Nationally known chalk- artist and speaker, the Rev. Ding Teuling of Muskegon, Mich., will be appearing at Maranatha Bible Church, 2320 Statesville Blvd., at 6 p.m. Sunday, and continuing Monday-Wednesday at 7 p.m. each night.
Teuling has been a chalk-artist for more than 70 years, having drawn more than 15,000 large pictures during that time. He will celebrate his 90th birthday in May.
Prior to entering the ministry, he was a successful commercial artist. He is a pioneer in the field of black light chalk- art.
His crusades have taken him across the United States, southern Canada and a number of foreign countries.
Pastor Robert Freitas of Maranatha extends an invitation to the public to attend. There will also be special music each night with the choir, praise team and soloist.
Ashley Woodard
Ashley Woodard, former member of Wittenberg Lutheran Church, will perform Sunday at 6:30 p.m. for the church’s family night. The public is invited.
She is the daughter of Pastor John Woodard, who served the congregation for almost 18 years, and Marsha Woodard, former educator, assistant principal and principal in Rowan County Schools.
Ashley’s homecoming marks a new career for her in contemporary music leadership and music ministry. She is serving Reynolda Presbyterian Church in Winston-Salem and Hillsdale United Methodist Church in Advance.
In September 2007, she released her latest CD “Amazed by Grace.” She wrote most of the music for this and her first CD, “Welcome Home.”
Ashley attended East Rowan High School and Lenoir Rhyne College in Hickory. After college graduation she moved to Winston-Salem. Her last job before going into music ministry was educating teens to prevent early pregnancy.
She launched “Soaring Ministries” in 2006. Ashley does the lead vocals and has a band of sometimes up to 10 members.
Wittenberg is located at the corner of Bank and Oak Streets in Granite Quarry. Ashley will have CDS available for purchase. They are also on her Web site www.soaringministries.com.Calvary BaptistThe Rev. Ron Cockerham will be speaking at Calvary Baptist Church Sunday during both the 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. worship services.
During the evening service, Cockerham will be presenting the gospel through chalk art as he brings the evening message.
Cockerham is an accomplished artist who has been in evangelism for many years. He is a graduate of Tennessee Temple University, Chattanooga, Tenn., after which he served several churches as pastor.
He has started churches in Russia and Cuba, helping each of these churches to become self-supporting financially. He was also instrumental in getting Bible schools started in both Russia and Cuba.
Cockerham grew up in Elkin before attending Ringling School of Art, Sarasota, Fla., where he developed his skills as an artist. He works in oils, pastels and colored pencils as well as chalk.
Cockerham and his wife, Jennifer, have a son, the Rev. Brian Vanderford, who is presently serving as youth pastor at Salisbury’s Calvary Baptist Tabernacle. They have another son, David Vanderford, who is an airline pilot and works in the Gospel Light Baptist Church in Walkertown. Their daughter and her husband, Jon and Rachel Azzarello, serve Redwood City Baptist Church in Redwood City, Calif.
Dr. Rick Cockerham is pastor of Calvary Baptist Church. Revival services will begin at Calvary Sunday, April 20 at 11 a.m. and will continue through the evening of Wednesday, April 23. The evening services will be at 7 p.m. Dr. James Harris will be the evangelist for the week.
Harris grew up in Henderson and has served as pastor of Southern Baptist churches in Washington, Texas, California, West Virginia and North Carolina.
He came to Salisbury in 1972 as pastor of Stallings Memorial Baptist Church. During his ministry, the church grew by 650 new members.
Nine years before his first retirement, Harris became the founding pastor of Friendship Baptist Church. After working as interim pastor for five years, Harris became full-time pastor of Memorial Baptist Church in Kannapolis. After six years, Harris retired for the last time.
Special services will take place during each night of the April 20-23 revival. Sunday will be “Children’s Night,” Monday will be “Sunday School Night,” Tuesday will be “Pack-a-Pew Night” and Wednesday will be “Youth Night.”
