Regional Update  | | Gary Rohrmayer |
Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD. Joel 1:14 There are times in the life of a church and a group of churches that we need to call the church to a holy fast. A time of setting apart and a time of abstaining for a greater glimpse of God's glory and greater alignment in His redemptive work. We, as a group of churches, get together corporately every two years. This is a big deal and not to be taken lightly because we existed at the will of the churches. In Acts 13:1-3, five leaders devoted themselves to worshipping the Lord and fasting. They were seeking an answer to the question, "What is next for us Lord?" The answer was deeply challenging. The answer was a call of sacrifice. It was a call that involved launching out into the unknown and it was a call that changed the course of history. As a board of overseers we are calling our fellowship of churches to join us in a 25 day fast starting October 1st and will culminate October 26th at CONNECT2011. My prayer for you is that during those 25 days, you will experience a deeper craving for the beauty of the Lord and the wonder of His provision in your life and ministry. Sincerely, Gary Rohrmayer Executive Minister Sign up by emailing: nate@convergemidamerica.org and receive a free fasting guide. |
|
|
Coaching Networks Launching
Overwhelming research has revealed that pastor and church planters of declining churches suffer from one thing: Isolation! Pastors and church planters of growing churches have an outside network of support and encouragement.
Join a six month program to engage in monthly full-day training sessions with other pastors in your area. We have networks forming in Chicagoland, Indianapolis, St. Louis and Michigan.
Check out the opportunities coming near you this fall
|
Connect2011
The 155th Gathering of Converge MidAmerica Churches
October 26-27, 2011
Hosted by Grace Bible Church - Minooka, IL
Join us for this twenty-four hour, high powered event for pastors and church leaders who are part of the regional movement called Converge MidAmerica. This is a time to celebrate our spiritual heritage, cultural diversity, and missional passion. This will be a time for pastors and leaders to be challenged from the word of God, connect with other like minded leaders and shape the future of our regional ministry.
Our theme is taken from Phillipians 1:27-30 - Living Out The Gospel Together
Featured Speakers:
Leith Anderson
James Ford
Darrin Patrick
Gary Rohrmayer
Cost: $75 per person or $175 per church (3 or more delegates)
If you register before October 1st the event is half-price!
For more information/to register
|
New Lead Pastor at Grace Bible Church
Jason serves as the Lead Pastor at Grace. He has a passion to live life discovering more of God and sharing that discovery with others. He is joined in ministry with his wife Mina and their three children Thomas, Ava and Piper.
 | |
Jason and Mina Miley
|
|
|
In Memory of Pastor Kirk B. Wearring
Riverdale Baptist Church - Riverdale, IL
September 12, 1951 - September 7, 2011
Pastor Kirk Wearring was born September 12, 1951 in Durham, North Carolina. At an early age his family moved to Chicago, Illinois. Pastor Wearring graduated from Central Y High School at the age of 16 and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a minor in Music from Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee in 1972, at the age of 20.
With a passion to continue his education, at the age of 23, he received a Master of Social Work degree from the Atlanta University School of Social Work with an area of concentration in Policy and Planning. During his studies at Atlanta University, he completed internships with the Georgia Black Legislative Caucus and the Bay Area Urban League of San Francisco, CA. Also while in Atlanta, he met Theresa Williams who he affectionately referred to as his "Georgia Peach" and they married in 1975.
During his career, he was employed by WSKC Dialysis Center and Gary Methodist Hospital. He was a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive clinical service in counseling and psychiatry. Before leaving his career to pastor, he was employed at Fresenius Medical Care as a Nephrology Social Worker.
Pastor Wearring acknowledged his call to preach in November 1979 and preached his first sermon in February 1980, at Lilydale First Baptist Church. His ministerial training included studies at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary and Moody Bible Institute.
|
|
FIELDS CHURCH LAUNCHING - Galesburg, IL
Mark J. Robinson
www.fieldschurch.com
On October 2, 2011, Mark and Jody Robinson will launch Fields Church.
God has been preparing the Robinsons for a long time for this moment. Jody grew up at Bethel Baptist in Galesburg, IL, the mother church. Mark was led to Christ by Jody's dad back in high school. After seminary, pastoring at a new church, and helping start another in Texas, God led Mark & Jody and their four children (Claire, Luke, Caleb, Lydia) to Illinois four years ago. Back to the family farm as God has peeled back the curtain, putting a dream in Mark's heart and partnering with Bethel Baptist and Converge MidAmerica to see a new church begin.
