The Mainstream
News of Ministry and Mission
American Baptist Churches of the Great Rivers Region
September 2008 No. 2 Email: grrabc@abc-grr.org web: www.abc-grr.org
GRR Calendar
October
3 -GRR Ministers Conference The Fifth Season Conv. Center Moline, IL
3 - 5 - GRR Annual Meeting at the Fifth Season Convention Center Moline, IL
November
7 - 9 - ABY Gathering, Decatur, IL
2009 Theme - Plant the Harvest
January
16 - 19 -SKWIM at Green Lake
March
14 - Area V Annual Meeting, FBC Edwardsville IL
15 - Area II Annual Meeting Jacksonville FBC
21 - Area IV Annual Meeting First Baptist Church, Benton IL
22 - Area I Annual Meeting First Baptist Church, Ottawa IL
22 - Area III Annual Meeting North Bridge Baptist Church Normal, IL
Harvest Time
2008 GRR Annual Meeting
October 3 - 5, 2008
Fifth Season Convention Center Moline, Illinois
John 4: “Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”
Schedule Friday Evening:
Youth Ministry Team
8:00 PM:
Charles Marshall
Christian Comedian Comedy with a purpose (youth ticket $5.00)
Convention Schedule (continued) Saturday:
Worship with Mylinda Bates
Missionary Serving in Costa Rica
Workshops:
Walk Across the Room (an evangelism approach)
Sharing the Good News in Electronic Form
Who Will Drive the Tractor? - The Broader Field with Gary Baits
GRR Mission Banquet - Focus on Mission: Costa Rica
Saturday Evening: “Emerging Voices”
Sunday Morning – Worship with Mylinda Baits
GRR Ministers Conference
Harvest Time: Self Care For the Worker
Friday October 3, 2008
Fifth Season (formerly Holiday Inn) Convention Center Moline, IL
Presenter: Dr. Yvonne Martinez Thorne -bilingual (English/Spanish) faith-based, counseling psychologist practicing in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvani
Worship Leader: Rev. Cheri Grizzard
Preachers: Dr. Leroy Mitchell and Dr. Terry Minchow-Proffitt
Salem Association Celebrates 175 Years
The Salem Baptist Association celebrated its 175th anniversary during its annual meeting, Sunday, September 21, 2008. The meeting was hosted by First Baptist Church of Macomb. The theme was Remembering the Past, Living in the Present, Looking to the Future.
The churches that make up the Salem Association are Blandinsville, Berwick, Carthage, Bethel Colchester, Macomb, Raritan and Roseville -all in the western part of central Illinois. The anniversary cake pictured below had pictures of all the churches of the association.
Members of the participating congregations shared memories of the Salem Association meetings of the past during the afternoon session.
Dr. Richard Ricks, Regional Associate Minister Serving Area III, brought the evening message.
Marilyn Shelley (center) of Bethel Baptist - Colchester and Claudia McCain (right) of FBC Macomb were program co-chairs. Rev. Wally Holt (left) is pastor of FBC Macomb.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH KANKAKEE DEDICATES NEW BUILDING AND CELEBRATES 150 YEARS
On September 14, 2008, amidst the torrential downpour from remnants of Hurricane Ike, the First Baptist Church of Kankakee, IL celebrated their 150th anniversary and the dedication of their new church building at 1756 W Route 113 in Kankakee, IL. Despite the weather, it was a wonderful day of celebration and worship as 150 people gathered in the new building to praise God.
The guest speaker Rev. Michael Erickson, a pastor in Maryland and former member who grew up in the church, spoke to the rich heritage of the congregation, the wonders of what God is doing in the present, and the promise that the future holds for the next 150 years. The new building sits on 7.5 acres of land and
is nearly 7,500 square feet. It is a flexible space that the congregation hopes to be able to share with the community to do more effective ministry. The church looks forward with excitement to the work that God has in store for the congregation in the upcoming years. Contact the church at fbckankakee@gmail.com or at 815-932-2214. Find more information about the church on its website at firstbaptistkankakee.com.
Submitted by: Jessica Henks, Interim Pastor
Leadership Changes
Incoming
Jason Hladik - Pastor FBC Plano, IL Eric Hunt - Pastor, Old Stonington
Baptist Church, Stonington, IL Paul Etherton - Pastor, FBC Arcola, IL Sean Hicks - Pastor, White Swan
Baptist Church, Woodlawn, IL Floyd Disney, Interim, FBC, Girard, IL Jack Smith - Pastor, Antioch Baptist
Church, Reynolds, IL Steven Newell - Interim, York Baptist Church, Thomson, IL Rick Church - Pastor, FBC Jerseyville, Vernon Howard - Pastor, Second
Baptist Church, Kansas City, MO Delano Benson - Pastor, Antioch Baptist Church Saint Louis, MO
Outgoing
Charles White - Interim, FBC Girard, IL Joshua Melvin - Pastor, Antioch Baptist
Church, Reynolds, IL Kelly Melvin - Associate Pastor, FBC, Galesburg, IL Gerald Phillips - Interim FBC, Jerseyville, IL Pat McKenna, Youth Minister, Cherry Hills, Springfield, IL Wade Allen, Associate Pastor, Central Baptist Church, Springfield, IL Robert Russell - Interim, FBC, Carrollton, IL Delano Benson - Pastor, Pleasant Green Baptist Church, Kansas City, MO
GRR American Baptist Youth Gathering
BRINGIN’ JESUS BACK
John 14:19
November 7-9, 2008 First Baptist Church D Decatur, IL
Speakers: Rev Steve Mechem
J. P. Parrish
Concert by: The Virginia Go
Mission Opportunities & Workshops
Cost: $50.00 Youth $40.00 Youth Leaders
Open to: Youth Grades 8-12 & College Freshmen & Sophomores
The American Baptist Men’s Disaster Relief Teams Urgently Need Volunteers If you can help contact AB Men Leaders
Our Great Rivers Region Baptist Family Is Growing!
First Baptist Church, Moline, IL Welcomes: Plaw Hso Thaw, Cherry San, Heh Nay Htoo, Hei Roh Htoo, Ka Su, Ma Myint, Pa Bi, Pa Si, Htoo Mu Paw, Juni Yar, Ma Than Kyi, Layer Htoo, Shwe Thoung, Hser dee Paw, Htoo Brown, April Paw, Gay Kapaw, Ku Kapaw, Tha Nay Paw, Aller Kyaw, Hsar Htee, Sa Dee, Naw Ta, Thwe Paw, Sunday Paw, Hsa His Hser, Hser Mu Shee, Day Day, Naw Gay Hel, Pah Cher, Saw Paw Klo, Paw Eh Htoo, and Saw Pi Lee.
The new members of First Baptist Church of Moline are Karen refugees from Burma. With the leadership of John and Ruth Peterson who have been serving the church as interim pastors, a Karen worship service has been started.
Many of the Karen who have come to America know Christ because of the mission work started by Adoniram Judson. Once in America, they sought out their fellow Baptists. We are thankful for mission work - both past and present.
Mainstream Contact Information
Send your stories of mission and ministry. Please also send the names of new members (fruit of this mission and ministry) to:
Linda Ricks 232 Devron Circle East Peoria, IL 61611 E-Mail: Ricks4Lr@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