Derbyshire Baptist Church

BEACON

The Beacon Class had its beginnings in 1997 as a class with a goal to serve as lights of hope and faith through Bible study, Christian fellowship, and living example, as they nurture each other and promote the missions of DBC.  The class members help with CARITAS meals and decorate the Memorial Garden with white lights for the Christmas season. Members use their talents as deacons, teachers, choir members, orchestra members, lighting specialists, blood drive organizers, nursery workers, drama participants, and team leaders.

The class thrives on lively discussion as they study books, video series, and the Smyth-Helwys Formations quarterly material.  Bud Kinder and Phil Bennett co-teach the class, with Barbara Kinder serving as the substitute teacher.  The class members enjoy social activities with each other. Although the class has no distinctive rules on age, most of the class members fall into the “Baby-Boomer” category.

OPEN DOOR

The Open Door Class began in the late 1980's as a newly married couples class.  Over the years, the original members have remained and new couples have joined creating a mid-30's to mid 40's age range of members.

The class members are involved in all aspects of the church.  They serve as children and youth Sunday School teachers and leaders, deacons, Chancel Choir and orchestra members, greeters, Worship Explorer leaders, and participants in ministry teams.

The class is designed to encourage discussion around topics from bible based study books with the goal being to create opportunities to help class members become more effective Christians.  Currently, class members are rotating as facilitator of the study books.

FOOTPRINTS

The Footprints class had its beginning in 1978 as a group of young couples continuing their journeys of faith through Bible study and fellowship. The class has discussions as it relates to Smyth-Helwys Formations quarterly material. As we study the Scriptures, we strive to apply Biblical principals to our daily lives as we continue growing in our discipleship to our living Lord.

Class members assist with CARITAS and many benevolent activities both within the church and outside the church family.  Deacons and choir members comprise the majority of our class members.  Pam Paciocco teaches this class with Jerry Parr assisting and the class also enjoys many social activities.

This class enjoys a most unique closeness as we share our lives and the lives of our families with each other. There is no specific age range for this class. However, the class ranges in age from those with college age students and those who have grandchildren.

GENESIS

The Genesis Class was formed about 30 years ago as a class to provide Bible study and fellowship. The age range of the classmates is from the 40’s to the 60’s and our class consists of married couples, singles, homemakers, working and retired people. We participate twice a year, in July and December, in the CARITAS program to help prepare and serve meals for the homeless.  Our members share their gifts and talents as deacons, teachers, ushers, choir members, orchestra members, audio/video specialists, nursery workers, race track ministry, etc. We use the Smyth-Helwys Formations Learner’s Study Guide for our weekly lessons, bringing the theological, historical and current message into focus. Bob Dale and Truba Cooper co-teach the class.

PASTOR’S

On Sunday mornings, between leading two worship services, our pastor Keith Smith teaches a Sunday School class. This class is designed for the adult student who is ready to engage in serious biblical, theological reflection and learning.  Past topics include “God’s Mission From Beginning to End,” “The Biblical Revelation of God,” “The Kingdom of God:  Making Sense of God’s Reign in a World Like Ours,” “Theology of Paul,” “Black Liberation Theology,” “Engaging in the Spiritual Disciplines,” and “The Exclusive Claim of Jesus’ Salvation.”  Currently, through the winter and spring of 2009, the pastor is leading a study of “Selling Jesus:  The Church in a Consumer Culture.”

New members are always welcome.   Members of other Sunday School classes may attend for a season, for a particular topic, and then return to their regular classes.  The Pastor’s class meets in room 122 (across from the church parlor, near the choir suite), 9:40 a.m. promptly – 10:40 a.m., September through early December, and late January through June. 

REFLECTIONS

Formed in 2007, the Reflections Class is a small class lending itself to the dialogical format desired when the class was formed.  The facilitator role is rotated among the class members.

The material studied varies from Biblical commentaries such as books on James and Corinthians to Christian inspirational and faith development books by authors such as Marcus Borg, CS Lewis, John Killinger and Tony Campolo.

Class members are involved in both the ministry activities of Derbyshire as well as community activities such as mentoring and tutoring students in area schools.  Socials are frequent and varied including theater, movies, and dining both in area restaurants and in member’s homes.

NEW BEGINNINGS

The New Beginnings class originally began as a newly married couples’ class and has evolved into a class consisting of singles and couples in their 20’s and early 30’s.  The class is currently studying an overview of the Bible using John Cross’s book The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus: A Clear and Simple Explanation of the World’s Best Seller.  Outside resources are brought in as well in order to facilitate discussion on the book that is the basis of our faith.  Jeannie McCain teaches this class, using members’ questions and the class’s discussion points to guide our study.

Class members participate semiannually in the CARITAS program and are currently researching other opportunities for service.  The class members also enjoy social activities with each other including Sunday morning light breakfasts, game nights, and sharing meals together.

