May 21st, 2025
by Chuck Harrison
by Chuck Harrison
Dear Church Members
Having served the Peninsula Baptist Association for the past 15 years, I feel it is time for me to step down as Director. I will continue to serve through 2025, with my final day being December 31st. I have notified the staff and leadership of the association about my intentions. For me, this has been a wonderful time of ministry with the churches and people of the association. I will cherish the times we have shared together.
Several people have asked if I am “retiring”. I am not sure anyone really “retires” from doing ministry. I plan to continue serving God in whatever capacity he leads. As of now, I don’t know what that will look like. Peggy and I plan to move back to Virginia Beach in January and continue seeking God’s will for our future.
I believe it is time for a fresh vision for this network of churches. The association is in a season of discerning the future under the leadership of a PBA Future Team. This team, under the guidance of Jim Moynihan, will be contacting all of the pastors in the association in order to interview them as part of this process of future discernment. This effort is a continuation of the “Prayer and Listening Sessions” we conducted last year. We gained a lot of valuable information in those sessions. Along with the input they gather from the pastors, this team will make recommendations about the future.
We have not yet made plans for a “going away party”. Perhaps we will do something in conjunction with the annual meeting in October. SO stay tuned! Meanwhile, there is much work to be done. This includes the fundraiser for repairs to PAL Lodge at Eagle Eyrie. At this time we are receiving pledges toward that work. You will see more below about this. And, of course, I am still available to serve our pastors and churches in any way that I can for the remainder of the year. Please feel free to call me at any time. And be in prayer for God’s future for the Peninsula Baptist Association.
Yours in Christ,
Chuck Harrison
FUN TRAILER
Due to financial restraints, we are not able to pay a supervisor for the PBA Fun Trailer this year. The trailer will continue to be available for use by our churches on a first-come-first-served basis for a cost recovery fee. It will be up to the churches to repack the trailer in the proper way before returning it to our office. If you would like to reserve the trailer, contact Mike Mines in our office.
ASSOCIATIONAL MISSIONS OFFERING
As you know, associations around the country plan an Associational Missions Offering each year during the spring. Since we are in a Fund Raising Campaign for work at the PAL Lodge at Eagle Eyrie, we have decided to give all money collected for our Associational Missions Offering this year to that cause. Our Mission Statement of the PBA is: “A Network of churches, equipping and connecting churches for Kingdom Ministry”. Since PAL lodge is a resource belonging to our churches, we feel this is an appropriate use of this Misson Offering money.
FUNDRAISER FOR PAL LODGE
As we mentioned in last month’s newsletter, we are currently trying to raise funds for some much needed work at the Peninsula Associational Lodge (PAL) at Eagle Eyrie Conference Center in Lynchburg. This work will focus on renovations of our upstairs bathroom facilities in the lodge. This will include an Americans With Disability Act compliant bathroom, as well as reconfigured showers to make your stay at PAL Lodge more enjoyable. The work will cost $45,000.
Last month, your church received an information packet about this repair work. (If your church did not receive the packet, please let us know and we will resend it.) We are asking for pledges toward these upgrades through the month of August. Please don’t send money at this time! However, if your church would like to make a pledge toward this work please let us know as soon as possible. After August, we will decide on next steps.
Rusty Beck, retired pastor of Parkview Baptist Church, who has been involved with PAL lodge for many years has agreed to work with us in this Fundraising Campaign. We want you to have all of the information your congregation needs in order to make a decision regarding this fundraiser. Please let me (Chuck) know if you have any questions or concerns. I’d be happy to meet with you whenever possible.
PASTOR’S LUNCH DATE CHANGE!
In last month’s newsletter, we mentioned a unique opportunity for our pastors to attend a free lunch meeting designed just for us by the Regent (University) Psychological Services Center. Please note that the date for this meeting has been changed from May 14 to May 15. Everything else remains the same. Here is information about this luncheon:
We're excited to share that Regent University in Virginia Beach is now offering valuable
psychological health support services to our pastors and congregations, often at no cost! To get a better sense of our needs and how they can best serve us, they're hosting a free informational luncheon for our pastors.
This is a fantastic opportunity to explore the resources offered by Regent's Psychological
Services Center, which is part of their APA-accredited Doctor of Psychology Clinical Program. You can be assured of high-quality care, as their services are delivered by doctoral students under the guidance of experienced, licensed clinical psychologists.
