Team Reports
Agressive New Work
The aggressive New Works Team met four times this past year. We added two new team members in May, Bennie Fisher and Marsha Johnson. We have been in the process of identifying areas and people groups among which new churches are needed in our area. Particularly we have been studying the need for churches in Springfield. Charles Campbell, Associate Executive Director for IBSA in Church Planting, gave a presentation of the demographics of Springfield to help us understand the needs for new churches here. The team also worked with James Herron, a church planter strategist with IBSA, to develop a strategy for starting new work among African Americans. We are in the process of getting acquainted with African American Baptist pastors in Springfield to see how we might partner with them to help them reach their communities. The Aggressive New Works Team has also been working with North American Mission Board Missionary Lyle Seltmann to discover prospects for new home Bible studies in Springfield. A telephone survey was performed during the first week of August to identify those in two different zip codes in Springfield who would be interested in attending and/or hosting a home Bible study. Nine volunteers called 937 numbers and actually were able to talk to 418 people of whom 47 were open to be involved in a home Bible Study. We are currently in the process of training 16 facilitators from various CCBA churches with the goal of starting 8 home Bible studies this fall. Please be in prayer for these home Bible Studies. It has been an exciting year on the Aggressive New Works Team and we look forward to the possibility of many being reached for Christ in the coming year. Our team wants to give special thanks to our Interim Director of Missions, Bill Weedman, for his work with our team. We would also like to thank Charles Campbell, Lyle Seltmann, Tim Cotler and James Herron for their contributions and guidance. Respectfully Submitted,
David L. VanBebber, Aggressive New Works Team Leader
Team Members: Bennie Fisher, Marsha Johnson, Delbert Penrod, Melissa Phillips, Rodney Weeks
Church Health
The Church Health Team provided demographic resources and encourage churches to participate in Lay Renewal Events this year. Next year we’ll continue these services and, in addition, initiate a ‘Brown Bag Luncheon’ to discuss current books on Church Health. The first book we reviewed was Lost and Found by Ed Stetzer.We are meeting at the CCBA office during the noon hour. Our first meeting was Sept 14th . Respectfully submitted,
Sylvan Knobloch, Church Health Team Leader
Team Members, Doug Penrod, Barb Halleman, Jeff Whitehouse
Leadership Development
The Leadership Development and Mentoring Team experienced a paradigm shift in emphasis this year with the Timothy Project. We have moved from promoting central training conferences to developing young men and women through a mentor-guided apprentice program. There were several meetings of the Leader Team last fall that launched other meetings of orientation and training for the participants of the Timothy Project including both apprentices and mentors. The enthusiasm was at the highest level when TP was launched on October 18 with a total attendance of nineteen including nine apprentices from three churches. During that October 18th Saturday morning meeting, we filled out application forms and interviewed apprentices and began to build folders on each participant. We then addressed the question, “What is my divine design?” and outlined a five-point process of assessment, agreement, affirmation, analysis and action to move toward fulfilling one’s God-given purpose for life. This initial meeting was followed by a joint meeting of the Leader Development Team and prospective TP mentors on Tuesday evening, October 21, with nine in attendance. The agenda included discussion of a checklist of things to be accomplished: an overview of the Timothy Project, shaping spiritual formation, connecting personal mission and divine design, clarifying the call in Christ, customizing a development plan or mentoring contract, and matching mentors with apprentices. Pairings were set between the nine apprentices and eleven mentors. One other particular highlight of the fall was an evening of fellowship among TP mentors and apprentices at Ryan’s Steakhouse and then attendance at the Wednesday night session of the Illinois Baptist State Association annual meeting, November 12. State President, Kevin Kerr recognized the CCBA Timothy Project from the platform and had TP participants present to stand for further recognition. We would not meet again during the holidays and the first of the year until February 21st. The agenda for this first meeting of 2009 was to “catch up” on what was taking place between mentors and apprentices. Only four apprentices were able to attend along with seven mentors. It became clear that we were losing momentum and that most mentors and apprentices had not been able to meet due to differing expectations and conflicts with work schedules and family commitments or other personal matters. I regret that we have not met again since February 21. I believe that TP is still a viable model for leader development, but there is an obvious need to re-focus and perhaps re-structure the TP program. In order to put greater emphasis on developing concrete mentor-apprentice contracts. I am committed to rebuilding the Timothy Project this next year and am optimistic about its long-term impact and success.
Respectfully submitted:
Mike Keppler, Leadership Development & Mentoring Team Leader
08-09 Team members: Susan Full, John Keyes, Marcia Bost, David Gray (who since has moved away) and our former DOM, Milton Bost (who met with us in an ex officio capacity).
Broad Membership Involvement
Completed 2009 Ministry Events· Jamaica. Four CCBA men went on the first international Builders for Eternity mission trip January 9 – 16. Attended 3 church services, street witness met with potential AWANA leaders, and painted a parsonage inside and out.
· Senior Adventures. Over 50 attended ham/potluck at Eastview Baptist Church Feb. 9. Bill Weedman told us his “Love Story” and Rita Stambaugh sang.
