Artist Profile: Barbara Ariail Anderson Rising to the Challenge By Heike Hellmann-Brown BellSouth. Although I was always very crafty, I had no idea I was artistically inclined, she says. On the other hand, becoming a painter seemed like a natural progression. I had previously taken self-enrichment classes and enjoyed creating things be it furniture, stained glass works, or draperies. After her retirement, Anderson continued her education and became an interior designer. The theoretical background of design, color, form and function enabled her to look at things from a more aesthetic standpoint. You learn to distinguish between what is important and what is not, and which features to highlight and which to let fade into the background which is very similar to setting up a painting. When a cousin, a painter herself, invited Anderson to paint with her, she rose to the challenge. My dad always used to say, Whatever you want to do, you can do it! If you do not know how, then ask, and someone will tell you! With that philosophy, Anderson began taking painting classes something she has continued to do on a regular basis. Honestly, I dont even feel like I have my own style yet, she says. Its like a learning experience. I cherish how my creation evolves on the canvas. I watch it grow, while at the same time I grow as an artist. The process of creation is utterly fulfilling. I can get lost in it for hours. Painting is something I do entirely for my own enjoyment. Using her own photographs as reference, Andersons favorite subject matters are ocean and marsh scenes and orchids. She paints in oils, watercolors, and acrylics, but cites pastels as her favorite medium because of their vibrant colors and immediate gratification. She says she is very detail-oriented and loves the challenge of getting the design, prospective, feel and color perfect. It thrills me to see a piece develop into a beautifully finished painting. No matter how many months it will take from layout to completion, after each brushstroke I stand back and look at my work. It makes me smile and inspires me to do more. Anderson is motivated by her own appreciation for her work, so she never put much value on accolades until her sister talked her into entering one of her paintings in the Gilmer County Fair. It was the first time I showed my work. The painting, My Apples, won 1st place, she says. I was even more surprised when I stood back and listened to what people had to say about it. This experience has encouraged Anderson to show her work more publicly; her paintings are on display at the Alpharetta Library, Firefly Restaurant, and Somerby Senior Living. Barbara Ariail Anderson says she loves the social aspect of painting, the bond she shares with fellow painters, and being involved in the local art community. AriailFineArt.com
First Baptist Canton Building Relationships That Last Forever By Michelle Martin For George Anderson, pastor of First Baptist Canton, the Church is about more than just religion. Christianity is about relationships, the most important being the relationship with God, he says. God wants to have a relationship with us thats why He gave His Son to die for us. As a Christian myself, I want to help others have a relationship with Christ, too. Anderson has served as pastor of First Baptist Canton since 1998, when the church was still located in Downtown Canton. In 2005, the church moved to its new facility at 1 Mission Point, near the new Teasley Middle School, off of Reinhardt College Parkway. Were blessed in this location, he says. It is very easy to get to, and the 74 acres give us room to grow. But, were not very visible. A lot of people are moving into this area, and we want to reach as many as we can. We want people to know First Baptist Canton is here for them and has lots of great programs to minister to them. First Baptist Canton offers three Sunday worship services: The Tradition, featuring traditional hymns, piano and organ, at 8:15 a.m.; The Journey, featuring contemporary music led by a worship band and praise team, at 9:30 a.m.; and The Gathering, featuring a blend of traditional and contemporary music led by the worship choir, orchestra, worship band and praise team. First Baptist Canton is not the typical, stuffy church some might expect, Anderson says. When people come for the first time, many are surprised to see so many familiar faces from school, work, neighbors, around town. We want First Baptist Canton to be warm and inviting, where people feel accepted and can connect with others. With an average Sunday attendance of 1,000, First Baptist Canton also offers individual Sunday School and Bible Study classes (for all ages) to help people connect more personally and grow spiritually. It can be hard for people to feel connected in a large church, Anderson says. Sunday School is the backbone of our ministry. Those small groups bring people together and help them build meaningful relationships that last. Adult classes include singles, young adults, seniors, and other groups for different life stages. Our classes and different groups take an active role in ministering to the needs within the church, Anderson says. They recognize where there are needs in the church as well as in the community and come together without any prompting from church leadership to schedule hospital visitations and collect money, food, clothes or whatever the need is. The deacons also minister to widows with special programs and events throughout the year. In addition, BLADE mens ministry meets once a month at 5:30 p.m. in the church fellowship hall, and weekly in individual small groups, for a time of Bible Study and encouragement. First Baptist Canton offers a variety of age-related activities and programs for children, from preschoolers to youth. Jump Street on Sunday mornings is a special childrens worship for grades K-5, featuring praise songs, skits, videos, games, and interactive Bible lessons. On Wednesday nights, childrens AWANA Clubs use Bible stories, games, and fun activities to emphasize missions and scripture memory. Children can earn AWANA bucks based on scripture memory, attendance and invited friends that can be used to purchase toys, games and candy in the AWANA store. And, the childrens choir puts on special childrens musicals twice a year. For young people in middle and high school, the student ministry offers Sunday morning SURGE activities and worship, including a youth band, as well as Wednesday night SURGE, Disciple Now weekend camps, summer camps and missions. For many families, the childrens programs are the key factors in choosing a church, Anderson says. They want their children to have the opportunity to learn about God through fun activities in a safe environment. Many parents have told us that they knew First Baptist Canton was the church for their family because their kids couldnt stop talking about it and couldnt wait to go again the next Sunday morning! Local and international missions are a big emphasis of First Baptist Cantons community outreach. The church hosts a number of different programs throughout the year to minister to local families in need, including the annual Family Fun Day at Heritage Park; Give a Kid a Chance-Cherokee each July; Feed My Sheep monthly food assistance; teen-led service projects; and missions teams to countries in Africa, Europe, Latin America and South America. In addition, First Baptist Canton has supported an orphanage in Peru for 10 years sending a full-time missionary to serve there year-round, along with college interns and missions teams in the summer. We felt it was important to not just go there for a period and leave, but to build a relationship with the people, Anderson says. We wanted to help raise the orphan children of Peru in a Christian environment. We wanted to help change the Peruvian community, and Christian values are the only way to change a community for good. Whether across the world or here in the Canton community, Pastor George Anderson wants First Baptist Canton to be known not just for teaching the Bible but for showing the love of Christ. We want people to know, see and experience firsthand that First Baptist Canton is a church that cares about all people and wants to help them build relationships in their families, in the community and, most important, with Christ. Sunday Worship8:15, 9:30 & 11:00 a.m. Sunday School9:30 & 11:00 a.m. Childrens AwanaBeginning August 28, 6:30-8:00 p.m. Mission Point Christian Academy Preschool & Mothers Day Out Beginning August 18Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. First Baptist Canton1 Mission Point, Canton770-479-5538FBCCanton.org
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Teasley Middle Student Wins Optimist International Communication Contest Shakobia "Kobi" Sims, an eighth-grader at Teasley Middle School, won the annual Georgia State Communication Contest for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, sponsored by Optimist International. Representing the Cherokee County School District and the Woodstock Midday Optimist Club at the statewide competition, Kobi earned a $2,500 college scholarship. According to Optimist International, the contest offers an opportunity for children who are deaf or hard of hearing to "present their thoughts in the community, gaining skills that can only come from signing or speaking to a large audience." Patterned after the Optimist Oratorical Contest, the contest offers hearing-impaired youth the chance to compete in speech or sign language. This year's theme was "How My Passions Impact the World." Kobi was recognized by the Cherokee County School Board and Superintendent of Schools at a recent school board meeting.