2008 - ABc/GRR

Transcription

2008 - ABc/GRR

GREAT RIVERS REGIONAL
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS
These scholarship programs exist in
the Great Rivers Region to assist
young people who are members in
Great Rivers Region American
Baptist Churches to secure a college
and/or seminary education.
Scholarships for any college student
(regardless of major) or seminary student from the Gernenz-Shurtleff /
Wilcoxen Scholarship are available.
Ministerial students attending ABCrelated schools and seminaries in
preparation for ministry can also apply
for the Harold O. Long Scholarship.
All applications must be received in
the GRR office by April 1, 2008.
To receive an application for these
scholarships, write to: Scholarship
Committee, Att: Sharon Downs, PO
Box 3786, Springfield, IL 62708,
phone: 217-726-7366; fax: 217-7267566, or email: [email protected]
Our Great Rivers Region
Baptist Family Is Growing!
First Baptist Church, Belleville, IL
Welcomes: Brandi Denise
Williamson, John Ralph Smith, and
Deborah Kay Daugherty
Bethel Baptist Church, Colchester,
IL Welcomes: Larry Zimmerman
and Roxie Zimmerman
First Baptist Church, Macomb, IL
Welcomes: Pat Allison, Allen Black,
Wayne Melvin, Lou Melvin, Victor
Milleson, David Shinneman, and
Marci Shinneman
Muncie Baptist Church, Muncie, IL
Welcomes: Katherine Kinney and
Katie Marble
First Baptist Church, Paris, IL
Welcomes: Jenae Dodd
Mainstream Contact
Information
Missions Conference
The GRR Missions Conference that
has been held in January the last few
years has been moved to April 25-26.
More information will soon be available.
Send your stories of mission and
ministry. Please also send the names
of new members (the fruit of this mission and ministry) to:
Linda Ricks
232 Devron Circle
East Peoria, IL 61611
E-Mail: [email protected]
The Mainstream
News of Ministry and Mission
American Baptist Churches of the Great Rivers Region
January 2008 No. 1 Email: [email protected]
GRR Calendar
January 18-21 - SKWIM 2008 at
Greenlake for Areas II & III Youth
February 23 - Area IV Annual
Meeting, Centralia, IL FBC
Feb. 29 - March 1- Area I Annual
Meeting, FBC Elgin, IL
March 8 - Area III Annual Meeting
FBC Peoria, IL
March 8 - Creative Worship
Seminar
Len Wilson & Jason Moore
Midnight Oil Productions
FBC Peoria, IL
March 8 - Area V Annual Meeting
FBC Kansas City, MO
March 9 - Area II Annual Meeting
FBC Greenfield, IL
April 12 - Clean Up Day
Lake Springfield Baptist
Camp
April 25-26 - GRR Missions
Conference hosted by
Cherry Hills Baptist
May 10 - Clean Up Day
Camp
The Mainstream is a twice-monthly publication of the American Baptist Churches of the Great Rivers Region,
3940 Pintail Drive, Springfield IL 62711
Telephone: (217) 726-7366 Fax: (217) 726-7566
Email: [email protected] Web: www.abc-grr.org
May 17 - Boundaries Professional
Ethics Course
web: www.abc-grr.org
Message From Our
Region President
On January 6 we
finished our
Christmas season
with the visit of the
Magi—those Wise
Men from the East.
Have you ever
thought about the
types of wisdom we see in that
familiar passage from Matthew 1?
King Herod’s approach to wisdom
is simple—get rid of the competition.
If this newborn is being called King,
he must be done away with.
The wisdom of the Magi was to
sort out the evidence. Their understanding of the wisdom of the ages
and the stars in the heavens seemed
in conflict with what King Herod was
telling them. Like a crime scene
investigator, they had to take what
they heard and knew and come up
with a solution.
Our own wisdom might take us
another direction. Does it make a
difference in how we will be treated?
What about how much money we’ll
have in our pockets as a result?
What about our social life and status? Do we handle sticky situations
based on our own wisdom or do we
use another kind of wisdom?
As I began the year I put to use a
gift I receive—a Bible that is organized so that I can easily read through
it in a year. Each day I will be faceto-face with truths from the Scriptures.
What I do with those truths, how I
incorporate them into my daily life, will
definitely have a bearing on the wisdom I exercise in making decisions.
How do you make decisions? Do
you get rid of competition so you’ll
come out on top? Do you sort out
evidence so you’ll make a rational,
logical decision in the world’s eyes?
Do you use your own judgment so it
will leave you in the best place? Or
do you consult the one asset we have
as Christians—the Scriptures. Let
2008 be the year of making decisions
with God in the equation, and may it
be a genuinely Happy New Year.
For the praise of His glory,
Pastor Diane DeSmidt
Mission News
Building Blitz - 2008
Dates have been announced for a
second Building Blitz:
* April 28 - May 17, 2008
* Baton Rouge, LA
Week 1 and Week 3 will involve volunteers with every level of construction skill. Week 2 will be for skill contruction volunteers only.
For info, visit the GRR home page
and Gulf Coast 2008 page of this web
site. You may also contact Victoria
Goff at National Ministries
([email protected]).
Registration for the Build will be
through National Ministries. When the
registration materials are available,
they will also be available by link from
the GRR web site.
Area Meetings
Creative Worship Seminar
March 8, 2008
Peoria First Baptist Church
“Many churches have discovered that
simply installing the screen and the
projectors doesn’t automatically transform worship. There is a huge difference between technology and culture.
How do you change the culture of
worship in a way that it will speak to
the world that we live in today?”
The Creative Worship seminar by
Len Wilson and Jason Moore will
address what our churches can do
to transform worship through culture
of worship, artful expression of the
worship theme, development of the
team that plans and supports worship,
and use of technologies (from banners to projection).
This is NOT a tech seminar, but a
time of learning resources and an
approach that will help us intentionally
plan worship that will reach the
changing world around us.
The seminar is being limited to 80
for space considerations. Early registration of several members of your
church will save you. Please register
no later than January 25 to assure
yourself of this discounted rate.
Find registration form at:
http://www.abc-grr.org/midnightoil/
Promofor8Mar08.html or in the recent
Pastors mailing.
Area I
Friday, February 29 - Judson
University Fine Arts Auditorium
Saturday, March 1 - Elgin First Baptist
Church
Church News
First Baptist Church, Moline, IL
has taken on the challenge of resettling a Karen refugee family from
Burma. So far the church has ministered to 23 Karens who have been
attending worship at FBC. The
ABC/USA is working to resettle
10,000 Karen refugees who were persecuted and have been living in
refugee camps in Thailand. The
Karens are historically American
Baptists and were among the first
converts of Baptist Missionary,
Adoniram Judson.
First Baptist Church of Galesburg,
IL will be celebrating their 160th
Anniversary January 13-16th, 2008.
Area II
Sunday, March 9 - Greenfield IL First
Baptist Church
Area III
March 8, 2008 at Peoria FBC
Speaker: Reid Trulson, Executive
Director, Board of International
Ministries
Area IV
February 23, 2008 at Centralia First
Baptist Church
Area V
March 8 - Kansas City MO First
Baptist Church
For more information and to download
registration forms for these meetings:
www.abc-grr.org/areas/annualmeetings.htm
Take advantage of these times of fellowship, worship, and learning.
The anniversary date is January 15th.
An "old fashioned" church service will
be offered on the 13th at 10:00 a.m. A
winter tri-annual meeting will follow
during which we will recognize the
members of 50 years and greater.
There will also be a memorial time to
honor those the Lord has taken home
in the past year.
On January 15th, a 24 hour prayer
vigil will be held. Then on the 16th
there will be a family night with a
Potluck and a time of singing. It will
be a special time for us to reflect
on our heritage and the future the
Lord has for Galesburg-FBC.
Berwick Baptist Church, Berwick,
IL celebrated a glorious day for
Christ’s kingdom on January 20 with
seven baptisms and an additional ten
bringing their membership to the
church. An attendance of 94 was a
high for the year. The church has
also made improvements to the parking lot this fall and is planning the
celebration of its 175th anniversary
on July, 27, 2008. Praise the Lord!
Mainstream Contact
Information
Send your stories of mission and ministry. Please also send the names of
new members (the fruit of this mission
and ministry) to:
Linda Ricks
232 Devron Circle
Welcomes: Rev. Paul Sowden, Sr.
Diane Sowden, Paul Sowden, Jr.,
Graham Sowden, and Jessica
Sowden
Berwick Baptist Church, Berwick,
IL Welcomes: Shawna Wainman,
Justin Manser; Samantha Fox, Kelly
Titus, Kevin Titus, Nathan Haynes,
Jason Gabriel, Christine Smith,
Wenonah Smith, Bill Jockisch, Kay
Jockisch, Peggy Sickles, Ron Koch,
Betty Slusher, Ed Sluscher, Helen
Fluke and Donnie Gabriel
First Baptist Church, Kansas City,
MO Welcomes: Daisy Hall, Cassie
Shumate, Beth Poe, William Poe,
Cameren Leonard, Donna Fast,
Kenneth Fast, Suanna Counts, Sallie
Ellen Smith, Mary Susan Smith,
Diana Condori, Debra Ebright, and
Marvin Combs
First Baptist Church, Macomb, IL
Welcomes: B.C. DeSpain and
Chablis DeSpain
Telephone: (217) 726-7366 Fax: (217) 726-7566
The Mainstream
January 2008 No. 2 Email: [email protected]
GRR Calendar
FBC Peoria, IL
Seminar
Midnight Oil Productions
FBC Peoria, IL
FBC Kansas City, MO
FBC Greenfield, IL
Camp
Camp
Ethics Course
Max Klinkenborg
Announces Retirement
After 20 years of
service to the
Great Rivers
Region, Rev. Max
Klinkenborg has
announced his
retirement effective July 1, 2008.
This is an early
retirement that was mutually negotiated between Max and the GRR
Ministry of Staff Relations. The terms
of this early retirement were
approved by the Regional Ministry
Board during its January 18, 2008
meeting.
Max was recognized for his service
during the 2007 Annual Meeting in
Decatur IL. He has faithfully served
the churches of Area II for twenty
years. Max is one of the senior
“deans” among his national colleagues in similar roles.
During his 20 years on the ministerial
staff of the GRR, Max has shepherded the Foresee-the-Future campaign
and led church planting. Nationally,
he served with the Interim Ministries/
Ministers-at-Large program. In
recent years, Max has assumed
leadership for leadership for Natural
Church Development efforts in the
Region and has given his expertise
to Consecration Sunday efforts.
More on Max Klinkenborg’s
Retirement:
The Region is grateful for Max’s 20
years of dedicated service, and prays
that God’s blessing will continue to be
with Kay and Max as they enter this
new stage of life
When Max concludes
his service, Dr. John
Grisham will be
assigned to service
Area II as his major
responsibility. John
will be leaving
behind his role in mission education and stewardship to assume this
new task.
Financial reality, this retirement, and
other retirements anticipated over the
next seven to nine years provide a
timely opportunity for us to adapt
to our changing world. The
Regional Ministry Board is working
with the ministerial staff under the
leadership of Dwight Stinnett to
address two questions. The first
question is: How best to serve GRR
churches in the 21st Century? The
second question is: How to design a
financially sustainable staff structure
to provide that service? Answers to
these two questions are leading us to
study and consider what could be the
most radical rearrangement of regional staff responsibilities since the Great
Rivers Region was created from the
Illinois Baptist Convention and the
Missouri Convention of American
Baptists over 40 years ago.
In all this, we reaffirm our confidence in the vision that God has
given us. We see healthy churches
engaged in effective Christian ministry
locally and globally. It is our intent to
provide services and programs for
churches that challenge, assist, represent, and empower to that end.
First Baptist Church
of El Paso Begins
Celebrating 150 Years
Area Meetings
March 8, 2008
Peoria First Baptist Church
First Baptist Church of El Paso,
IL began its celebration of the first
150 years on Sunday, January 20.
The church began on January 21,
1858. The present church building is
on the same land as the original building.
Area I
Church
Area II
The service Sunday featured Wally
Hines (left) who dialoged with Dr. Tim
Smith, (right) current pastor. Wally
Hines’ father was pastor of El Paso
from 1915 through 1921, before moving on to pastorates in other places
including FBC Kankakee and Central
Baptist of Springfield. Wally was
born in 1919 and while he does not
have many of his own memories of El
Paso, he remembers the stories his
parents shared with him. Other members of the church also shared some
memories and four students from the
local high school sang solos.
Refreshments were served after the
worship service. A more formal celebration is planned for later in the year.
Creative Worship Seminar
Baptist Church
Area III
Ministries
Area IV
Baptist Church
Area V
Baptist Church
Take advantage of these times of fellowship, worship, and learning.
“Many churches have discovered that
simply installing the screen and the
projectors doesn’t automatically transform worship. There is a huge difference between technology and culture.
How do you change the culture of
worship in a way that it will speak to
the world that we live in today?”
for space considerations. Early registration of several members of your
church will save you. Please register
no later than January 25 to assure
yourself of this discounted rate.
Promofor8Mar08.html or in the recent
Pastors mailing.
Disaster Relief
Pontiac, IL suffered significant river
flooding recently. Funds from the One
Great Hour of Sharing are being
used to help the flood victims. Pastor
Jim Wolfe of FBC Pontiac has been
chosen to help lead the longterm
flood relief for the community.
Camping 2008
First Baptist Church, Champaign
at Savoy, IL Welcomes: Kevin
Logsdon, Joann Logsdon, Ivan
Sherburn, and Jane Sherburn
February 2008 No. 1
Ridgeview Baptist Church,
Danville, IL Welcomes: Jennifer
Ciancio, Seb Ciancio, Jennifer
Kinney, and Karen Pitts
Email: [email protected]
GRR Calendar
First Baptist Church, Galva, IL
Welcomes: Chad Hodge
First Baptist Church of Peoria, IL
Welcomes: Bradley Burmood, Anjan
Cheeria, Shanthi Cheerla, Glen
Evans, Sally Heathcoat, Michelle
Lacy, Jacob Lewis, Kelley
Sutherland, Agnes (Udayakumar)
Kamalam, Jeba Udayakumar, Brian
Ulrich, Courtney Ulrich, Katya Ulrich,
Luda Ulrich, and Trey Winfrey
FBC Peoria, IL
First Baptist Church, Wood River,
IL Welcomes: Keith Huff and Gerry
Huff
Mainstream Contact
Information
Blackhawk Baptist Camp
Oregon IL
&
Lake Springfield Baptist Camp
Springfield IL
The Mainstream
Linda Ricks
232 Devron Circle
Telephone: (217) 726-7366 Fax: (217) 726-7566
Seminar
Midnight Oil Productions at
FBC Peoria, IL
FBC Kansas City, MO
FBC Greenfield, IL
Camp
Camp
Ethics Course
May 24 -Open House
May 31 - Blackhawk Clean Up Day
Friends,
I plan to be in
Baton Rouge
with my hammer
for the 2008
Habitat for
Humanity project and hope to see
you there. Registration information
is available on the GRR web page:
http://www.abc-grr.org/gulfcoast2008/
index.html and read the article below.
See you there!
Dwight Stinnett
AMERICAN BAPTIST
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
TO BUILD
HOUSES ON GULF COAST
Once again National Ministries, on
behalf of American Baptist Churches
USA, will partner with Habitat for
Humanity of Greater Baton Rouge in
the spring 2008 to build five homes
for families who have permanently
relocated to Baton Rouge, following
displacement by hurricanes Katrina
and Rita.
More than 300 volunteers will be
required to complete the homes in
this “Blitz Build.”
“Taking part in a ‘Blitz Build’ is an
amazing opportunity to let others see
the love of Jesus Christ in you,” says
Victoria Goff, National Ministries’
Coordinator of Volunteer Ministries.
“It is awesome to help raise wall
after wall and then—before you know
it—you have a house standing before
you. Doing this side-by-side with others filled with Christ’s compassion,
and the homeowners, too, makes it
even more special. Don’t miss this
chance of a lifetime to give back, and
return home enriched in ways you
could never have imagined.”
Both individuals and groups are
needed to make this “Blitz Build” successful. Participants must be at least
16 years of age. Construction skills
are not required, but any knowledge
of or experience with construction is
appreciated. Skilled laborers—such as
electricians, plumbers and carpenters—are especially critical, along with
skilled individuals who can serve as
house leaders.
Volunteers are responsible for their
own transportation to and from Baton
Rouge and the worksite as well as a
weekly fee of $100 for food and lodging.
More than 150 volunteers will be
needed the first week, beginning
Monday, April 28, when the five
homes are blessed and the walls are
raised. That week, work will focus on
framing the exterior and interior walls,
raising roof trusses and roof decking,
and installing windows, doors and
vinyl siding.
During the second week, beginning May 5, plans call for completion
of subcontractor work, so volunteer
opportunities will require those with
specialized skills.
To finish vinyl siding, tape and float
sheetrock, paint, and install trim work,
cabinets and landscaping in the final
week, beginning May 12, another
150-plus volunteers will be needed.
The build will end on Saturday, May
17, with a dedication of each home.
In 2007, National Ministries built 12
homes with 200-plus American Baptist
volunteers in Baton Rouge, La., as
part of a similar “Blitz Build” effort in
partnership with Habitat for Humanity.
Since hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit
in August and September of 2005,
National Ministries’ Volunteer
Ministries office has sent more than
1600 volunteers to the Gulf Coast to
help with rebuilding.
The Rev. Marilyn Turner: “We are
thankful for the many American
Baptists who continue to share their
time and resources as gifts bringing
comfort to the hurricane survivors.
This is a long-term ministry of caring,
and it is one that could not be accomplished without their dedication.”
The registration deadline for participation in the 2008 “Blitz Build” is
April 1.
American Baptist News Service
April Conferences
DAUGHTERS OF THE FLAME
AMERICAN BAPTIST WOMEN IN
MINISTRY 2008 CONFERENCE
APRIL 16-19, 2008
St. LOUIS, MISSOURI
Contact: Rev. Muriel Johnson
Fanning the Flame
A National Pastor's Renewal
Conference
April 22 - 25, 2008
American Baptist Assembly
Green Lake, WI
Great Rivers Region Missions
Conference
Cherry Hills Baptist Church
April 25-26, 2008.
