The Mainstream
News of Ministry and Mission
American Baptist Churches of the Great Rivers Region
January 2008 No. 2 Email: grrabc@abc-grr.org web: www.abc-grr.org
GRR Calendar
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 Lake Springfield Baptist Camp
May 17 -Boundaries Professional 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
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.
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.
Area I
Friday, February 29 - Judson University Fine Arts Auditorium Saturday, March 1 - Elgin First Baptist Church
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.
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.
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.
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 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, 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: Sharon@abc-grr.org
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 East Peoria, IL 61611 E-Mail: Ricks4LR@insightbb.com
Our Great Rivers Region Baptist Family Is Growing!
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!
First Baptist Church, Belleville, IL 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
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