Beast Feast

Every year TRBC hosts a men’s outreach called Beast Feast or Wild Game Dinner.   In 2009 thousands of men came out and over 160 men accepted Christ as their Savior. This year the event will be March 27th at 4:30 PM. This event requires the help of hundreds of volunteers. WE NEED YOU! Please click here to register to volunteer. We need help Friday evening and Saturday all day, whatever time you choose to volunteer we will meet in the indoor track at the start time there you will pick what you would like to do.

Opportunities to team-up and serve:

• Friday:  5:30-10p.m. (Dinner Provided)
• Saturday:  10a.m.-3:00p.m. (Lunch Provided)
• Saturday:  3-10 p.m. greeters and meal service (and to get water put on the tables)

Please register online so we can keep you up to date and so we know what T-shirt you need.

Again our thanks to you, and looking forward to a great weekend.

Park and Ride drivers

On any given Sunday morning on our campus, it can be EXTREMELY difficult to find a parking space.  That is a good problem to have because it means that there are a lot of people hearing the Gospel being presented.  It is a bad problem because…well, there is no space to park your car!!

There are over 300 spaces at the Lahaye Ice Center that are not being used effectively on a Sunday.

Starting last Sunday, TRBC Guest Services has started running shuttles from that lot to the front of the church.  There is also free coffee and donuts available to anyone that uses this service.

We need people to help drive these shuttles.

If you have a valid Virginia CDL drivers license and are wanting to team-up to serve in our church, we have a place for you.  We start running the shuttle at 8:15am and conclude at 1pm.  We are needing approximately 10-12 drivers that can rotate in serving on a monthly basis.

If you can assist for only an hour on a Sunday, that would help as well.  All that you need to do is to send an email to Jay Rebsamen by clicking here.

Thanks in advance for your help!

What’s your SHAPE?

At Thomas Road, we believe that God has designed each of us with a unique S.H.A.P.E.  Our S.H.A.P.E. is the combination of traits that defines who we are.  Our S.H.A.P.E. also determines where our best ministry “fit” will be.

We will be most effective and fulfilled in ministry when we use our Spiritual Gifts and Abilities in the area of our Heart’s desire in a way that best expresses our Personality and Experiences.  Therefore, gaining an understanding of our individual, God-given S.H.A.P.E. is vital for experiencing success and fulfillment in ministry.

Completing your profile will help you in finding a good ministry fit here at Thomas Road Baptist Church.

How do you get started?

1. Open up the file by clicking here on the Shape/Servant profile.  You can fill in the form on your computer.  You don’t have to print it off and fill it out.
   
2. When profile is complete, email servant profile to teamup@trbc.org for mobilization director to help assist you with your next step of getting plugged into TRBC.
3. Feel free to browse this blog for opportunities to serve @ TRBC.

Jim Wise

Time Volunteering: 7 years

Department: High School plus volunteered with Beast Feast

Favorite memory from volunteering: Watching my daughter give her testimony on a summer trip to someone she didn’t know.

Why do you volunteer: It’s a calling

Favorite Book: Gospel of John

Favorite Movie: The Jungle Book

Hobbies: Cooking

Scripture: John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Thanks Jim for your countless hours you invest into the hearts and lives of the teenagers at Thomas Road.

not the most ideal situation, yet…

Yesterday morning’s weather was a surprise to alot of people, I think even including the weatherman!!!  The day started of with rain and LOTS of it, the temperature had dropped 20 degrees overnight, and the rain was not going to let up till the afternoon.  Not the greatest time to be outside for any extended amount of time for ANY reason!!!  This was also the first Sunday that TRBC parking team had faced this type of weather head on!

Putting on the parkas and opening up the umbrellas, the parking lot team faced the inclement weather with such enthusiasm and zeal that I am humbled just to be lead such a great group of people.

People were coming inside the front doors making comments of how impressed they were of the dedication of the people greeting them IN THE RAIN BEFORE they walked inside the doors of TRBC.

I just wanted to brag on for a little bit some of the people that help lead the guest service team – Jim, Calvin, Dennis, Danny, Aaron – as well as all the other team members that sacrificially give of their time and talents every Sunday morning to make SOOOO MANY PEOPLE, maybe even you, welcome!!  To all  the men and women that help out in parking lot, shuttle bus, greeters, as well as being an usher – YOU ARE APPRECIATED!!

We are always needing people to team-up with guest services.  You can get plugged in by clicking here to send me, Jay Rebsamen, an email to begin the process of teaming-up on this great team.