Contact: John Grisham
Area Meetings
Area V Imitating Christ In Service
Baptist Church
Take advantage of these times of fellowship, worship, and learning
Area I LEAP Into Ministry
Church
Area II Children In Poverty
Baptist Church
Speaker: Rev. Marilyn Turner Associate Executive Director, Program
Ministries of National Ministries –
ABC/USA
Concert by 4 His Glory
Area III Your Legacy of Faith
Ministries
Area IV
Missions: Here, There, and
Everywhere
Baptist Church
Speakers: Area IV Mission Trip
Participants: Charles Klassen,
Quinton Runyon, Rex and Becky
Cooper, and John Lobos
Creative
Worship
Seminar
March 8, 2008
Peoria First
Baptist Church
for space considerations.
Promofor8Mar08.html
or in the recent Pastors Mailing.
Missions Conference (continued)
Mylinda and
Gary Baits
are pastors
and professors but
mainly
friends and
connectors
who walk alongside their sisters and
brothers in Christ. They enjoy connecting students with leadership training,
connecting scriptures to everyday life,
and connecting people’s gifts with life
changing ministries.
The Baits work with the Costa Rican
Baptist Federation in pastoral and lay
leadership development and theological education.
Conference Breakout Groups:
Bluefields, NicaraguaCarol & Dave Matheson
Christian Center of AnadarkoBen Sullivan
Costa Rica PartnershipGary Baits
Democratic Republic of CongoWendy Barnhardt
Discovery Groups/Volunteers
Jonathan Hilsher
Kids Hope United Pat Griffin
Murrow Indian Children’s Home Joan Brown
New Neighbors Ruth Peterson
Peoria Friendship House, Peoria
Barbara Hartnett
Women at Risk Elizabeth Landau
April Conferences
APRIL 16-19, 2008
St. LOUIS, MISSOURI
The Mainstream
February 2008 No. 2
GRR Calendar
Fanning the Flame
Conference
April 22-25, 2008
Green Lake, WI
GRR Clergy Spouses
April 18-19, 2008
“The Song In Your Heart”
Ardys Carpenter - Retreat Leader
Mainstream Contact
Information
Area Meetings
FBC Peoria, IL
Seminar
Midnight Oil Productions at
FBC Peoria, IL
FBC Kansas City, MO
Area IV: Missions: Here,
There, and Everywhere
FBC Greenfield, IL
February 23, 2008 at
Centralia First Baptist Church
Speakers:
Area IV Mission Trip Participants:
Charles Klassen, Quinton Runyon,
Rex and Becky Cooper, and John
Lobos
Music by Rod Mays
Youth Event with Upstairs Worship,
Kaleb Scharmahorn
Camp
Linda Ricks
232 Devron Circle
Camp
Area I LEAP Into Ministry
Ethics Course
Saturday, March 1 - Elgin First
Baptist Church
Mission Projects: Used Book
Depository, Campbell Soup Labels
Telephone: (217) 726-7366 Fax: (217) 726-7566
May 24 -Open House
Area I Youth Winter Retreat, Friday,
February 29 through Sunday, March
2, Judson University, Elgin, IL
Area III Your Legacy of Faith
March 8, 2008: Peoria First Baptist
Ministries
The Creative Worship Seminar
(same date & place ) by Len Wilson
and Jason Moore will address what
our churches can do to transform worship through culture of worship, artful
expression of the worship theme,
development of the team that plans
and supports worship, and use of technologies (from banners to projection).
Area V Imitating Christ In
Service
Baptist Church
Guest Preacher: Rev. Lisa Harris,
Executive Director of Bethel
Neighborhood Center
Youth: Triple M: Mission, Meal, and
MegaFun Day
Area II
Children In Poverty
Baptist Church
Speaker: Rev. Marilyn Turner Associate Executive Director, Program
Ministries of National Ministries –
ABC/USA
Concert by 4 His Glory
Churches In Ministry
In the coming months, The
Mainstream will be featuring churches of the Great Rivers Region who
are doing some exciting things in ministry. First Baptist Church,
Macomb, IL is the church featured in
this issue.
“Several Area III churches have
shown significant growth over the past
few years. However, I can think of no
other church that has turned around
so intentionally and deliberately in the
last three years,” says Dr. Richard
Ricks, Associate Minister for Area III
of the Great Rivers Region, of First
Baptist Church, Macomb, Illinois. The
Rev. Wally Holt, pastor, has led the
church in increasing and developing
its leadership group through intentional discipleship. Worship attendance has more than doubled in the
few years of his pastorate. The members are also intentional in their support of mission at all levels.
This most recent chapter of the life
of First Baptist Church Macomb,
began with the church naming a
search committee which then met in
consultation with Dr. Richard Ricks.
Through many hours of prayerful discernment God blessed this collaborative work between the church and the
GRR with the name
of The Rev. Walter
Holt. That he has
been God’s person
for this pastorate
has been affirmed
by many in the
church and community.
When Rev. Holt began his pastorate, the church had about five children and perhaps four couples under
the age of fifty. Now there is a healthy
cross section of young, middle-aged
and seniors attending. The children’s
sermon time has grown to ten to fifteen children. More than 50 percent of
those attending Sunday worship now
also meet in small groups and more
than two thirds of those attending worship stay for Sunday school.
Submitted by: Dr. Richard Ricks and
Claudia McCain, Director of Small
Group Ministries, FBC Macomb
New Director of Campus
Ministry at SIU
American Baptist
Campus Ministries at
Southern Illinois
University welcomes
Lois Bartley as the
new Director of
Campus Ministries.
Lois who served as
Interim Director for
the Campus Student Ministry of SIU
was asked to take a full time call as
Director in January. Lois moved to
Southern Illinois three years ago with
her husband Francis Bartley who is
pastor of First Baptist Church Of Ava,
Illinois. As Director, Lois says that she
is excited by what the Lord is doing
through the Campus Ministry at SIU
and sees this ministry as having a
great future potential in reaching college students through Intentional
Christian Living. Learn more about this
vibrant and growing American Baptist
Campus Ministry. Contact Lois at:
Lois Bartley
516 S Hays
Carbondale Illinois 62901
Ph. 1-618-318-1701
Website:
http://intranet.siu.edu/~ambs/index.htm
Great Rivers Region
Missions Conference
April 25-26, 2008.
Friday:
3:00 p.m. Registration
3:00 – 5:00: Visit Mission Displays;
talk with Duane Binkley or Dwight
Stinnett.
5:00 – 6:00 Dinner
6:30 - Evening Session
Mission Speaker, Duane Binkley
Preacher, Max Klinkenborg
Saturday:
8:30 a.m. Worship
Speaker, Gary Baits
Commissioning Service for Gulf
Coast Volunteers
Missionary Speakers:
Duane and
Marcia
Binkley serve
Burmese ethnic Karen and
Chin refugees
both in the
United States
and Thailand.
The Binkleys
work with the
tens of thousands of refugees coming
to the U.S. while continuing to work
with those still remaining in refugee
camps along the Thai-Myanmar
(Burma) border. The Binkleys are
jointly appointed by International
Ministries and the Cooperative Baptist
Fellowship. Within the U.S. the
Binkleys will work with national and
regional mission entities of American
Baptist Churches USA and ABC and
CBF local churches.
(More on Missions Conference on
page 4)
April Conferences
APRIL 16-19, 2008
St. LOUIS, MISSOURI
Fanning the Flame
Conference
April 22-25, 2008
Green Lake, WI
GRR Clergy Spouses
April 18-19, 2008
First Baptist Church Champaign,
Savoy, IL Welcomes: Martin G. Wu,
William Denney, Arlys Denney, and
Art Skelton
Wilton Center Federated Church,
Manhattan, IL Welcomes: Joe
Budka, Nicole Caputo, Mark Gall,
Amanda Johnson, Jeremy Johnson,
Nikki Steen, Kim Tysse, Tom Tysse,
and Jim Wedster
Old Stonington Baptist Church,
Stonington, IL Welcomes:
Patrick Miller
First Baptist Church, Towanda, IL
Welcomes: Adam Wilson, Kristi
Wilson, Emma Wilson, Kayla
Jenkins, and Dawn Staton
Pastor Honored for Service
Mainstream Contact
Information
and ministry) to:
Linda Ricks
232 Devron Circle
A special service was held
February 24, 2008 to honor Pastor
Larry Wiese for his twenty years of
service to the First Baptist Church
of Orion, IL.
During the morning worship service, Dr. Cheryl R. Henson, Great
Rivers Regional Associate Minister
for Area I gave the message, "Ready,
Willing, and Able" and presented
Pastor Wiese a certificate. Roger
NIghtingale, vice moderator of the
church, also presented the pastor a
certificate for his twenty years of
service.
A luncheon and open house was
held from 12 noon until 2:00 p.m. at
the church.
Telephone: (217) 726-7366 Fax: (217) 726-7566
The Mainstream
March 2008 No. 1
GRR Calendar
March 28-29 - Oasis: Area 1 ABW
Retreat at Stronghold
March 29 - AB Men's Disaster Relief
Leadership Team
April 5 - AB Men's Disaster Relief
Spring Training Work Day
Grace Baptist Church,
Kansas City, MO and
April 12 - ABW Spring Rallies:
Area I FBC Plano, IL
Area III FBC El Paso, IL
Area IV Pleasant Grove
Baptist, Humboldt, IL
April 12 - Clean Up Day at Lake
Springfield Baptist Camp
April 16 - 19: American Baptist
Women in Ministry
Conference, St. Louis
April 19 - Area 1 ABW Spring Meeting
FBC Morrison, IL
April 19 - ABMen's Disaster Relief
Spring Training and Camp Cleanup
April 22 - 25: Fanning the Flame, A
National Pastor's Renewal
Conference
April 25-26 - GRR Missions Conf.
Great Rivers Region
Missions Conference
Springfield, IL
April 25-26, 2008.
Friday:
talk with Duane Binkley or
Dwight Stinnett.
5:00 – 6:00 Dinner
Saturday:
8:30 a.m. Worship
Speaker, Gary Baits
Coast Volunteers
Duane and
Marcia
Binkley serve
Burmese ethnic Karen and
Chin refugees
both in the
United States
and Thailand.
The Binkleys
work with the tens of thousands of
refugees coming to the U.S. while
continuing to work with those still
remaining in refugee camps along
the Thai-Myanmar (Burma) border.
(Missions Conference continued, p 2)
Missions Conference (continued)
Mylinda and
Gary Baits
are pastors
and professors but
mainly friends
and connectors who walk alongside their sisters
and brothers in Christ. They enjoy
connecting students with leadership
training, connecting scriptures to
everyday life, and connecting people’s
gifts with life changing ministries.
Conference Breakout Groups:
Jonathan Hilsher
Barbara Hartnett
Depository, Campbell Soup UPC’s or
lids (see www.campbellsoup.com for
specific details)
Max Klinkenborg Recognized
At Area II Annual Meeting
Max Klinkenborg, Regional
Associate Minister Serving Area II
was recognized during the Annual
Meeting at First Baptist Church,
Greenfield, IL on March 9, 2008. Max
has served Area II in this position for
more than twenty-one years. He has
announced his retirement effective
July 1, 2008. Dr. John Grisham, who
assisted with the recognition will be
following Max in this position, July 1.
James Daugherty, Area II
Moderator, presented Max with a certificate of appreciation. Lois
Pembrook, from FBC Greenfield is
pictured below presenting Max a hoe,
straw hat, and garden seed for his
retirement.
Rev. Gerald Phillips, Rev. Dan
Edwards, and GRR Executive
Minister, Dr. Dwight Stinnett
expressed appreciation to Max for
friendship and ministry. Rev. Muriel
Johnson from the GRR staff presented Max with gifts and cards from Area
V.
Following the presentations, Max
expressed his thanks and talked of
future plans, announcing his intention
to move to Kansas City, MO following
his retirement - “but still in the GRR.”
Max will be missed. We all pray for
God’s blessings on him and his wife
Kay in their retirement.
Disaster Relief: American
Baptist Men Respond To
Ice Storm
An ice storm did extensive damage
in the Jacksonville, IL area in
December. On December 13, 2007
Ron Greenfield, Mac Shotwell and
Paul Stivers met with Rev.Jim Harper,
pastor of First Baptist Church,
Jacksonville to survey the damage
and to do site inspection at the locations assigned by the city. They were
joined by Bob Nicolette. Later that day
the small disaster relief trailer was
parked at First Baptist Church, thanks
to Charlie Schumaker and George
Meyer.
The next day, twenty-one volunteers
worked at 15 sites, completing 14 of
them. Because of extreme winter
weather, the work was delayed until
Dec. 20 and 21. Paul Stivers, team
leader, led a team to complete eight
additional sites: Breaking for
Christmas, work resumed In January
with three teams completing work at
seven additional sites. Together thirty
volunteers completed work at 29 sites
in 6 days. On January 3 and 4, Ron
Greenfield returned to Jacksonville to
complete work at one site and three
new ones. Work on this, our 7th disaster response, was completed on
January 5 at 3 sites.
The following from Carol Rowe
summed up what we heard from so
many: "Thank you so much for clearing my yard of limbs after the ice
storm… I do so appreciate and recognize the hard work and the Christian
action. Your love for our Savior is evident in your good works. Again thank
you and may God's blessings be with
you always."
Mac Shotwell - GRR AB Men’s
Disaster Relief Coordinator
FBC Kansas City Youth
on Mission:
In the summer of 2007 the First
Baptist, Kansas City, MO church bus
hauling a trailer full of supplies and
gifts - followed by a mini-van - headed
south on a mission trip. We spent
days of work and fun at Murrow
Indian Children’s Home and then
forced ourselves to part in keeping
with our plan to also minister to
Bacone College.
At Bacone, our youth first dug in and
dug up an overgrown sand volleyball
court in time for incoming students to
enjoy. The next morning our youth
painted parking lines in the hot
Oklahoma sun and later cooked our
lunch. After lunch they reported to
Melissa Foutch for some “inside work”
-- folding thousands of newsletters to
be sent to Bacone alumni and supporters. Emily Dold, one of our
newest youth - though more than glad
to help fold, seal, address and ready
them for posting - was impressed at
how much work this was, especially
since we had not worked with its production or printing.
During the next months, God
worked in and through Emily and our
youth and leaders. This led to our
youths’ fund raising skit about our
faith and following Christ. Thanks to a
gifted and giving congregation we
raised over $500 that now has been
sent to Murrow in hopes they can purchase a folding machine with perhaps
a service contract. May God’s work
as seen in Emily, be done in each of
us, so we may see and feel needs,
listen to God speaking to our hearts,
and follow through with the love we’ve
first been given, for we know the
needs of our world are great.
Pastor Doug Valentine
April Conferences
APRIL 16-19, 2008
St. LOUIS, MISSOURI
Fanning the Flame
Conference
April 22-25, 2008
Green Lake, WI
GRR Clergy Spouses
April 18-19, 2008
Mainstream Contact
Information
and ministry) to:
Linda Ricks
232 Devron Circle
The Mainstream
First Baptist Church Paris, IL
Welcomes: Allen Williams and
Crystal Williams
Central Baptist Church, Springfield
IL Welcomes: Misty Carver, Cheryl
Teele, Georgie Borchardt, and
Lindsay Foster
March 2008 No. 2
GRR Calendar
March 28-29 - Oasis: Area 1 ABW
Retreat at Stronghold
March 29 - AB Men's Disaster Relief
Leadership Team
E-Mail Changes For Staff
The e-mail addresses of several
region staff members have changed
due to Insight being changed to
Comcast. The following are the correct e-mail addresses:
Linda Ricks-Mainstream Editor
[email protected]
(The letter after the 4 is an L not a 1)
April 5 - AB Men's Disaster Relief
Spring Training Work Day
Grace Baptist Church,
Kansas City, MO and
Richard Ricks - Regional Associate
Minister Serving Area III
[email protected]
Women in Ministry
Cheryl Henson - Regional Associate
Minister Serving Area I
[email protected]
FBC Morrison, IL
Mike Henson - Camps Property
Manager
[email protected]
Telephone: (217) 726-7366 Fax: (217) 726-7566
Conference
Great Rivers Region
Camping 2008
Camping
season is
coming soon!
It is time for
you to think
about children and
youth going
to camp at
one of our two camps. Lake
Springfield Baptist Camp and
Conference Center is located near
Springfield, IL . Blackhawk Baptist
Camp is located near White Pines
State Park in northern Illinois.
Our purpose in GRR camping is "to
bring children, youth and adults a
step closer to Christ." Join us this
summer at Blackhawk or Springfield
Camp as we commune with God in
nature, make Christian friends, and
grow spiritually.
April 13 is American Baptist
Camps and Conference Sunday.
We invite you to celebrate this in your
churches. Suggestions for promoting
camp can be found on the region
website. www.abc-grr.org
CAMPING WISH LIST – 2008
1. More Campers
2. Directors and Counselors
3. Offerings in support of GRR
camps
4. Prayer for all who participate and
all who provide leadership for GRR
camping
Great Rivers Region Missions
Conference
Springfield, IL
April 25-26, 2008.
Friday:
Dwight Stinnett.
5:00 – 6:00 Dinner
Saturday:
8:30 a.m. Worship
Speaker, Gary Baits
Coast Volunteers
Duane and Marcia Binkley serve
Burmese ethnic
Karen and Chin
refugees both in
the United
States and
Thailand. The
Binkleys work
with the tens of
thousands of
refugees coming to the U.S.
while continuing to work with those still
remaining in refugee camps along the
Thai-Myanmar (Burma) border.
Mylinda and
Gary Baits
are pastors
and professors but mainly friends and
connectors
who walk alongside their sisters and
brothers in Christ. They enjoy
connecting students with leadership
training, connecting scriptures to
everyday life, and connecting people’s
gifts with life changing ministries.
