Seasons Meetings: churches use holiday for gospel outreach

Christmas proves perfect for sharing the best gift ever

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS – Planting

Pastor Jai Park and Peaceful Korean Baptist Church continued their outreach to Brownell Elementary School in Chicago. Park said, “We have been building up the relationship with the principal since 2016. We started with donating bicycles for a monthly prize for students with perfect attendance. Then, we sponsored a homeless kid, delivered 72 backpacks filled with school supplies and Bibles. More recently, we arranged a quartet concert for the students along with pizzas, beanies, and a short message about God’s love.”

POP-UP PARTNERSHIP – Sow Chicago Community Church opened a pop-up gift shop with 1,000 presents for children in Independence Park. They sold the gifts to parents at 90% off, and the funds raised went back into community ministry. Meadow Ridge Church in Lake County provided greeters and shopping assistants Planting Pastor Bryan Coble says they are looking forward to growth in 2022.

neTworking

Find more information on ministry positions at IBSA.org/connect. Send NetworkiNg items to IllinoisBaptist@IBSA.org

Dupo First Baptist seeks full-time pastor. Our current pastor is retiring. Resumés accepted through January 31, 2022. Send to FBC Dupo-Pastor Search Committee, 620 Godin, Dupo, IL 62239 or email to dupofbc@yahoo.com.

Grace Baptist Church in Palmyra seeks a bivocational pastor. The church was founded in 2000 in a community of 750, about 40 miles SW of Springfield. Send resumé to jallen@frontier.com or Jim Allen, 1309 Chesterfield Blacktop Road, Rockbridge IL 62081.

New Life Baptist Church of Waverly seeks a bi-vocational pastor. Submit resumè to 341 East Elm, Waverly, IL 62692. Contact Gloria Henning for more information at (217) 414-5849.

Vienna First Baptist seeks senior pastor. Minimum five years’ experience and seminary training preferred, not required. Send cover letter, picture, 3 references, and link of recent sermon to P.O. Box 727, Vienna, IL 62995 or vfbc301@gmail.com. Call 618-658-3741.

BIG RESPONSE – After an appearance on NBC Nightly News explaining that few toys had been donated compared to the previous year, Pastor Kenyatta Smith and Another Chance Church were overwhelmed with gifts for the kids. Hundreds gathered for “Operation Cover Chicago” just before Christmas.

With The Lord

Charles Cooper, 87, died November 27. In Illinois, Cooper pastored First Baptist Ridgway, First Baptist Vienna, and Golf Road Baptist in Des Plaines. Before retiring he pastored Liverpool Baptist in Indiana. Prior to coming to Illinois, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma Baptist University and a master’s from Southwestern Seminary. Cooper was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Rene, and two daughters. He is survived by three children and two of their spouses.

Justin Reynolds, 48, pastor of Charity Baptist Church in Carlinville, died December 9. He was licensed to preach in 1994 and ordained in 1996. Reynolds received a bachelor’s degree from Mid-Continent Baptist University and a Master of Divinity plus Doctor of Pastoral Theology from Slidell Baptist Seminary. He pastored in several Illinois towns, including Brownfield Baptist Church in Golconda where he served twice, and two Kentucky churches. He is survived by his wife, Jacinda Forthman, three children and their families.

James Williford, 55, pastor of Lincoln Southern Baptist Church in Lincoln died November 21. He is survived by his wife Rachel. Services will be scheduled for a later date.

Kenneth Dean Hall, 88, died December 16. He was a graduate of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and was ordained in 1951. Hall pastored several churches in Illinois including Mt. Tabor and Liberty Baptist in Bond County, Vera, Grayville, Mt. Erie, Cahokia, Carmi, Mulberry Grove, and St. Elmo. He served in ministry 64 years. Hall is survived by his wife of 69 years, Betty Roe, four sons and their families.

Carol Hipp Leach, 74, longtime IBSA ministry assistant, died December 19. She served at IBSA in the printshop and mailroom with former Illinois Baptist newspaper editors Ferrell Foster and Bill Webb. She is survived by her husband, Bill, three children and their families. Memorial contributions may be made to Chatham Baptist Church.

Velma Louise McAfee, 86, longtime IBSA ministry assistant, died December 15. In her 27 years at IBSA she served with Directors Rob Carr, Don Dillow, and others. McAfee last resided at The Maples in Springfield, Mo.