The Mainstream News of Ministry and Mission American Baptist Churches of the Great Rivers Region March 2007 No. 1  Email: grrabc@abc-grr.org web: www.abc-grr.org GRR Calendar March 17 - Area III Annual Meeting FBC Fairbury, IL 18 - Area II Annual Meeting Elliott Avenue Church Springfield, IL 24 - Area IV Annual Meeting FBC Greenville, IL April 21 - Clean Up Day, Lake Springfield Baptist Camp 25 -  Boundaries Course Mt. Vernon, IL FBC May 4-5 - Clergy Spouse Retreat Lake Springfield Baptist Camp 7-9 - Ministers Council Retreat Lake Springfield Baptist Camp 15 - New PCL Rendezvous GRR Resource Center Springfield, IL How are your Vacation Bible School plans coming? The GRR web site will soon post a list of possible VBS mission opportuni- ties. Gulf Coast Mission Plans? Several Great Rivers Region church- es are making plans for volunteer groups to go to the Gulf Coast after Easter.  They will be cooperating with Habitat for Humanity in building hous- es for those displaced by Hurricane Katrina.  John Grisham, Regional Associate Minister of Stewardship & Mission says “I doubt that we have any GRR  precedent for so many from so many churches serving at the same time.”   GRR churches are reaching out to meet this need. Thank you! *  "We have a group from Central Baptist in Springfield, IL that will be going to Gutier, MS the week of April 22nd." from Brett Miles. * Interim Pastor Gerry Phillips sends us this word: "First Baptist Church, Jerseyville, will have four people going to the Baton Rouge area for the second week of the blitz build April 29-May 5. * Third Baptist in St. Louis.  Pastor Warren Hoffman reports, "We will be taking 22 volunteers to the Baton Rouge Habitat project from April 22- 27 * Pastor Jim Wolfe: " FBC Pontiac is going to Ocean Springs, MS April 15-21." Continued on page 2