Area III: Discipleship Summit
Saturday, March 7, 2015 hosted by Bloomington FBC (register online | register by mail) | Download Reports
Find additional areas' meetings information.
Pursuing God's Will Together
Summit Presenter: Ruth Haley BartonRuth has been a student, a practitioner, a teacher and a leader in the area of Christian spirituality and spiritual formation for twenty years.
Ruth holds a Doctor of Divinity from Northern Theological Seminary (Lombard, IL), along with a Bachelor of Arts from Wheaton College (IL) and Master's studies at Loyola University Chicago Institute for Pastoral Studies. She's also a student of family systems theory as it relates to congregational life (Lombard Mennonite Peace Center)...read full biography.
View the Journey of Ridgeview Baptist Church
Amazing Grace: The Journey from lightning strike of the church sanctuary through fire in June of 2013 to completion of rebuild in 2014 and celebration this year.
Area II Meeting 2015:
Sunday, March 8 hosted by Greenfield First Baptist Church
Registration Letter | Bulletin Insert
Rev. Dr. Rex Rogers will bring our worship message with our theme “Fresh Breath ... Second Wind.” (read more...)
Area I Meeting 2015:
Ottawa First Baptist Church, Saturday March 14 with Sam Hamstra
Area V Annual Meeting: Saturday March 14 with
Rev. Desmond Hoffmeister, Pastor of Granda Hills Baptist Church
Former General Secretary of the Baptist Convention of South AfricaDayspring Baptist Church
1001 Municipal Center Drive
Town and Country, Missouri 63131
314-432-1960Downloads: Flyer | Letter of Invitation | Registration Form
Area IV Annual Meeting:
Sunday, March 22 at Highland First Baptist
6:00-7:00 p.m. Evening Worship & Keynote Address
by Rev. Dr. Dwight Stinnett, Executive Minister, ABC-GRRMore: Download Flyer | Registration Form | Youth Permission Form
Clergy Spouse Retreat 2015
“The Times…. They Are a-Changing”
Rev. Muriel L. Johnson, LeaderApril 24 - 25, Lake Springfield Baptist Camp
Download Brochure / Registration
For Your Calendars - An Update:
The Annual Assembly of the American Baptist Churches of the Great Rivers Region will be held Friday / Saturday, October 2, 3 in Bloomington, Illinois. We shall gather at The Chateau (formerly Jumers) Hotel and Conference Center.
Macomb First Baptist Church Receives Geo-thermal Grant
On Tuesday, February 10, during a short fellowship and ceremony at the church Nancy McDonald of the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, Association of Illinois 
Electric Cooperatives and McDonough Power, presented First Baptist Church of Macomb a grant of $50,000 toward the expenses of the geo-thermal system the church has installed in their new building. Judy Hurt (on left) accepted the check on behalf of the church. The church is planning their inaugural worship service in their new building for Easter Sunday, April 5.
Executive Minister Announces Retirements:
Read Dr. Stinnett's State of the Region Report.
On Tuesday, February 10, Dwight Stinnett posted a letter by email to the churches and the pastors of the Great Rivers Region. In this letter, following the GRR Board of Ministries meeting of Monday, February 9, Dwight announced the date of June 30 as his final date as GRR Executive Minister. He also described the process the GRR Board of Ministries has started to discern and eventually call his successor. He asked for prayer for those the Board has elected to serve with Jerry Phillips, Vice-president of Staff Relations, to conduct this search. (Read Jerry Phillips' letter to the GRR Family.)
Dwight also announced that "At the same time, Richard Ricks has announced his retirement, effective 31 August 2015. . .Given the inevitable change in staffing and form of regional ministry it is most likely that we will be talking about some sort of interim coverage for Richard’s work (as well as my own in Area II). This will give the new Executive Minister the most freedom in forming their own staff and in implementing a new design for regional ministry." (Read full announcement letter.)
Your GRR is pleased to offer the matching grant opportunities for both mission and interns during 2015. Prayerfully discern if one of these might be appropriate for your church: Mission Grant | Intern Grant
Alternative Ministerial Education
From Dwight Stinnett, Executive Minister, ABC GRR:
It is my sad duty to announce that Rev. Carl Cottingham, Dean of the GRR Alternative Ministerial Education (AME) program has retired (again!!!).
But it is also my happy privilege to announce that Dr. Paul Maitland has agreed to serve as the next Dean, beginning 15 February.
The Alternative Ministerial Education program (read more) ...
Medical Insurance Information and Options for Pastors / Churches
Since MMBB discontinued offering medical insurance through CIGNA and the piecemeal implementation of the Affordable Care Act, there has been a lot of confusion, misinformation, and continuing evolution in the field of medical insurance. While not claiming to be experts in this, we share this information with the hope that you might find it helpful. (read more...)
Could Your Church - or Pastor - Survive a Tax Audit?
Could your church or non-profit organization survive an IRS audit? Many clergy and churches are asking this question today be-cause financial accountability in churches and religious organizations is such an important and timely topic. Many clergy are finding themselves facing IRS audits. It is imperative that those responsible for your organization’s finances have the information they need to protect your exempt status and your right to accept donations. (2 Brochures available: Importance of Church Accounting and Church Accountability. These are made available from Summit Tax Accounting (formerly Patterson Accounting).
Speakers' Presentations: GRR Annual 2014 Assembly
Posted as processed per requests.
Brian Romanowski on Gifford Habitat Rebuild
Don Ng (Friday & Saturday Worship)