AGAPE

The Agape Class is one of the first couples classes established at Derbyshire Baptist Church in the mid 1970's at a time when all classes were either all-male or all-female. 

Its first teacher, Dr. Charles Bryan, named the class Agape to reflect the steadfast love of God for the people (of Israel) and for God's demand from the people their response of obedience.  From that came the further demand, "you shall love your neighbor as yourself".  Agape love is a hallmark objective of this class. 

The Agape Class now is recognized as the oldest age group class at Derbyshire with 49 members ranging in ages from the 60's to 96 years.  However it's spirit is vibrant and it's members are active. 

There have been five teachers through the years, Dr. Charles Bryan, Bill Peacock, Haywood Moore, Dr. James Copeland and Dr. Winston Crawley.  All have been ordained Baptist Pastors and some were members of the Foriegn Mission Board.  The class has also been supported by other teachers temporarily bridging the service of the five mentioned.  Currently Dr. Jim Copeland, Derbyshire’s Pastor Emeritus, and Dr. Winston Crawley share the teaching responsibilities. 

Bible study is the principle activity on Sunday mornings.  Though led by teachers, member's interaction is welcomed and encouraged. 

The class uses lesson material in the Formations series published by Smyth & Helwys.  Scripture quotations from that source are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible although class members bring a variety of other Bible versions. 

The Agape class is active in many of Derbyshire's missions projects throughout the year in assistance to  people whose needs require support which they themselves cannot supply. 

Agape's primary mission is to supply non-perishable food items and money donations to the Oregon Hill Baptist Center which operates out of the Pine Street Baptist Church in Richmond's Oregon Hill neighborhood.  This is a generally lower income area bordered by residents and homeless in even poorer circumstances.  Agape, together with Derbyshire's Horizons class, partner to support this mission.  They have been doing so for more than three years.  Food and financial aid is delivered to the center each month to replenish donations to the poor which have been dispensed weekly. 

Other missions activities by this class include Lamb's Basket at Christmas, a food and personal need collection for the needy and CARITAS, which houses and feeds some of Richmond's homeless.  This activity takes place twice yearly within the church facility. 

Although Agape's class members are retired, they are energetic and enthusiastic participants.  Many of our members are also members of the Golden Tones, a Derbyshire senior choir which performs not only at Derbyshire but at other churches and gatherings. 

If you are new to Derbyshire, Agape welcomes new members and does not hold fast to age restrictions.  Visit us and see for yourself.           

KOINONIA

The Koinonia Class was established in 1975 with 23 charter members and met in the home of a founding member. The class has since grown to approximately 90 members and now occupies a large classroom at the rear of Bryant Hall. Members are primarily “senior” citizens with a wide range of business and professional experiences. To assist those members with varying hearing impairments, the class purchased and installed an up-to-date sound system in 2008.  

Koinonia members are generally viewed as “extended family” with the love, care, and support they provide each other. They also serve in just about every facet of church life, including deacons, choir members, greeters, Worship Explorers, team leaders and members of various church teams, committees, and task forces. We are proactive in our support of the South Richmond Baptist Center with monthly financial assistance and food for the Hillside Court community. 

While we use the Smyth & Helwys Formations lesson material, our principle reference book, as our class name implies, is the Bible. Our teachers include a retired Baptist minister, a minister’s wife and education administrator, and other denominational and church leaders who serve as guest teachers.

An active Social Committee further enhances the camaraderie among class members by scheduling social events during the year, including Easter and Christmas brunches, an annual golf tournament (putt-putt), bingo parties, family dinners, day trips to points of interest, and other near-by entertainment.  

SOJOURNERS

The Sojourners Class has an average attendance of around 40 Adults from 55 to 95. The Class Mission Statement is as follows: The MISSION of the SOJOURNERS Sunday School Class is to provide in-depth Bible Study, Christian fellowship and ministry opportunities to adults seeking to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Class was begun in 1983 with 15 to 20 members. We have benefited by having long-term teachers over the years. At present the class is taught by Alan Compton, retired missionary and administrator of the International Mission Board of the SBC and Noel Pace, retired Army Colonel and Minister of the Gospel.

The Sojourners know how to have fun and know how to take seriously their faith. We are especially loving and caring of each other and are organized into 7 care giving groups, each having a leader. The duties of the groups are to keep in touch with their members, have occasional gatherings and attend to needs in time of sickness or grief.

We are the class room directly across from the Welcome Center. Come be a part of our sojourn together with Jesus through this world and into the Kingdom.

OPEN HEARTS

The Open Hearts Sunday School Class is a relaxed, laid back group that mainly consists of people in their mid 30's and up.  Most of us have children who are infants on up to teenagers.  We love to socialize at the same time we enjoy learning what our Sunday School teacher, Shawn McCain has to offer.

Our class tries to use multiple education materials; we use the Formations quarterly, other study books, and/or videos to learn.  We usually begin in a large group and then break into smaller groups for group discussions.