Dear friends, We are one month away from the 178th Annual Gathering of the American Baptist Churches of Wisconsin! Be sure to join us on Saturday, October 8th, from 8:30-4:30 at First Baptist Church of Beloit. Hotel information, registration, and more can be found here. Our guest speaker is my friend Rev. Rick Barlow. Rick […]
Dear friends, The back-to-school sales have begun. It’s still summer, but autumn is creeping closer. For many congregations, this is the first fall since 2019 where Christian Education ministries for children are resuming, since young children are finally able to be vaccinated. There is a lot of expectation and hope moving forward. Yet we are […]
Dear friends, The first half of 2022 is over. I don’t know about you, but with all the news lately of violence and political upheaval, trials and court rulings and elections—I feel like 2022 could use a do-over. And why not? We serve a God of new beginnings. God wipes the slate clean […]
Dear friends, May was not the month I expected or hoped for. Personally, illness and injuries plagued my family, so I had to cancel some of my planned visits and meetings this month. However, it was the violence that ripped through communities which broke me, again. Milwaukee. Buffalo. Galena, California. Uvalde, Texas. A culture of […]
Dear friends, Christ is Risen, Indeed! The Easter season lasts 7 weeks until Pentecost (this year, Pentecost is on June 5th). In this Easter season, we remember that the disciples experienced the risen Christ as we experience the arrival of spring, as the old hymn “Now the Green Blade Riseth” sings: Now the green blade […]
Dear friends, I have spent my first month unpacking, getting settled into a routine, learning how to pronounce certain names like “Waukesha” (but don’t ask me to pronounce “Oconomowoc” yet) and meeting many of you! In my first month I have visited nine churches of our region, and I have scheduled most Sundays through mid-June […]
Dear new friends and colleagues, I am so delighted to be here in Wisconsin! We have settled into our home that we are renting in Brookfield, registered my son for school, obtained driver’s licenses and registered to vote. There are so many details to take care of when moving to a new place! I will […]
From the Wisconsin Baptist newsletter – September 2021 “Church Together” John Jones, ABC/WI Interim Regional Executive Minister So we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. Romans 12:5 A lesson that I keep learning over and over again is how much I need other […]
John Jones, ABC/WI Interim Regional Executive Minister (from WB, summer 2021) Mark 7:37 –They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.” Jesus saves! A simple phrase, but also the fundamental conviction of the Christian religion. It is the simplest […]
John Jones, ABC/WI Interim Regional Executive Minister “Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear? And do you not remember?” – Mark 8:18 One year ago, many organizations were framing the new year 2020 in terms including “vision” and “sight,” drawing on that obvious optical reference. […]