2018 Annual Gathering: Church Highlight Pages

It was so GREAT to see last years’ highlights sent by churches to be included in the Annual Gathering Program Book. Last year we asked for churches' highlights of the 50 years we celebrated as a Region. Your great response has led us to request this again this year.

If your church would like to be involved, please submit one paragraph describing a particular highlight(s) that took place along with a photo/photos depicting that highlight, keeping it to one page giving each church in the GRR the opportunity to share a specific highlight to be published in our Program Book this year.

This is a way to reach out to our other churches and let them see what has been going on in our Region.

Please submit your paragraph/photo(s) NO LATER THAN August 6th .

Send to debbie@abcgrr.org

Thank you. We look forward to your highlights.

COMSAO Interview Dates Updated

Please note the changes on the COMSAO page or on the GRR online calendar.

Annual Gathering and Ministers Conference 2018

Save the Dates (GRR Online Calendar): Ministers Conference - September 27 - and Annual Gathering - September 28 - 29, Bloomington IL. Get to know our speakers David Fitch and Shane Claiborne

Check out the Area I Meeting

April 28, Blackhawk Baptist Camp hosts beginning at 9:30 with registration. Program with Rev. Muriel Johnson begins at 10:00 a.m. Theme: Working, Not Weary

For more information, e-mail Rev. John Kress, Assistant Area I Minister.

Centralia First Baptist Church will host and co-sponsor "Mandated Reporting Policies" on May 9.

Join Michael Lukaszewski in Grow Healthy, a workshop for pastors and church leaders, hosted by Decatur First Baptist Church May 18 and 19. Free to participate. Download information | Form to fill out, then scan or fax. Details on form. Ron French, host pastor, "This workshop is intended to help churches consider their vision and mission and develop a strategy unique to their situation that will help them grow and blossom as lights in their community." Read more in the March 26 issue of The Mainstream.

If you have any questions, please call the First Baptist Church and ask for Pastor Ron, 217-875-8034, or e-mail him at revfrench@comcast.net

Sturgis Mission

The ABC Emergency Services Center mission project will be open August 4 - 12 during the Black Hills Motorcycle Rally in and around Sturgis, South Dakota. Prayerfully consider this opportunity as a church. Here is flyer for your consideration.

Walter Brueggemann will headline "Space for Grace 2018: Thy Will Be Done", an initiative of the American Baptist Home Mission Societies, November 14 - 16 in Philadelphia. Find out more.

Helping our Puerto Rico Sister Churches

Check out the Initiative Announced:

Press Release | Covenant | Registration Form

Churches, prayerfully consider this much needed mission.

Read Pastoral letter of the General Secretary of the ABC USA focuses on our response to outbreaks of violence in our country and elsewhere.

Rebuilding Puerto Rico.

Read Paul Gibson's update of concern for Puerto Rico

See update in the February 22 edition of The Mainstream

How to help? Pray! Give to One Great Hour of Sharing! 100% of your financial gift will go to those affected. The abc-usa.org site has more information and contact information. You may make an online donation by clicking on this direct link at the American Baptist Home Mission Societies site.

Check out the America For Christ 2018 Video, "Making God Known"

Transform Your World Through Creation Care

Join IM staff Young Adult Experience June 19 - July 8, 2018 , missionaries, and Costa Rican brothers and sisters in sustainable farming and construction practices, learn about the state of a country pioneering creation care,..(Is this for you? Read more, page 3 of the January 26 edition of The Mainstream)

For you reflection and planning browse the Parish Paper and Growth Point articles, sent to churches by e-mail and archived on this web site.

Concerned About Online Security and Safety?

The internet has given us many tools that we can use to strengthen our faith and ministries. However, be safe and secure when you surf the web, use faceBook and other social media, e-mail, text, etc. In the first of a series of articles, Richard Ricks (web master for the sites of the ABC GRR) lists dangers "out there" that our users will encounter, if they have not yet done so. Follow up articles will be found on the "tech" section of this site.