The Mainstream

GRR Calendar
May
10	Clean Up Day at Lake Springfield Baptist Camp
17	Dedication of Baptist Blitz Blitz Build Homes
24	Open House - Lake Springfield Baptist Camp
31	Boundaries Professional Ethics Course: East Peoria First Baptist Church
31	Clean Up Day at Blackhawk Baptist Camp
	June
6 - 8	AB Womens Ministries Conference - Lake Williamson Retreat Center Carlinville, IL

16 - 21 - Great American Baptist Bike Ride Across IL

Volunteers for the Baptist Blitz Build began their work last week. Those

from Area IV working the first week are pictured above. More than 200 volunteers have signed on to help build 11 houses for 11 deserving families on the Gulf Coast in the 2008 Blitz Build in Baton Rouge, La., April 28 – May 17. 2008. The Blitz Build began with a blessing of houses on Monday, April 28. The GRR have 73

volunteers including those from Area IV. Two volunteers from the Costa Rica Baptist Federation and Gary Baits, a missionary with American Baptist International Ministries on U.S. and Puerto Rico assignment, were sponsored by the GRR. A dedication of the homes on Saturday, May 17 will conclude the project.

There are several churches in Area 4 that are making significant differences in their communities but none more so than Mighty RiversRegional Worship Center (CairoBaptist Church). To say that this congregation reaches out and makes a difference in their community would be an understatement.

· Red Cross Blood Drive held six (6) times a year in the Activity Center.

· Flu shots administered each October in the Activity Center.

· “Heart Smart for Women” conduct ed each Wednesday January -April in JC’s Hall.

· Sheriff’s appreciation dinner held annually in the JC hall.

· Girl Scout cookie Distribution Day annually in JC hall.

· Upward Basketball, a sports min istry outreach from November to March, over the past nine years. Serving 192 children and families from 41 churches and the nonchurched in the Activities Center.

· Activities Center is open daily for people to come in and walk.

· Community announcements on the

· Annual trip to Wisconsin to the Kalahari resort for adults and youth.

· Trips to Branson on “Ole Blue”.

· Live broadcast of the morning wor ship service since May of 1963.

· Sunday lunch served in the church fellowship hall.

Rev. Larry Potts has been the pastor since May of 1960. His leadership has established within the congregation a mindset that ministry begins in the local community and works its way outward. Many of these outreach ministries involve many volunteers and countless hours (especially Upward basketball).

If you are looking for a worship experience that will lift your spirit then Mighty Rivers Regional Worship Center is the place.

Brian Romanowski Ordained

The First Baptist Church ofMahomet, IL held a service of ordination for their pastor, BrianRomanowski on Sunday April 27, 2008.

Rev. Dr. Malcom Shotwell preached the message. Rev. Dr. Richard Ricks led in the the vows of ordination and the presentation of the certificate. A reception was held following the service.

The Great American Bike Ride Across Illinois is for anyone who enjoys biking and wants to support New Church Development. Participants will bike about 250 miles across north-central Illinois.

The ride begins June 16 at First Baptist Church, Marseilles, IL and ends at Moline, IL on June 21.

The purpose of this ride is to raise money and awareness to aid in planting new churches. Each rider should seek out people to pledge money on a per mile, per day, or whole ride basis. One hundred percent of the money raised will go into planting new churches.

For more information or to donate to this mission see the regional website www.abc-grr.org or contact Max Klinkenborg at the regional office (217

-726 - 7366 or max@abc-grr.org.)

Our Great Rivers Region Baptist Family Is Growing!

University Baptist Church, Champaign, IL Welcomes:

Heloisa Alves, Erik Potter, Peter Ferrans, Vicki Vieira, and Danielle Beard

First Baptist Church, Olney, IL Welcomes: Madalyn Parr, Savannah Parr, Elizabeth Harmon, Terrilynne Majors, Deborah Benstine, and Jamie Lofton

First Baptist Church, Plano, IL Welcomes: Paul Mason

First Baptist Church, White Hall , IL Welcomes: Randi Stone, Arika Hull, Jocelyn Myers, Dylan Whicker, Jordan Whicker, Morgan Winters, Wesley Teno, Eriq Gaige, Logan Davidson, and Michael Seymoure.

Send your stories of mission and ministry. Please also send the names of new members (the fruit of this mission and ministry) to:

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