Conference Breakout
Groups:
Jonathan Hilsher
Barbara Hartnett
Depository, Campbell Soup UPC’s or
lids (see www.campbellsoup.com for
specific details)
Registration Information:
Registration forms can be downloaded from the regional website or
registration can be done online.
Lodging information is also available.
For further questions contact the
Region Office.
Leadership Changes
New Areas of Service
Barry Norris, Pastor, Park Place
Baptist Church, Montgomery, IL
Chrissy Bartholomew, Youth Minister,
First Baptist Church, Oak Park, IL
Sharon Farral, Associate Pastor to
Seniors, First Baptist Church, East
Moline, IL
Bon Rutherford, Youth Minister, Judon
Memorial Baptist Church, Joliet, IL
John Withum, Youth Minister, First
Baptist Church, Aurora, IL
Departing
Vada Southern-Allen, Interim
Minister, First Baptist Church
Kankakee, IL
Ron Harbold, Interim Minister, First
Baptist Church, Plano, IL
Richard Cunningham, Pastor, First
Baptist Church, Morris, IL
Alternative Ministerial
Education
The Regional Ordination Program
has a new name as of January 18,
2008 by action of the GRR Board of
Ministries.
The name of the Regional
Ordination Program (ROP) has been
changed to Alternative Ministerial
Education (AME). Nothing is being
changed about the content or procedures of the ROP. The reason for the
suggested change is to more accurately reflect the purpose of the program. For more information contact
Carl Cottingham, Dean of AME.
Spring Training Work Days
for Disaster Relief Volunteers
On Saturday, April 5 there will be
two events, one at Blackhawk
Baptist Camp and another at Grace
Baptist Church in Kansas City, MO.
On Saturday, April 19 a third training and work day will be held at Lake
Springfield Baptist Camp.
All three of these events will include
“hands-on” training with the use of
disaster relief equipment: chain saws,
water pumps and other tools. In addition, the day will include latest information on readiness for disaster
response, team identification, responsibilities, group building and how we
are organized to respond.
At our two camps we will help do
spring clean up while we are training.
In Kansas City we will cut down dead
trees on the church grounds. Dress
for physical work, wear steel toe
shoes if you have them and bring
work gloves. Complimentary lunch will
be served at all three events. The
day begins at 9:00 a.m. in Kansas
City and at 9:30 a.m.at Blackhawk
and Springfield.
Reservations need to be made with
Jack Smith (for Blackhawk Camp) at
[email protected] or by calling 815284-6156; with Paul Webb (for
Kansas City) at [email protected] or at 816-505--0619 ; with Mac
Shotwell (for Springfield) at
[email protected] or 217-241-4048.
American Baptist Men
American Baptist Men have a heart of
mission. AB Men have served in training disaster relief teams (see calendar on front page) as well as sending
individuals to help persons recover.
These mission trips have found their
way to places as close as Jacksonville
IL and as far away as Managua,
Nicaragua.
After a terrible 1972 earthquake in
Managua, Nicaragua, ABM volunteers
helped to rebuild a Baptist Church
Camp. There were 29 men who
worked two weeks at Camp Managua.
Work that was done consisted of electrical, carpentry, cement work, cooking,
and installation of a ventilation system
in the kitchen.
The picture
(taken by Curt
Mundell) at left
is of an art
piece depicting
a dove flying
into a cross.
This piece of
art is at the
First Baptist Church of Managua.
When Curt returned home he made a
replica of this art and hung it in the the
chapel of Lake Benton Baptist Camp
as a memorial of the work that the
American Baptist Men had done in the
country of Nicaragua.
If you would like to receive a list of the
names of those men - several whom the
Lord has already called home - who worked
on this post-earthquake relief mission trip,
please contact me, Charles Schumaker at:
925 N Patton Ave
Springfield IL 62702
Actionable. That’s what faith in Christ is.
Join us as we continue today in mission
near and far!
First Baptist Church, Belvidere, IL
Welcomes: Niki Sturm, Ace Lewis,
Hui Chong Dofflemyer, Robert
Dofflemyer III, Jacob Hughes, Lee
Bachelder, Jillian Leutscher, Jake
Colson, Rebecca Colson, Rolando
Munoz, Angela Munoz, Terry
Sanford, Susan Sanford, Russ
Garner, Gena Garner, Mara Baer and
David Rogers
First Baptist Church, Cordova, IL
Welcomes: Don Thompson, Marvin
Bowles, Robert Hetz, and John
Bosten
The Mainstream
April 2008 No. 1
GRR Calendar
Women in Ministry
FBC Morrison, IL
Mainstream Contact
Information
ministry (300 word maximum; pictures in jpeg format). Please also
send the names of new members
(the fruit of mission and ministry) to:
Linda Ricks
232 Devron Circle
(Please note the change in the email address.)
Telephone: (217) 726-7366 Fax: (217) 726-7566
Conference
Camp
Ethics Course
May 24 -Open House
Great Rivers Region
Missions Conference
Springfield, IL - April 25-26, 2008.
Friday:
Dwight Stinnett.
5:00 – 6:00 Dinner
Saturday:
8:30 a.m. Worship
Speaker, Gary Baits
Coast Volunteers
Breakout Groups
Lunch
There will be 2 Conference offerings: Murrow Indian Children's
Home and scholarship funds for persons participating in Gulf Coast projects.
The Used Book Depository will
have a truck at the conference to
receive Bibles, Hymnals,
Commentaries , and Bible study
resource books-Friday evening only.
The American Baptist Men will
have their disaster relief trailer at
the conference.
Your registration by April 22,
2008 will help with plans for meals
and hospitality and for breakout
groups.
What makes a church healthy? One
of the most important characteristics is
the church's outreach beyond their own
congregants to their neighborhood,
community, state and uttermost parts of
the world. In Area 1, of GRR, Oak Park
Avenue Baptist Church in Berwyn, IL,
is just such a church.
Last summer, under the leadership of
their pastor, Bill Steger, the church
hosted a block party for their neighborhood. They requested permission from
the city of Berwyn to close off the entire
block around the church and invited
everyone from the neighborhood to a
good old-fashioned barbeque and music
festival. The church purchased enough
food for over 600 people, and even
though it rained all day, around 250
came to the event. It was such a great
outreach event that the church is planning another one this summer.
Oak Park Avenue reaches out in
many other ways also. They provide
their facilities to a Spanish-speaking
congregation, but go even beyond that,
to have occasional bi-lingual worship
services together. The church is supportive of numerous missions in the
community as well as a variety of ABC
missions including Blackhawk Camp
and others.
Their passion for missions and outreach is also evidenced in the fact
that many of the church have been on
mission trips themselves to Central
America.
All of their love and compassion for
others to know Jesus Christ is evident
in their inspiring worship services and
relationships with one another.
Why is Oak Park Avenue one of the
healthiest churches in Area 1? The
answer is they feel compelled by
Christ's love to carry out the Great
Commission. They truly care about
their neighbors and go outside the
church walls to take the gospel of
Jesus Christ to them.
Submitted by: Rev. Cheryl Henson
Regional Associate Minister
Serving Area I
APRIL 16-19, 2008, St. Louis
Fanning the Flame
Pastor's Renewal Conference
April 22-25, 2008
Green Lake, WI
Greenfield, IL
Builds For the Future
In March, the Area II Annual
Meeting was hosted by First Baptist
Church, Greenfield, IL in their new
church building. One of the work-
shops, led by building committee chairman, Larry Pembrook, featured the
process in which they were able to
build a new church building.
The decision to build was not an
easy one as it meant leaving the old
church with its history and memories.
The need for more space caused the
church to plan to build. Three years of
planning and pledge drives preceeded
the building process. The land was
donated and about $240,000 in
pledges was added to the $400,000
that had been saved to present to the
bank for a loan.
Because of using skilled labor
church members as well as help from
others, the church was built for slightly
over half of the appraised cost.
The Greenfield Church found out that
there were groups of Baptist that would
come and help build churches. A
church from Alabama contacted
Greenfield and said that they had two
hundred people who wanted to build a
church and they did not have a place
arranged as they normally would. This
group from Alabama wanted to come
in June 2005 and it was already
February. With God’s help, everything
fell into place. The site was prepared
and the plans finalized.
The group from the Alabama church
brought builders, food, and cooks to
stay for a week at no cost to
Greenfield. The Alabama church
requested that a dedication service be
held on Thursday night of that week.
At that service, the Alabama church
presented a love offering to
Greenfield that they had been collecting, amounting to $4700.00.
Some other smaller groups from
Illinois also came and did work on the
church building.
FBC Greenfield members did most
of the finishing work through the winter and the first service was held on
Easter of 2006. The sunrise service
was held in the old church and the
regular morning worship service was
held in the new church.
The new First Baptist Church
Greenfield cost approximately $1.1
million and is 20,400 square feet.
The sanctuary seats around 290.
Rev. George Rosales, pastor, said,
“A million is nothing compared to one
person knowing the Lord.”
The Lord’s hand was in this building
project as key people who were needed became available in the time of
need.
Volunteers work crews from
Greenfield have been to the church in
Alabama and to Berea, KY. A group
is planning a work trip to Redbud, IL
this year.
Volunteers in mission continue as
the Lord’s mission is being fulfilled.
GRR Clergy Spouses
April 18-19, 2008
Minonk First Baptist Church
Celebrates 150 Years
First Baptist Church of Minonk, IL
celebrated the 150th anniversary of the
church on Sunday, April 20, 2008.
Following a luncheon at the church,
an
afternoon
service
was
held.
First Baptist Church, Aurora, IL
Welcomes: Dylan Andersen, Garrett
Jackson, Jancy Lundberg, Isabella
Sickler, D. J. Varney, Mariah Myrtil,
Adam VanVolkenburg, and Jane
Saenz
Richard Ricks, Regional Associate
MInister serving Area III, is pictured
presenting a certificate to Pastor
Richard Olson (center) and Jay Hurd,
church member (left). Ricks also
preached the message. The service
included a variety of special music.
.
A reception was held following the
service.
Welcomes: Joshua Baird
April 2008 No. 2
GRR Calendar
First Baptist Church, Paris, Il
Welcomes: Devin Mason, Deanna
Mason, Austin Mason, and Sydney
Mason
April 28 - May 17 - Gulf Coast
Baptist Blitz Build with
Habitat For Humanity
First Baptist Church, Sparland, IL
Welcomes: Miranda Shofner
May 2-3 - Face To Face
Indianapolis, IN
Central Baptist Church, Quincy, IL
Welcomes: Brianny Thomas,
Joanne Sigler, Susan Wilson, Russell
Wilson, and Dorothy Mahla
Camp
Mainstream Contact
Information
Ethics Course
Note Change of Date
Alf Anderson Celebrates 65th
Anniversary of his Ordination
Monday, April 28, 2008, Rev. Alf
Elliot Anderson will celebrate the 65th
anniversary of his Ordination as a
Minister in ABC-USA. Alf was Ordained
at Marquette Manor Baptist Church in
Chicago, IL.
Following his studies at Northern
Baptist Theological Seminary,
Anderson served in the GRR at
Chatsworth, Bushnell, Ashland, East
Alton, and Pleasant Plains, IL. He also
served on the staff of American Baptist
Assembly at Green Lake, WS for one
season. We congratulate Rev.
Anderson for his service.
The Mainstream
ministry (300 word maximum; pictures in jpeg format). Please also
send the names of new members
(the fruit of mission and ministry) to:
Linda Ricks
232 Devron Circle
May 24 -Open House
June 16-21 - Great American Bike
Ride Across Illinois
July 5-11 - National ABY Gathering
Estes Park, CO
August 9 - Area I Senior Adult Day
(Please note the change in the email address.)
Telephone: (217) 726-7366 Fax: (217) 726-7566
August 21 - Area II and III Senior
Adult Day
October 3-5 - Great Rivers Region
Annual Meeting
Moline, IL
Mission Opportunities
Volunteers Needed
2008 Baptist Blitz Build
Twenty more volunteers are needed for the first week, April 28 – May
3. During that week, workers will be
framing exterior and interior walls,
raising roof trusses and roof decking,
and installing windows, doors and
vinyl siding.
During the week, May 12 – 17, we
need more than 50 volunteers. That
week the work will focus on completing vinyl siding, taping and floating
sheetrock, painting, and installing
trim work, cabinets and landscaping.
National Ministries is partnering
with Habitat for Humanity of Greater
Baton Rouge and the Jimmy and
Rosalynn Carter Work Project 2008
on behalf of American Baptist
Churches USA to build 11 homes for
11 deserving families in this Blitz
Build. Some of these families were
displaced by hurricanes Katrina and
Rita and have permanently relocated
to Baton Rouge
We give thanks to God for the 210
generous American Baptists who
have already promised their time and
talent to this worthy cause. We pray
more will be called to this ministry,
helping these deserving families find
the gift of God’s love in the sound of
hammers and saws and the sight of
God’s people (continued on p. 2)
Mission Opportunities Continued...
working together to provide shelter for
those lost in a storm.
Aidsand Wright-Riggins, III
Executive Director - National Ministries
A Community In El-Salvador
The Vision: The revitalization of the hillside community of Cuscatlán by building
Peace Park around Bridge of Salvation
Baptist Church.
This project supplies work for the people, a park for the whole community,
restores the land of the church, builds a
retreat center and parsonage allowing
the Bridge of Salvation Baptist Church
to become a community of faith that
serves both the surrounding community
and the churches in El Salvador.
In August of 2001, International
Ministries began sending teams in partnership with the Baptist Federation of El
Salvador (FEBES) to assist in the
rebuilding efforts after an earthquake
and a hurricane. In 2002, International
Ministries was able to buy six lots of
land in order to build this park for children in the community and a retreat
center for the churches of the federation. A 700 student public school and
mission field is right across the street
from this church. Building Peace Park
will help to remind all of us of the peace
God offers across the bridge of Jesus
Christ.
This vision is several years in the
making and needs your physical and
financial help to complete it. Would
you consider joining a team workingin
El Salvador from June 28 through
July 6, 2008 which includes eight
time trip veterans Dale Phillips and
John Oncken ? Please contact
Pastor Brian Hodge at First Baptist
Church in Waverly at 217-435-7651
or send an e-mail to [email protected] for more information about
how you can support this project by
giving or going to work on a trip this
summer or in the future.
Easter Blessings
Easter brought many blessings to
First Baptist Church, Sparland, IL .
Our usual Sunday mornings - down
to around 30 about a year ago - have
picked up to nearly 60. On Easter
morning 135 members and guests
worshipped together in our newly
sided, roofed, and freshly painted
sanctuary. Also, a baptism was also
held in our new baptistry. Our cup
runneth over!
March 30 brought us a church full
as we held our annual Race for
Christ pinewood derby. After a hot
dog lunch for all we raced nearly 30
kids' hand made race cars, and nearly 40 big kids (40 and over in age)
hand made cars, buses and trucks.
We are looking forward to April 27
as Pastor Anderson has challenged
the Board of Ministries to a "Pie
Contest". If the congregation can fill
110 seats for church service, the
Board of Ministries gets to "Pie the
Pastor", but if they fall short, Pastor
gets to "Pie the Board." Afterwards,
we will all celebrate the "Pie-ing" with
a Pie Social for everyone.
Submitted by Connie Anderson
Summer Lunches Were a
Success!
Lunches were served to 258 children
in the North Greene area last summer
from June 11 through August 17.
Tammy Winters, a member of the
Helping Hands organization, directed
the project. Mrs. Winters said that 60
lunches were fixed daily (Monday thru
Friday) at the junior high cafeteria in
Roodhouse.
Churches who prepared lunches for a
week: White Hall First Baptist, White
Hall Catholic Church, White Hall
Christian Church, White Hall Methodist
Church, Roodhouse Baptist Church,
Gentle Shepherd Church, White Hall
Presbyterian Church, Harvest Media,
and the Roodhouse Methodist Church.
These lunches were taken to White
Hall, Roodhouse, and Hillview.
Churches, Bible
school groups,
individuals, organizations, Kroger's,
Meehan's, and
Dollar General all
gave donations.
Mrs. Winters said "What I like best
about this project is that it is "people helping people" in our own
towns!"
There were no grants involved in
this, just donations! We are talking
about 60 lunches daily for 54 days.
3,240 lunches donated and prepared
for our children in the community!
Thanks to all who donated time and
money to this worthwhile project!
National American Baptist
Women in Ministry
Conference:
Daughters of the Flame
Pastor Heather Henson (at right) of
Wilton Center Federated Church is
pictured here with her area minister,
Cheryl Henson. Heather was part of
the leadership team who planned and
hosted the national conference for
women in pastoral, mission, chaplaincy, and staff ministries.
Music led by Hornrette Washington
Thomas in addition to that provided
by several soloists and vocal groups
was awesome! Inspiring speakers
included Kate Harvey, Yvonne
Thorne, Elisa Vazquez, Claudia
Barbosa, and Rothang Chhangte.
James Wolfe, Pastor of Pontiac IL
First Baptist Church accepted the
invitation to conduct a book signing of
his recent publication: AB Women in
Pastoral Ministry (Cloverdale, 2007).
A look at the participants revealed
the fruit of many generations of work
of our churches and the missionaries
they have sent - there were women in
ministry who have come from China
(Hong Kong), Burma, Laos, Haiti,
Brazil, India, the Philippines, the U.S.
and many other places. God has
called and these women have obediently followed. Find a short slide show
at www.abc-grr.org/womeninmin08/
daughtersoftheflame.htm
Great American Baptist Bike
The Great American Bike Ride
Across Illinois is for anyone who enjoys
biking and wants to support New
Church Development. Participants will
bike about 250 miles across north-central Illinois.
University Baptist Church,
Champaign, IL Welcomes:
Heloisa Alves, Erik Potter, Peter
Ferrans, Vicki Vieira, and
Danielle Beard
First Baptist Church, Olney, IL
Welcomes: Madalyn Parr, Savannah
Parr, Elizabeth Harmon, Terrilynne
Majors, Deborah Benstine, and
Jamie Lofton
The ride begins June 16 at First Baptist
Church, Marseilles, IL and ends at
Moline, IL on June 21.