Calvary Baptist Church is located on East Ridge Road, just past Old Mocksville Road and Ellis Crossroads.
The public is invited to attend these services, and a nursery is provided.
For more information, call the church office at 704-633-2567.
Benefit concert
Outreach Christian Tabernacle Ministries Inc., located at 722 W. Horah St., is sponsoring a benefit gospel concert featuring gospel recording artist Evangelist Jackie Beatty Green from Chester, S.C., and other gospel recording artists from the surrounding area.
The concert takes place Sunday at 4 p.m. A free-will offering will be taken to benefit Outreach Ministries Overseas Missions.
The concert is sponsored by Apostle R.E. Taylor, pastor and founder of Outreach Christian Tabernacle Ministries Inc.
For additional information call 704-637-9955 or 704-637-1084.
Gethsemane Baptist
Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church will have its annual Missionary Day Sunday beginning at 10:45 a.m. during the morning worship service
The theme is “Joys of Being a Missionary.”
The children’s and youth choirs along with the liturgical dance ministry will minister in music for this special service.
The speaker will be the Rev. Charolette H. Leach.
Leach is a Pennsylvania native who worked for BellSouth Telecommunications in Atlanta, Ga., as a programmer and project manager from 1979-1999. She earned a master of science degree in exercise science from Georgia State University in 1998.
She worked as the assistant to the director of Christian education at Lewis Chapel Baptist Church in Fayetteville from January 2000-2004. Leach was licensed to preach the gospel by Lewis Chapel in June of 2004 and was ordained by the Rowan Baptist Association in July of 2005.
She is currently an associate minister at First Baptist Church in High Point, where her husband, the Rev. Dennis H. Leach Sr., is the pastor. She serves as the director of Christian education. She also works for the church as the church secretary and financial clerk.
Leach is the executive secretary of Spirit, Body & Soul Inc., a nonprofit organization whose focus is to offer tutoring to elementary students and to promote health for families and individuals. She was elected director of Christian education of the Congress of the Rowan Baptist Association in 2007.
Gethsemane’s Missionary Ministry president is Jean Lowery. The Rev. Dr. C. L. Phelps is the pastor.
First Presbyterian
First Presbyterian Church invites the public to attend Youth Sunday 2008 this Sunday at 11 a.m.
The church’s youth have prepared the liturgy, music, prayers and sermon for this special day and are looking forward to leading the congregation in worship.
There will be only one worship service this Sunday in Lewis Hall.
Everyone is also invited to bring a dish and stay for a covered-dish lunch following the service. Warming ovens and refrigerators will be provided.
Salem Lutheran
Salem Lutheran Church on Sherrills Ford Road will offer a special musical celebration of Easter this Sunday at 8:30 a.m. The music will feature popular contemporary Christian songs performed by the Salem Spirit Band and Singers. Each song will be introduced with commentary and a scripture verse that helps put the lyrics in perspective.
Easter in the Lutheran Church is observed for seven Sundays. Salem Spirit, which is Salem’s praise service, is doing this special Easter musical celebration on the Fourth Sunday in Easter.
This special service will end in time for Sunday school at 9:30 a.m., and people are welcome to stay for the 10:30 a.m. service if they want to add more traditional worship experience to their day.
Salem Spirit is Salem’s praise service that is almost two years old. The service meets on second and fourth Sundays each month, and is supported by a band of guitars, bass, keyboard and drums. The singers vary in age and experience, but all have a love for contemporary music.
Salem is also beginning a new Wednesday night ministry this week called “Wonderful Wednesdays,” with a fellowship meal at 6 p.m., followed by small group opportunities. One of the first things to be offered will be a new small group Bible study led by the pastor, the Rev. Don Phillips. The Bible study begins at 7 p.m. and will end by 8:30 p.m.
For more information call 704-636-0352 or visit www.salemelca.org.
Upward Celebration
FAITH ó Faith Lutheran Church will sponsor an Upward Celebration at its contemporary FaithWorks service this Sunday at 9 a.m. in the church’s Family Life Center.
