From Paul Gibson via e-mail to churches and pastors on October 15:
Dear Friends: I have a few things that I want to share with you that are important for us.
- At our annual gathering in Bloomington we made a big decision. We decided to go to a biennial instead of an annual meeting. That means our next gathering will be in Sept 2020.
- We also changed the number of Board officers. We now will only have a president and a vice-president. We removed the second vice-president and changed the term of office to two years. Our three ministry committees remain the same.
Our new president is David Bilyeu, pastor at FBC Greenville.
Our vice president is Claudia McCain, retired pastor from FBC Macomb (currently serving as interim pastor at FBC Macomb.
- In May of 2019, 2021, and 2023, we will be sponsoring a conference with Northern Seminary and Judson University. It is called the REsource conference, and will be held in Bloomington, May 9-11, 2019. Plan now to attend this great gathering.
- Our region voted to accept a new ministry to officially be affiliated with ABCGRR. That ministry is the American Baptist Jail Ministry, also known as the Cook County Jail Ministry. They have ministry at the Cook County jails, Livingston County Jail, Danville State Penitentiary, and the penitentiary outside Joliet. If you receive any info from them, just know that they are now an official ministry partner with ABCGRR. We are proud to be involved with this great ministry.
So many good things happened at our gathering in Bloomington that I really don’t have the space to mention them all. The speakers were tremendous, but I want to share something they shared with me. Both Tony and Shane made this same comment, “wow, your missionaries are tremendous. If this is what the ABC is about, there is great hope for American Baptists”.
Needless to say, I was proud. Well, I don’t know if you made it this far into the letter. If you did, I want you to know that I appreciate you and your ministry. And as always, be rightly related to God and find your joy there, and out of you will flow rivers of living water. Be a vessel that God can pour His love through. LET IT FLOW.
October: Pastor Appreciation Month, a special season for showing gratitude to . . .
Your pastor
Your GRR Minister and Associate Ministers
Our Global Servants / missionaries around the world
In the Newest Edition of The Mainstream . .
Regional Minister Paul Gibson looks back at highlights of our recent annual gathering, the Rivers Growth Conference
Sampling of Pictures from the Ministers Conference and Rivers Growth Conference
Church Revitalization Initiative
Announcement of REsource 2019
Rivers Growth Conference
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. Registration now open.
Helping our Puerto Rico Sister Churches
American Baptist Home Mission Societies: Personnel Hired to Support ‘Rebuilding, Restoring, Renewing Puerto Rico'
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.
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"
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.
GRReat Offering Information and Materials