Luncheon Details:
• Date: May 15, 2025
• Time: 11:30 AM
• Location: Regent University, 1000 Regent University Drive, Suite 188, Virginia Beach
If you are interested in attending this meeting (even if you have previously signed up), click on the following flier and sign up using the QR code at the bottom of the flier. If you run into any problems signing up, please contact Jim Moynihan at JimMoynihan@duck.com or text 757-870-9789.
ASK Pastor Luncheon
Flyer.pdf
PASTOR SUPPLY AND INTERIM LIST
We maintain a list of people willing to “Supply Preach” and/or serve as an “Interim Pastor”. If
you have need of someone to speak or are looking for an Interim Pastor while searching for a pastor, please check out our list on our website www.thepeninsulanet.org, under “Resources”. Also, if you would like to be added to the list either as a Supply Preacher or Interim Pastor, please contact us.
DIGITAL CHURCH PROFICIENCY WORKSHOP
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Peninsula Baptist Association
Livestreamed worship services, relevant websites, and social media connections have
become necessary parts of many churches’ weekly offerings. For small- to medium-sized
churches where resources and dollars may be tight, getting the most reach with your
digital presence may be overwhelming.
We invite you to join other church leaders in our area for a workshop sponsored by the
Baptist General Association of Virginia to improve your church’s online presence. (Note: A
church does not have to belong to the BGAV to participate in this workshop.) Each
registered church will receive a personalized Digital Snapshot of their current digital
presence. Participants will then learn valuable insights through local trends and relevant
case studies and get easy and affordable tips to improve your church’s digital presence
immediately!
Topics will also include how to engage with your congregation digitally and how to
navigate the changing digital landscape driven by AI and increased online access.
All church leaders and volunteers are welcome – especially those responsible for online
ministry and digital processes within the church – so please share this invitation with
others. Lunch will be provided.
To register for this free event, go to the following website by Friday, May 23rd.
https://secure.bgav.org/site/Ticketing?view=Tickets&id=100982
PBA CHURCHES SEEKING PASTORS
We provide this information to assist churches seeking a senior pastor. We can only provide
information given to us by churches, so please keep us informed! You may also let us know
about other open positions in your church if you would like us to publicize them. Churches
currently without pastors:
Buckroe Baptist Church
First Church Ministries
Grace Baptist Church
Hornsbyville Baptist Church
Yorktown Baptist Church
Having served the Peninsula Baptist Association for the past 15 years, I feel it is time for me to step down as Director. I will continue to serve through 2025, with my final day being December 31st. I have notified the staff and leadership of the association about my intentions. For me, this has been a wonderful time of ministry with the churches and people of the association. I will cherish the times we have shared together.
Several people have asked if I am “retiring”. I am not sure anyone really “retires” from doing ministry. I plan to continue serving God in whatever capacity he leads. As of now, I don’t know what that will look like. Peggy and I plan to move back to Virginia Beach in January and continue seeking God’s will for our future.
I believe it is time for a fresh vision for this network of churches. The association is in a season of discerning the future under the leadership of a PBA Future Team. This team, under the guidance of Jim Moynihan, will be contacting all of the pastors in the association in order to interview them as part of this process of future discernment. This effort is a continuation of the “Prayer and Listening Sessions” we conducted last year. We gained a lot of valuable information in those sessions. Along with the input they gather from the pastors, this team will make recommendations about the future.
We have not yet made plans for a “going away party”. Perhaps we will do something in conjunction with the annual meeting in October. SO stay tuned! Meanwhile, there is much work to be done. This includes the fundraiser for repairs to PAL Lodge at Eagle Eyrie. At this time we are receiving pledges toward that work. You will see more below about this. And, of course, I am still available to serve our pastors and churches in any way that I can for the remainder of the year. Please feel free to call me at any time. And be in prayer for God’s future for the Peninsula Baptist Association.
Yours in Christ,
Chuck Harrison
FUN TRAILER
Due to financial restraints, we are not able to pay a supervisor for the PBA Fun Trailer this year. The trailer will continue to be available for use by our churches on a first-come-first-served basis for a cost recovery fee. It will be up to the churches to repack the trailer in the proper way before returning it to our office. If you would like to reserve the trailer, contact Mike Mines in our office.
ASSOCIATIONAL MISSIONS OFFERING
As you know, associations around the country plan an Associational Missions Offering each year during the spring. Since we are in a Fund Raising Campaign for work at the PAL Lodge at Eagle Eyrie, we have decided to give all money collected for our Associational Missions Offering this year to that cause. Our Mission Statement of the PBA is: “A Network of churches, equipping and connecting churches for Kingdom Ministry”. Since PAL lodge is a resource belonging to our churches, we feel this is an appropriate use of this Misson Offering money.
