September is stewardship month for us here at First Baptist Edwardsville. Over the last few years we have focused on several different ways we can be good stewards; of our time and energy and gifts and passions. 


This year we want to focus a little more on being good stewards of our money.


Let’s be honest. We as a church have lost some people, mostly to death. Many of those people we lost were faithful, strong givers and our church is starting to not meet our budgeted needs. 


It’s that time of year when we think about our budget for the next year, so as we contemplate what we need and want to spend money on next year let’s think strategically about how we can save money and also do the most work we can do.


Being good stewards means we must continue to do the work set before us. Sometimes that means we have to tighten our belts and give a little more. Sometimes it means we have to step up and do the work rather than just paying someone to do it for us. 

So what does this mean for us?


Well, I think it means a couple of things. We need people to give more sacrificially, but we also need to remember that God provides for the work He has called us to.


I think we are in a time of testing our faith and trust in God. Will he provide? Yes, I believe He will. How will He provide? That we just have to watch for.


In the middle of our storms and uncertainty, we must remember that God provides for the work God wants done. Let’s keep our eyes on the goal of Kingdom growth and showing love to everyone, and let’s watch and see how God provides.


With much love,
Pastor Drew

I come to you after a long summer that isn’t even over yet tired but full of joy.


I participated in some great events this summer, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Yes, traveling and participating in non-stop events can be draining, but the things I participated in left me feeling renewed.


This summer I:
Went to the CBF Annual Gathering in St. Louis. 
Went to the ABC-USA Biennial Convention in Omaha.
Went to youth camp at Green Lake.
Participated in VBS with First Baptist, Immanuel UMC, and First Christian.


All of these things were multi-day events and several of them required travel, but they all offered renewing and reinvigorating opportunities for worship and service.


I came back from all of this with a sense that First Baptist Edwardsville really needs to take a look at our vision for the future. A vision is a statement of what an organization would like to achieve in the future. What do we want our church to be in 2 years, 5 years, 10 years, 25 years, 100 years? We have a church with an almost 200 year heritage, what will our legacy be in that story?


When the story of First Baptist Edwardsville is told to future generations, will we be some of those stories of self-focused choices simply trying to maintain, or will we be some of those stories of exemplary faith that worked to take the gospel and hope to our neighbors and the world? I know what I would like to be a part of.


As we begin discussing a vision for First Baptist Edwardsville, dream big! What can we ask God for? And remember, “he is able to do far more than we can ask or imagine!”


With much love,
Pastor Drew

I am really excited about a ministry opportunity the Evangelism Team has come up with and I want to tell you about it!


In the Winter, when it gets below 20 degrees we open up our gym area and host the Overnight Warming Location. Many of our guests are people who find themselves without housing and they need our facility to stay warm and stay alive. But that initiative only operates from November to March.


Enter our Evangelism Team headed by Liz Watters and Monika Lablance. They have decided that those people who need help during the winter also need help during the rest of the year. So what they have proposed to do is open up the gym area a couple of times a month so that our friends in housing crisis can come in, get a meal, take a shower, do their laundry, and possibly pick up some much needed gear and supplies.


The details of this initiative are still being worked out, but I am truly excited that this is something brought to our attention by our own church people! 


This is truly trying to do ministry to those who need it most, and that is what we are to be about as a church.


Keep an eye out for ways that you can get involved and help us serve people in our community.


With much love,
Pastor Drew