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GRR Staff

Office Hours

Office hours are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday.  The region observes the federal holiday schedule.

Need to see a particular person? Please call ahead and schedule a time to meet. Staff of the GRR are regularly on the road serving our churches. Make sure the one you want to see will be in the day you plan to see them.

Rev. Patty Bilyeu

GRR Executive Minister

(217) 726-7366 x12
patty@abcgrr.org

Read Biography

Rev. Dr. Bill Steger

Area I Minister

(217) 726-7366 x15
bill@abcgrr.org

Rev. Wally Holt

Church Revitalization Initiative Coordinator

(217) 726-7366 x18
wally@abcgrr.org

Rev. Dr. Rob Kirbach

Associate Executive Minister

(217) 726-7366 x13
rob@abcgrr.org

Read Biography

Rev. Patti Faesy Meyer

Area II Minister

(217) 726-7366 x16
pattim@abcgrr.org

Nancy Fromme

Executive Administrator

(217) 726-7366 x11
nancy@abcgrr.org

Rev. Dr. Brian Romanowski

Area III Minister + Dean of Pastoral Development Academy

(217) 726-7366 x14
brian@abcgrrorg

Rev. Dr. Delano Benson

Area V Minister

(217) 726-7366 x17
delano@abcgrr.org

Rev. Dr. James Wolfe

Assistant to the Coordinator of the Church Revitalization Initiative

(217) 726-7366 x19
jim@abcgrr.org

Mainstream Editor

Contact kim@abcgrr.org  if you want to post your event or news in the monthly newsletter, Mainstream.
Read Biography
Read Biography

Rev. Rob Kirbach

Rev. Rob Kirbach is a lifelong resident of the Great Rivers Region, growing up at Upper Alton Baptist Church and spending summers at the former Lake Benton Baptist Camp. He is a graduate of Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis and has served GRR churches in Area V and Area IV as a youth minister, campus minister, and pastor. Rob also holds a master’s degree in clinical counseling and previously worked as a therapist in St. Louis. Most recently, Rob has served as our Area IV Assistant and Interim Co-Associate Executive Minister, and as the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Highland, IL. He also serves as the Special Assistant to Hungary for International Ministries. Rob and his wife Julie have three young children and live near Edwardsville, IL.

Rev. Patty Bilyeu Biography

The Rev. Patricia King. Bilyeu (Patty), is no stranger to the Great Rivers Region, having served in churches in Areas I, III, and IV. She is a native of Ohio. Her commitment to Christ came early and she has been involved with American Baptists her whole life. During college, she became part of a ministry team at her home church and soon acknowledged God’s call to full-time ministry. She started her formal training at the University of Toledo with her bachelor’s degree. For her seminary training, she earned her Master of Divinity degree at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. Having been ordained in the American Baptist Churches USA in 1994, she has been active in Baptist life wherever she has been. Patty is a lifelong learner and earned her teaching certificate in 2044. While in Ohio she actively participated in the Ohio ABC Region and in 2009 was the President of the American Baptist Churches of Ohio. Upon her return to the GRR, Patty served as the Moderator of Area IV and on the region board before becoming the Assistant Area IV Minister in 2015. Patty came onto the region full-time in 2017 when she was selected to be the Regional Area Minister for Areas II and IV. With staff retirements, the GRR Ministry of Staff Relations changed Patty’s job title to Associate Executive Minister in 2020 and Acting Executive Minister in 2022.

Patty was appointed Executive Minister of the Great Rivers Region in November 2022.

Patty enjoys traveling, music, and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. Patty is passionate about Jesus Christ’s redeeming love and recognizes the importance of Kingdom Building today. It is that passion and love she carries on to the churches in the region she assists. Patty is thrilled to be on regional staff where she is committed to the growth of healthy pastors and healthy congregations. Patty speaks French and is learning the Hungarian language.