The purpose of this ride is to raise
money and awareness to aid in planting new churches. Each rider should
seek out people to pledge money
on a per mile, per day, or whole ride
basis. One hundred percent of the
money raised will go into planting new
churches.
For more information or to donate to
this mission see the regional website
www.abc-grr.org or contact Max
Klinkenborg at the regional office (217
- 726 - 7366 or [email protected].)
The Mainstream
May 2008 No.1 Email: [email protected]
GRR Calendar
Baptist Blitz Build Underway
May
Volunteers for the Baptist Blitz Build
began their work last week. Those
10
Clean Up Day at Lake
First Baptist Church, Plano, IL
Welcomes: Paul Mason
17
Dedication of Baptist Blitz
Blitz Build Homes
First Baptist Church, White Hall ,
IL Welcomes: Randi Stone, Arika
Hull, Jocelyn Myers, Dylan Whicker,
Jordan Whicker, Morgan Winters,
Wesley Teno, Eriq Gaige, Logan
Davidson, and Michael Seymoure.
24
Open House - Lake
31
Boundaries Professional
Ethics Course: East Peoria
31
Clean Up Day at Blackhawk
Baptist Camp
June
6-8
Mainstream Contact
Information
AB Womens Ministries
Conference - Lake
Williamson Retreat Center
Carlinville, IL
16 - 21 - Great American Baptist
Bike Ride Across IL
July
Linda Ricks
232 Devron Circle
July 5-11: National ABY Gathering
in Estes Park, Colorado
August
Telephone: (217) 726-7366 Fax: (217) 726-7566
9 - Area I Seniors’ Day
21 - Area II / III Seniors’ Day
from Area IV working the first week
are pictured above. More than 200
volunteers have signed on to help
build 11 houses for 11 deserving
families on the Gulf Coast in the 2008
Blitz Build in Baton Rouge, La., April
28 – May 17. 2008. The Blitz Build
began with a blessing of houses on
Monday, April 28. The GRR have 73
volunteers including
those from Area IV.
Two volunteers
from the Costa Rica
Baptist Federation
and Gary Baits,
a missionary with
American Baptist
International Ministries on U.S. and
Puerto Rico assignment, were sponsored
by the GRR.
A dedication of the
homes on Saturday,
May 17 will conclude
the project.
There are several churches in
Area 4 that are making significant
differences in their communities but
none more so than Mighty Rivers
Regional Worship Center (Cairo
Baptist Church). To say that this
congregation reaches out and
makes a difference in their community would be an understatement.
· Red Cross Blood Drive held six (6)
times a year in the Activity Center.
· Flu shots administered each
October in the Activity Center.
Rev. Larry Potts has been the
pastor since May of 1960. His leadership has established within the
congregation a mindset that ministry
begins in the local community and
works its way outward. Many of
these outreach ministries involve
many volunteers and countless
hours (especially Upward basketball).
If you are looking for a worship experience that will lift your
spirit then Mighty Rivers Regional
Worship Center is the place.
Submitted by: Rev. Randy McNeely
Associate Minister to Area 4
· “Heart Smart for Women” conduct
ed each Wednesday January April in JC’s Hall.
· Sheriff’s appreciation dinner held
annually in the JC hall.
· Girl Scout cookie Distribution Day
annually in JC hall.
· Upward Basketball, a sports min
istry outreach from November to
March, over the past nine years.
Serving 192 children and families
from 41 churches and the nonchurched in the Activities Center.
GRR Missions Conference 2008
The Gulf Coast Volunteers were commissioned at the Saturday Morning
Session.
Brian Romanowski Ordained
The First Baptist Church of
Mahomet, IL held a service of
ordination for their pastor, Brian
Romanowski on Sunday April 27,
2008.
Two recently settled
Burmese brothers
sang
Speakers at the Conference included (l to r): Duane
Binkley, ABC Missionary helping with refugee resettlement; Max Klinkenborg, GRR Associate Minister; and
Gary Baits, ABC missionary working with Costa Rican
Baptist Churches.
· Activities Center is open daily for
people to come in and walk.
· Community announcements on the
L.E.D. sign in front of the church.
· Annual trip to Wisconsin to the
Kalahari resort for adults and
youth.
· Trips to Branson on “Ole Blue”.
· Live broadcast of the morning wor
ship service since May of 1963.
· Sunday lunch served in the church
fellowship hall.
From left to right: Richard Ricks, GRR
Associate Minister; Judy McDowell of
Mahomet FBC; Brian Romanowski;
and John Welch, Moderator of FBC
Mahomet.
Rev. Dr. Malcom Shotwell preached
the message. Rev. Dr. Richard
Ricks led in the the vows of ordination and the presentation of the certificate. A reception was held following the service.
The Cherry Hills Baptist Church Men’s Choir provided special music during the
Saturday Morning Session. Before and during the Conference, there were many
missionaries (volunteer and staff) engaged in conversation at their displays.
Great American Baptist Bike
The Great American Bike Ride
Across Illinois is for anyone who enjoys
biking and wants to support New
Church Development. Participants will
bike about 250 miles across north-central Illinois.
First Baptist Church Centrailia, IL
Welcomes: Chris Atchison, Jeff
Schmitz, Heather Schmitz, Kelsey
Schmitz, Natalie Bozett, Brittany
Allison, Kacey Krupp, Mikayla
Krupp, Montie Joe Graham, Bob
Cozadd, Paula Cozadd, Sandra
Nealy, Tina Sligar, Jessica Elliston,
Ryne Smith, Kenneth Teitsort,
Virginia Teitsort, Kellee Lamb, Neil
Lawrence, and Dara Lawrence.
First Baptist Church, Galesburg, IL
Welcomes: Nora Morrow
The ride begins June 16 at First Baptist
Church, Marseilles, IL and ends at
Moline, IL on June 21.
The purpose of this ride is to raise
money and awareness to aid in planting new churches. Each rider should
seek out people to pledge money
on a per mile, per day, or whole ride
basis. One hundred percent of the
money raised will go into planting new
churches.
For more information or to donate to
this mission see the regional website
www.abc-grr.org or contact Max
Klinkenborg at the regional office (217
- 726 - 7366 or [email protected].)
The Mainstream
First Baptist Church, Newton, IL
Welcomes:
Victor and Charity Vanderhoof
First Baptist Church, Urbana, IL
Welcomes: Sally Elam
May 2008 No.2
GRR Calendar
May
24
Open House - Lake
31
Boundaries Professional
Ethics Course: East Peoria
31
Clean Up Day at Blackhawk
Baptist Camp
6 - 8
AB Womens Ministries
Conference - Lake
Williamson Retreat Center
Carlinville, IL
July
ministry. Please also send the
names of new members (the fruit of
this mission and ministry) to:
July 5-11: National ABY Gathering
in Estes Park, Colorado
August
Linda Ricks
232 Devron Circle
8, 9 - Baptist History & Polity class
led by Dr. Adrian Lamkin.
Class hosted by East Peoria
9 - Area I Seniors’ Day
Telephone: (217) 726-7366 Fax: (217) 726-7566
GRR Helps Rebuild
Baton Rouge
Approximately 80 volunteers from
the Great Rivers Region have recently
returned from Baton Rouge, LA where
they helped rebuild homes for those
left homeless by Hurricane Katrina.
June
Bike Ride Across IL
Mainstream Contact
Information
21 - Area II / III Seniors’ Day
American Baptist once again joined
with Habitat for Humanity to build
homes in a three week Baptist Blitz
Build. Dr. Dwight Stinnett, Regional
Executive Minister, was part of the
GRR group who were there for the
final week. He wrote about the experience in Current Thoughts. The following is an excerpt from his article.
He explains why the construction
was in Baton Rouge instead of New
Orleans.
“The infrastructure of New Orleans
is still so devastated that large numbers of volunteers needlessly strain
the capacity of that city and local notfor-profit services. Baton Rouge was
a major refuge for persons fleeing
the destruction in New Orleans. New
Orleans is still well below (continued)
its pre-Katrina population, while
Baton Rouge has grown rapidly
because of the influx. The 20+ homes
we have built in the last two years
have been for families displaced from
New Orleans to Baton Rouge.
This year we were building a whole
new neighborhood from the ground
up.
About 20 acres on the South side
of Baton Rouge had been given to
Habitat. Habitat had already built
several homes on the property. It was
really satisfying to be able to see so
clearly the impact of our efforts. What
was once an open field is now the
setting for about 15 new homes. It
is a very nice, modest neighborhood
with a good mix of population, lots of
children, and nearby playground and
community center.
that volunteers from the Great Rivers
Region will lead the way once again.
These kinds of projects are one of the
ways we prove that we are committed
to the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I hope you will visit our website
(www.abc-grr.org) to see some pictures, read other reports, and find
links to other sites.
Begin thinking about next year!
Can you go? Can you encourage
someone else to go? Can you help
with finances? Are you willing to pray?
Can you get involved with you local
Habitat chapter—or some comparable
organization helping low income families build a life?
Dwight Stinnett
Once again, the Great Rivers
Region sent the largest number
of volunteers—over eighty. Dr.
Aidsand Wright-Riggins (Executive
Director for the Board of National
Ministries) recognized us for our volunteer efforts during the celebration
service on the last day of work.
This seems to be turning into one
of those annual mission projects for
Great Rivers (in some ways analogous to our international partnership
with Costa Rica). I don’t yet know
what will happen next year, but I am
confident that something will and
The First Baptist Church of East
Moline, IL, held a service of ordination
for their Associate Pastor for Senior
Care, Sharon Farral on Sunday, April
27, 2008
Dr. Ruth Peterson preached the
message. Rev. Ron Miles led the
Faith Baptist Church
Preparing To Move
First Baptist Church, Batavia, IL
has been located in downtown Batavia
for 172 years. The present building
was built 119 years ago.
The congregation is saying “goodbye” to the building with the final worship services on Sunday, June 1, 2008
at 10:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
All this is happening because the
church is building a beautiful new
building at the corner of Main Street
and South Mill Creek Drive. The
congregation is grateful to the Bethany
Lutheran Church which has made their
gymnasium available to us for worship
services until construction of the new
building is completed sometime this
summer.
First Baptist Church will have a new
name: Faith Baptist At Mill Creek.
vows of ordination and Rev. Clark
Luce led in the charge to the
congregation. Moderator Deane
Knight presented the Certificate of
Ordination. Pastor Sharon achieved
this milestone through the GRR’s
Alternative Ministerial Education
Program.
For many, leaving the old building
will be an emotional parting, as many
grew up in this church. The final service on June 1 will be an opportunity
to share the experiences of church
life together.
Participants in this final service will
include Batavia Mayor Jeffery
Schielke and Rev. Dr. Cheryl
Henson, Associate Regional
Minister serving Area I. A special
moment in this last service will be
the Communion Service, which will
include the passing of the mantle of
pastoral leadership from former pastor, Rev. Richard Watts, to interim
pastor, Rev. Ronald Miles, to our
new pastor, Rev. John Pattison,
who begins his ministry in June.
The evening service features a
concert by the internationally known
pianist Huntley Brown.
Church Spearheads
Dream House Project
Members of First Baptist Church
of Jerseyville, IL are the core group
behind building a handicapped accessible house for the Skinner family,
longtime members of the church. The
sons of the family, Duey and Colton are
afflicted with a rare neuro-muscular disorder, Louis Barr Syndrone.
A few years ago, it became evident
that both boys would be confined to
wheelchairs. A Sunday School class
began helping the family toward buying a van with a lift. The entire church
soon became involved and a van was
purchased.
The family’s current home is not
handicapped accessible. Church members, Tim & Kaye Buis, Kim Hawkes,
Kellie Hill and Debbie Wedding began
the task of trying to provide a new
home for the family. They became the
nucleus of the “Friends of the Skinner
Family Committee” which has expanded to the whole community.
A groundbreaking ceremony was
held in April. At the ceremony, Rev.
Gerald Phillips, Interim Pastor, said,
“The support that has been shown
towards the Skinner family is just overwhelming and in my opinion, if you look
at how quickly everything has come
together, it has God’s fingerprints all
over it.”
The church family and community
continue to be involved in many fund
raising projects as well as providing
physical labor at the construction site.
Information provided by
Joyce Sagez - Church Secretary
The Mainstream
First Baptist Church, Benton, IL
Welcomes: Phil and Jean Bailie
First Baptist Church, Mattoon,
IL Welcomes: Amy Bennett,
Rebecca Blanke, Miles Brown,
Mayla Johanpeter, Daniel Klapp,
and David Klapp
First Baptist Church, Ottawa, IL
Welcomes: Ashley Dettore, Cassie
Klien, Thyra Beals, Vernon Distin,
and Samantha Daneile
Rolling Prairie Baptist Church,
Rochester, IL Welcomes: Andrea
Estes, Steve Hinds, Allison Huston,
Jerry Rutherford, Terri Springer,
Libby Van Dyke, and Tina Verduin
First Baptist Church, Towanda, IL
Welcomes: Cory Deerwester and
Aubrey Deerwester
June 2008 No.1
GRR Calendar
June
Bike Ride Across IL
this mission and ministry) to:
Linda Ricks
232 Devron Circle
Telephone: (217) 726-7366 Fax: (217) 726-7566
Flooding Overcome
The rain fell all week, day after day,
filling and eventually overflowing the
Kaskaskia River in several places in
northern Coles County.
July
5-11: National ABY Gathering Estes Park, Colorado
August
9 - Area I Senior Adult Day
21 - Area II / III Senior Adult Day
Mainstream Contact
Information
September
5 - 7 - Area I Senior High Retreat
Blackhawk Camp
11 - Sacred Boundaries Course
Creekwood Baptist Church
Rockford, IL
19 - 21 - Area I Junior High Retreat
Blackhawk Camp
October
3 - 5 - GRR Annual Meeting at the
Holiday Inn Convention Center
Moline, IL
We (Pleasant Grove Baptist Church)
had been planning over six months for
our 150th Anniversary celebration to
take place on June 7-8. The tent was
coming, the ice cream was delivered,
supplies were checked, church was
clean and we were ready. There was
to be a community ice cream social
under a tent in the grove on Saturday.
A clown was coming, 4-Given from
Mattoon FBC was to sing, games
were planned and there were plenty of
old pictures to share with the visitors.
If it would only stop raining so we could
be under the tent in the grove.
Saturday brought more rain to the
north, swelling the river higher than
anyone, even our oldest member,
could ever remember. The road to the
new bridge was rapidly disappearing.
Then we had word they were going
to close the bridge…the last open
road north and south through the area.
Those who were working to get the
water and mud out of the church basement were alerted to get out of there.
The tent man was contacted and urged
to return home.
(Continued on page 2)
The ice cream was safe. Festivities
were cancelled. People left for homes.
The river soon covered the bed of the
bridge road with six inches of water.
Tragically, 2 families lost their homes
east of the church to the rising waters.
Saturday was lost but what about
Sunday? There were visitors from
Alabama, Indiana, Missouri and Iowa.
Randy McNeely was coming to share
in our service. Susan Doty was coming
to sing.
After one phone call to Pastor Mike
Snow, we had a place to gather for
worship and then dinner afterwards at
First Baptist of Mattoon. After another
phone call with Kim Henness, we had
a worship service planned and ready
to go. After the final call, our dinner
could be delivered to the new site.
The result was one of the most wonderful worship experiences we have
ever had. The music carried us to the
gates of heaven. Four visiting former
pastors shared of their experiences
with us. The “mother” church renewed
ties to her “daughter” as old friendships were renewed and new ones
formed. Mattoon FBC treated their
guests to the best gift anyone could
give…unconditional love with open
arms to come share their space.
All agreed God was there last
Sunday in a very real, special and
wonderful way. The weather gave us
lemons and with God’s help we made
sweet lemonade to refresh us all.
Thanks be to God.
Rev Stephanie Johanpeter (Pastor Jo)
“Do You Believe in Miracles?”
Sports Illustrated recently broadcast a special on the “Top Ten Sports
Stories of All Time.” Perhaps not
surprisingly, their choice for number
one was the USA Hockey Team’s
victory over the Russian Nationals in
the 1980 Olympics. Who can forget
sportscaster Al Michael’s “Do you
believe in miracles!?! Yes!!!” as the
seconds ticked down?
The members and friends of the
First Baptist Church of Oak Park,
IL witnessed their own miracle May
11. On “Miracle
Sunday” we
received $158,000
in offerings for a
new roof and air
conditioning unit
for the church’s
gymnasium/fellowship hall. This figure represents more
than half of what we normally receive
in offerings for the year. For us, it truly
was a miracle!
We are grateful to John Grisham of
the Great Rivers Region staff who
introduced the concept of “Miracle
Sunday” last fall. “Miracle Sunday” is
designed to raise a significant amount
of cash in one special offering. When
he first met with us we did not know
how we would go about raising the
$150,000 needed to replace our
leaky roof and temperamental a/c.
We thought our best options were to
take out a loan, launch a multi-year
campaign, or tap our already depleted
reserves. John encouraged us, however, to believe in the “Miracle Sunday”
approach as it was tailor made for a
project like ours.
(Continued on facing page)
The straight forward process includes
soliciting a few pre-campaign commitments, announcing the “Miracle
Sunday” date several months in
advance, monthly reminder letters and
one personal phone call. In essence, it
is letting people know of the need and
encouraging them to consider a special
gift.
The new roof and air conditioner will
certainly be a welcome improvement
to our facility. As grateful as we are to
“Miracle Sunday” for what it has meant
for our facility needs, we are even more
grateful for what it has meant to our
spiritual development. It has been a
tangible reminder of the greatness and
graciousness of God.
Do we believe in miracles? Yes!!!
Submitted by Rev. Harry Parker
Church News
American Baptist Women’s Ministries
across the nation are supporting as
their special project: Slavery in the
21st Century: Break the Chains.
