from the pastor's desk august 2025

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