By Wayne Guinn
Green Garden Baptist Church dedicated its first building to the Lord September 6, 2009. This particular building project (which included the purchase of 30 acres) took 13 months and cost the church around $1.9 million. The faithful saints of this small but growing church had stepped out by faith and promised to give over $430,000 dollars in the next few years. The whole project has been a constant reminder of the need for God’s provision and his continual blessing. The first services in the building were held August 2 with no flooring or ceiling tiles, but there were more than 170 people in attendance. There is quite a bit of buzz going on in the community and many are interested in visiting this new work.
Pastor Jayson Workman invited Pastor Bruce Humbert and his wife, Laurie, of Sauk Trail Baptist Temple to be a part of this special day. Pastor Humbert has a special place in his heart for this new work. Several years ago he led his church to give sacrificially, financially, and also gave several members.
Green Garden Baptist Church was born out of a vision that was cast over 30 years ago. Pastor Don G. Humbert, the founder of Sauk Trail, always said that it would be a great thing if STBT could be duplicated in another location. This vision was realized almost 20 years later when his son, Bruce Humbert, was the senior pastor. While Pastor Humbert was serving on staff, there were nearly 30 people that were driving from the Peotone area that had been personally led to Christ by either himself or his wife. Of the new church, Humbert says, “This is a dream come true.”
Ignite Church Planting Forum at BBC, Springfield, October 26-27. Our featured speaker will be Eric Geiger, co-author of Simple Church. Along with challenging the students about church planting, Geiger will conduct a four-hour instructive, round-table presentation of Simple Church on Monday afternoon for pastors and staff that attend. Make plans to join us at BBC for this exciting event.
Baptist Bible College
October 26-27
Texas Fine Arts Auditorium
Monday and Tuesday
8:20 a.m. – 11:20 p.m.
Monday Afternoon
12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Eric Geiger is originally from New Orleans. He presently lives in Miami, Florida, with his wife, Kaye. He is the executive pastor at Christ Fellowship. Eric received his doctorate from Southern Seminary. He enjoys reading, basketball, visiting great restaurants and cities with Kaye, and occasionally doing yard work. Eric is the author of Identity and is also the co-author of Simple Church.
Ignite Church Planting Forum at BBC, Boston, November 16-17. Our featured speaker will be Nelson Searcy. He planted a phenomenally-successful church in Manhattan, New York, seven years ago. It has grown to over 1,200 people in weekly attendance and more than 1,400 involved in weekly small groups during its first six years.
Boston Baptist College
November 16-17
Monday and Tuesday
8:20 a.m. – 11:20 p.m.
Monday Afternoon
12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
An experienced strategist, coach, and speaker, Nelson Searcy serves as a regular consultant to churches across America. He is the author of dozens of articles and training resources on leadership, evangelism, church planting, and church growth and founder of Church Leader Insights.
If you are considering planting a church in the future, come and IGNITE your heart and prepare your mind. Call our office to let us know you’re coming so we will be prepared. Call 417-889-1017 or contact through the NCPO website www.bbfncpo.com.