The Mainstream
News of Ministry and Mission
American Baptist Churches of the Great Rivers Region
August 27, 2008 Email: grrabc@abc-grr.org web: www.abc-grr.org
John 4: “Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”
Keynote Speaker:
Mylinda Baits - Missionary Partner in Costa Rica with her husband Gary and their children.
Schedule
Friday Evening:
Youth Ministry Team Christian Comedian - Charles Marshall
Saturday:
Worship with Mylinda Bates Workshops GRR Mission Banquet - Costa Rica
Saturday Evening: “Emerging Voices”
Sunday Morning – Worship with Mylinda Baits
Hotel Accomodations
The Holiday Inn Convention Center has changed ownership. The new name of the Convention Center is, “The Fifth Season.” The only change is that hotel reservations must be made directly at 309-762-8811, the hotel reservations desk. YOU MUST USE “AMERICAN BAPTIST” WHEN MAKING RESERVATIONS TO GET THE PRICE BREAK. Do not use the online Holiday Inn website or the 800 Holiday Inn number. Deadline to register for a hotel room remains September 3.
To register or for more information: www.abc-grr.org or 217-726-7366
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, counseing psychologist practicing in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania
Worship Leader: Rev. Cheri Grizzard
Preachers: Dr. Leroy Mitchell and Dr. Terry Minchow-Proffitt
Reflections of Camp
On the Way” was our theme for the 2008 Great Rivers Region Camping season. It was a great year and we truly were on the way to bringing children, youth and adults closer to Christ. We had over 750 campers this year in our Regional program. In one camp alone we had reports of 22 first time decisions made to follow Christ and 15 indicated their desire to be baptized.
In one of the most exciting camps, we had an equal number of Karen children (Asian) and American children at the camp. The first day each group was a little wary of each other. The language barrier seem insurmountable, but by day two they were all good friends and by the end of the week they didn’t want to leave their new found friends. Camp is more than just getting back to nature. It is building new relationships, deepening values, developing life skills and independence. It is life changing and has eternal significance. We even had one camper give up a trip to Six Flags Amusement Park to come to camp!
Just as you have seen food costs and energy costs rise so has the camps. Food costs were up about 20%. Even though summer camp is over, the camps still have expenses to meet through the rest of the year. Lake Springfield needs about $5,000 in new funding revenue to subsidize their budget. While Blackhawk Camp should finish with a positive balance, their church donations are down about $5,000 so far this year. Please consider what your end of the year gift to our camping ministry will be. Continue to pray for the many campers who made decisions and will be following up with baptism in their local church. “Camp Tee-Shirt $10, Camp photo $5, Camp scholarship $230,
camper’s life changed for Christ
– PRICELESS”
Rev. Dr. Cheryl Henson
“Take It To Town”
Volunteers Spread
Across Carlinville
From Catholic Charities to the county fairgrounds, Carlinville High School to Camp Weyanah, members and friends of the Carlinville Federated Church infiltrated all types of local organizations Saturday, June 14th with one mission: to lend a hand.
In all, more than 80 people volunteered at 15 sites as part of “Take it to Town,” a project started by the church five years ago. “We want to help the community,” said Federated member Pete Genta, who served as site coordinator for painting and repairs done at the American Legion Hall. “As a church, that’s what we’re supposed to do, and that’s what we like to do.
Workers weeding the garden at Carlinville Rehabilitation Center
“It’s a great way to take the church to the community,” said Steve Nicholson, a Federated member and project coordinator. “It’s like a mini mission trip. There’s always something to be done.”
The church has a committee which contacts local organizations that might need help throughout the year,” Nicholson said. “After projects are picked, site coordinators are assigned based on their abilities.”
As volunteers sign up in the weeks before the day of the project, they are contacted by site coordinators to inform them of the work and preparation needed at each site. People of all ages and abilities are welcomed to participate. This year’s event included participants from elementary school students to senior citizens.
Cleaning at the Food Pantry
“There’s a lot of appreciation from the groups we help out. We’re not doing it for that purpose, though,” said Pastor Jeff Johnson. “Our mission is to be the hands and feet of Christ in our community.”
(Much of the above article was written by Dan Armstrong, a reporter for the South County News, and a member of the Federated Church. This article is submitted with the permission of the newspaper.)
GRR Calendar
September
Aug. 29 - Sept. 1 -- Family Camp Lake Springfield Baptist Camp
5-6 - Area IV & V Youth X Conference
Holiday Inn Mt. Vernon, IL
5 - 7 - Area I Senior High Retreat Blackhawk Camp
11 - Sacred Boundaries Course Creekwood Baptist Church Rockford, IL
19 - 20 - Junior High Weekend Lake Springfield Baptist Camp
19 - 21 - Area I Junior High Retreat Blackhawk Camp
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
24 -25 - Face To Face First Baptist Church New Castle, Indiana
Our Great Rivers Region Baptist Family Is Growing!
First Baptist Church, Hillsboro, IL Welcomes: Laura Seago
First Baptist Church, Mahomet, IL Welcomes: Jacqueline Kay Mills
Old Stonington Baptist Church, Stonington, IL Welcomes: Ben Hogge, Patrick Hogge, David Hogge, Leslie Jackson, Sandy Moffett, and Tobi Moffett
First Baptist Church, Dixon, IL Welcomes: Brenda Voss and Richard Wilson (pictured below being baptized in his hospital room by Rev. Bunyan Cocar, co-pastor,
FBC Dixon, IL)
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