Approximately 800,000 to 900,000
victims annually are trafficked across
international borders worldwide including as many as 20,000 in the United
States.
The family of Phila Nestrick, a
member of United Baptist Church,
Kinderhook, IL set up a memorial fund
and it was their wish that the funds be
used to support a worthy mission. The
ABWM at Kinderhook chose to give
$1,000 to the ABWM Break the Chains
special project.
On Saturday, May 17, First Baptist
Benton, IL hosted a pancake breakfast
to raise funds for summer camp for the
Cub Scout Pack that meets weekly in
the fellowship hall.
Professional Leadership
Changes
Incoming
Jason Hladik - FBC Plano, IL
John Withum - Coordinator of
Children & Yth Min, FBC Aurora, IL
Sharon Farral - Assoc Min to Senior
Care, FBC East Moline
Barry Norris - Pastor, Park Place
Baptist Church, Montgomery, IL
Chad Hoesman - Pastor FBC White
Hall, IL
Kim Johnson - Development
University Baptist, Champaign, IL
Christian Ricker - Pastor FBC
Chenoa, IL
Karen Boucher - Associate Pastor
FBC Pontiac, IL
Jim Jackson - Co-Pastor Cottage
Home Baptist, Carbondale, IL
Shawn Parks - Co-Pastor Cottage
Home,. Carbondale, IL
Randy Johnson - Pastor FBC
Carbondale, IL
Paul Sowden Sr. - Pastor FBC
Belleville, IL
Gary Watts - Pastor Temple of
Truth, Kansas City, MO
Brian Crippen - PastorFBC
Rosewood Heights, East Alton, IL
Pat Ciupek - Interim FBC
Carthage, IL
Bob Haley - Interim FBC Urbana, IL
Departing
Chad Hoesman - Interim, Alsey
Baptist Church, Alsey, IL
Barbara Henderson - Pastor, Temple of Truth, Kansas City, MO
Matt Ohley - Pastor Godfrey Baptist
Godfrey, IL
GRR Ministers Conference
Harvest Time:
Self Care For the Worker
Friday October 3, 2008
First Baptist Church, Champaign,
Savoy, IL Welcomes: Nan
Picchietti Audrey Skelton, Shawn
Birt, Julie Gibson and Carol Hahn
First Baptist Church, East Alton,
IL Welcomes: Paula Boone, Ricky
Boone, Carrie Boone, and Brett
Boone
First Baptist Church, Girard, IL
Welcomes: Harold Huston and
Pearl Huston
Worship Leader:
Rev. Cheri Grizzard,
Pastor of Worship
and Community Life,
First Baptist Church,
Peoria, IL
Preachers:
Dr. Leroy Mitchell:
Pastor
of New Hope
Missionary Baptist
Church in DeKalb, Il.
June 2008 No. 2
GRR Calendar
5-11: National ABY Gathering Estes Park, Colorado
August
September
Mainstream Contact
Information
this mission and ministry to:
The Mainstream is a twice-monthly publication of the American Baptist Churches of the
Great Rivers Region, 3940 Pintail Drive, Springfield IL 62711
Telephone: (217) 726-7366 Fax: (217) 726-7566
Serving Area II Changes
July
Linda Ricks
232 Devron Circle
Dr. Terry
Minchow-Proffitt:
Pastor of Delmar
Baptist Church, St.
Louis, MO
First Baptist Church, Carbondale,
IL Welcomes: Craig Holt
Moline, IL
Presenter: Dr.
Yvonne Martinez
Thome - bilingual
(English/Spanish)
faith-based, counseing psychologist practicing in
Chestnut Hill,
Pennsylvania.
The Mainstream
Blackhawk Camp
Rockford, IL
Blackhawk Camp
October
Moline, IL
July 1 will
bring a
change to
the GRR
Staff. After
serving for
over 21
years as
Regional
Associate
Minister serving Area II, Rev. Max
Klinkenborg begins his retirement.
Max and his wife Kay will be moving
soon to their new home near Kansas
City, MO. The GRR is grateful for
Max’s 21 years of dedicated service
and prays God’s blessings for Max and
Kay as they enter this new stage of life.
Dr. John Grisham, a long-time
member of the
region staff
is changing
roles. He
will now be
the Regional
Associate
Minister serving Area
II. As all
of the other
Area ministers have additional region
responsibilities, John will work in the
area of Congregational Stewardship.
The GRR is thankful for John’s ministry
as he continues his work.
Mission News
Mission Volunteers
The Great Rivers Region is very
proud and thankful for two individuals
who have recently served as mission
volunteers.
Elizabeth Landau returned from
the Czeck Republic in November
2007 after serving as a volunteer for
a year. She served as an assistant to
Lauren Bethel. Elizabeth is a graduate of William Jewell College and a
member of FBC Kansas City, Mo
Daniel Baltz served as a
volunteer with Ketley and Vital Pierre
in Bluefields, Nicaragua for eight
months, returning home at the end of
April 2008. Daniel will be a freshman
at Bethel College in Minneapolis in the
fall of 2008. He is a member of FBC
Aurora, IL.
When Ketley Pierre spoke at the
recent International Ministries
Conference in Cincinnati she told of
the impact that Daniel, as an 18 year
old volunteer, had on several ministries related to the Bethel Church in
Bluefields, Nicaragua.
Missions Conference
The April 25-26 2008 GRR Mission
Conference --- hosted by Cherry
Hills Baptist Church in Springfield, IL
--- was a great event as 225 persons
participated.
Mission Conference “breakout”
presentations were current and very
timely. These included the response
to Children in Poverty (featuring Elliott
Ave, Virden FBC and the churches of
north Greene County), resettlement of
Karen Refugees, Women at Risk, the
Baton Rouge Baptist Blitz Build and
the Great Rivers Region Costa Rica
Partnership.
As is often the case with this kind of
event there was anticipation fulfilled
as well as the unexpected surprise.
As was expected there were missionary speakers, breakout groups,
exhibits, good food, and great hospitality. The offering for Murrow
Indian Children’s Home exceeded
$3,000 and the offering for support
of the Baton Rouge Baptist Build
was $2,500. 6,000 pounds of books
were gathered for the Used Book
Depository.
The unexpected included a presentation by the Cherry Hills Men’s
Chorus, participation by Joan Brown
(Murrow Indian Children’s Home),
Ben Sullivan (Anadarko), and
Barbara Hartnett (Peoria Friendship
House), the three 2008-2010 National
Ministries Special Interest Missionaries
for the Great Rivers Region, and the
music presentations by two Karen
men from FBC Moline, IL.
Evaluations for the event were
unanimous in approval of having the
event at the end of April rather than in
January as in past years.
Church Celebrates
“Miracle Sunday” Results
First Baptist Church of Virden,
IL took a hard look at their finances
recently and decided that something
needed to happen - something miraculous - for the church to continue
their ministry in the way they felt that
God wanted. Through the direction
of the American Baptist Area II office,
the church was introduced to the
concept of “Miracle Sunday.”
The idea of Miracle Sunday is
simple. Together the congregation
decides upon an amount needed
to fulfill their goals. Then through a
series of letters to current and past
members and friends—they begin to
focus upon and pray earnestly about
that goal. A Sunday is chosen upon
which to celebrate “Miracle Sunday.”
Invitations are sent to attend a worship service in which the offering
is taken and dedicated and a meal
that is served following the service
after which the total of the offering is
announced. The offering is a onetime gift—no pledges are solicited
and no one person’s gift is singled
out over another. Each person is
directed to give and be blessed as
God has led them.
First Baptist Church of Virden
set their sights upon a lofty goal of
$25,000.00. A portion would include
a sizable amount to be set aside to
complete a remodeling project of the
Sunday School area, to be dedicated
to the memory of Dorothy Oller, a
lifelong member of First Baptist.
Miracle Sunday was celebrated on
June 8 with over 80 people in attendance. When the total amount was
announced, the church celebrated
the accomplishment of the goal; but
more importantly, we celebrated the
the assurance that prayer and faith
can strengthen a body of believers and move others to take a more
active and vital part in the ministry of
a church fellowship that they love.
The final total was a miraculous
$26,694.25!
First Baptist Church sponsors a
mid-week children’s program, feeding and ministering to an average of
30 children each week. The church
sent 15 of those children to summer
church camp, and was able to raise
funds to help take 5 youth to the Area
II Skwim event this past January.
The members of First Baptist
Church, along with their pastor, Rev.
Diane DeSmidt, look forward to
even more ministry opportunities that
Miracle Sunday will provide.
Submitted by Debbie Kershaw
FBC Virden, IL
AMERICAN BAPTIST MEN
and BOYS
2008 LEADERSHIP
CONFERENCE
July 11 & 12
Friday Evening: Time of worship,
fellowship and communion
Saturday:
Reach out to the community through
project works and service to others
Disaster Relief: Update on this ministry. Come and see how you can be
a part of a ministry that truly strives
to help others.
Harvest Time:
Moline, IL
Presenter: Dr.
Yvonne Martinez
Thome - bilingual
(English/Spanish)
Chestnut Hill,
Pennsylvania.
Worship Leader:
Rev. Cheri Grizzard,
Pastor of Worship
and Community Life,
Peoria, IL
Preachers:
Dr. Leroy Mitchell:
Pastor
of New Hope
Missionary Baptist
Church in DeKalb, Il.
Dr.
Terry MinchowProffitt: Pastor of
Delmar Baptist Church,
St. Louis, MO
The Mainstream
Elliott Avenue Baptist Church,
Springfield, IL Welcomes:
Shadow Cook, LaDarius Donald,
LaMarco Donald, Selena Harris,
Cassidy Haynes and Dawana Stone
Park Place Baptist Church,
Montgomery, IL Welcomes:
Howard Alrich, Mary Alrich, Barry
Norris, Blanche Norris, Anthony
Romo and Marie Romo
Central Baptist Church, Quincy,
Il Welcomes: Brianny Thomas,
Joanne Sigler, Susan Wilson,
Russell Wilson, Dorothy Mahla,
Karlie Donald, Steven Donald,
Sandra Donald, Melanie Nall,
Zachery Dees, Vision Ayalew,
Mary Dees, Ryanna Kelley, and
Sarah Wilson
Northern Baptist Church, West
Frankfort, IL Welcomes: Luke
Pond, Becky Sloan, Kurt Leberman,
Mary Lynn Whitlow, and Bob
Whitlow
Mainstream Contact
Information
Linda Ricks
232 Devron Circle
Telephone: (217) 726-7366 Fax: (217) 726-7566
July 2008
GRR Calendar
August
September
Blackhawk Camp
Great Rivers Region Youth
Attend National American
Baptist Youth Gathering
“What were you doing at 3:45 a.m.
on Wednesday morning, July 9?”
Over 20 Great Rivers students and
adults climbed a mountain to watch the
sun rise in Rocky Mountain National
Park. Students climbed the mountain
in darkness with glow sticks and flashlights. After the long hike to the top,
students led a devotion and sang worship songs.
These students were part of a
group of over 100 students from Great
Rivers participating in the National
Gathering of American Baptist Youth
at the YMCA of the Rockeis, July 5-11.
Rockford, IL
Blackhawk Camp
October
3 - GRR Ministers Conference
Moline, IL
Moline, IL
About 1,400 American Baptist Youth
and Youth Sponsers attended this conference in Estes Park, Colorado.
Titled “More Than a Week,” the conference encouraged students to take
what they learned home and apply it in
their lives so it would truly last “More
Than a Week.” Lives were changed-numerous Great Rivers youth accepted
a call to ministry and rededicated their
lives to Christ! Speakers (continued)
for the conference included Duffy
Robbins, Emmett Dunn, Yamina
Apolinaris, Eboni Marshall, and Shane
Claiborne.
Students also participated in small
groups, workshops, and back-home
devotions. Youth Leaders had the
opportunity to participate in youth
leader training through Bible studies, leadership sessions with Duffy
Robbins and spiritual renewal sessions.
Thank you for your support to the
America for Christ offering, which
helps provide events like this for our
students.”
Great Rivers Region
Churches
Annual Gathering
Harvest Time
Date: October 3-5, 2008
Place: Holiday Inn Moline, IL
Convention Center at the Airport
Keynote Speaker: Mylinda Baits
Missionary Partner in Costa Rica
Friday Evening: Youth Ministry
Team
Christian Comedian : Charles Marshall
Saturday: Workshops
GRR Mission Banquet - Costa Rica
“Emerging Voices”
To register or for more information:
www.abc-grr.org or 217-726-7366
Church News
From Winchester...
Winchester, IL sponsored a
Community Patriotic Musical for
our town. 5 different churches were
involved: First Baptist, Methodist,
Assembly of God, Grace Baptist, and
St. Mark’s Catholic.
From Kansas City...
Grace Baptist Church, Kansas
City, Missouri recently made contact
with the Karen (Burmese) refugee
community that is being resettled
about four miles from the church.
Five families, or about 25 people,
have attended worship and other
events at the church. Pictured is the
youth choir singing a song for “peace
in our land” and the She Sho Group
choir singing about “loving our neighbors.” The Karen have been in refuThe choir presented a musical entitled, “God Bless the USA” under the
direction of Rev. Sue Metcalf the pastor of First Baptist Church. This was
enhanced by a large screen video
presentation.
The American Legion and V.F.W.
held a Posting of the Colors. Boy
Scouts greeted people and gave them
a program bulletin and an American
Flag pin.
The Royal Neighbors of America
group worked what we called the
“Table of Thanks”. There were many
different cards for people to sign
sending words of encouragement and
thanks to be sent to service men and
women around the world.
Over 100 people were in attendance.
We recognized and thanked all service men or women in attendance. It
was a blessing to see the churches
of one small town working together
to thank God for our great country
and thank the men and women in the
military who are serving to keep our
freedom in this country safe.
30’ by 50’ plot. The garden is full and
growing crazy! We plan to share its
fruits with the entire church first and
then those in Sparland who are in
need.
On Sunday, June 22, church members, Randy and JahnNelle Shofner
hosted the first Children’s Fishing
Derby. The 21 kids caught 142
fish. All received ribbons and some
received trophies.
Several men have signed up
to attend the Promise Keepers
Conference in Peoria this August.
We have had many praises thanks
to God and our Prayer Warriors who
meet every Wednesday evening.
We bring up concerns for the week
and take them to the Lord. Amazing
things are happening in Sparland!
Senior Adult Days
Area I: August 9. 2008
gee camps in Thailand for over 20
years. This community of Karen are
recent arrivals in the U.S. -- some
have come within the last several
weeks. Jewish Vocational Services
is the resettlement agency for them
here in Kansas City. Grace Baptist
Mission Committee has joined with
JVS to befriend and mentor the
Karen. We are learning from each
other and enjoying the Spirit at work
in our midst. The connection with the
Karen began almost 200 years ago
when missionary Adoniram Judson
went to Burma and evangelized the
Karen
Place: Blackhawk Baptist Camp
From Sparland...
First Baptist Church, Sparland,
IL is experiencing blessings flowing
out from its first “share” garden - a
Cost: $12.00
Time: 9:30 a.m. Registration
Speakers: Area I Youth Ministry
Team
Cost: $10.00
Swimming Pool will be open
Areas II and III: August 21, 2008
Place: Lake Springfield Camp
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Bethel Neighborhood Center
Scripture tells us to welcome the
stranger in our midst. In a recent worship service, Bethel Center Church did
just that as two dozen Karen refugees
were welcomed to a special worship of
healing and communion. The Karen
have been resettled in Kansas City,
Kansas and are meeting at First Baptist
Church there. During the worship, the
pain of the world’s refugees and those
displaced by cyclones and earthquakes
were recognized.
The worship was planned by Rakmi
Shaiza, staff person at BNC. A litany
was read reminding us of the pains of
the world. We sang together, joined
together at the communion table,
received prayers for healing, and listened as Lisa Harris delivered a sermon putting the pain of the world into
perspective with the Good News which
our Lord has for all people.
Bethel Board members Bob Southard
and Ed Baxter were present and participated. The Spiritual leader of the
Karen people also prayed in the Karen
language.
The fellowship together after worship saw the intermingling of the two
groups. We were reminded that these
people from Burma were first evangelized by Adoniram Judson. One of the
Karen young women is working with
the summer youth program at Bethel.
Several Karen children are attending
the summer program.
For information about Bethel
Neighborhood Center see our website:
www.bethelcenter.org or call the Center
at 913-371-8218.
The Mainstream
First Baptist Church, Cordova,
IL Welcomes: Jesse Chavez,
Zachery Mikles, and Taylor Rel.
First Baptist Church, Kansas
City, MO Welcomes: Marlon A.
Smith, Roberta Stevenson, Darrell
A. Robinson, Lisa F. Robinson,
Alexandria Robinson and Betty
Cauthon
GRR Directory Correction
Phone for Shurtleff Baptist Campus
Ministry at SIU-Edwardsville, IL:
618-650-3248
Coming Fall Events Issue
August 14, 2008
GRR Calendar
August
21 - Areas II & III Senior Adult Day
29 - Sept. 1 -- Family Camp
September
Blackhawk Camp
Rockford, IL
19 - 20 - Junior High Weekend
Mainstream Contact
Information
Linda Ricks
232 Devron Circle
Telephone: (217) 726-7366 Fax: (217) 726-7566
Harvest
Time
2008
GRR
Annual
Meeting
October 3-5, 2008
Fifth Season
Convention Center
Moline, Illinois
John 4: “Open your eyes and
look at the fields!
They are ripe for harvest.”
Blackhawk Camp
October
The Fifth Season Conv. Center
Moline, IL
3 - 5 -- GRR Annual Meeting at the
Moline, IL
Keynote Speaker:
Mylinda Baits - Missionary Partner in
Costa Rica with her husband Gary and
their children.
Schedule For Annual Meeting
Friday: Pastor’s Conference
Friday Evening:
Youth Ministry Team
Christian Comedian - Charles Marshall
Saturday:
Worship with Mylinda Bates
Workshops
Saturday Evening: “Emerging
Voices”
Sunday Morning – Worship with
Mylinda Baits
Harvest Time:
Fifth Season (formerly Holiday Inn)
Convention Center
Moline, IL
Presenter: Dr.
