American Baptist Churches of the Great Rivers Region
October 2007 No. 1 Email: grrabc@abc-grr.org web: www.abc-grr.org
2007
October 12-13 -Face To Face FBC Anderson, IN
October 13 -Lake Benton Decommissioning Service
November 9-11 - ABY Gathering, "Justified Through Faith" Third Baptist Church, St. Louis
December 15 -Blackhawk Christmas Camp K-5th Grade
2008
February 23 -Area IV Annual Meeting, Centrailia, 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 25-26 -GRR Missions Conference hosted by Cherry Hills Baptist
Speaker:
Rev. Muriel Johnson
Praise & Worship Band:
Rolling Prairie Praise Band
Concerts Performed By:
Before Summer Ends
Cost: $50.00 for youth $40.00 for adults (Add $10 per person after 10-21-07)
Diane DeSmidt was elected President of the Region. She serves as pastor of First Baptist Church of Virden, IL
Reid Trulson, Executive Director of American Baptist International Ministries, was the guest preacher for the weekend. On Saturday evening, he preached about the problem of human trafficking and our ABC Mission response to it.
The 4 Sopranos shared a concert of gospel music on Friday evening.
At the Mission Banquet Victoria Goff, National Coordinator of Volunteer Ministries, presents Dwight Stinnett and the GRR a plaque, recognizing the GRR’s work in the Baptist Blitz Build in the Gulf States in April 2007.
Dan Ford from Elliott Avenue Baptist Church, Springfield, IL was the convention song leader. He also provided special music.
There were two special offerings received during the GRR Annual Meeting in Decatur. During the Saturday morning service GRReat Churches were invited to bring a special offering for mission and ministry in the Great Rivers Region. This offering will support the full range of regional mission and ministry such as search committee consultation, ministerial training, congregational education, mission opportunities, conferences, and camping. GRReat Churches are committed to C.A.R.E. for one another: Challenge, Assist, Represent, and Empower. $2,267.00 was given in this offering!
During the Saturday evening session, an offering was received for GRR Gulf Coast Projects. The GRR continues to be active in helping residents of the Gulf Coast recover from the hurricane devastation. Plans are already being made for a Baptist Blitz Build in 2008 in cooperation with Habitat for Humanity. In fact, there is a challenge for the GRR to raise enough to build a Habitat House! $1,541.00 was given for this offering. Thank you GRR!
First Baptist Church Champaign at Savoy, IL Welcomes: Melanie Evans and Virginia 'Ginger' Tomlinson.
First Baptist Church, Greenville, IL Welcomes: Molly Jenkins, Casey Melton, Faith O’Brian, Alison Bourgeois, Carley Hall, Allison Bohannon, Taylor Gerdes, Stefanie Caulk, and Carissa Frerker
First Baptist Church, Highland, IL Welcomes: Dee Schroer, Chris Goodall, Carrie Goodall, Jim Brown, and Gloria Brown
First Baptist Church, Mahomet, IL Welcomes: Jack Ware and Carol Ware
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: Ricks4LR@insightbb.com
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: grrabc@abc-grr.org Web: www.abc-grr.org