EDITOR'S NOTE: Articles for Religion Briefs must be submitted in writing to the Bowie Blade-News, 2000 Capital Drive, Annapolis, MD 21401, or e-mail to bkoepper@bladenews.com at least two weeks before publication date. Items should include the time, date and place of the meeting or activity, information on the program to be presented and a daytime telephone number. Late or incomplete items may not be used.

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Speaker

Grace Baptist Church, 7210 Race Track Road, will host Gracia Burnham Sunday at 6:30 p.m. While missionaries in the Philippines, Burnham and her husband Martin were kidnapped by terrorists and spent 13 months as hostages. Captivity ended for them in a violent rescue that left Martin dead and Gracia wounded. This event is free and open to the public. Child care is available. For information, call 301-262-1767.

"Man on Fire"

Adrian Branch, ESPN analyst and former University of Maryland and NBA basketball star, will present "Man on Fire" at a conference for men. The first meeting will be a dinner at Cornerstone Church Friday, Nov. 13, at 6:30 p.m. The second will be a breakfast at Bowie High School Saturday, Nov. 14, at 9 a.m. There is no charge; a free-will offering will be received. The dinner and breakfast are sponsored by Turn ON the Light-Bowie, the Coalition of Bowie Area Men's Ministries, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Men of all ages are welcome, particularly young men at the breakfast. To register, call Gale TeSelle, 301-262-9116 or at www.turnonthelight-bowie.org.

Captive Free

Captive Free, a relational music ministry team sponsored by Youth Encounters, will perform Friday, Nov. 13, at 7:30 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 2503 Belair Drive. All ages are invited to an evening of Christian music and personal sharing.

The Captive Free East Coast Team includes Morgan Talbot, a 2009 graduate of Bowie High School, where she participated in the marching band and wind ensemble as well as technical theater for school plays.

For information, call 301-262-7625 or contact Barbara Kunkel, ScouterMom@comcast.net.

Gift shopping

Christian Community Presbyterian Church, 3120 Belair Drive, will hold an Alternative Gift Market Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. As an alternative gift-shopping solution, you can support local international mission projects, such as the Bowie Interfaith Pantry, Heifer International and Habitat for Humanity. Refreshments will be available. For information, call Peggy Oates, 301-262-6959.

Young adult conference

Cornerstone Church, 16010 Annapolis Road, will host a Young Adult LeadNow Simulcast Conference Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for anyone wishing to learn how to reach people in their 20s and 30s for Christ. Tickets are $25 in advance; $30 at the door, and include lunch. For information, call Ann Jones, 301-262-6266.

Children's Church

St. Matthew's United Methodist Church, 14900 Annapolis Road, offers Children's Church during the 11 a.m. service for ages 7 through fifth grade. Children's Church is held every Sunday except Communion Sunday. For information, call 301-262-1408.

Awana

An Awana program for prekindergarten through seventh grade meets Wednesdays, during the school year, at 6:45 p.m. at Mt. Oak Methodist Church, 14110 Mt. Oak Road. For information, call 301-249-2230.

Children's Awana club, for ages 2 through fifth grade, meets Wednesdays, during the school year, at 7 p.m. at Grace Baptist Church, 7210 Race Track Road. For information, call 301-262-1767 or e-mail secretary@gbcbowie.org.

Bible recycling

New and used Bibles are being collected to give to the Anne Arundel County Detention Center for its prison ministry. For information, call Cathy Plunkett, 410-695-0688 or visit goodnews2share@yahoo.com.

Catholic faith

To learn more about the Catholic faith and joining the Christian community at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church, visit the Right of Christian Initiation for Adults at www.stedwardbowie.org or call 301-249-9199.

St. Pius X Parish holds meetings for those who have been away from the Catholic Church and who may want to come back Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. For information, call 301-262-2141, ext. 12.

Healing prayer

Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 13106 Annapolis Road, offers weekly Healing Prayer Sundays at 9:30 a.m. For information, call 301-262-5353.

Contemporary worship

Grace Baptist Church has a contemporary 20/20 Vision worship service Sundays at 6:30 p.m. at Jireh Place, 12218 Torah Lane. For information, call 301-262-1767 or visit www.gbcbowie.org.