Huddleston Ministries
5. Saturday, April 1: Brad and Beth Huddleston invite you to their 8th annual fundraising banquet beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the First Assembly of God in Harrisonburg with Pastor Jeff Ferguson as the keynote speaker. For more information, table sponsorships, and reservations, go to www.bradhuddleston.com by March 22.
East Gate Ministries Spring Benefit
6. Monday, April 3: How can we help women who are victims of rape, abuse, prostitution/sex trafficking, and other traumas – and also facing an unplanned pregnancy? Join this annual home-made ice cream and dessert benefit at the Harrisonburg First Church of the Nazarene beginning at 7:00. The speaker will be Jim Daly, President and CEO of Focus on the Family. For reservations, write to eastgateministries@verizon.net or call (540) 434-4283 by March 28.
Especially for Pastors! “Wallbuilders’ Briefings” in DC
7. Tuesday/Wednesday, April 4-5: Valley pastors are invited to join David Barton and hundreds of other ministry leaders at Wallbuilders’ annual “Watchmen Briefings” in Washington DC. It will include updates from Members of Congress as well as a night-time “Spiritual Heritage Tour” of the U.S. Capitol.
The briefings are free, but participants are responsible for transportation, food, and lodging. To register, go to wallbuilders.com/PBdates.asp or call (817) 441-6044. If you are not a pastor, please encourage your pastor(s) to attend. (See also item No. 12.)
Rally in the Valley at BRCC
8. Saturday, April 8: The Christian Fellowship Club of Blue Ridge Community College is hosting its 8th annual Leadership and Evangelism Conference on the BRCC campus especially for young people 11th grade and up. Brad Huddleston and I will be among the featured speakers.
The Rally includes a free continental breakfast at 8:30 and hot lunch. Registration is preferred but not required. For more information, call (540) 383-9603 or (336) 441-2066, or write to wrightj@brcc.edu.
Valley Prayer Gathering
9. Sunday, April 9: The first Gathering of this year will be hosted at 6:00 p.m. by Potter’s House Worship Center located at 1911 W. Market St. in Harrisonburg. For more information, call (540) 476-0060.
Greater Hope Banquet
10. Monday, April 24: How does one offer hope and healing for those who are seeking sexual and relational wholeness through Christ’s transforming love? This complementary dinner features speaker Danny Wallace at the Harrisonburg First Church of the Nazarene beginning at 6:30 with a Silent Auction from 5:30. To learn more about him, go to www.dannywallace.org. For reservations, call (540) 574-4189 or write to kkipps@greaterhope.org.
AVA Care: Move 4 Life
11. Friday, April 28: Join a family-friendly walk and 5K run to help celebrate life and raise support for AVA Care and the women they serve, including those who are facing an unplanned pregnancy. Registration opens at 5:00 p.m. with events beginning at 6:00. It will be held at the JMU University Recreation Park located at 1090 Devon Lane in Harrisonburg. For more information, go to www.themoveforlife.org or call (540) 236-8193.
National Day of Prayer
12. Thursday, May 4: The theme of this year’s 66th annual observance is “For Your Great Name’s Sake! Hear Us … Forgive Us … Heal Us” taken from Daniel 9:19. It brings people together at events across America to pray for our communities and for our nation. More than 30 of these will take place in the Valley from Winchester to Roanoke.
One such event will be at First Presbyterian Church on Court Square in Harrisonburg beginning at 7:00 p.m. To find out more about this Day of Prayer, including promotional materials and other helps for planning an event in your own community, go to www.nationaldayofprayer.org.
Family Forum’s Celebration of “God and Country”
13. Friday, May 19: The Forum is hosting its 16th annual fund raising dinner at the JMU Festival Conference and Student Center beginning at 6:30 p.m. and featuring the return of Bishop E.W. Jackson with an electrifying call for a “New Christian Awakening” in America.
Early Bird table reservations of eight for preferred seating are now available at $200/table. To confirm, write to family@valleyfamilyforum.org or call (540) 438-8966. Individual seating reservations will become available on April 1, space permitting.
Calling All Pastors: FRC Watchmen Summit in DC
14. Wednesday – Friday, May 24-26: The Family Research Council is hosting its annual summit for pastors at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Washington similar to that described in item No. 7. This is an outstanding event, so please encourage your pastor to attend! For more information and to register, go to www.watchmenpastors.org/national-event.
Save the Date: Memorial Day Celebration
15. Monday, May 29: The Steve Wingfield Association will hold its 5th annual Celebration at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds to honor veterans, military personnel, and first responders. As always, it is family friendly and spiritually inspiring with mouth-watering food, great music, a classic car cruise-in, and much, much more.
Working and Walking Together, We Can Make a Difference!
For God and Country,
Dean