Mark Bassie

Time teaming-up: 6 or 7 years

Department teaming-up in: Powersource

Favorite memory from teaming up: “When the kids get saved. Seeing them accept Jesus Christ as personal Savior and changing lives is exciting.”

Why do you team-up?: “God has asked us all to serve and use our gifts. It is not an option for Christians.”

Favorite Book: Francis Schafer,  True Spirituality

Favorite Movie: Chariots of Fire

Hobbies: Photography

Scripture: “Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Ps. 119:105

Mark plays a large part in the PowerSource ministry.

“No matter what happens in PowerSource, Mark is always there to say a very kind word … and mean it”, Jeremy Rader, PowerSource pastor said.  “Mark is a huge encouragement, not only to the staff and volunteers, but also to the students.”

Thanks Mark for teaming-up and making a difference in the lives of the students @ Thomas Road Baptist Church.

Free tix to Michael W Smith

On October 30, 2009  at 7pm, Michael W. Smith will bring his “A New Hallelujah” tour to Thomas Road Baptist Church for an unforgettable night of worship through music.  Matt Maher, Phil Stacey, and Liberty University grad Meredith Andrews will be joining MWS on this tour.

50 volunteers are needed to help make this night go as smooth as possible from being an usher, to selling product at product tables, stagehands, etc.

Each volunteer will receive a free ticket to this concert. You will also need to be at Thomas Road Baptist Church by 5:30pm for a volunteer meeting.  There will be no volunteer meetings prior to this one to attend.

Thank you in advance for teaming up to serve at this event!!

a moment in time

Many months of planning finally came to a head at 10am this past Sunday on the campus of GW Highschool in Danville, VA.  Dan River Church, a campus of Thomas Road Baptist Church, launched it’s first service.  What a morning it was!  Over 364 people were in attendance.

65 volunteers from both Danville and Lynchburg teamed up to help with the first impressions, children’s, and worship/tech team’s. Asking some of the volunteers their experience on Sunday was absolutely amazing, “God showed up in a powerful way”, “I have been involved in several church plants, this tops them all”, “Was blown away by all the people that showed up; they kept coming in the doors!”

You can team up to serve on one of the several Dan River teams by clicking here.  God is up to something amazing in Danville, VA!!

Thank you to all the volunteers that are helping Dan River Church.  It doesn’t go unnoticed!!

block party in Danville

More than 40 people from TRBC and LU piled in one bus and two vans last Saturday to setup a block party and show the love of Christ to the residents of Danville.  People of all ages poured onto the future site of  Dan River Church where there was plenty of free food and games. More than 300 people from the community came through and participated in the festivities.  A good time was had by all.

A very special thanks to all volunteers that teamed up to make that day such a special event in the history of Dan River Church.

Students giving up their Saturday to love God//Love People

A group consisting of both Jr. High and Sr. High students from here at Thomas Road went to Danville, Va this past Saturday with one purpose in mind: get the word out to people in Danville about Dan River Church.  The way this was going to be accomplished was putting door hangers on doors all through out various neighborhoods.  It sounds like a pretty easy task…when doing it in dry weather!!!  On Saturday, it rained pretty much all day – NOT FUN!!

The majority of the students that went had no idea the huge impact they were making on the Kingdom of God by simply putting a door hanger on a door.

I asked Micah Hasty, asst. middle school pastor,  to write about the experience on Saturday.  Click here to read from what happened from his eyes.

Thanks Micah for the blog and one student ministry for teaming up and making a difference!

Reaching out to people in Georgia

The staff at Gleaning For The World have been preparing supplies in case of a natural disaster and now they need your help!  Gleaning will be at Sam’s Club this Friday night (4:30-8:30) and Saturday (9-6) to collect items to send down to the flood victims in Georgia.  Gleaning is in need of volunteers to help pass out flyers and load their truck of the supplies being purchased at Sam’s Club for this project.  If you are able to help Friday night or on Saturday, please let Mandy Wood know by sending her an email – mandy@gftw.org . They will be working shifts of 3 hours on Saturday: 9-12, 12-3, and 3-6.  If you are available during any or all of them, please let Mandy know!