Yvonne Martinez
Thome - bilingual
(English/Spanish)
Chestnut Hill,
Pennsylvania.
Accomodations: Fifth Season
Convention Center,(formerly Holiday
Inn), Moline, Illinois
Important Note: The Holiday Inn
Convention Center has changed
ownership. The new name of the
Convention Center is, “The Fifth
Season.” The only change is that
hotel reservations must be made
directly at 309-762-8811, the hotel
reservations desk. YOU MUST USE
“AMERICAN BAPTIST” WHEN
MAKING RESERVATIONS TO GET
THE PRICE BREAK.
Do not use the online Holiday Inn
website or the 800 Holiday Inn number. Deadline to register for a hotel
room remains September 3.
Worship Leader:
Rev. Cheri
Grizzard, Pastor
of Worship and
Community Life,
Peoria, IL
Preachers:
Dr. Leroy
Mitchell: Pastor
of New Hope
Missionary Baptist
Church in DeKalb,
Il.
Dr. Terry MinchowProffitt: Pastor
of Delmar Baptist
Church, St. Louis, MO
Area I Youth Fall Retreats
4491 W. Henry Rd
Oregon, IL 61061
Senior High (Grades 9-12):
September 5-7, 2008
Junior High (Grades 6-9):
September 19-21, 2008
Cost: $48.00 (Leader Cost: $24.00)
(Cost includes free t-shirt!)
Late Registration (Less than 10 days
before the event): $58
LAKE SPRINGFIELD FAMILY
CAMP
AUG 29-SEPT 1, 2008
Fees: $50 per family a $15 lodging
fee if staying 1 night
Rooms Available in Carter Hall,
Dining Lodge and Cabins
Tent Camping – central shower
house NO RV CAMPING
FOOD: Individual families may provide their own food and are welcome
to use camp kitchen facilities. They
may also choose to have their meals
provided at a cost of $50 per family and will assist in preparation and
clean-up of meals. A potluck meal
will be shared on Saturday evening
with each family providing 1 dish
regardless of meal option.
Camping and food option are both
non-refundable and is due by August
24 All rooms are first come first
served basis.
Randy & Marsha Marshall: 618-4986275 or [email protected]
Greg & Tammi Cash: 618-462-0388
or [email protected]
“It isn’t over til the weight challenged
individual sings!”
Areas II & III
Senior Adult Day
Registration begins at 8:30pm Friday
Night
Retreat Ends at 11:30 Sunday
Morning (Lunch not provided
Sunday)
Parents picking up students may join
in Sunday Worship at 10:00am.
Junior High Weekend
September 19 - 20
“With God All Things Are Possible”
– Matthew 19:26
August 21, 2008 - Lake Springfield
Baptist Camp
Speaker: J.P. Parrish
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Cost: $40 for Youth
$20 for Adults
Registration begins at 6:30 PM
– Ends at 4:00 PM
Cost: $12.00
Bring bedding, toiletries and Bible For more info: pastorjon@parisfbc.
org
Music - Roger & Dianna Strunk
.
“Serving in Nicaragua” - Carol
Matheson
GRR Calendar
September
Aug. 29 - Sept. 1 -- Family Camp
5-6 - Area IV & V Youth
X Conference
Holiday Inn
Mt. Vernon, IL
Blackhawk Camp
Rockford, IL
First Baptist Church, Hillsboro, IL
Welcomes: Laura Seago
First Baptist Church, Mahomet, IL
Welcomes: Jacqueline Kay Mills
Old Stonington Baptist Church,
Stonington, IL Welcomes: Ben
Hogge, Patrick Hogge, David
Hogge, Leslie Jackson, Sandy
Moffett, and Tobi Moffett
First Baptist Church, Dixon, IL
Welcomes: Brenda Voss and
Richard Wilson (pictured below
being baptized in his hospital room
by Rev. Bunyan Cocar, co-pastor,
FBC Dixon, IL)
Blackhawk Camp
Moline, IL
24 -25 - Face To Face
New Castle, Indiana
August 27, 2008
Harvest Time
2008 GRR Annual Meeting
October 3 - 5, 2008
Fifth Season
Convention Center
Moline, Illinois
look at the fields!
Keynote Speaker:
Mylinda Baits - Missionary Partner in Costa
Rica with her husband Gary and their children.
October
Fifth Season Convention
Center Moline, IL
The Mainstream
Mainstream Contact
Information
names of new members (fruit of this
mission and ministry) to:
Linda Ricks
232 Devron Circle
Telephone: (217) 726-7366 Fax: (217) 726-7566
Schedule
Friday Evening:
Youth Ministry Team
Saturday:
Workshops
Saturday Evening: “Emerging Voices”
Sunday Morning – Worship with Mylinda Baits
Hotel Accomodations
The Holiday Inn Convention Center
has changed ownership. The new
name of the Convention Center is,
“The Fifth Season.” The only change
is that hotel reservations must be
made directly at 309-762-8811, the
hotel reservations desk. YOU MUST
USE “AMERICAN BAPTIST” WHEN
MAKING RESERVATIONS TO GET
THE PRICE BREAK.
Do not use the online Holiday Inn
website or the 800 Holiday Inn number. Deadline to register for a hotel
room remains September 3.
Harvest Time:
Convention Center
Moline, IL
Presenter: Dr. Yvonne Martinez
Thorne - bilingual (English/Spanish)
faith-based, counseing psychologist practicing in Chestnut Hill,
Pennsylvania
Worship Leader: Rev. Cheri
Grizzard
Preachers: Dr. Leroy Mitchell and
Dr. Terry Minchow-Proffitt
Reflections
of Camp
On the Way”
was our theme
for the 2008
Great Rivers
Region Camping
season. It was
a great year and
we truly were on the way to bringing children, youth and adults closer
to Christ. We had over 750 campers
this year in our Regional program. In
one camp alone we had reports of 22
first time decisions made to follow
Christ and 15 indicated their desire
to be baptized.
In one of the most exciting camps,
we had an equal number of Karen
children (Asian) and American
children at the camp. The first day
each group was a little wary of each
other. The language barrier seem
insurmountable, but by day two they
were all good friends and by the end
of the week they didn’t want to leave
their new found friends. Camp is more
than just getting back to nature. It is
building new relationships, deepening
values, developing life skills and independence. It is life changing and has
eternal significance. We even had
one camper give up a trip to Six Flags
Amusement Park to come to camp!
Just as you have seen food costs
and energy costs rise so has the
camps. Food costs were up about
20%. Even though summer camp is
over, the camps still have expenses
to meet through the rest of the year.
Lake Springfield needs about $5,000
in new funding revenue to subsidize
their budget. While Blackhawk Camp
should finish with a positive balance,
their church donations are down about
$5,000 so far this year. Please
consider what your end of the year
gift to our camping ministry will
be. Continue to pray for the many
campers who made decisions and
will be following up with baptism in
their local church.
“Camp Tee-Shirt $10, Camp
photo $5, Camp scholarship $230,
camper’s life changed for Christ
– PRICELESS”
Rev. Dr. Cheryl Henson
“Take It To Town”
Volunteers Spread
Across Carlinville
From Catholic Charities to the
county fairgrounds, Carlinville High
School to Camp Weyanah, members and friends of the Carlinville
Federated Church infiltrated all types
of local organizations Saturday, June
14th with one mission: to lend a
hand.
In all, more than 80 people volunteered at 15 sites as part of “Take
it to Town,” a project started by the
church five years ago. “We want to
help the community,” said Federated
member Pete Genta, who served
as site coordinator for painting and
repairs done at the American Legion
Hall. “As a church, that’s what we’re
supposed to do, and that’s what we
like to do.
Workers weeding the garden at
Carlinville Rehabilitation Center
“It’s a great way to take the
church to the community,” said
Steve Nicholson, a Federated member and project coordinator. “It’s like
a mini mission trip. There’s always
something to be done.”
The church has a committee
which contacts local organizations
that might need help throughout the
year,” Nicholson said. “After projects
are picked, site coordinators are
assigned based on their abilities.”
As volunteers sign up in the weeks
before the day of the project, they
are contacted by site coordinators to
inform them of the work and preparation needed at each site. People of
all ages and abilities are welcomed
to participate. This year’s event
included participants from elementary
school students to senior citizens.
Cleaning at the Food Pantry
“There’s a lot of appreciation from
the groups we help out. We’re not
doing it for that purpose, though,”
said Pastor Jeff Johnson. “Our mission is to be the hands and feet of
Christ in our community.”
(Much of the above article was written by
Dan Armstrong, a reporter for the South
County News, and a member of the
Federated Church. This article is submitted with the permission of the newspaper.)
GRR Calendar
September
Blackhawk Camp
October
Moline, IL
Center Moline, IL
24 -25 - Face To Face
New Castle, Indiana
November
7 - 9 -- ABY Gathering, Decatur, IL
Mainstream Contact
Information
new members (fruit of this mission and
ministry) to:
Linda Ricks
232 Devron Circle
First Baptist Church Champaign,
Savoy, IL Welcomes: Deborah
Malone, William Malone, Tammy
Faulkner, and Lorraine G. Pryor
First Baptist Church, Girard, IL
Welcomes: Mikayla Ann Butler,
Allie Beatrice Cousins, Kylie Renee
Denton. Mariya Elizabeth Jones,
and Tiffany Marie Scantlin
Second Baptist Church, Kansas
City, MO Welcomes: Michelle
McGhee, Noah Parker, Matthew
Parker, Valerie Beatty, Brady
Graham, Tahrique Petway, Lylana
Petway, Justyce Petway, Lillian
Roquemore, Deleon Harper, Samuel
Jordan, Jr., and Clifton Johnson
First Baptist Church, Mattoon, IL
Welcomes: Marla Rhine, Catherine
Miller, and Nathan Miller
First Baptist Church, Plano, IL
Welcomes: Stephen Russell,
Pamela Russell, Frank Hermann.
and Brenden Lingle
Ridgeview Baptist Church,
Danville, IL Welcomes: Heather
Jackson, Peggy Tinder, Joy
Rayapati, and Sam Rayapati
Central Baptist Church,
Springfield, IL Welcomes: Nichole
Palsen, Autumn Cook, Andy Fuqua,
Corinne Fuqua, Bob Smith, Paul
Cressy, Susan Cressy, Darin
Harms, and Dulci Harms
Telephone: (217) 726-7366 Fax: (217) 726-7566
The Mainstream
September 2008 No. 1
Harvest Time
2008 GRR Annual Meeting
October 3 - 5, 2008
Fifth Season
Convention Center
Moline, Illinois
look at the fields!
Schedule
Friday Evening:
Youth Ministry Team
Saturday:
Worship with Mylinda Bates - Missionary Serving in Costa Rica
Workshops:
Walk Across the Room (an evangelism approach);
Sharing the Good News in Electronic Form
Who Will Drive the Tractor?
The Broader Field with Gary Baits
GRR Mission Banquet - Focus on Mission: Costa Rica
Saturday Evening: “Emerging Voices”
Sunday Morning – Worship with Mylinda Baits
Harvest Time:
Area I Youth Fall Retreats
4491 W. Henry Rd
Oregon, IL 61061
Convention Center
Moline, IL
faith-based, counseling psychologist practicing in Chestnut Hill,
Pennsylvani
Grizzard
Senior High (Grades 9-12):
September 5-7, 2008
Junior High (Grades 6-9):
September 19-21, 2008
Cost: $48.00 (Leader Cost: $24.00)
(Cost includes free t-shirt!)
Late Registration (Less than 10 days
before the event): $58
Pictured is
Marvin Miller
having his 1960
Cushman Eagle
blessed by Dr.
Mark Estrop
First Baptist Church, White Hall, IL
held an installation ceremony for Pastor
Chad Hoesman on Sunday August 17,
2008. David Surbeck, pastor search
committee chairman, gave a welcoming word to the congregation, then Dan
Edwards, pastor of the Roodhouse First
Baptist Church, led in the prayer of invocation. David Prosser of The Lighthouse
Outreach in Roodhouse and Pastor
George Cowper of Gentle Shepherd
Fellowship of White Hall joined Pastor
Edwards in readings from Scripture. Each
Registration begins at 8:30 pm Friday
Retreat Ends at 11:30 a.m. Sunday
Morning (Lunch not provided Sunday)
Parents picking up students may join
in Sunday Worship at 10:00 am.
Bike Blessing
Rolling Prairie Baptist Church in
Rochester, IL held a bike blessing in
June for the congregation and community. Sixteen bikes showed up
and were blessed. Dr. Mark Estrop,
pastor, explained that this is an old
tradition with motorcycle riders, and
is a way to develop relationships with
people who may not have traditional
relationships with churches. “It’s a
great way to meet people and get
yourself known in the community,”
stated Estrop.
Pastoral Installation Services
Junior High Weekend
September 19 - 20
“It isn’t over til the weight challenged
individual sings!”
“With God All Things Are Possible”
– Matthew 19:26
Speaker: J.P. Parrish
Cost: $40 for Youth
$20 for Adults
Registration begins at 6:30 PM
– Ends at 4:00 PM
Bring bedding, toiletries and Bible For more info: [email protected]
also took time to express to the new pastor and to the congregation their words
of encouragement. Esther Jean Coates,
pianist, accompanied the congregation in singing of several songs. Pastor
Chad’s daughter Niki played a piano
special. This was followed by Pastor
Glen Greenwood, interim, preaching the
worship message. Duane Westnedge,
chairman of the deacons, gave the
Charge to the Pastor. The Charge to the
Congregation and response were led
by David Surbeck. Words of installation
and welcome to the new pastor were
presented as a responsive reading by
Noel Smith, church member. Dr. John
Grisham from the American Baptist
Churches Great River’s Region then led
the prayer of installation. Pastor Gary
Coates of the Pentecostal Church prayed
benediction before all were invited to
share in a time of refreshments and fellowship in the church fellowship room.
Installations (continued)
The First Baptist Church of Plano,
IL held a service of Installation for
their new pastor, Rev. Jason Hladik.
Pastor Jason began his ministry in
Plano on April 6, 2008. He is a graduate of Judson College and Northern
Baptist Theological Seminary. The
Charge to the Minister was led
by Rev. Allan Holder from Marley
Community Church in Mokena, IL.
Dr. Cheryl Henson, Area I Minister,
led the Charge to the Congregation.
The Prayer of Installation was given
by Rev. Lee Johnson from Healing
Stream Baptist Church in West
Virginia, and special music was given
by Ms Chrissy Bartholomew, Youth
Pastor of Oak Park Baptist Church.
An Open House at the church parsonage followed the service. The church
thanks God for bringing Pastor Jason
to First Baptist, Plano.
Pontiac, IL held a service of installation for
Rev. Karen
Boucher,
Associate
Pastor on
August 3,
2008. Dr.
Richard
Ricks,
Associate
Minister for
Area III, ABC/GRR led in the charge.
Dr. Jim Wolfe, Pastor, preached
the message entitled, “Authentically
Called”. Following the morning worship service, the church honored her
with a reception.
GRR American Baptist
Youth Gathering
BRINGIN’ JESUS BACK
John 14:19
November 7-9, 2008
First Baptist Church D
Decatur, IL
Speakers: Rev Steve Mechem
J. P. Parrish
Concert by: The Virginia Go
Mission Opportunities & Workshops
Cost: $50.00 Youth
$40.00 Youth Leaders
Open to: Youth Grades 8-12 &
College Freshmen & Sophomores
The American Baptist Men’s
Disaster Relief Teams
Urgently Need Volunteers
If you can help
contact AB Men Leaders
First Baptist Church, Moline,
IL Welcomes: Plaw Hso Thaw,
Cherry San, Heh Nay Htoo, Hei Roh
Htoo, Ka Su, Ma Myint, Pa Bi,
Pa Si, Htoo Mu Paw, Juni Yar,
Ma Than Kyi, Layer Htoo, Shwe
Thoung, Hser dee Paw, Htoo
Brown, April Paw, Gay Kapaw,
Ku Kapaw, Tha Nay Paw, Aller
Kyaw, Hsar Htee, Sa Dee, Naw Ta,
Thwe Paw, Sunday Paw, Hsa His
Hser, Hser Mu Shee, Day Day, Naw
Gay Hel, Pah Cher, Saw Paw Klo,
Paw Eh Htoo, and Saw Pi Lee.
The new members of First Baptist
Church of Moline are Karen refugees from Burma. With the leadership of John and Ruth Peterson
who have been serving the church
as interim pastors, a Karen worship
service has been started.
Many of the Karen who have come
to America know Christ because
of the mission work started by
Adoniram Judson. Once in America,
they sought out their fellow Baptists.
We are thankful for mission work both past and present.
Mainstream Contact
Information
Linda Ricks
232 Devron Circle
Telephone: (217) 726-7366 Fax: (217) 726-7566
The Mainstream
September 2008 No. 2
GRR Calendar
October
Harvest Time
Moline, IL
Center Moline, IL
November
7 - 9 - ABY Gathering, Decatur, IL
2009 Theme - Plant the Harvest
January
16 - 19 - SKWIM at Green Lake
March
14 - Area V Annual Meeting,
FBC Edwardsville IL
15 - Area II Annual Meeting
Jacksonville FBC
21 - Area IV Annual Meeting
First Baptist Church, Benton IL
22 - Area I Annual Meeting
First Baptist Church, Ottawa IL
22 - Area III Annual Meeting
North Bridge Baptist Church
Normal, IL
2008 GRR Annual
Meeting
October 3 - 5, 2008
Fifth Season
Convention Center
Moline, Illinois
look at the fields!
