Tonight the lay leadership and I will be meeting to talk specifically about the way forward for First Baptist Church as I prepare to transition into a new ministry setting and as I help this special band of brothers find their next Sr. Pastor candidate. I will continue to be one FBC's biggest cheerleaders as I pass the ministry baton on to another faithful shepherd-leader. I am confident that God will continue to bless the faithfulness of this special congregation.
1) The current Sr. Pastor is leaving on great terms and is committed to helping the next Lead Pastor succeed. I have presented our lay leaders with a binder with twelve articles on the pastoral search process. I also gave them a short list of potential Sr. Pastor candidates for them to interview, research, and pray over. If it works out for FBC to host Keith and Kristyn Getty in September I will continue to serve as the event coordinator. So long as FBC hires a qualified, like-minded shepherd I am committed to helping him flourish in ways I never did.
2) The congregation has developed an appetite for meaty, Text-driven, expository preaching. Hebrews 5:12-14 infant Christian living has become the norm in the professing evangelical church so serving a flock with 1 Peter 2:2 members is a real blessing. It's the people that make up the Body of Christ and FBC has many special people.
3) For the past 4 years our congregational meetings are harmonious and peaceful. By the grace of God, long gone are the days of “Jerry Springer-esq” infighting. The mutinous minority that wrecked havoc on my first four years of ministry have all moved on. The present flock is united in love and in truth.
4) Our Awana ministries averages over 50 children each Wednesday night. 18 of these children are FBC’ers and the rest are unchurched kids from the community. Our Awana ministry reaches into the minority neighborhoods of our community.
5) We have one of the most committed Youth Leader/Praise Leader couples in America. Tyler and Alex Hocraffer are absolute gems. Tyler gives more of his free time to the ministry here than any other member I know. This young couple has served so faithfully and has met so many needs.
6) FBC is the one of the few “9 Marks” ministries in Stephenson County. By the grace of God the depth and direction of this local church is back in harmony with Scripture. We in no ways have arrived but we are moving in the right direction towards the goals God has established in Scripture (see Col. 1:28-29; Eph. 4:11-16; Matt. 28:18-10). I pray to God that the man who comes after me understands how much the congregation and leadership went through to get to this point. "Remember the Alamo" so to speak.
Here is a short list of 17 Spiritual Blessings and/or things FBC, Freeport has going for it.
1) The current Sr. Pastor is leaving on great terms and is committed to helping the next Lead Pastor succeed. I have presented our lay leaders with a binder with twelve articles on the pastoral search process. I also gave them a short list of potential Sr. Pastor candidates for them to interview, research, and pray over. If it works out for FBC to host Keith and Kristyn Getty in September I will continue to serve as the event coordinator. So long as FBC hires a qualified, like-minded shepherd I am committed to helping him flourish in ways I never did.
2) The congregation has developed an appetite for meaty, Text-driven, expository preaching. Hebrews 5:12-14 infant Christian living has become the norm in the professing evangelical church so serving a flock with 1 Peter 2:2 members is a real blessing. It's the people that make up the Body of Christ and FBC has many special people.
3) For the past 4 years our congregational meetings are harmonious and peaceful. By the grace of God, long gone are the days of “Jerry Springer-esq” infighting. The mutinous minority that wrecked havoc on my first four years of ministry have all moved on. The present flock is united in love and in truth.
4) Our Awana ministries averages over 50 children each Wednesday night. 18 of these children are FBC’ers and the rest are unchurched kids from the community. Our Awana ministry reaches into the minority neighborhoods of our community.
5) We have one of the most committed Youth Leader/Praise Leader couples in America. Tyler and Alex Hocraffer are absolute gems. Tyler gives more of his free time to the ministry here than any other member I know. This young couple has served so faithfully and has met so many needs.
6) FBC is the one of the few “9 Marks” ministries in Stephenson County. By the grace of God the depth and direction of this local church is back in harmony with Scripture. We in no ways have arrived but we are moving in the right direction towards the goals God has established in Scripture (see Col. 1:28-29; Eph. 4:11-16; Matt. 28:18-10). I pray to God that the man who comes after me understands how much the congregation and leadership went through to get to this point. "Remember the Alamo" so to speak.
7) FBC, Freeport owns a massive facility/sanctuary that is debt free. The building has been very well maintained and is worth a lot of money. Facility space is never an issue here. The Getty's recently contacted us about possibly hosting a worship event at our church in September. Here are a few videos (sanctuary video; outside video of buildings) of our facility that they asked me to send them. -Video of sanctuary
8) As of five years ago the Church also owns a large farm. Our annual Farm rental income helps us cover our budgetary expenditures. See Blessing 9.
9) In recent years the Church has been blessed with two massive estate gifts. These nest eggs allow us to maintain many present ministry expenditures. We also now have resources set aside for the future.
10) The Church also owns a 3 bedroom ministry home next to the our sanctuary.
11) The area’s most successful Christian home school community (Classical Conversations) meets at FBC, Freeport. It has been a joy to share our facility with members who are involved in various ministries in our local community.
12) Freeport has one of the very best park districts in Illinois. The Read Park Pool and Aquatic Center, Little Wrigley field, and Krape Park are family favorites.
13) Freeport has affordable housing options and some great neighborhoods. The real estate market is cheap and is good (so long as you are not looking to sell).
14) Our current pastor enjoys like-minded support, pulpit support, and friendships with 7-8 local area pastors in/around the Rockford area.
15) First Baptist has profited in recent years from solid Bible Conferences with faithful and very gifted servants of Christ; including recent conferences with Dr. Steve Lawson, Dr. Jerry Wragg, and Dr. Joe Flatt.
We have also enjoyed special concerts with like-minded singers such as Christian Ebner, Patrick and Amy Fata, and Jonah Ferguson. Currently we are in talks with the Gettys who have asked us if we would be interested in hosting a major Keith and Krysten Getty seminary/concert event at our church sometime in September 2017.
8) As of five years ago the Church also owns a large farm. Our annual Farm rental income helps us cover our budgetary expenditures. See Blessing 9.
9) In recent years the Church has been blessed with two massive estate gifts. These nest eggs allow us to maintain many present ministry expenditures. We also now have resources set aside for the future.
10) The Church also owns a 3 bedroom ministry home next to the our sanctuary.
11) The area’s most successful Christian home school community (Classical Conversations) meets at FBC, Freeport. It has been a joy to share our facility with members who are involved in various ministries in our local community.
12) Freeport has one of the very best park districts in Illinois. The Read Park Pool and Aquatic Center, Little Wrigley field, and Krape Park are family favorites.
13) Freeport has affordable housing options and some great neighborhoods. The real estate market is cheap and is good (so long as you are not looking to sell).
14) Our current pastor enjoys like-minded support, pulpit support, and friendships with 7-8 local area pastors in/around the Rockford area.
15) First Baptist has profited in recent years from solid Bible Conferences with faithful and very gifted servants of Christ; including recent conferences with Dr. Steve Lawson, Dr. Jerry Wragg, and Dr. Joe Flatt.
We have also enjoyed special concerts with like-minded singers such as Christian Ebner, Patrick and Amy Fata, and Jonah Ferguson. Currently we are in talks with the Gettys who have asked us if we would be interested in hosting a major Keith and Krysten Getty seminary/concert event at our church sometime in September 2017.
16) The Senior Pastor’s office suit is very spacious with plenty of room for one’s ministry library and study resource helps. Our sanctuary and preaching pulpit are also first rate.
