As some of you know, our family is traveling to Springfield, Illinois this weekend to celebrate the 180th Anniversary of Central Baptist Church. Having just celebrated our 150th less than a year ago, we remember our past and are eagerly anticipating the future that God has for us at First Baptist. We have much to celebrate as God is prompting and calling us in the directions of poverty and students. The energy that has surrounded our discussions, new ventures this summer, and planning for the fall has been exhilarating.

I would like to ask each of you to remember me in prayer as I speak to the congregation in Springfield on Sunday. Pray that God will enliven their celebration and direction for the future. Ask God to transform their rich history into a hopeful future. We are sister churches that have much in common and your prayers for their congregation will be appreciated.

Randy Gruendyke, campus pastor from Taylor University, will be teaching at First Baptist on Sunday. Randy is a gifted communicator. His passion for God’s Word and students in apparent in all he does. He will be speaking from Luke 16, the story of the rich man and Lazarus.

Randy is in his eighth year as campus pastor at Taylor University. Randy is originally from Southern California where he began his pastoral ministry at the church in which he grew up. Before coming to Taylor, Randy served as college pastor at College Church in Wheaton, Illinois. Along with, Nancy, his wife of sixteen years, Randy has three daughters, ages 13, 12 and 10. In his spare time Randy enjoys genealogy, biking and spending time with his family.