Schedule
Friday Evening:
Youth Ministry Team
8:00 PM:
Charles Marshall
Christian Comedian Comedy with a
purpose
(youth ticket $5.00)
Convention Schedule (continued)
Saturday:
Missionary Serving in Costa Rica
Workshops:
Walk Across the Room (an evangelism approach)
Sharing the Good News in Electronic
Form
Who Will Drive the Tractor? - The
Broader Field with Gary Baits
GRR Mission Banquet - Focus on
Mission: Costa Rica
Saturday Evening: “Emerging
Voices”
Salem Association
Celebrates 175 Years
The Salem Baptist Association celebrated its 175th anniversary during its
annual meeting, Sunday, September
21, 2008. The meeting was hosted
by First Baptist Church of Macomb.
The theme was Remembering the
Past, Living in the Present, Looking
to the Future.
The churches that make up the
Salem Association are Blandinsville,
Berwick, Carthage, Bethel Colchester, Macomb, Raritan and
Roseville - all in the western part of
central Illinois. The anniversary cake
pictured below had pictures of all the
churches of the association.
Sunday Morning – Worship with
Mylinda Baits
Harvest Time:
Convention Center
Moline, IL
faith-based, counseling psychologist practicing in Chestnut Hill,
Pennsylvani
Grizzard
Members of the participating congregations shared memories of the
Salem Association meetings of the
past during the afternoon session.
Dr. Richard Ricks, Regional
Associate Minister Serving Area III,
brought the evening message.
Marilyn Shelley (center) of Bethel
Baptist - Colchester and Claudia
McCain (right) of FBC Macomb were
program co-chairs. Rev. Wally Holt
(left) is pastor of FBC Macomb.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
KANKAKEE DEDICATES
NEW BUILDING AND
CELEBRATES 150 YEARS
On September 14, 2008, amidst
the torrential downpour from remnants of Hurricane Ike, the First
Baptist Church of Kankakee,
IL celebrated their 150th anniversary and the dedication of their new
church building at 1756 W Route
113 in Kankakee, IL. Despite the
weather, it was a wonderful day
of celebration and worship as 150
people gathered in the new building
to praise God.
The guest speaker Rev. Michael
Erickson, a pastor in Maryland and
former member who grew up in the
church, spoke to the rich heritage
of the congregation, the wonders of
what God is doing in the present,
and the promise that the future holds
for the next 150 years. The new
building sits on 7.5 acres of land and
is nearly 7,500 square feet. It is a
flexible space that the congregation
hopes to be able to share with the
community to do more effective ministry. The church looks forward with
excitement to the work that God has
in store for the congregation in the
upcoming years. Contact the church
at [email protected] or at
815-932-2214. Find more information about the church on its website
at firstbaptistkankakee.com.
Submitted by: Jessica Henks,
Interim Pastor
Leadership Changes
Incoming
Jason Hladik - Pastor FBC Plano, IL
Eric Hunt - Pastor, Old Stonington
Baptist Church, Stonington, IL
Paul Etherton - Pastor, FBC Arcola, IL
Sean Hicks - Pastor, White Swan
Baptist Church, Woodlawn, IL
Floyd Disney, Interim, FBC, Girard, IL
Jack Smith - Pastor, Antioch Baptist
Church, Reynolds, IL
Steven Newell - Interim, York Baptist
Church, Thomson, IL
Rick Church - Pastor, FBC Jerseyville,
Vernon Howard - Pastor, Second
Baptist Church, Kansas City, MO
Delano Benson - Pastor, Antioch
Baptist Church Saint Louis, MO
Outgoing
Charles White - Interim, FBC Girard,
IL
Joshua Melvin - Pastor, Antioch
Baptist
Church, Reynolds, IL
Kelly Melvin - Associate Pastor, FBC,
Galesburg, IL
Gerald Phillips - Interim
FBC,
Jerseyville, IL
Pat McKenna, Youth Minister, Cherry
Hills, Springfield, IL
Wade Allen, Associate Pastor, Central
Baptist Church, Springfield, IL
Robert Russell - Interim, FBC,
Carrollton, IL
Delano Benson - Pastor, Pleasant
Green Baptist Church, Kansas City,
MO
Youth Gathering
John 14:19
November 7-9, 2008
Decatur, IL
J. P. Parrish
Cost: $50.00 Youth
Mainstream Contact
Information
ministry) to:
Linda Ricks
232 Devron Circle
First Baptist Church, Macomb,
IL Welcomes: Julie Bunch, Derek
Helling, and Emily Richardson
The Mainstream
October 2008 No.1
Northern Seminary Has
New President
The Northern
Seminary Board
of Trustees has
prayerfully and
unanimously
selected the
Reverend Dr.
Alistair Brown to
lead the school
in its next chapter of theological
education. Dr. Brown began his
leadership responsibilities in midSeptember.
For the past 12 years, Dr. Brown
served as General Director of the
Baptist Missionary Society (BMS)
at its World Mission headquarters
in Didcot, Oxfordshire, UK. He also
served for more than ten years as
senior pastor at a large, center-city
church in Aberdeen, UK. Dr. Brown
earned a Ph.D at the University of
Edinburgh.
Dr. Brown will lead the seminary
through several changes, including
the relocation of its main campus
to Elgin, IL adjacent to Judson
University
The GRR was pleased to meet
Dr. Brown at the GRR Annual
Meeting.
Telephone: (217) 726-7366 Fax: (217) 726-7566
GRR Calendar
November
Harvest Time
January
March
FBC Edwardsville IL
Jacksonville FBC
Normal, IL
April
17 - 18 - Clergy Spouse Retreat
Lake Springfield Camp
24 - 25 - GRR Missions Conference
Church, Springfield, IL
The 2008 GRR Annual Meeting was
held October 3-5 in Moline, IL. The
theme was “Harvest Time”; the theme
scripture taken from John 4: “Open
your eyes and look at the fields! They
are ripe for harvest.”
Mylinda Baits, missionary to Costa
Rica, was the
keynote speaker.
Her preaching at
the annual meeting communicated her belief that
worship is not
limited to Sunday
mornings, but is a daily expression
of the life transforming and liberating
love of Christ. Mylinda also spoke at
the American Baptist Women’s breakfast on Breaking the Chains. Mylinda
is helping to establish “El Centro de
Tranformacion Mariposa”, a church
based family ministry working to keep
young people out of the sex trade in
Costa Rica.
Mylinda and her husband Gary
are pastors and professors in Costa
Rica. They work with the Costa Rican
GRR Convention Highlights
The Area I Youth
Ministry Team led the
music for the Friday
evening session.
Gary Baits was the keynote speaker at the
Mission Banquet on Saturday evening.
The service Saturday evening was entitled
Emerging Voices. The preachers for the evening were Heather Henson,(upper left) Bunyan
Cocar, (upper right) and Terrance Clark, (left) all
under 35 years of age.
The Karen refugees from Moline (above)
sang on Sunday morning and the Karen
children (left) participated in a Bible lesson as part of the children’s programming.
Church News
First Baptist Church, Carthage,
IL is responding to Christ’s call to
“allow the children to come unto me”.
In September, the church began the
new year of Kids Club. Children,
grades K-5th, were invited to come
to church on Wednesday afternoons
for games, refreshments, music, and
active Bible lessons.
The children are drawn into the
truth about who Jesus is and how he
wants them to live their lives through
story telling, drama, and puppets.
The director of Kids Club is Kara
Cozart. Janet Carlisle leads the
music and teaching. Other members of the team include Neva Eads,
Judy Allison, Brenda Putnam, Dick
Putram, Judy Knorr and others. Pat
Ciupek, interim pastor, is very thankful for this ministry that the lay leadership of the church provides.
The leaders of Kids Club are tuned
into the individual needs of each
child and work to relate to the parents of the children.
Kids Club at Carthage FBC has
grown from around 25 to between 40
and 50 each week. Most of the children do not regularly attend church.
Through this ministry, the church is
reaching out to the community. A
video clip of Rev. Pat Ciupek sharing
about this ministry can be found on
the Regional Web page. (www.abcgrr.org/ccm/library.htm).
Pastor Charles Klassen of FBC
Benton IL presented a preview
for the community of the 13 week
Financial Peace University program
to beat debt, control finances and
give like never before.
The church also had a PowerPoint
slide program presented to all adult
Sunday School classes from the
GABBRAI bike ride to solicit funds for
church planting. This will be available
to other churches to support the program and next year’s ride
Community Baptist Church, Utica,
MO began their 34th consecutive year
of C.L.I.A. (Christ Love In Action ),
an after school program for children,
K - 6th grade. Seventh and eighth
graders can become Youth Leaders.
Lois McCain has been the director for
33 years. Other leaders are Shirley
Hess, pastor, Liz Cunningham,
Kathryn Ratliff and Rene Harkins.
The motto for C.L.I.A. is “Be ye doers
of the Word and not hearers only” from
James 1:22. The group meets two
times a month during the school year
concluding with a dinner and an awards
ceremony in May. The picture
below is the group from the awards
ceremony in May of this year.
Youth Gathering
Dates To Remember
2009 GRR Missions
Conference
John 14:19
April 24-25, 2009
November 7-9, 2008
Decatur, IL
2125 Woodside Road
Springfield, IL
J. P. Parrish
Cost: $50.00 Youth
Mainstream Contact
Information
ministry) to:
Linda Ricks
232 Devron Circle
The Mainstream
October 2008 No.1
GRR Calendar
November
ABC - USA
2009 Biennial Meeting
June 26-28, 2009
January
Pasadena, California
March
2009 GRR Annual Gathering
FBC Edwardsville IL
Thursday, October 29 Saturday, October 31, 2009
Jacksonville FBC
Holiday Inn City Centre
Peoria , IL
The compiled reports of the work
of the GRR Board of Ministries
and Staff, the compiled authorized
budget for 2009, and the churches’
representatives to the GRR and
ABCUSA Boards - as published and
distributed at the Moline Gathering
of October 3 - 5 - are available on
the GRR web site:
www.abcgrr.org/grrboard/index.htm
Telephone: (217) 726-7366 Fax: (217) 726-7566
Normal, IL
April
Karen Refugees
Become A Part of First
Baptist Church, Moline, IL
Beginning in June, 2007, Karen
refugees from the Thai-Burma border
began arriving in the Quad Cities area
of Illinois. Soon, First Baptist Moline
interim co-pastors, John and Ruth
Peterson agreed to sponsor a family.
The Petersons rejoiced that the family was from an area of the world that
they had become familiar with during
their 2 trips to Burma. Careful not to
violate the commitment to not proselytize, they did not talk about religion.
Within two weeks, however, the Karen
family members asked what John and
Ruth did for work. When the Karen
family learned the Petersons were
Baptist pastors, numbers of Karen
began to excitedly ask about attending their church.
Within the next year the community of Karen refugees grew rapidly.
Several new families arrived each
month. Large numbers were Baptist
and eagerly joined the first small
group that came and sat through the
English service. The Petersons invit-
ed them to read
(continued on p. 2)
scripture and pray in their language
in most of the services. They also
provided Karen words for hymns.
The Karen blessed worship as they
sang solos, duets, and choir numbers
in Karen and several times even in
English. One young man who had
been a teacher in Bible Schools in
three border camps emerged as a
pastoral leader.
Soon a steering committee was
formed to plan a Karen language
worship service. In early spring,
2008, the Karen language service
began. Soon, a children’s Sunday
School class in the Karen language
formed using the curriculum available
from International Ministries’ Karen
Konnection website. The children,
rapidly learning English, participate
in the children’s choir - singing in
English - and in the children’s church
session. Over a dozen Karen children enriched the summer Vacation
Bible School experience. Three
attended Blackhawk Baptist Camp.
In September, 33 Karens joined
the church upon confession of faith
and one after baptism. More are
desiring to join.
Families continue to come. They
are witnessing to their fellow Karen
and are an invigorating presence
in the life of First Baptist Church
Moline. 50 to 60 are in attendance
each Sunday even though a goodly
number have employment that keeps
them away on Sunday morning.
Numbers of long-time members of
the church have said, “We have
been praying for more children
and young couples to come to our
church. Little did we dream that
God would answer our prayer with
people from the Thai-Burma border!”
What a surprising, wonderful God we
serve!”
Submitted by: Ruth Peterson
New Look and Features
of GRR Web Site
Americans access the web through
cable, dsl, and other “fast/broadband”
connections; 1/3 of Americans have
no connection to the internet. 10% of
these have made a conscious decision not to - no matter what the speed
and availability. This leaves 17 % of
Americans using dial-up modems for
e-mail and “browsing” the web. These
numbers are similar in the GRR.
What does this mean for churches?
FBC Urbana Celebrates
170 Years
First Baptist
Church of
Urbana celebrated its
170th anniversary as
an organized
Baptist church
on September
22, 2008. The
church was founded on September
22, 1838. The church is few in number but still doing the Lord’s will in
Champaign county. God Bless!
Bob Haley, Interim Pastor
Charles Klassen (above right) is
joined by Randy McNeely of the
GRR Ministerial Staff as they record
a session for the GRR web site.
Charles is the Pastor of Benton First
Baptist Church. In this clip he tells
about the work that members of the
church are doing to provide meals for
children.
This feature of the web site is called
“Celebrate Churches’ Ministries.”
You can find this on the front (home)
page of the GRR site. Previous clips
can be found by following a link to
an archive. Churches who have participated in this - so far - are Rock
Island FBC, Faith Baptist at Mill
Creek, Carthage FBC, and FBC
of Macomb. Themes have included
other ministries with children, small
group ministry, and dynamics of discerning and initiating leaving an old
church and building a new one.
You will also find audio and audio/
video recordings of each of the 4
workshops from the 41st Annual
Assembly of the ABC Churches
of the GRR. View Dr. Yvonne
Thorne’s 4 - part seminar on Clergy
Self-Care. Pastors and members of
Pastoral Relations Committees would
benefit from Dr. Thorne’s teaching.
Surveys tell us that nearly half of
We need to use both web and mail!
We also need to be aware of the
needs of those who want to use our
churches’ and GRR web sites, but who
have - by choice, lack of availablity, or
financial realities - dialup connections.
One example of serving these needs
is to provide web experiences that
can function adequately using a dialup
connection.
The GRR web site is constantly being
“tweaked” to make it more useful as
a tool of ministry. Be part of making
it an ever better tool. Ideas? Needs?
Gliches? Send an e-mail to Richard
Ricks: [email protected]
Dates To Remember
2009 GRR Missions
Conference
April 24-25, 2009
2125 Woodside Road
Springfield, IL
*************
ABC - USA
2009 Biennial Meeting
Family Is Growing!
First Baptist Church, Greenville,
IL Welcomes: Tyler Sharp, Robert
(Tom) Leihser, Brenda Leihser, and
Kimberly Bone
**************
2009 GRR Annual Gathering
Thursday, October 29 Saturday, October 31, 2009
Holiday Inn City Centre
Peoria , IL
Mainstream Contact
Information
ministry) to:
Linda Ricks
232 Devron Circle
November 2008 No.2
GRR Calendar
Central Baptist Church, Quincy,
IL Welcomes: Vision Ayalew, Mary
Dees, Ryanna Kelle, Britni Miller/
Skirvin, Zachary Rideout, Gregory
Spohr, Alexandra Spohr, and
Sarah Wilson
Area 4 Youth (continued)
Lunch was a “gourmet hamburger
buffet” with all the trimmings plus
cold slaw, chips and baked beans.
It was great! Each person had the
opportunity to select what items
would make the perfect hamburger
sandwich. Quinton Runyon will let
us know who won that competition.
Winston Bennett challenged
everyone present to make God the
most important focus in each individual’s life.
For those who took the time to be
here this weekend their lives were
both blessed and enriched.
Due to technical issues the
GRR website address is
changed to:
www.abcgrr.org
(no dash betweed abc and grr)
Telephone: (217) 726-7366 Fax: (217) 726-7566
web: www.abcgrr.org
Meet The New GRR
President; Joel Lohr
November
January
June 26-28, 2009
Pasadena, California
The Mainstream
March
FBC Edwardsville IL
Jacksonville FBC
Normal, IL
April
If it were
possible
to be born
American
Baptist,
that would
have been
my story.
I grew up
attending
the First
Baptist
Church of
Hillsboro, Illinois. I came to Christ
there at the age of 10. Later, as a
layperson, I worked with youth. I
also taught a Jr. High Sunday School
class after my grandmother “retired”
from teaching that class that she had
taught for many years. I also served
the Hillsboro church at various times
as Deacon, Moderator, and in various
other capacities as there was need.
After I graduated from high school,
camping became a central passion
for me. Through most of the 1980s
and 90s I was involved in camping.
I counseled, directed and - during
one summer - even served on staff
at Lake Springfield Baptist Camp. I
attended Southern Illinois University
at Edwardsville where I received my
Bachelor of Science in Social Work.
I was active in the Shurtleff Baptist
Campus Ministry throughout my
(continued on p. 2)
time at SIUE. The time was rather
lengthy as I worked hard to squeeze
a 4 year degree into 9 years.
My journey took me to Chicago
where I attended Northern Baptist
Theological Seminary and served as
Associate Pastor of the First Baptist
Church of Park Forest, Illinois.
Following graduation from Northern
with my M. Div,, I was thrilled to have
the opportunity to come home to the
Great Rivers Region where I served
the Old Stonington Baptist Church
as pastor for over 11 years. I much
appreciated the opportunity to work
alongside the wonderful people at the
church and in the larger Stonington
and Christian County area. I went
to Stonington as a bachelor. While
I was at the Old Stonington Baptist
Church I met and married my wife
Jennifer (Maurizio) who grew up in
the First Baptist Church of Decatur.
In July of 2007, we accepted a
call to come to our present setting of
ministry at the First Baptist Church of
Wood River, Illinois. We have served
the church since September of 2007.
We have two children, Josephine
(Joey) age 3 ½ and Ian age 18
months.
Having been a member of Great
Rivers Region Churches my entire
life, I am thrilled to serve as president
for 2009. It gives me great pleasure
to know that perhaps I will be able
to offer something back to a Region
that I have cared for deeply for many
years and has served as such a wonderful home to me throughout my life
and ministry.
Rev. Joel Lohr
Officers
Elected at the
GRR Annual
Meeting
The following officers were elected
on October 4, 2008 at the GRR
Annual Meeting in Moline, IL.
Ruth Mooney Speaks
at GRR Churches
Ruth Mooney, missionary to Costa
Rica spoke to several churches in
the Great Rivers Region this past
week. In the picture below, she
is speaking to youth and adults in
Sunday School at First Baptist
Church, Peoria, IL.
Rev. Joel Lohr - President,
Rev. Sharon Farral - First VicePresident
Dr. Benjamin Manso - Second
Vice-President
P. J. Patterson -Vice-President
for Finance
Rev. Wally Holt - Vice-President
for Planning
Nominees to the General
Board of ABC/USA include:
Dr. Kenneth Board (Area 1)
Rev. Wally Holt (Area 3)
Dr. Robert Scott (Area 5).
2008 GRR Reports Available
The compiled reports of the work
of the GRR Board of Ministries and
Staff, the compiled authorized budget
for 2009, and the churches’ representatives to the GRR and ABCUSA
Boards - as published and distributed
at the Moline Gathering of October 3
- 5 - are available on the GRR web
site:
www.abcgrr.org/grrboard/index.htm
Ruth has served in several countries in Latin America since she was
commissioned as a missionary in
August of 1986. She has served in
El Salvador, Cuba, and Costa Rica.
As a Christian educator, she has wriiten curriculum and trained Christians
to write Bible study materials that
help churches identify God’s call and
activity in their midst.
Ruth is now on home assignment,
living in St. Paul, Minnesota. When
she returns to Costa Rica next June
she will have a new ministry. She
will serve as a professor at the Latin
American Biblical University in San
Jose, Costa Rica. She will be teaching Christian Education, working in
the publications department and participating in the lay leadership training program. She has maintained an
ongoing relationship with this seminary since her years in El Salvador,
and she is looking forward to the
opportunity to help train leaders from
several countries in Latin America.
Ruth will also be participating in the
GRR Missions Conference in April.
SKWIM 2009
January 16-19, 2009
What is SKWIM?
SKWIM is a ski retreat, held at Green
Lake, WI. It is designed to give high
school and middle school students a
time to be spiritually recharged at the
school year’s midpoint through having
a great time with friends and adults
skiing, swimming and joining in worship.
Speaker and Worship:
This year we are blessed to have
Ray Fritz from Andover, MN. He will
be sharing truth with us while Evan
Posey and Davis Harwell from
Covington, GA lead us in worship.
We will also have breakout times for
church groups to meet together following the main sessions.
Cost: $130 (covers rooming, food,
programming) plus skiing, snowboarding and water park costs. For more
information and a registration form go
to www.skwim. org. This can also be
accessed through the GRR website at
www.abcgrr.org.
Area 4 Youth
Rock Holiday Inn!
Area 4 youth converged on the
Mount Vernon Holiday Inn for the first
annual X-Conference. This conference was held September 5-6, 2008.
Friday night featured “Two Empty
Chairs” leading in worship and Jason
McLeod from Facing the Giants bringing the message to area youth anxious
to hear.
Saturday included more fantastic
music and Jason continuing share with
those present the need for God in their
lives. (Continued on page 4)
GRR Changes E-Mail
and Web Addresses
Family Is Growing!
The new general e-mail address for
the GRR is [email protected]. Those
who have offices in the GRR Resource
Center:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
The 4 Regional Associates - Revs.
Henson, Ricks, McNeely & Johnson
have not changed their e-mail addresses.
The web site of the GRR is now
www.abcgrr.org. Look familiar? It’s
the same address, but with the hyphen
(dash) removed.
E-mail and web sites are just two of
the ways that the ABC GRR challenges,
empowers, assists and represents
American Baptist Churches in Illinois
and Missouri. This publication - The
Mainstream - as well as meetings by
appointment with church leaders and
pastoral staffs, telephone conversations,
mail, and even fax are tools that the
GRR Staff uses in these efforts.
The web site, www.abcgrr.org, is a
place that our churches - pastors and
church members - go to find News,
Opportunities, Reflections, and
Connections for Growing Healthy
Churches. It functions as an online
directory, calendar, file cabinet of
resources (static and interactive), video
library (interviews, sermons, and workshops), and event registration tool. Try it
out. Be one of the 2,500 who will use it
this month.
First Baptist Church, Carbondale,
IL Welcomes: Marcy Kerr and Nick
Mitchell
The Mainstream
November 2008 No.2
First Baptist Church, East Moline,
IL Welcomes: Dean Spillum and
Katie Spillum
Second Baptist Church, Kansas
City, MO Welcomes: Marcus
Harris, Alexander Harris, Daniel
Harris, Cheryl Harris, David
Harris, Jayden Burkes, Gayle
Gladney, Shawana Gladney, Akira
Gladney, Crystal Davis, Sharon
Cunningham, Earnest Campbell,
Crystal Sanderson, Michelle Adkins,
Leroy Huggins, Barbara Allen,
Janice Rollins-Reed, Tiffany Diggs,
Michelle Goudeau, Marva Thomas,
Ayanna Gladney, Anthony Stillwell,
Sarah Updyke, Paul Cowley, Gale
Cowley, Zaria Cowley, Patricia
Williams, Lee Stamps, III, Frances
Howard, Sophia Howard, Vernon
Howard, III, Jajuan Howard, Dwayne
Lewis, Helen Lewis, Jimmiel Finley,
Kenyetta Finley, Melissa WaltonJones, Lester Jones, David Rentie,
Lorraine Rentie, and Daina Rentie
Mainstream Contact
Information
Linda Ricks
232 Devron Circle
Telephone: (217) 726-7366 Fax: (217) 726-7566
web: www.abcgrr.org
GRR Calendar
Consecration Sunday
Asking the question
of our Lord, “What
percentage of my
income would you
have me give?” has
prompted spiritual
revival in churches.
Their members have
found God really
answers this question. God does guide and encourage
us to take steps of faith.
Consecration Sunday is a program,
developed and refined by Herb Miller,
that starts with a church prayerfully
discerning if God is leading them
to use this program. All GRR Staff
ministers are trained in the program
and are a great resource for guiding
a church’s leadership in this discernment process. Should the church discern that God is leading the church to
use this resource, each staff minister
is available to serve as consultant and
speaker in the process.
The GRR web site has several testimonies of pastors whose churches
have used this discipleship program.
Go to www.abcgrr/stewardship/.
The basic process: 1. Learning
& Discerning whether to use the
resource; 2. Church approval; 3.
Invitation of outside consultant and
speaker; 4. Doing it “by the book”; 5.
Inviting all of the congregation to a
catered Consecration Sunday Meal; 6.
Leaders’ dinner one... (cont p. 2)
January
March
FBC Edwardsville IL
Jacksonville FBC
Normal, IL
April
May
28 - Church for All Generations
with Edward H. Hammett
FBC Bloomington, IL
week prior; 7. Consecration Sunday
with outside speaker; 8. Presentation
of members’ responses to God’s
answer to the question What percentage of my income would you
have me give?; 9. Celebration lunch
after worship
to celebrate
what God
is doing
through
the church
whose members commit
to be in step
with God’s
leading.
Richard Ricks leads in the
Consecration of Giving dur- For more
ing worship at First Baptist information
Church of Bloomington IL.
call or e-mail
the GRR
Associate Minister assigned to your
Area.
Raritan Baptist Celebrates
150 Years of Worship &
Mission
On Sunday, November 16, Raritan
Baptist Church welcomed former
members and pastors - and pastors’
children - as the church celebrated
its 150 years.
FBC Jerseyville, IL
Installs New Pastor
The congregation of First Baptist
Church, Jerseyville, IL held the
installation
of their new
pastor, Rev.
Rick Church,
on Sunday,
November 16,
2008.
Dr. John
Grisham,
Regional
Associate
Minister serving Area II, preached
the message in the morning worship
service.
Following the service, a dinner
and reception were held. Local pastors and community leaders brought
greetings.
Rev. Church comes to Jerseyville
from Santa Cruz, CA. He was
ordained in 1992. Rev. Church
received his masters degree from
the American Baptist Seminary of
the West in Berkley, CA and did
additonal graduate work at Fuller
and Golden Gate Baptist Seminaries.
Rev. Church is currently enrolled in
doctoral studies at Northern Baptist
Seminary.
Rev. Church and his wife, Marilou
are the parents of six daughters.
The church congregation and the
new pastor are looking forward to
ministry that emphasizes worship,
discipleship, and developing a servant lifestyle in the lives of its members.
There are scholarship programs
in the Great Rivers Region to assist
young people who are members
of Great Rivers Region American
Baptist Churches to help with college and/or seminary education
costs.
Scholarships for any college
student (regardless of major) or
seminary student are available from
the Gernenz-Shurtleff / Wilcoxen
Scholarship.
Ministerial students attending
ABC-related schools and seminaries in preparation for ministry can
also apply for the Harold O. Long
Scholarship. All applications must
be received in the GRR office by
April 1, 2009.
Harvest Grants
Harvest Grants are intended
to empower and encourage churches to “open their eyes” to the fields
all around them during 2009. These
matching grants can be used by
GRR churches for just about any
evangelistic effort. Our operational
definition of an “evangelistic effort”
is any program, activity, or event
directed to those outside the
church and including an intentional invitation to Christian discipleship.
To get a packet, including application, call the GRR or download it
from http://www.abcgrr.org/evangelism/Harvest_Grants_2009.pdf
2008-2009 Gernenz-Shurtleff
& Wilcoxen Scholarship
Recipients
Chuck Bosworth, Brian Hodge,
Brandon Rhea, Steven Lilja, Reid
Ackerman, Rukiya Anthony, Daniel
Baltz, Zachary Bansner, Amy
Barringer, Whitney Benefiel, Ryan
Bressner, Megan Brown, Angelica
Bruce, Jan Byrd, Carol Byrd,
Antoine Charlier, James Combs,
Alicia Comfort, Clint Davis, Nathan
Elder, Morgan Fulton, Katie Galle,
Ryan Hagan, Elizabeth Harkness,
Sarah Harkness, Amanda Harwood,
Jordan Haycock, Cheryl Hodge,
Chayla Hurd, Lindsey Hueter, Tyler
Hyndman, Hayley Jackson, Jayme
Karenko, Ashley Kaytor, Kyle
Keever, Caitlyn Knight, Michelle Law,
Jerika Long, Sentirenla Longkumer,
Derek Maninfior, Jeremy Nelsen,
Luke Nelsen, Sarah Olson, Sabrina
Park, Katherine Parker, Victoria
Poulter, Geoffrey Reiter, Karen
Ricks, Nathaniel Rohrsen, Bethany
Rollet, Clayton Smith, Rachel
Street, Rebekah Street, Brooke
Stull, Elizabeth Surbeck, Stephanie
Swigert, Morgan Taylor, Kevin VanOs,
Dustin Walker, Rikki Weger, Rebecca
Wiegand, Brian Wilmert, Cynthia
Winch, Russell Zehr, Krista Ziebarth
2008 – 2009 Harold O. Long
Scholarship Recipients
Wade Allen, Jonathan Foiles, David
Rogers, and Paul Rollet
GRR Changes E-Mail
and Web Addresses
The Mainstream
Family Is Growing!
The general e-mail address for the
GRR is [email protected]. Those who
have offices in the GRR Resource
Center:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
First Baptist Church, Greenville,
IL Welcomes: Tyler Sharp, Robert
(Tom) Leihser, Brenda Leihser,
Kimberly Bone, Jeffrey Boland,
Christine Boland, Joseph Boland,
and Michael Boland
Regional Associates - Revs. Henson,
Ricks, McNeely & Johnson - have not
changed their e-mail addresses.
The web site of the GRR is now
www.abcgrr.org. Look familiar? It’s
the same address, but with the hyphen
(dash) removed.
E-mail and web sites are just two of
the ways that the ABC GRR challenges,
empowers, assists and represents
American Baptist Churches in Illinois
and Missouri. This publication - The
Mainstream - as well as meetings by
appointment with church leaders and
pastoral staffs, telephone conversations,
mail, and even fax are tools that the
GRR Staff uses in these efforts.
The web site, www.abcgrr.org, is a
place that our churches - pastors and
church members - go to find News,
Opportunities, Reflections, and
Connections for Growing Healthy
Churches. It functions as an online
directory, calendar, file cabinet of
resources (static and interactive), video
library (interviews, sermons, and workshops), platform for just-in-time learning,
and event registration tool. Try it out.
Be one of the 2,500 who will use it this
month.
New Vision Baptist Church of
the Living God, Kansas City,
MO Welcomes: Kim Richardson,
Kenneth Murray, and Jaedren
Murray
First Baptist Church, Jerseyville,
IL Welcomes: Gordon Wilson
Beverly Wilson, and Trent Mizulski
Warder Street Baptist Church,
Marion, IL Welcomes: Robert Cox
and Homer Robinson
Elliott Avenue Baptist Church,
Springfield, IL Welcomes: Dawna
Stone, Cassidy Haynes, LaMarco
Donald, LaDarius Donald, Selena
Harris, Shadow Cook, Nate
Williamson and Linda Williamson
Mainstream Contact
Information
Linda Ricks
232 Devron Circle
Telephone: (217) 726-7366 Fax: (217) 726-7566
Email: [email protected] Web: www.abcgrr.org
December 2008
web: www.abcgrr.org
GRR Calendar
Merry Christmas
January
From the
March
Great Rivers Region Staff
FBC Edwardsville IL
Jacksonville FBC
Normal, IL
April
May
28 - Church for All Generations
with Edward H. Hammett
FBC Bloomington, IL
Dwight Stinnett
John Grisham
Cheryl Henson
Richard Ricks
Randy McNeely
Muriel Johnson
Candy Stivers
Sharon Downs
Downs
Debbie Naugle
Roland Sundberg
Mike Henson
Linda Ricks
Carl Cottingham
Wayne Rogers
News From Our
Executive
Minister
“Open your eyes
and look at the
fields...they are ripe
for harvest!” (John 4:35) This biblical challenge provided the basis for
the theme of “Harvest Time” at the
annual meeting
of Great Rivers
Region churches in October. It
also will provide the focus for regional emphasis in 2009.
Each of the GRR Areas will explore
the theme in their own unique way
through their Area meetings in
February and March. The GRR
Mission Conference (April 24-25)
will challenge us with “Harvest Time:
Here, There and Everywhere.” For
the first time, the GRR Mission
Conference will include a track exclusively for young adults. This event is
being designed by our own eXtreme
Team veterans. Finally, there will
be a special GRR workshop with Dr.
Eddie Hammett to help churches
“Reach People Under 40 While
Keeping People Over 60.” The workshop (May 28), for both pastors and
lay leaders, will not only highlight one
of the key challenges churches face
today, it will provide practical suggestions for success in this crucial “field.”
The DesPeres Legacy makes the
Hammett workshop possible.
In addition to these events, there
will be two regional resources to
challenge, assist and empower
churches in their harvest work.
In 2008 we offered an experimental Intern Grant Program. It was a
great success, with nearly a dozen
churches taking advantage of matching grants to do something new.
Thanks to the DesPeres Legacy,
these grants will be continued in
2008 with some modifications. While
the funds are limited, these grants
will make it possible for churches to
try something they have never done
before.
Harvest Grants is another matching grant program. These grants can
be used by GRR churches for just
about any evangelistic effort during
2009. The operational definition of
an “evangelistic effort” is any program, activity, or event directed
to those outside the church and
including an intentional invitation
to Christian discipleship.
These special GRR events and
services are intended to challenge,
empower and assist churches to
“open their eyes and look at the
fields.”
I cannot enjoy the harvest of fresh
fruits and vegetables by staying in
the barn and polishing the equipment; or reading a farm magazine; or
watching a video of an extraordinary
harvest in another place. I can only
harvest by working hard to prepare
the soil, choosing and planting good
seed, tending to growing plants, and
only then, the harvest. I must look to
my own field.
The same is true of churches.
What “field” has God given you?
Dwight Stinnett
Note: To get a Harvest Grant packet, including application, call the GRR
or download it from http://www.abcgrr.org/evangelism/Harvest_Grants_
2009.pdf
2009 Camping Season
Schedule Available
Looking for a way to support camping in your church? Here are some
ideas.
> Give your church a full or partial
scholarship as a Christmas gift to
help the church send another camper from the community to camp.
> Start praying and recruiting children and youth from your community and church to go to camp this
coming summer.
> Put a Camping Sunday on your
church calendar. Invite an alumnus
or camp manager to say a word or
two, perhaps show a video.
> Invite one of those who went to
camp last year to talk about her / his
experience.
For more information, including
dates of camps: www.abcgrr.org/
grrcamps/index.htm
A Chance Encounter
One week a month, the senior
ladies and Charlie at Bethel
Neighborhood Center make pillows
for Cancer Action clients and empathy dolls for patients at Children’s
Mercy Hospital. We needed more
unbleached muslin for the empathy
dolls so, on a Saturday afternoon,
I went to the Hancock Fabric Store
to buy a bolt of material. With very
few customers in the store, the clerk
asked me what I would be doing
with so much material. I explained
that the muslin would be used
to make dolls for the children at
Children’s Mercy Hospital.
Immediately, a lady who had walked
up behind me began to almost shout,
“Oh, thank you! Thank you! My three
year old shut a door on her finger this
week. We rushed her to Children’s
Mercy. They gave her a doll and she
loved it. Now she sleeps with it every
night. Don’t ever stop making those
dolls.”
The clerk was amazed and mentioned how ironic it was for both of us
to be at her register at the same time.
The lady said, it is even more strange.
I live in southern Johnson County, but
was in the area for the Apple Fest and
stopped at this store on my way home.
Once again God winks!
Elaine Mills
Taken from “Around & About”
FBC Kansas City, MO
There are scholarship programs
in the Great Rivers Region to assist
young people who are members of
Great Rivers Region American Baptist
Churches to help with college and/or
seminary education costs.
(regardless of major) or seminary student are available from the GernenzShurtleff / Wilcoxen Scholarship.
Box 3786, Springfield, IL 62708, or
email [email protected]

2008 - ABc/GRR

Transcription

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