Bro. Gene will be preaching on Sunday morning and we will have The Shepherdsmen Quartet throughout the day and they will present a concert following lunch.

We know these are busy days for everyone, and there are other meetings going on, but please feel welcome to join with us if you have the opportunity.

JEFF GOODMAN, missionary to Marana, Arizona will be preaching each evening at 7 PM. Please announce at your church…and pray for us!

The Oak Valley Church will be providing a choir and special music on Sunday night at 7 o’clock. We would love to have you attend, your church to bring some special music, and have a good old fashioned revival meeting. If you and your church can send a special singer, choir, etc… please contact me.

Thank You!

David Shores

Harris was primary caregiver to his wife Diana as she battled cancer. Out of that experience, he wrote the book Caring for the Caregiver to encourage and help those who provide care for terminally ill family members and friends. Bringing 16 years experience as a pastor, Harris, a nationally known conference speaker, is often featured at couples’ retreats, men’s retreats, leadership training seminars, and church growth workshops. Caring for the Caregiver, released in December 2009, now ranks 19 on Tower Books top 100 Caregiving bestsellers list and continues to climb in sales at Barnes & Noble online, Books-A-Million, and Amazon.com.

This free workshop is provided as a ministry of First Free Will Baptist Church, located at the corner of Broadway and Monroe in Johnston City. Additional resources for caregivers will be available on site. For more information about the workshop, please see the church’s website, www.jc1fwb.com or call 618-983-5254. For more information about the presenter, see www.royharris.info.

1) The duct work for the heating/AC will be delivered and run in the auditorium part of the building.

2) Bro. Bryant Harris has ordered the sheetrock and it will be delivered.   Help will be needed to unload it and if there is enough help, we might be able to put some of it up.  If you have some men in your church who might be able to come, even for a couple of hours, any help will be greatly appreciated.

Please contact Ivan Ryan with any questions.

Thanks.

The 50th Meeting of the Illinois State Association of Free Will Baptists will convene on March 18th, 19th, and 20th at the First Free Will Baptist Church in Benton, Illinois. 

Schedule to include:
Thursday evening C.E. Seminar with Neil Gilliland at 7:00pm
“Maintaining Balance in Your Ministry”

Friday – Business & Services beginning at 9:00am
Featured Speaker for State Meeting:  Bro. David Shores

50th Banquet Celebration   5:30pm
Held in the Activities Building at First FWB  – cost $15.00 per person
Will include a slide presentation of our early beginnings. 

Saturday morning final business session & service 9:00am
For more information contact Bro. Harlen Johnson, pastor at First FWB, at pastorhrj35@yahoo.com, office: 618-435-4281, cell 618-513-9833
Directions to Host Church at ffwbchurch.com
Hotels in Benton:
Super 8   618-438-8205    $62.99 (double occupancy)
Super 8 has a continental breakfast available.
Days Inn  618-439-3183    $62.99 (double occupancy)
Days Inn offers an on site restaurant. 
**Identify yourself as being with the Illinois FWB Meeting held in Benton to receive the special rate listed above.

National Association of Free Will Baptists to Assist Relief Efforts in Haiti

ANTIOCH, TN—In the wake of the January 12 earthquake that devastated the island nation of Haiti, the Free Will Baptist National Offices have received numerous phone calls from concerned individuals and churches across the nation offering donations of money, supplies, and volunteer labor.

Concerned individuals can contribute to the denomination’s Disaster Relief Fund to help underwrite both immediate and long-term assistance on the ravaged island. All donations will go directly to relief efforts. Ken Akers, director of Free Will Baptist Master’s Men, will oversee the distribution of these funds through ministry partners in Haiti.

Akers has been making annual trips to Haiti since 1999. He has established a partnership with Mountain Faith Mission, an independent, evangelical mission started by Lee and Molly Carroll in 1948. The well-respected organization has a long track record of service through an orphanage, bakery, school, trade school, and medical clinic. They also sponsor annual Vacation Bible Schools for thousands of children.

“Part of the difficulty in Haitian relief work is knowing your money will be used for its intended purpose,” Ken said. “We have a long-term working relationship with Mountain Faith Mission, and we can be confident they will use the funds where it will do the most good.”

