Annual Community Fall Festival September 25 at Colonial Baptist
Colonial Baptist Church in Blue Ridge invites everyone to the annual Community Fall Festival on Saturday, Sept. 25, from 4-7 p.m. This is a 100 percent free event. Bring lawn chairs and listen to some great live music You can also enjoy Hayrides, Moonwalk, Ninja Course, Photo Booth, Game Booth, Balloon Sculptures, Face Painting, Snow Cones, Cotton Candy, Popcorn and lots more. Live music is presented by “Clearbrook Gospel Music Fellowship.” There will be freer dinner programs at 4:30, 5:30, and 6:30 p.m. Enjoy this free event with your friends and neighbors…and meet some new ones. The church is located at 221 Hillcrest Street in Blue Ridge just off Rt. 460. Call 977-5683 for more information.
Troutville Baptist calls Ritchey as new pastor
Dr. Jeff Ritchey is the new pastor of Troutville Baptist Church. The church welcomed him and his wife, Brigitte, on September 1.
Dr. Ritchey served for 15 years as a missionary with the International Mission Board (IMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention. He was appointed by IMB to the country of Croatia in Eastern Europe where he served in the areas of evangelism, discipleship and church planting. He continued his work with IMB and served in Canada as a professor at the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary and College in Christian Education. He worked with the Canadian Baptist Convention to establish a leadership development program for training lay leaders. Dr. Ritchey was an assistant professor in the School of Divinity at Liberty University from 2009 to 2021.
His education includes a Bachelor of Music from Hardin-Simmons University Abilene, Texas; Master of Divinity from Southwestern Theological Seminary; Master of Arts in Religious Education from Southwestern Theological Seminary; and Ph.D. from Southwestern Theological Seminary Fort Worth, Texas.
Dr. Ritchey’s wife, Brigitte, is the daughter of Southern Baptist missionaries who served in Zimbabwe. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology; Master of Arts in Religious Education; and a Ph.D. in Professional Counseling.
They are parents of three adult children.