Special recognition will be made for all 180 basketball players and cheerleaders, as well as, coaches, volunteers, parents, grandparents and Upward friends. Thanks will be offered to Faith Baptist Church and Shiloh Reformed Church for sponsoring Upward along with Faith Lutheran. All players and cheerleaders are being asked to wear their uniforms to the worship service.
Tonya Brinegar, an Upward parent and volunteer, will serve as worship leader for the celebration. The focus theme for the day will be the third and fourth commandment of the 10 commandments, “Remember the Sabbath Day” and “Honor Your Father and Mother,” a new FaithWorks series.
Following the service, refreshments will be served to honor and celebrate the joint efforts of Faith Churches’ first year of Upward together.
Faith Lutheran is located at 205 S. Main St. in Faith. The Rev. Loyd Ginn is pastor.
Revival and free meal
CHINA GROVE ó There will be a revival at China Grove First Baptist Church beginning Sunday at 11 a.m. Evening services, Sunday through Wednesday, will be at 7 p.m.
The guest evangelist will be the Rev. Brent Barker, associational missionary of the Rowan Southern Baptist Association.
Following the Sunday morning service, the deacons will be hosting a luncheon meal for all attendees.
There will be a youth cookout Sunday afternoon.
A nursery will be available for each service and the public is invited to attend.
First Baptist is hosting a free community meal on Saturday, April 19 at 6 p.m. The public is welcome to come and enjoy a spaghetti supper in the church’s Family Life Center. Reservations are not necessary.
The meal is just one of many projects the First Baptist Church will be involved in on April 19 as they participate with thousands of other Southern Baptist churches across North Carolina in Operation Inasmuch.
Other outreach efforts by First Baptist include: renovating a home (inside and outside) of a member of the community, free car diagnostic in the church parking lot (beginning at 8:15 a.m.), delivering care baskets to the China Grove Fire Department and helping with the evening meal at Rowan Helping Ministries.
Soldiers Memorial
Soldiers Memorial AME Zion Church presents “One Enchanted Evening; Spotlighting Trendy Ladies and Gents” at 7 p.m., April 18, in the church’s Family Enrichment Center, 306 N. Church St.In addition to the fashion show, there will be salads, desserts, beverages, entertainment and door prizes.
The cost is a $5 donation. Tickets are available by contacting Mary White, 704-636-4594, or Ruth Neely-Williams, 704-855-9830.
Women of Faith
Carolina Women of Faith invites all ladies to hear author Patricia Thomas who wrote “Miracles, Miracles, Miracles.”
She will be at Calvary Baptist Tabernacle at 6 p.m. on April 18. The church is located at 3760 Stokes Ferry Road.
The cost of dinner is $8. Door prizes will be awarded. Reservations are due by April 15.
Call Phyllis Cain, 704-637-7616 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; 704-637-6861 evenings.
Benefit event
North Hills Christian School will host a benefit for 14-year-old Josh Lippard who was injured this year when he was struck by a tree limb, which severed his brachial artery. Since the family has no medical insurance, several fundraising events have been planned.
The Benefit at North Hills will feature performances by Christian bands and Port-A-Pit chicken.
The family-friendly event will be from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and will also include a silent auction, cotton candy and activities in the gym.
The bands scheduled include: Trading Ford Baptist Church’s Youth Praise Band and the Edwards Family Bluegrass Band.
Women of Favor
Love Christian Center’s Women’s Department presents the series “Women of Favor” April 18-20. The center is located at 102 N. Long St.
Speakers are:
7:30 p.m. April 18: Pastor Annie Smith, pastor of Lifeline Triumphant Pentecostal Church;
7:30 p.m. April 19: Evangelist Alice H. Perry, associate minister of Mount Zion Baptist Church, Boyden Quarters;
11 a.m. April 20: Mother Lotis Hash, First Lady of Love Christian Center;
5 p.m. April 20: Pastor Nancy Wilson, pastor of New Beginnings Community Outreach Church, Greensboro.