God has provided a strong team, an excellent place to meet in the local community college, and has been adding a number of new people lately. Now with the Robinson's newest addition, a boy named Corban (born Aug 22) it's full speed ahead!
Please Join Us in Praying:
For more souls to be rescued in the Galesburg area.
That those recently saved will take root and grow strong in Christ.
For boldness to keep making friends and inviting beyond the Launch.
For wisdom for the men to lead their families and the church well.
For protection and grace for our family, as the spiritual attacks have been intense. We will overcome!
|
| Can We Hire Someone Receiving Worker's Comp?
Note these precautions before you do.
By Richard R. Hammar
Question. We have a volunteer who gives a lot of time, maybe 20-30 hours a week. We do not pay him. He is on workers compensation from an ankle injury. One of our board members is concerned that there may be some liability issues for the church in having him volunteer that many hours while he is on worker's compensation. Is this a valid concern?
Answer. Workers compensation benefits are based on the nature and degree of an injured worker's work-related injury. "Total disability" benefits may be awarded upon a finding that the injured employee can no longer perform compensated employment. As a result, a person's eligibility to receive total disability benefits is directly affected if he or she begins performing compensated employment. And, such employment may not only result in a discontinuation of benefits, but also a legal obligation to return benefits already paid.
Continue reading...
Continue reading...
|
|
Ministry Positions:
Intern
Converge Midamerica - Park Ridge, IL
Converge MidAmerica is seeking a part-time intern to perform general administrative tasks. Assignments are related to accounting report generation and population, data entry, organization, mailings, ministry contacts, & social media updates. Applicants should be well versed in Microsoft Word, Excel & Outlook.
Converge MidAmerica is one of 11 districts in the Converge World Wide movement of churches. We handle regional ministry for our over 180 member churches. This position will provide great exposure to the administrative side of a large ministry organization. Our website is www.convergemidamerica.org.
Office is located in Park Ridge, in close proximity to I-294 and the Metra Union Pacific-Northwest train line.
Expected hours are 8-10 hours per week, preferably broken up over two separate days. Pay is $10/hour.
Email resumes to Katie@convergemidamerica.org.
Senior Pastor
Cornerstone Baptist Church - Ludington, MI
We are looking for a servant leader, highly relational, with a clear vision for local, regional and global ministry. He will need to have strong communication skills (both in the pulpit and interpersonally), a calling for developing new leaders, a passion for reaching people far from God, and the ability to motivate others to be a part of God's redemptive cause. He will need to understand and work with our existing partnerships with Converge MidAmerica and Converge Worldwide.
If you are interested, click here for more information
Senior Pastor
Grace Missionary Baptist Church
Markham, IL
The next Senior Pastor should be a leader who models an authentic walk with God and lives with a passion to reach this community. The history of this church has included many stories of how God's grace, shared through the ministries and people of this church has been life-changing. Yet as you visit and meet the people who are a part of Grace Church, there is a vision of even greater outreach and impact for the future. The church desires a senior pastor to lead the congregation in continuing to build on Grace's commitment of faith. Hebrew 11 begins, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. "God has blessed all of us with the vision to build the ministry here at Grace. We are ever mindful that faith is the foundation on which Grace is built. John Mac Arthur writes, "People of faith obey, worship, endure, sacrifice and work by faith." We obey because we are committed to the mission of Jesus Christ, to share the Word of God with a dying world.
Click here for a complete job description
DO YOU HAVE A MINISTRY POSITION THAT NEEDS TO BE FILLED? Contact: Katie@convergema.org
For a complete list of positions...
|
Pray for Churches Launching
Kirt & Jennifer Wiggins and Steve & Sarah Erickson, Pathway Addison, IL on October 2
Mark & Jody Robinson, Fields Church, Galesburg, IL on October 2
Pray for New Pastors
Jim & Patti Lewis, Beaverton Baptist Church, Beaverton, MI
Pray for New Church Planters Raising Support
Mitchell & Marron Moore, Little Rock, AR
Andrew & Audrey Kamm, Champaign, IL
Pray for Churches in Transition
Cornerstone Baptist Church, Ludington MI
Oak Community Church, Hinsdale, IL
Grace Missionary Baptist Church, Markham, IL
Covenant Baptist Church, Marengo, IL
First Baptist Church, Big Rock, IL
Chicago NW Suburban Chinese Church, Rolling Meadows, IL
To Join the Converge MidAmerica Intercession Team
Contact: Nate Baggett @ nate@convergemidamerica.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