In addition, Ken is assembling a team of medical professionals and construction workers for a relief trip to the island when travel restrictions are lifted.

Regional Free Will Baptist relief efforts are also underway. An eight-member team from three Free Will Baptist churches in Virginia and North Carolina arrived in Haiti not long before the earthquake struck. The mission objective has changed from evangelism training and medical assistance to relief for earthquake victims. You can support their efforts financially, provide supplies, and follow their progress at www.gatewayfwbchurch.com.

Impulse International Mission Trips, founded by Ohio Free Will Baptist Bill Hayes, has teamed up with other mission agencies to provide relief supplies. A team is currently making plans to deliver water and medical supplies. For more information, visit www.impulsemissions.com.

Arms of Compassion (ACM) ministries in Oklahoma, founded by Free Will Baptist pastor John M. Hewett, will be sending volunteers from around the nation to deliver medical supplies and water to quake victims. Learn more about their efforts at www.armsofcompassion.org.

Ken Akers sums up the drastic situation on the island. “On the best day, life in Haiti is difficult! After this week’s events, I can only imagine that it has become unbearable. While immediate emergency response is necessary, this is going to be a long-term relief effort, and I think that is where we come in. Six months from now, the need will still be great. Anything you do to help the people of Haiti will be deeply appreciated.”

Send contributions to:
NAFWB: Disaster Relief Fund
PO Box 5002
Antioch, TN 37011-5002

Photo credit: Phyllis Bass, relief team member, Gateway Free Will Baptist Church (VA)

Read more about Free Will Baptist Disaster Relief.

Hotel Information:

The two hotels available for the state meeting are the Super 8 and Days Inn.  The cost per room is $62.99 ( this is double occupancy room).  The Super 8 has continental breakfast and the Days Inn has a restaurant.  The cost is for both hotels.  When making reservations please tell the receptionist you are with the Illinois Free Will Baptist Meeting that is being held in Benton.  The hotel will then give them the special rate.  If you have any questions you can call Harlen Johnson at the church at 618-439-3262.

State Association plans 50 Year Anniversary Celebration at the First FWB Church in Benton

Old Pictures, letters, booklets and brochures are needed for our 50th Anniversary celebration in March 2010.  We plan to have a slide presentation at our State Meeting showing churches, pastors, workers, special events, etc. from 1960 down to the present.  If you have anything to share, please mail it to:

David Shores
25 Edgewood Road
Mt. Vernon, IL  62864
or send it by e-mail to:
davids@mvfreewillbaptist.org

Please try to get them in by December 31st.

Thanks!  from David Shores

This retreat is being sponsored by Calvary Free Will Baptist Church.  The theme is Building a Covenant Relationship Through Marriage.  The cost is $72 per couple and includes the conference, 2 meals, and room.

Registration will be limited to 30 couples.  For additional information contact Tim Hayes at (618) 323.6812.

The deadline for reservations has been extended and should be sent no later than September 21st to:

Tim Hayes
5150 Centennial Lane
Iuka, Il 62849

Thousands of Free Will Baptists will flood the city by the river—for the 73rd annual convention. Convention organizers expect a great turnout.

The nafwb.org website has some tips on how you can make a positive impact at this year’s meeting:

Make an Impact
Too often, cities remember Christian conventions for the wrong reasons. As you prepare for this year’s convention, remember the following tips to make this year’s conference experience a positive one for everyone:

On the City
·         Tip the valet (once, either going or coming)
·         Tip your servers (at least 15%, 20% for a large party)
·         Be quiet in your hotel after 10 pm
·         Don’t travel on foot alone after dark; carry limited cash
·         Tip your maid (not expected, always appreciated)

On the Convention
·         Pray for convention speakers
·         Enjoy the exhibits
·         Attend worship services
·         Smile
·         Catch up with old friends
·         Make new friends
·         Attend seminars
·         Cheer on your kids at competition
·         Attend convention business sessions
·         Order CDs of convention speakers for the folks back home
·         Take time to meet a missionary
·         Subscribe to ONE Magazine (at Executive Office Booth)
·         Get to know a national leader
·         Thank someone from the host state; conventions are a lot of work