CURRENTS Great Rivers Fellowship
A Mirror And A Map
In the months following GRF’s first Annual Gathering, I have read through the feedback gathered during the breakout sessions. With each reading, I gain more appreciation for the legacy of CBF in our region. I also get more excited about our future together. Below you will find the Core Belief, the Values, and the Actions you have set out for Great Rivers Fellowship’s common ministry.
Core Belief - Why we gather together as CBF Baptists CBF Baptists share a common purpose, or call, that is greater than ourselves. As we bear witness to Jesus Christ and give testimony of the reign of God, we do so through meaningful action. We seek an alternative way of being baptist Christians where the approach to faith emphasizes inclusivity and social justice. Our own sense of belonging is expressed in our desire for a welcoming and supportive community that fosters authentic connections for everyone.
our callings and offers support. We cherish experiencing a welcoming atmosphere where everyone feels a sense of belonging and acceptance within a diverse and inclusive environment.
Actions – What CBF Baptists do CBF Baptists are people of action. We don’t just talk about social justice, we volunteer our time and energy to help those in need and we raise our voices to advocate for a more just world. We foster fellowship and connection by building a supportive community and fostering meaningful relationships. We invest in the future and create space where the unique talents and perspectives of others are valued. By doing so, we empower young leaders as we celebrate our diverse fellowship.
A
mirror and a map
Values – How CBF Baptists live out our core belief
We love testimony! Personal stories and witnessing concrete actions create a sense of connection and inspire participation. We value feeling validated and encouraged, so we are drawn to a community that affirms
The exercise we undertook at our first Annual Gathering was to look collectively in the mirror. The words above are the reflection of what was seen. You may be surprised. You may want to linger a bit to make sure everything is in its proper spot. I encourage you to read again who we said we are and consider how your own image is reflected in those statements.
CBF-Great Rivers Fellowship’s Core Beliefs, Values, and Actions help us to see more
(Cont. on page 4)
Why I support Great Rivers Fellowship
A word from Ray Higgins, retired Coordinator of CBF of Arkansas
May I share with you my story about why we gave to CBF Arkansas and continue giving each month to Great Rivers Fellowship?
All of my life I have been shown, taught, and encouraged to follow Jesus. As a teenager, I decided to follow Jesus. And, through the years, I have found my home as a Jesus follower among Baptist Christians.
More than 30 years ago, many of us had to decide what kind of Baptist Christians we would be. I found my faith community in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
Together… We worship. We learn. We serve. We advocate. We love. We care. We share.
We experience Jesus’ redeeming, reconciling and transforming presence. We seek to embody Christ’s love and advocate for God’s justice through our local churches and through CBF.
Last year, CBF Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi created a new regional CBF—Great Rivers Fellowship. We brought our people and churches together across state borders. Thanks to Shane, Brittany, and the GRF Board’s leadership, new relationships are producing new vision, energy and possibilities to be the presence of Christ in the world.
If CBF is your home, too, would you join our faithful group of churches and friends in making a financial gift this month/year to support the people, presence and work of Great Rivers Fellowship?
CBF-Great Rivers Fellowship Honorary & Memorial Gifts
Through March 2024
Ryan Higgins in honor of Ray and Judy Higgins
Michael and Marsha Long in honor of Jay Heflin and Marc Heflin
Linda Jenkins in memory of James Foster Yates
Lori Bowen in memory of June Ramsey
Judith Strother in memory of Russell and Ina Miller
Jerard Allen in memory of Dixie Allen
Sylvia DeMent in memory of Leon DeMent Jr.
Across our region, there are CBF Baptists who find it difficult to find a fellowship of likeminded believers. You can still participate in the life of CBF-Great Rivers Fellowship.
Your ongoing financial support is making a difference through community engagement grants to GRF congregations, scholarships, and through gifts to for regional and national ministry partners. Will you commit to supporting CBF-Great Rivers Fellowship?
Mail your contributions to Cooperative Baptist Fellowship at the address below. Make sure that you note on your check or enclose a notation that your gift is for Great Rivers Fellowship.
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship P.O. Box 102972 Atlanta, GA 30368-2972
Show Me The Money
A few weeks ago, over Spring Break, I assisted my husband, who is a Presbyterian minister, with a two-day camp aimed at helping the youth and children of our church experience God through creation. The day before the camp began, I accompanied him to the store to pick up some last minute supplies. Snacks? Check. Drinks? Check. First Aid Kit?
Check. As we worked our way through the aisles, we found ourselves near the toy section. After thinking for a minute, I walked over and started putting various balls into our cart, soccer ball, football, basketball, dodge balls, etc. My husband came over in a panic, “What are you doing?!” he asked. “We’re getting some new balls to go in the Family Life Center. Have you looked at the balls in the closet in there? They’ve got to be from the 80s!” I replied. “But…but…but…I didn’t budget for balls,” he said, as he started wrestling the balls out of my grip. My reply? “You know, at some point, the church has to put its money where its mouth is. You can’t say that you love our youth and children and want their ministry to thrive, and then get upset when the pastor spends money to make that happen.” I won the argument; the kids got new balls. Why? Because at the end of the day, great ideas with no budget funds behind them is a little like paying lip service to a cause without actually showing up to act. Love expresses itself in action.
Reflecting over this, I couldn’t help but think that the same applies to community engagement. Most churches would probably say that they love their community, but how many churches, to put it crassly, put their money where their mouth is? After all, James 2 says, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.”
I know what you’re thinking, though. “That’s all well and good, but when you look at the numbers…” I know. Once upon a time, I was a pastor of a small, rural congregation in North Carolina. We had enough problems just trying to get salaries paid and keep the lights on; where were we going to get money to do community engagement?
2023-2024 Offering for Global Missions Equipping…with Every Good Thing… Hebrews 13:20-21 100% of your gifts for the Offering will support the long-term presence of CBF field personnel serving in the United States and around the world.
OFFERING GOAL: $4 Million
If you are thinking the same thing, if you have a great idea, but aren’t sure how to fund it, let GRF help. Each year, GRF has 10 grants, each in the amount of $1000, available to participating congregations to help you do that creative initiative or that community art project or that mission trip or advocacy campaign that’s been on your mind. We want to come alongside you as you do the work of Jesus in loving your neighbor well, the work of showing your faith in words and action.
If you would like to apply, send an email to Brittany.Caldwell@greatriversfellowship.org.
(Cont. from page 1)
clearly who we are. They also provide us with a map forward as we continue to grow into our identity.
We will attract other individuals and churches who are seeking a meaningful faith experience and grow our fellowship by doing the following:
We will continue to clearly communicate our commitment to faith, social justice, and inclusivity.
We will highlight the real-world impact of what we do as CBF Baptists.
We will continue to grow into the diversity we have across GRF and promote inclusion as reflected in our churches.
We will provide opportunities for the next generation to contribute meaningfully to shape the future of CBF-Great Rivers Fellowship.
Finally, we will continue to advocate for crucial social causes and be clear in pressing matters of conscience.
Marc J. Boswell – to St Charles Avenue Baptist Church as Senior Pastor
Brenda Holder – to Pulaski Heights Baptist Church as interim preaching pastor
1504 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive
