Hillcrest celebrates legacy of faith

Country Club Hills | The past and the future played key roles in Hillcrest Baptist Church’s celebration of its 50th anniversary.

At a banquet March 9, Hillcrest members and friends viewed video messages from some of the church’s founding members. And during a special worship service March 11, the church recognized five newborn babies and their families, praying with them and gifting each with a children’s Bible.

“It’s really humbling, because it lets you know that you are part of a larger narrative of what God is doing

With the Lord

Sarah Hall, 21, of Bluford died Feb. 10. Her husband, Corey, is pastor of Bonnie First Baptist Church. A homemaker, Sarah loved taking care of adults with special needs and caring for her children. Along with her husband, she is survived by her son, Aiden, and daughter, Leah; her father and stepmother, Tom and Tesa Glass; her sister, Amanda French; and her grandmother, Jean Smith.

NeTworkiNg

through this church,” Pastor Adron Robinson said of the milestone anniversary. Robinson, who also serves as president of IBSA, has led the church for eight years.

“We’re standing on the shoulders of those who sacrificed time, talent, and treasure in order to make Hillcrest Baptist Church possible, and to minister to that community long before we ever came along,” he said.

The worship service also included a message from Revelation 4 by Darron Edwards of United Believers Community Baptist Church, a Southern Baptist congregation in

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

First Baptist Church, Effingham seeks a full-time student pastor to work primarily with grades 7-12, but also with grade-school students and college-age young adults. Bachelor’s degree required; theological education and experience a plus. Resumes may be sent to: Search Committee, First Baptist Church, 213 W. Fayette, Effingham, IL, 62401 or fbceffrm@consolidated.net.

First Baptist Church, Goreville seeks a full-time pastor who can provide Holy Spirit-inspired leadership, teach the Bible as the inspired Word of God, and lead our congregation to become the church God desires. Submit resumes to: Goreville First Baptist Search Committee, 608 West Main St., Goreville, IL, 62939, or e-mail gfbc1890@frontier.com.

Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services seeks a full-time director of operations. For a detailed description of the position and an application, visit bchfs.com/ employment. Applications and/or resumes may be sent to BCHFS, Attn: Melinda Bratcher, 949 County Rd. 1300 N, Carmi, IL 62821.

Kansas City. Dale Davenport, an IBSA zone consultant and Robinson’s predecessor as Hillcrest’s pastor, was on hand to present the church with a plaque of appreciation from IBSA.

Classified Ad

Central Baptist Church (SBC), Eureka, Missouri (one of the fastest growing communities in West St. Louis County) is prayerfully seeking a full-time Senior Pastor. The ideal candidate will be an experienced senior pastor, possess a seminary degree, be dedicated to the mission of Christ, and devoted to the preaching/teaching of the Word of God. A letter of interest, resume, references and statement of faith should be sent to Pastor Search Team, Central Baptist Church, at centralpastorsearch @gmail.com.

Pat’s Playbook

Building, giving, and faith

QDoes a building program threaten our giving to missions? That’s the reason some in our church are giving for preventing construction of a new children’s building.

AIf the need is genuine and space is a real issue, what will hurt your missions giving as well as your budgetary giving will be limiting the space needed to grow.

Many churches discover that as they trust God for the expansion or addition of building space, new members are drawn to the facility and missions giving actually increases.

PAT PAJAK

Let the church know the cost of the construction, the weekly budget requirements, and your missions percentage, and tell them you are committed by their faithfulness to meet all three.

Mulling a meeting change

QThe church leaders want to cut our business meetings from monthly to quarterly. They say that churches that reduce the amount of stuff the congregation votes on actually get more done. A few people are objecting. Would you support this change?

First Baptist Church, Sesser seeks a full-time or bivocational pastor. We desire candidates with a heart for the community and doctrinal integrity consistent with historic Baptist beliefs. Send resumes, including calling and testimony, to First Baptist Church, Box 503, Sesser, IL, 62884, or e-mail sesserfbc105@yahoo.com.

Lighthouse Fellowship Church in Huntley seeks a part-time worship leader to lead a blended worship service for a multigenerational audience. Contact interim pastor Dave Jenkins at mzeedavejenkins@gmail.com or (630) 649-4350.

AQuarterly business meetings should be able to cover all the business the church is going to conduct over a 3-month period. A monthly financial report can be printed and made available if that is a matter of concern. And, of course, a church can call a special business meeting if an issue of major importance arises.

My advice is to give quarterly business meetings a one-year trial and decide if the schedule works well for your church. If not, go back to your previous practice. But if after a year the church is in agreement about the new schedule, keep it going.

Pat Pajak is IBSA’s associate executive director for evangelism. Send questions for Pat to Illinois Baptist@IBSA.org.