FUNDRAISER FOR PAL LODGE
As we mentioned in last month’s newsletter, we are currently trying to raise funds for some much needed work at the Peninsula Associational Lodge (PAL) at Eagle Eyrie Conference Center in Lynchburg. This work will focus on renovations of our upstairs bathroom facilities in the lodge. This will include an Americans With Disability Act compliant bathroom, as well as reconfigured showers to make your stay at PAL Lodge more enjoyable. The work will cost $45,000.
Last month, your church received an information packet about this repair work. (If your church did not receive the packet, please let us know and we will resend it.) We are asking for pledges toward these upgrades through the month of August. Please don’t send money at this time! However, if your church would like to make a pledge toward this work please let us know as soon as possible. After August, we will decide on next steps.
Rusty Beck, retired pastor of Parkview Baptist Church, who has been involved with PAL lodge for many years has agreed to work with us in this Fundraising Campaign. We want you to have all of the information your congregation needs in order to make a decision regarding this fundraiser. Please let me (Chuck) know if you have any questions or concerns. I’d be happy to meet with you whenever possible.
PASTOR’S LUNCH DATE CHANGE!
In last month’s newsletter, we mentioned a unique opportunity for our pastors to attend a free lunch meeting designed just for us by the Regent (University) Psychological Services Center. Please note that the date for this meeting has been changed from May 14 to May 15. Everything else remains the same. Here is information about this luncheon:
We're excited to share that Regent University in Virginia Beach is now offering valuable
psychological health support services to our pastors and congregations, often at no cost! To get a better sense of our needs and how they can best serve us, they're hosting a free informational luncheon for our pastors.
This is a fantastic opportunity to explore the resources offered by Regent's Psychological
Services Center, which is part of their APA-accredited Doctor of Psychology Clinical Program. You can be assured of high-quality care, as their services are delivered by doctoral students under the guidance of experienced, licensed clinical psychologists.
Luncheon Details:
• Date: May 15, 2025
• Time: 11:30 AM
• Location: Regent University, 1000 Regent University Drive, Suite 188, Virginia Beach
If you are interested in attending this meeting (even if you have previously signed up), click on the following flier and sign up using the QR code at the bottom of the flier. If you run into any problems signing up, please contact Jim Moynihan at JimMoynihan@duck.com or text 757-870-9789.
ASK Pastor Luncheon
Flyer.pdf
PASTOR SUPPLY AND INTERIM LIST
We maintain a list of people willing to “Supply Preach” and/or serve as an “Interim Pastor”. If
you have need of someone to speak or are looking for an Interim Pastor while searching for a pastor, please check out our list on our website www.thepeninsulanet.org, under “Resources”. Also, if you would like to be added to the list either as a Supply Preacher or Interim Pastor, please contact us.
DIGITAL CHURCH PROFICIENCY WORKSHOP
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Peninsula Baptist Association
Livestreamed worship services, relevant websites, and social media connections have
become necessary parts of many churches’ weekly offerings. For small- to medium-sized
churches where resources and dollars may be tight, getting the most reach with your
digital presence may be overwhelming.
We invite you to join other church leaders in our area for a workshop sponsored by the
Baptist General Association of Virginia to improve your church’s online presence. (Note: A
church does not have to belong to the BGAV to participate in this workshop.) Each
registered church will receive a personalized Digital Snapshot of their current digital
presence. Participants will then learn valuable insights through local trends and relevant
case studies and get easy and affordable tips to improve your church’s digital presence
immediately!
Topics will also include how to engage with your congregation digitally and how to
navigate the changing digital landscape driven by AI and increased online access.
All church leaders and volunteers are welcome – especially those responsible for online
ministry and digital processes within the church – so please share this invitation with
others. Lunch will be provided.
To register for this free event, go to the following website by Friday, May 23rd.
https://secure.bgav.org/site/Ticketing?view=Tickets&id=100982
PBA CHURCHES SEEKING PASTORS
We provide this information to assist churches seeking a senior pastor. We can only provide
information given to us by churches, so please keep us informed! You may also let us know
about other open positions in your church if you would like us to publicize them. Churches
currently without pastors:
Buckroe Baptist Church
First Church Ministries
Grace Baptist Church
Hornsbyville Baptist Church
Yorktown Baptist Church
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