GFTW is accepting the following supplies as well for this huge need in Georgia:

• Water in 16oz bottles
• Shaving Cream
• Gatorade
• Razors
• Green Tea
• Feminine Care Products
• Diapers
• Shampoo
• Baby Wipes
• Soap
• Formula for babies
• Flash Lights and batteries
• Paper plates
• Deodorant
• Plastic Utensils
• Coke and Pepsi Products
• Paper towels
• Napkins
• Tooth brush and tooth paste
• Non-perishable food in individual containers

Used clothing and used shoes will not be accepted.

GFTW welcomes any financial contributions to assist with the cost of shipping necessities such as bottled water, blankets, and shoes to communities destroyed by flood.  Please go to Disaster Network to partner with Gleaning for the World.  You can also contact GFTW @ 434.993.3600.

Team Up for Kids Karnival

Every fall TRBC Children’s Ministry hosts a Kid’s Karnival.  Toy Hine, TRBC Children’s Ministry Director, needs at least 100 adult volunteers to Team Up and make this event a success on October 31, 2009.

• 20 adult volunteers are needed on Friday night, October 30 from 6-9:30pm to set-up.
  
• 60 adult volunteers are needed on Saturday, October 31 from 9am-3pm to set-up.
  
• 10 adult volunteers are needed on Saturday, October 31 from 5:30-8pm to supervise the carnival.
  
• 5 adult volunteers are needed on Saturday, October 31 from 8-10pm to tear down.

Contact Toy Hine by clicking here to send her an email or by calling her at 434.592.4289. Which time will YOU team up to serve at?

stepping up to serve

The past 7 weeks, Pastor Jonathan Falwell encouraged the entire TRBC church body during the SENT series to go from the seat to the street and serve.

Couples for Christ, a small group that meets Sunday mornings, decided to do something a little bit different today.  Instead of meeting in their room for Bible study, they decided to team-up and serve on the guest services team the whole entire morning!!  Over 30 people from Couples for Christ did an amazing job welcoming people onto our church campus.

A HUGE thank you to Rick and Tamera Raspberry and the entire Couples for Christ group for stepping up to the plate this morning!!!  You guys were AWESOME!!

Who will be the next TRBC small group to step up and serve?

opportunity for jr. high and sr. high

Youth from grades six to 12 have the opportunity to be a part of Thomas Road’s first satellite church.

On September 26, the Jr. and Sr. High school departments will be piling in buses and heading to Danville, VA to canvass neighborhoods with information about Dan River Church.

They will leave from TRBC Main Street at 9 a.m. and return around 2 p.m.

To reserve a spot on the bus contact Tammy Sahadak.  Click here to send her an email or feel free to call 434.592.4670.

Teenagers teaming up to serve…making a difference in a local community.

be apart of the excitement on Wednesday’s

The summer is drawing to an end, students are returning to school and the chill of fall is starting to creep its way over the mountains.  While the temperature is cooling down, things here at Thomas Road Baptist Church are just beginning to heat up.

On September 23, TRBC will offer another exciting session of Community Groups.  Community Groups are hobby and interest based groups that connect the interests, and needs of the community to the church.  We need your help to make it the best season TRBC has ever seen.  September 9, there will be a dinner and brief meeting for anyone that is wanting to lead a group.  If you have a hobby that you would love to share with others click here to contact Anthony Randall or call him at 434.592.4888 to learn how you can lead a group this fall.

Saturday @ the point

Tim Grandstaff, TRBC outreach pastor, along with 18 other individuals from TRBC went to Charlottesville, VA for the day on August 29.  The purpose for the trip was to help a new church plant, The Point, with their Block Party.  Nate Rockey, director of outreach at The Point, had the following to say to Tim Grandstaff in an email today regarding TRBC volunteer involvement:

“Wow, what a weekend!  I can’t begin to once again express our deepest gratitude for you and your ministry team’s help!  We had five different families decide to join us for our first preview service the next day as a direct result of the outreach.

Please convey to your team what a blessing they were and that you should be proud of their obvious desire to do whatever it takes to serve and evangelize the community!!!  That was our first outreach event, so I hope that despite not knowing what to expect, it was still a very profitable time for you and your team.  We are already in the works of planning a second block party event for the day before our launch on October 11.  I want to firm up some details before we announce it to people, but I wanted to put that thought in your head.  I can keep you posted as we move closer to that date.  

Once again, it was an absolute pleasure to do ministry with you, your wife, and your team this past weekend.  Thank you for your help financially and otherwise!”

