JULY 2015 The Messenger VOLUME 58 NO. 07

Pastor - Dr. Eric Spano Youth and Children - Bobby Vann

MPBC office email: mpbcoffice@mpbc.roacoxmail.com

Dear MPBC,

As we look forward to celebrating our Independence as Americans on July 4th, I can’t help but think

about how our culture is in such a state of flux. What we call “culture”, the New Testament calls “the world”.

As followers of the living God and His Son Jesus Christ, it is becoming more imperative that we live as salt

and light. The church can no longer follow the allurements of our culture, we must follow the word of God,

faithfully and practically applying it in our context. What we do and how we do it must be informed by

scripture, not business or marketing. I had a professor who once told me, “You don’t need God to grow a

church!”. I thought he was nuts! But now after 20 years of ministry I know he was right. Because we live in

such a consumerized culture, we can use slick marketing to get people to fill up a room. The question we

must address in every new generation is: What does a NT church really look like? What does a disciple of

Jesus look like? Answering those questions based on scripture can, not only help us better understand what

a church is and should be doing, but it would help us evaluate if what we are doing facilitates the making of

mature disciples.

The first thing we need at MPBC is a group of people committed to the discovery of what it means to

be a church in SW Virginia that means people committed. People committed to each other and the Lord.

People who will not pick up and leave because the grass may be greener on the other side or because they are

challenged to grow. Proverbs teaches us that “iron sharpens iron” and when that takes place sparks will fly!

That’s OK, it’s part of the process. We also need this same group of people to be flexible enough to realize

that we must embrace ministry in the 21st century a little differently. People willing to dream about what

could be, and helping carve out a plan to make “could be” a reality! Honestly, the only way I know that can

happen is on our knees seeking the face and the heart of God.

But in the meantime, we must be committed to reaching out to our friends, relative, acquaintances,

and neighbors! Invite them to church, have them over to your house, ask them how you can pray for them.

We will be working toward starting a few, new home groups later this Summer and into the Fall. If you are

interested in being a part of a mid-week home group or would be willing to allow us to use your home (host),

please contact me at: spanoman@mpbc.roacoxmail.com.

In Christ,

Pastor Eric

Find more information online! http://www.mpbcroanoke.com/youth-generation246.html

Dear Church Family,

I am sitting at Eagle Eyrie for Centrikid camp typing this note and reflecting on how great

our God is and how He has displayed His grace again through our church. I want to say thank you

so much to our students and volunteers that made Rock The Block possible. From the backyard

Bible club aspect to the Block Party itself we were able to communicate to our community that we

do love them because our great God loves us.

I want to ask that you please be praying for our Philadelphia mission trip team that will be

away July 18-24 working with a church plant to help them engage their community for Christ. We

are incredibly excited for this opportunity but if anything is to happen that will glorify God we

will absolutely need your continued prayer. Thank you again for the continued opportunity to work

with the children and youth at MPBC; I am blessed to be a part of this church family!

In Christ,

Bobby

COMING UP

July 18-24 P2 Philadelphia mission trip! We will leave the church by 6:00am so be here no later than

5:30am so we can load up and pray together! Check our website to make sure you have everything you need

for the trip!

August 7 Gen246 Lockin Friday 6:30PM-Saturday 8:00AM; bring $10 and your release form and be

sure to sign up on the youth bulletin board!

A.S.K. Ministry

Matthew 7:7

“Ask and it shall be given to you,

Seek and you shall find.

Knock and it shall be opened to you.”

Call & leave message for Ms. Shirley at 427-4954

or the church office at 427-5494

A.S.K. room: Lower Level, beneath the Church Office

With appointment ANYTIME CHURCH IS OPEN Sunday—Thursday

Monday evenings

Family Life Center

6:00—6:30

MEN’S SOFTBALL GAME SCHEDULE

JUNE 2015

Thur. July 2 at 6:30pm

Tues. July 7 at 6:30pm

Thur. July 9 at 8:30pm

Tues. July 14 at 8:30pm

In appreciation of our

Sunday School Staff

Our Amazing Church Family,

Where do we even find the words to express our gratitude for each

of you? Over the past several months both during Melinda's initial

hospital stay and after we brought home our sweet baby boy

Carter, we have truly been overwhelmed with love, support, pray-

er, meals, phone calls, gifts, visitors, help with our older kids, help

at our home, etc. We can't even begin to name everyone because

the blessings are that numerous. What we can say is THANK

YOU from the bottom of our hearts! We are so very grateful for

our church family!

Much love,

Aaron, Melinda, Abbie, Cooper, Maddie and Carter Dooley

John 8:32 “You shall know the truth and the

truth shall make you FREE!”

Celebrate Freedom

4 - GIVE

on

The 4th

Thursday

July 9th

5:30pm

*Infants* 07/05 Pat Sink & Robin Merchant 07/12 Aaron & Melinda Dooley 07/19 Libby Draper & Barbara Hinchee

07/26 Diana Wilson & Patty Cronk

*Toddler*

07/05 April & Brandon Ferguson 07/12 Dee Burks & Andrew Belcher 07/19 Hollandsworth Family 07/26 Jill Moomey & Taylor Herndon

*Preschool* 07/05 Dee Burks & Sierra L. & Sienna H. 07/12 Jennifer Roberts & Emma Roberts 07/19 Brian & Melanie Dogan 07/26 Hollandsworth Family

*Children’s Worship* 07/05 Tanya Neal 07/12 Vicki Duffy 07/26 Sonya Lucas & Youth

Happy Birthdays

Leilani Cooper . . . . . . July 05

Kathleen Duffy . . . . . . . July 06

Galen Saunders . . . .. . July 06

Mary Ann Ashbrook.. July 07

Sierra Logan . . .. . . . July 11

Sonya Lucas . . . . . . . July 11

Carol McCulloch . . . . . .July 11

Jill Moomey . . . . . . . July 16

Allyson Trogdon. . . . . July 18

Terry Overstreet. . . . . . July 19

Heather Williams. . . . . July 21

Joe Overfelt Jr. . . . . . . July 22

Greg Belcher. . . . . . . July 28

Matt Camper . . . . . . . July 31

Church Lock-up Schedule

July 5 Todd Rowland

July 12 Jeff Smith

July 19 Duke Logan

July 26 Greg Belcher

Child Care

Schedule

JULY 2015

Saturday

July 4

Sunday Mornings

Nadine Archer has moved to Blacksburg.

She still enjoys cards from her church

family. Please call the church office:

the secretary will be happy to provide

you with Nadine’s new address!

3000 Pitzer Road

Roanoke, VA 24014

www.mpbcroanoke.com

540-427-5494