For more information, call Jackie White, 704-797-8447.
Marable Memorial
Marable Memorial AME Zion Church is holding a spring revival April 20-24. The theme is “Transforming Lives Through Revival” based on Romans 12:2.
The church is located at 400 Huron St., Kannapolis. The pastor is the Rev. Wayne C. Harris.
Guest evangelists are as follows:
4 p.m. April 20: the Rev. Clarence J. Shuford Jr., pastor, St. Philip AME Zion Church, Greensboro;
7 p.m. April 21: the Rev. John Leazer, pastor of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, Concord;
7 p.m. April 22: the Rev. Ronald E. Miller, pastor of Rock Hill AME Zion Church, Concord;
7 p.m. April 23: the Rev. John Jones, pastor of United Baptist Church, Kannapolis;
7 p.m. April 24: the Rev. Haven O. Anderson, pastor of Marvin AME Zion Church, Waxhaw.
Transportation is available. Call 704-932-6211.
White Rock AME Zion
GRANITE QUARRY ó White Rock AME Zion Church will celebrate 102 years of service to the White Rock Community, Granite Quarry and Rowan County on Sunday morning.
Presiding elder, the Rev. Herbert R. Warren Jr. will deliver the morning message.
Lunch will be served immediately following the service.
The 3 p.m. speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Dwayne Walker, pastor of Little Rock AME Zion Church in Charlotte. He will be accompanied by his choir and congregation.
The theme for the year is “I Love Thy Church, O Lord.” They will also kick off phase II of their building project.
Word of Life
The Word of Life Family Worship Center Pastor’s Aid and congregation will recognize their pastor, Dr. Martha Starks, during the 11 a.m. service Sunday, celebrating her birthday.
The speaker for the service will be the Rev. Eric Susong, assistant pastor of Mount Calvary Holy Church in Salisbury.
The church is located at 726 E. Liberty St.
For more information call 704-633-2431.
Pfeiffer appointment
MISENHEIMER ó Joseph D. Judge has been named director of the newly proposed Center for Worship Leadership and assistant professor of music at Pfeiffer University.
Judge is an accomplished musician, who has served for nearly a decade as the director of the Music and Worship Arts Ministries at Matthews United Methodist Church in Matthews and as music and artistic director for the Charlotte Chorale.
A 1987 Pfeiffer graduate, Judge will direct the development of the new Pfeiffer center, which will prepare students, clergy, musicians, worship leaders, laypersons and others in ministries of the Gospel through the integration of creative expressions of worship including preaching, media and digital culture, drama, dance, music and the visual liturgical arts. The Center for Worship Leadership will provide an interdisciplinary approach, combining courses from Pfeiffer’s music department, School of Religion, and other appropriate departments.
A well-respected teacher, conductor and vocal performer, Judge brings extensive experience to the new post. In addition to his work at Matthews United Methodist Church, where he supervises a five-member music staff, Judge is also artistic director for the Charlotte Chorale and served as music director for the Charlotte Good Fellows Club from 2002-2005. Prior to locating to Charlotte, Judge was director of music for Beaumont Presbyterian Church in Lexington, Ky. As a soloist, Judge has appeared with the Charlotte Philharmonic, the Boulder Philharmonic, the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra, the Union Symphony and has performed myriad recitals of classical art song and baritone solos in a number of operas.
He has served as a guest conductor for the Choir of Directors for the Metropolitan Ministries annual service, and has served as music director and conductor for several Theatre Matthews productions.
Judge earned his bachelor’s degree in music education from Pfeiffer, a master’s of music degree in vocal performance and pedagogy from the University of Colorado, and began doctoral studies in music at the University of Kentucky. Judge and his wife, Camille, who is also a vocalist, have performed together in various venues throughout the region. The couple resides in Charlotte with their two sons, Benjamin and Samuel.