· National Baptist Builders Conference. One CCBA person attended in Taladega, Alabama, February 9-12.
· IBSA/CCBA Children’s Mission Rally. Over 100 attended at Chatham Baptist Church Saturday, March 14th. Participants included those from Peoria, Normal, as well as the CCBA churches. 25 volunteers from CCBA churches were there serving in Christ’s name.
· Disaster Relief. Over a dozen CCBA volunteers were in Loami March 14 for tornado cleanup.
· Southern Gospel Sing. Over 80 attended at Roanoke Baptist March 1. Roanoke hosts a Gospel Sing the first Saturday night of every month with a dinner at 5 P.M. and singing at 6:30 P.M.
· Praise on the Prairie Southern Gospel Sing. By count 130 attended the Chili & Vegetable Soup Dinner followed by the Sing at Rochester First Baptist March 21. 15 local groups sang. Sponsored by Praise on the Prairie of the BMI team.
· “The Council.” 260-270 attended the two performances of the beautiful Easter drama at Chatham Baptist Church, Friday and Saturday, April 3 and 4.
· On-Mission Golf League. Lincoln Greens. Thursdays at 5:30 P.M. Started May 7th. 25-30 golfers. No play, no pay. $15 entry fee for weekly prizes and awards dinner.
· Disaster Relief. Training and certification renewals, May 8-9, Tabernacle Baptist, Decatur. 4 CCBA people there.
· Senior Adventures. Trip to Glorieta (NM) Baptist Conference Center May 11-17. 6 went. Great trip! Included visit to Colorado Springs for Focus on the Family, Pikes’ Peak, Air Force Academy Chapel, and more.
· Senior Adventures. Spring Picnic at New Salem State Park May 20, 11:30 A.M. 20 people. 6 Churches. John Eden, Lincoln expert from Petersburg First Baptist, shared his knowledge on Lincoln’s history in New Salem and Athens.
· Disaster Relief. CCBA volunteers in Carbondale for storm cleanup, May 11-June 12.
· Ivan Parker Planning Meeting. June 7. Rochester First Baptist Church. 2 P.M. 10 attended.
· Senior Adventures. 4th Annual Fish Fry at Petersburg First Baptist, August 13th, 11:30 A.M. potluck. Program by “Four Friends” singers. 45-50 attended.
· On-Mission Golf League. Over 30 golfers for 14 weeks. Season ended August 27 with awards banquet. John Keyes was this year’s Tournament Champion.
· Senior Adventures. 4th Annual Springfield-to-Lincoln Train Trip with dinner at Guzzardo’s August 29th. 30 attended from 4 churches. Petersburg 1st had 21 attend!
· Senior Adventures. Three-day van trip, Wednesday – Friday, September 16-18, to the National Quartet Convention and The Southern Seminary, Louisville, KY, plus the Creation Museum, Petersburg KY. 17 signed up so far. Cost sharing event.
· Builders for Eternity. Volunteer builders. 3 Weeks. Monday-Saturday, September 7-12, September 21-26, and September 28-October 3. Construct 2,016 sq. ft. addition at Payson (IL) Baptist. Stick-build from the ground up.
· Ivan Parker. October 10. Rochester School Performing Arts Center. Over 800 people expected. Pre-show with New Jerusalem Singers and concessions at 5 P.M. Ivan sings on main stage at 7 P.M. Ticket request forms and tickets now available from CCBA at (217) 529-3429.
· Beth Moore. “Living Proof” at the Prairie Capital Convention Center, November 6-7.
· Senior Adventures. Veteran’s Day potluck luncheon at Rochester First Baptist, 11:30 A.M. November 9th. Special Guest speaker, Jim Shay, presents “The Many Faces of Abraham Lincoln.” Donation.
· Senior Adventures. Van trip to Christian Activities Center in East St. Louis plus dinner and shopping, at Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, November 30th. Tour through the Christmas light spectacular “The Way of the Lights’. Leave at 8 A.M. Return about 9:30 P.M. Cost sharing event.
· “The Love of the Lamb” Wonderful Christmas drama 7 P.M. Saturday, December 12, Petersburg First Baptist. Free. Donation at the door after the performance.
· 2010 Event - World Changers June 21-26, 2010.
Call Dennis File, BMI Team Leader, for details. Telephone 529-2450.
BMI Planning Team members: Betty Robertson, Gayle Tackett, Erin Fisher, Tom Eggley, Del Halleman, Mike Robertson, Mary Novak and Libbie Cothern
Disaster Relief: Del Halleman and Mike Robertson
Senior Adventures: Betty Robertson, Libby Cothern, Tom Eggley, Mary Novak and Gayle Tackett
World Changers: Mike Robertson
Builders for Eternity: Mike Robertson, Mike Tackett, Melvin and Linda Lohse
Praise on the Prairie: Dick Cowan, Jim Peak, Doug Bell, Ruby Mabe, Libby Cothern, Mary Novak and Betty Robertson