by Wayne Guinn
Riverside Baptist Church, pastored by Ben Seyden, hosted the Illinois State Fellowship meeting for December 2008. It was an exciting opportunity for the Illinois pastors to see the state’s newest church plant. Riverside is a church plant out of Sauk Trail Baptist Temple, pastored by Bruce Humbert. Members of Sauk Trail Baptist Temple helped to co-host this event which had 75 in attendance on Monday evening and a total of 27 pastors and staff in attendance.
Riverside is meeting in Bible study groups during the week. The launch strategy is: beginning in January, a postcard introducing the new church will be personally delivered to every door. Continuing in February, a specially- designed tract explaining who they are and what they believe along with an invitation to join in the launch service on April 5 will be personally delivered to the same doors. In March, Easter eggs with a prize and another invitation to attend the opening service will be distributed to the same doors. What an opportunity for your church teens or adult classes to assist in a new church plant! Seyden and the people of Riverside invite you to help them canvas and deliver these materials door to door.
Those of you who because of distance can’t help canvas could help with an offering to cover the cost of the promotional materials. Seyden informs me he is still in need of personal support as he only has about 70 percent of his family needs underwritten. Support can be sent to Riverside Baptist Church, 175 S. Wall Street, Kankakee, Illinois 60901.
BBF Builders making a difference
We have three teams involved in three different projects. Brent Anderson and a team of builders are in the Chicago area constructing a new building for Green Garden Baptist Church, pastored by Jayson Workman. Green Garden is a church plant about a year and a half old. God is wonderfully blessing the young preacher and his ministry.
Ron Trosclair and a team have been working in Galveston, Texas, at Bible Baptist Church, where Dennis Hankins pastors. The church was virtually destroyed by Hurricane Ike. Seventy-five percent of the city of Galveston was under the ocean. The church had seven feet of water inside the building. Trosclair and his team have been busy repairing drywall, and several churches have sent teams to help in this effort. Many of you have sent funds to help in this effort as well. Over $30,000 came in to assist the churches in their time of need.
Jack Reed and a team have been involved in Bentonville, Arkansas, with church planter and Pastor Mike Brinson and the Lifepointe Baptist Church. They began meeting in June and had a high attendance of 38 the first Sunday of January. Because of growth, a new place to meet had to be found, and a 2,500-square-foot storefront fit the bill. Jack and his team have been building walls to ready this new facility for use by the new church.
Pray for the BBF Builders as they labor to make a difference and pray for the pastors and churches they are helping.