Click here for more information about The Point.

appreciating children workers

Over 100 Children’s Ministry volunteer workers came together last night to be honored at the Children’s Ministry Volunteer Appreciation dinner.  Toy Hine, director of TRBC children’s ministry, and her team did a great job.  The praise team for this ministry is comprised of the children that attend, who are in 4th and 5th grade.  They led the singing for the evening.  The pictures above show them doing just that.  At each of the place settings, children wrote thank you notes to all of the teachers – very inspiring.

At the end of the evening Matt Willmington, pastor of ministry development, thanked all the volunteers for their sacrificial giving each and every week to the work of the Lord.  He also challenged the team of volunteers to keep putting the Lord first in every aspect of their lives along with making sure that their walk with the Lord is right before serving others.  When it is, life is easier.

We are blessed to have such a great team of volunteers in the children’s ministry, yet more can be done if more people were mobilized to be apart of this great ministry.  Children’s ministry is presently in need of a 5th grade teacher.  Click here to get in touch with Toy if that interests you or you would like more information of teaming up to be apart of the childrens ministry.

the point

Thomas Road is helping The Point, a new church plant, in Charlottesville, VA this Saturday August 29, 2009.

What will volunteers from TRBC be helping in:

• Block Party
• Cook-out
• Car Wash
• Canvassing Neighborhoods

What time will team leave TRBC Parking lot:

• 7:30 am. -  Return 5:00pm.  Transportation is provided.

Bring your entire family – ministry opportunities for EVERYONE on Saturday!

For more details or to reserve your spot on the bus, contact Tim Grandstaff – TRBC Outreach Pastor by clicking here or by calling 434.592.4669.

This past week in Outreach

It has been a busy week at Thomas Road. Volunteers have been mobilized to reach out to the community in a variety of ways.

Sunday

60 volunteers put together over 300 bags of school supplies for children who needed them.  Tim Grandstaff, TRBC Outreach Pastor, and others were able to put together extra bags because of the huge outpouring of school supplies.

Wednesday-Thursday

Over 150 bags were distributed to schools in Danville by Scott Randlett and other members from Dan River Church.  Click here to see what happened in Danville.

Due to the  overwhelming response of people giving thousands of school supplies, Tim Grandstaff and others were able to go to other schools in Lynchburg to distribute the supplies.  One teacher wrote the following in an email expressing her gratitude:  “…On behalf of all the teachers here I say thank you!  We were all so thankful to receive all those teaching materials, and also supplies that most of our students will not have.  With these difficult economic times it is hard for a teacher to purchase the supplies his/her students will need.  And it is hard for parents to purchase supplies as well.   You all have been such a wonderful help at this school. You all made our playground look beautiful last year.  And the children love the playground and are thankful for you committing your time and energy on making our school a better place.  It is such an encouragement knowing that we have the community helping us reach these children.  I attend TRBC every Sunday, and it is a great feeling to have such a giving and caring church. The Lord is doing wonderful things!  Thank you all so much again!”

Thursday – Friday

Over 10,000 pairs of shoes have been/are being sorted, inspected, counted and boxed at Gleaning for the World.  Through a partnership with Samaritan’s Feet, Gleaning will be able to impact thousands of people with just this one shipment.  Many TRBC volunteers have been mobilized in such a short time to help with this project.

Thousands of lives have been touched because many from Thomas Road gave of their time and talent for the Lord.  Thank you to all who gave!!!

400 opportunities with VCS

It will be here before we know it – Virginia Christmas Spectacular 2009!  An all new and exciting Broadway style production, with expected attendance of nearly 40,000 people and view via television by hundreds of thousands of others, is already starting to take shape. Untold volunteer hours are needed by people just like you to make this happen. We will be having a VCS Volunteer Kick off Party in Pate Chapel on Saturday, September 12 at 9:00 AM and would love to see you there.

There are over 400 opportunities for you to team up and be apart of with the VCS.

Offstage Opportunities:

• Costuming – Organizing, Cleaning, Assembly & Sewing
• Props  – Acquisition, beginning in September & during Performances
• Decorations – inside and outside, men & women needed
• Men for Stage Prep & Tear Down
• Stage Hands for all performances
• Hospitality – Refreshments & care for volunteers

Onstage Opportunities:

Onstage performers must attend auditions which will be held August 30, 31 and September 1. If you are interested in this area, please sign up for an audition time at the VCS Sign up Table THIS SUNDAY.

If you are interested in any of the offstage opportunities, or have a question about the onstage opportunities, click here to send an email to Kathy Jordan in the TRBC Music Office.