The Mainstream
News of Ministry and Mission
American Baptist Churches of the Great Rivers Region
March 2008 No. 2 Email: grrabc@abc-grr.org web: www.abc-grr.org
GRR Calendar
March 28-29 - Oasis: Area 1 ABW Retreat at Stronghold
March 29 -AB Men's Disaster Relief Leadership Team Lake Springfield Baptist Camp
April 5 - AB Men's Disaster Relief Spring Training Work Day Grace Baptist Church,
Kansas City, MO and Blackhawk Baptist Camp
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 Lake Springfield Baptist Camp
April 22 - 25: Fanning the Flame, A National Pastor's Renewal Conference
April 25-26 -GRR Missions Conf. Cherry Hills Baptist
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
- More Campers
- Directors and Counselors
- Offerings in support of GRR camps
- Prayer for all who participate and all who provide leadership for GRR camping
Great Rivers Region Missions
Conference
Cherry Hills Baptist Church Springfield, IL 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.
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, Nicaragua-Carol & Dave Matheson
Christian Center of Anadarko-
Ben Sullivan
Costa Rica Partnership-
Gary Baits Democratic Republic of Congo-
Wendy 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
Mission Projects: Used Book 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 jacksmith@grics.net or by calling 815284-6156; with Paul Webb (for Kansas City) at paulville2@sbcglobal.net or at 816-505--0619 ; with Mac Shotwell (for Springfield) at macs@warpnet.net or 217-241-4048.
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
GRR Clergy Spouses
April 18-19, 2008 Lake Springfield Baptist Camp “The Song In Your Heart” Ardys Carpenter - Retreat Leader
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@comcast.net
Our Great Rivers Region Baptist Family Is Growing!
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
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 Ricks4lr@comcast.net (The letter after the 4 is an L not a 1)
Richard Ricks -Regional Associate Minister Serving Area III
revrick4@comcast.net
Cheryl Henson -Regional Associate Minister Serving Area I
area1grr@comcast.net
Mike Henson -Camps Property Manager
mthenson@comcast.net
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