News

The past couple days have been a lot of fun. As usual, our family groups are an encouragement and blessing, although we rarely remember to get pictures. This is especially true of our adult family groups, which is why you typically only see pictures of the children’s groups. We also had a couple special events (spring games banquet and a wedding shower), so check out some pictures from those below.

A few kids having a blast in the preschool family group

A couple buddies form the preschool family group

Let the games begin! Great family fun for our spring games banquet Saturday evening…

A victim of the elephant walk

Is that supposed to go on your head?

The elephant walk leads to light-headedness.

More minute-to-win-it fun

Speed and quickness

Adults became like kids again during the fun time of playing games.

Striving for perfection

Hot air and marshmallows

Don’t underestimate the power of breath.

Teamwork

“Junk in the Trunk”

Stacking competition

Wedding shower

The guests of honor

Please join us Saturday evening at 5:30 for our annual spring banquet in our fellowship hall. There will be food and group entertainment, and this is a great time to fellowship with others, enjoy some great food and be encouraged.

This is not a formal event, and people of all ages are invited to join us. Please spread the word to your family, friends, neighbors and others. If you do plan on attending, please contact us, as we want to be sure we have enough food prepared.

Hope to see you Saturday evening!

Are you ready for some fun? This Saturday (April 23rd) from 5-8 p.m. is our youth game night. Supper will be provided, and we’ll have all kinds of options for video games, board games, ping pong, air hockey, Foosball and several outdoor game options.

All youth (grades 6-12) are invited to join us, so spread the word. If you have any questions, please contact us. Hope to see you Saturday!

NOTE: For our regular weekly schedule of events, please click HERE.

Sunday morning at 10:40 we will be starting a new sermon series on what it means to be a church member. All about what biblical church members do, this series will be great for you if you are already a member of the church, have questions about Richland, want to get more involved, or wonder why church membership is even necessary.

We believe church membership is important, and we believe it is biblical. That’s why this six-week series will be helpful, practical and relevant for those who are already members of Richland, as well as for those who are curious what membership means.

Hope you can join us for Family Groups & worship!

Regular Sunday Schedule

9:30 – Family Groups
10:40 – Worship
6 p.m. – Life on Mission

If you have any questions, please contact us. You can listen to previous messages HERE.

If you are a part of the Richland family or if you do not have a church family, please join us Sunday morning. Our morning schedule for Resurrection Sunday (and all Sundays) is…

9:30 a.m. = Family Groups (for all ages)

10:40 a.m. = Worship

Many people who don’t regularly attend a worship service are more inclined to do so on Easter Sunday. If that happens to be you, please know that we’d love to have you, and we’d be blessed if you would consider getting more involved on a regular basis.

Going through the story of the disciples on the Emmaus road (Luke 24:13-35), Pastor Nick will challenge you to consider your “Resurrection Response.” Whether you have believed the gospel for years or just aren’t sure what you believe, please join us.

If you have any questions about Richland, please don’t hesitate to contact us. You can learn more about our beliefs HERE and answers to frequently asked questions HERE.

Yesterday morning during our time of worship together, eighth grader Parker Smiley shared his personal testimony of faith in Jesus Christ. We hope you will listen to this powerful and encouraging example of life-changing faith. Please click HERE to listen.

We will be starting a new 4-week sermon series Sunday morning on what Jesus gave so that we could gain. Leading up to Easter Sunday, we will be going through Luke 22-23 and talking about Jesus’ sacrifice. Then, on Easter Sunday we will see our appropriate response to His sacrifice and resurrection.

Please join us for worship on Sunday mornings at 10:40. To listen to previous messages, click HERE.

NOTE: Our series “Jesus Is…” from the Gospel of John will continue after “The Savior’s Sacrifice” and another short series on church membership.

Do you ever sense a need for encouragement in the middle of a busy and/or overwhelming week? Join us on Wednesday evenings, when we have activities for all ages.

This Wednesday evening (6:30 – 7:30) the adults will be starting a new Bible study based on Tim Keller’s book “Gospel in Life.” This is a group course on the gospel and how it is lived out in all of life – first in your heart, then in your community, and then out into the world.

For those (all ages) who can make it, we serve supper at 5:45. Then, TeamKID pre-K, TeamKID supercharged and the youth group meet from 6:15 – 7:30. Invite your family and friends, and join us!

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact us. Hope to see you Wednesday evening.

On January 12th our Grand Crossings Baptist Association unanimously approved Preston Thompson as our new Associational Missionary (also known as “Director of Missions” – DOM). Having previously served as the Associate Pastor at Southside Baptist Church in Fulton, Preston is not new to our association. In fact, he has been involved in missions with our association for years and has a great passion for the gospel and a heart for God’s mission to reach the nations.

Below is Preston’s challenge to our association and his vision for ministry.

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About a year ago a revivalist and his son came to the church where I was on staff, to conduct one of our annual revivals.  As we were sitting down at a restaurant for lunch, we began discussing different ways to conduct worship in a service.  The son, who is a well-known music professor, told this story about his upbringing:

“My sisters and I grew up at our home with mostly mom around.  We each had a meal that was our favorite, and they were all different.  Our mother could not possibly fix each of our favorite meals every time we sat down to eat.  One of my sister’s favorite meals was chicken and dumplings.  I don’t particularly like chicken and dumplings.  But you know what? I received the greatest joy when mom would serve my sister her favorite meal for supper.  I realized that it was not about what was on my plate, but rather that I was simply at the table.”

The churches of Grand Crossings need to return to the table…together.  Yes, every church has things that are specific to its church and its ministry.  If we relate our association to this story, the needs of every church would be considered “what is on our plates.”  We can become very fixated on these needs and thus isolate ourselves from the table.  As a family of churches together in the GCBA, we are each individually responsible to be at the table.

The “table” for our group of churches is our dual call to the proclamation of the Gospel and to the pursuit of our communities. Our churches are connected to each other, just like a body or a family.  Sometimes we find ourselves serving the same people and/or in the same towns.  When we sit down at the table together, we share each other’s burdens, support each other’s ministries, and celebrate each other’s victories.  We find instruction and correction at the table, as well as inspiration and motivation.  Together we can do more, better.

Jesus used the table as a place to minister to his disciples, to his followers, and even to the lost.  It was at the table that he ministered to those who were new to following him (Matthew 9:10-13), disciplined his disciples (Matthew 14:3-9), called out those who were in sin (Luke 22:14-23), displayed servanthood (John 13:4-20), and encouraged those who believed to keep their eyes on him (Luke 10:40-42).  When we come to the table, we will experience many of the same things because of the unity of the Spirit of Christ in us.

As I have surveyed GCBA, I noticed one thing right from the start – we don’t know each other.  There are 35 churches that stretch 75 miles north to south and 42 miles east to west, which make up Grand Crossings.  We are vast and we are great, and we are going to have to make an effort to come to the table–together.  On the next page, you will find my vision plan for the next year.  I believe it will begin to bring us back to the table – together.  It is based upon 3 key elements:  Discover, Develop, and Deploy. Additionally, I believe it will fulfill our ultimate goal of living out Acts 1:8.  My prayer is that you, your church, and your ministries will join me at the table this year.

Preston Thompson, DOM

“Serving churches to advance the Kingdom of Christ”

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Note: You can read this original letter, along with Preston’s vision plan HERE.