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Today in the GRR. . .

Have you affirmed your pastor lately? If you have, you have received a blessing. If you haven't yet done so, what about doing something during this month set aside as "Pastor Appreciation Month?"

From Hebrews 3:13: "Encourage one another daily..." Your pastor also could use your encourage-ment. Some ways of expressing this that your GRR Staff have had reported include dinner in her/his honor, love gift of cash/weekend getaway/gift, and celebration of her/his ministry with the church.

What would best express your church's appreciation of him/her?

AB Youth Gathering
November 9 - 11, Third Baptist, St. Louis MO

Special Guest, Rev. Muriel Johnson.
Download Flyer | Registration Form | GRR ABY Web Site

Register now for the 2007 Blackhawk Christmas Camp. Registration is limited to the first 50 children.

Dave Comstock (center) receives a certificate of ordination from Marilyn Wilmert and Ted Awe during Lincoln FBC's ordination service for him on Sunday, October 14.

The Rev. Dave Comstock is associate pastor of Lincoln FBC. He is a recent graduate of the GRR's Regional Ordination Program. Following his completion of the course work, application process, and ordination paper, he was invited to meet with the Council on Ministerial Standing and Ordination. This Council recommended that his church call for an ordination examination council to convene with David. Following that meeting of September 30, the Ordination Council - made up of representa-tives from churches of Area III and chaired by The Rev. Cheri Grizzard (AP, Peoria FBC) - affirmed Lincoln FBC's call to ordain David. The church then scheduled the October 14 service. First Baptist honored Dave and his wife Alice with a reception following the service.

Others who participated in his ordination service included Conner Foster (soloist from FBC), ABM colleagues John Stewart (Pastor, FBC Arthur), Mac Shotwell (ABM Disaster Relief), his pastor Robert Henderson, and Richard Ricks (GRR Associate Minister, Area III). David is President-elect of the GRR ABM. His term starts on January 1, 2008 following outgoing President Cliff Hopwood.

Dave has sensed, and is further preparing for, God's calling into interim ministry.

A Second Blitz with Habitat

There will be a second Baptist Blitz to build at least 5 more houses. This is being planned for April 2008. Our Executive Minister, Dwight Stinnett, is already making personal plans to work on this project. More information is coming soon.

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Thinking about Offering Electronic Giving as an Option for Your Church? Reflect on this as you read this article from Christianity Today.

Support Ministry and Mission of the GRR by giving online.

Video Cast of Month:

Bivocational Ministry, An Affirmation by Randy McNeely

Also: October's Bivocational Ministries Newsletter from Dennis Bickers. Read Dennis' blog.

GRR Pastor
Publishes Book

Jim Wolfe (D.Min, Ph.D), Sr. Pastor of Pontiac FBC has recently had his book American Baptist Women in Pastoral Ministry: A Contemporary Survey, published by Cloverdale.

Rev. Valentine B. Royal-Thomas writes of this book, "Through a tapestry of personal experience, theology, history, and statistics reflecting hope and challenge, Pastor Wolfe compassionately captures and relates the sacred journey of American Baptist Women in Pastoral Ministry."

This book can be purchased by ordering through your local bookstore or online.

John Grisham presents 12 short videos on stewardship by Robert Crandall and Associates. These are well done and appropriate for showing in worship, discipleship venues, and other occassions.

Creative Worship Seminar
March 8, 2008
First Baptist Church Peoria

What is it? View a moment of the actual seminar.

Now Available - The Pastoral Relations Committee Study Course

Find it online at http://www.abcgrr2.org/
pastoral%20relations%
20committee/start.htm

Or, request a self-starting CD by sending an e-mail request to Debbie (debbie@abc-grr.org) There is no charge for this CD for GRR churches and pastors.

New Feature:
Training Opportunities

View a listing of upcoming training opportunities sponsored by GRR churches, clusters, areas, or associations and open to GRR church leaders and/or clergy.

Did you know? If you needed to view again a story that is no longer available on this home page, that you can view past home pages? Use the Archive.

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