IBSA Annual Meeting

Well, the 103rd Annual Meeting of Illinois Baptists is history! All-in-all, it was a pretty routine meeting, and as Baptist business meetings go - that is a good thing.

I missed the first night of the Pastor's Conference due to an Elder's meeting at Atwood, but on Wednesday morning I was able to hear a great message by John Franklin about Elijah on Mt Carmel, and I was privileged to nominate our own Adam Cruse to serve as the Treasurer for the Pastor's Conference. He was unanimously elected!

The annual meeting itself was a refreshing time of reunion, worship, inspiration, and a sense of unity that results from the respect and confidence Illinois Baptists have in our Staff and Officers. Several CBA friends were elected or re-elected to serve in leadership positions in IBSA:
Tom Miller (OK, he is a former CBA'er) to serve on the Nominating Committee
Seth Ventress (another former CBA'er and the brand-new Pastor at Taylorville Southern) on the Committee on Order of Business
Randy Moon (Tabernacle) on the Constitution Committee
Adam Cruse (Mt Zion) Board of Directors Strategy Planning Committee
Charles Bayless (Tabernacle) Baptist Foundation Trustee

A Cooperative Program goal of $6,850,000.00 was set and a budget totaling $9,060,400.00 was adopted!

IBSA President, Dr. Kevin Kerr, did his usual great job of leading us and his President's Message was a blessing!

Dr. Doug Munton, who spent several of his childhood and youth years at Macon where his father was Pastor of FBC, was elected as our new President!

New Work was highlighted on Wednesday evening with several of our Church Planters giving brief presentations of their work.

I got to visit briefly with some famous folk including Tom Miller, Don and Sharon Evans, Ed Hollis, Mitch and Linda Flesch, Adam Powers, Adam Cruse, Don and Ruth Ann Lusk, and some other friends from all around the State including Bob Carter, my former DOM!

A tribute to Dr. Earnest Moseley, Kay Shipley, and Dr. Fred Winters was a special blessing to everyone there.

The annual sermon by Pastor Michael Allen of Uptown Baptist Church in Chicago was excellent!

Finally, Tabernacle Baptist Church was chosen as the site for the 2012 Annual Meeting! I am already looking forward to it!

GREAT NIGHT AT ARGENTA!

What a happy night at Argenta. I stopped by for my regular visit and found a completely repainted interior, a beautiful new Church Sign, and (best of all) a debt-free Church! Last Sunday, they paid off their mortgage on the new addition!

AWANA was in full swing this evening. Lots of happy kids and faithful workers enjoyed their Opening Assembly and watched a skit featuring Pastor Brian Minott and some "Loco Lady" (who bore slight resemblance to AWANA Commander Kathy Rybolt) as they prepared to teach the kids about the Plague of Locusts that God sent upon Egypt just before bringing His people out of bondage! A hot contest is going on, but (thank the Lord) the Israelites are slightly ahead of the Egyptians!

*Imagine the theological difficulties they will have if the Egyptians win!

Please keep Pastor Brian and this happy Church in your prayers as they continue to faithfully witness the Word of God to the people of Argenta and the surrounding areas, and as they continue to minister to "Boys and Girls of All Ages!"