Not long after, Wagner, pastor of Marion Second Baptist Church, Marion, was telling a fellow seminary trustee board member, about the burden he felt.  It just so happened, the man had just returned from Russia and wanted Wagner to go with him on his next mission trip to the Ukraine, which was formerly a part of the Soviet Union.

After hearing this, ?I had to put my money where my mouth is,? said Wagner.  Soon Wagner was making his first trip to Chernivtsi, Ukraine located in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. 

Wagner has been returning to the Chernivtsi every two to three years since 1993.  He made is first two trips with the organization, International Crusades. During the first trip over 7,000 people came to Christ.  He returned in 1995 and saw 8,000 Ukrainians come to Christ.

During this time he had made friends with pastors and established relationships in Chernivtsi.  International Crusades decided to focus on a different region, but Wagner felt led to return to Chernivtsi.  ?We?ve felt a burden for these people.  They are kind of off the beaten track,? he said. 

Wagner led his first team of church members from Marion Second to the Ukraine in 1997.  The team saw 500 people establish a relationship with Christ.   This year his team of 12 from Marion Second was joined by a team of 8 from First Baptist Church, Andolusia, Ala. ? the church his son, Joe, pastors.  Three hundred and eight came to Christ as a result of this year?s trip.

Medical teams from Marion Second have gone to Chernivtsi to conduct clinics that included a doctor, nurse, and pharmacist.  The medical professionals and other team members treated more than just physical ills ? they also treated spiritual ills. While the sick waited to be seen greeters would witness to them. According to Wagner, ?The doctor would make home visits to treat those who couldn?t come (to the clinic) and would witness to them.  He had several saved.?

As a result of the efforts of Wagner and his fellow team members at least four churches have been established in the Chernivtsi area.  ?Now they are leading the country in baptisms and missions,? he told the Illinois Baptist.

After experiencing the repression of Communism the people were surprised by Wagner?s willingness to witness during his first few visits. Wagner said, ?People would sit there awestruck that someone would have the guts to share Christ. Now they are doing witnessing on their own ? being more and more aggressive.?

Wagner and the members of Marion Second haven?t limited their efforts to advance the kingdom of Christ to the foreign mission field. ?We try to be a Great Commission church.  We feel our primary purpose is reaching Marion ? but it?s also helping start new churches.?  

Marion Second helped start Metro Church in Edwardsville, restarted a church in Indiana, and ?several in Illinois over the last 24 years,? according to Wagner.  ?We?re also involved in local stuff like the crisis pregnancy center and the children?s home.  We?re pretty much sold on missions.?

The church is also very involved in indirect missions. Currently, 12 percent of its offering goes to the Cooperative Program, while another two percent goes to Williamson Baptist Association?s missions endeavors.  In 2003 the 2,068 resident members of Marion Second gave $86,495 to the Cooperative Program and $13,718 to associational missions.

In addition to these efforts, ?We try to push the Lottie Moon Offering (for International Missions),? said Wagner. ?They (church members) are really excited about it.  A lot of times we just can?t wait to talk about missions.  They really want to do missions.  People are hungry.?

Wagner said his church members have discussed doing some of the same things they do on mission trips to the Ukraine right there in Marion.  ?God?s convicting them to on visitation for the church.  They would do it in the Ukraine, why not at home??

When asked why Marion second is involved in so many missions? endeavors Wagner said, ?God opened the door to go there.  We can do it, that?s why.

?It does me good to go there and see it and know God?s still active and moving in our world,? he added.  ?I don?t feel like our church did anything but allow God to put us some place exciting.  We rejoice in that.  Anybody is welcome to go that wants to go.?

Wagner?s next trip to the Ukraine will be in the summer of 2006.  For more information contact him by calling Marion Second at (618) 993-2338.

I believe everyone our annual meeting is equal in being able to participate in and have a voice in their organization. This is why the priesthood of the believer is so very basic and fundamental for we who are called ?Baptists.?

Baptists are also noted for ?eating and meeting.? When we gather at the Holiday Inn Hotel Select and Convention Center in Tinley Park, we will gather not only as a assembly of Baptists participating in meetings, we will also spend time eating. As president I do not know how much time I will be able to spend eating ? one thing is for sure, we will do a lot of meeting. Why don?t you join me at the meeting?  Don?t worry; you won?t have to buy me a dinner.  But perhaps after it is all over someone will have sympathy and invite me to dinner. Then they can tell their neighbor, ?Guess who is coming to dinner??

Why Not Us?  Perhaps you have pondered that question concerning your family, your church or any one of a myriad of situations in your life.  As I travel our fine state, I certainly have queried about how we can do more and be more effective for the kingdom of God.

Why do we have so few churches where the population is so great?  Why do so many of our churches struggle to maintain rather than experience dynamic health?  Why are so many of our pastors over worked and underpaid?  Why do so many of our baptistries go unused week after week?  Why as Baptists are we identified, to a large extent, with things we are against rather than being known for the many great and wonderful things we accomplish cooperatively as a denomination?

The list of questions could go on and on.

We could blame our issues on geography, but some churches appear to be flourishing regardless of their location.  We could blame our struggles on economics, but we are all under the same economic plight.  We could blame our condition on denominational strife, but much of those issues are behind us.  Maybe our churches don?t work hard enough.  That is hardly the truth.

I know so many of you work diligently and constantly fly under the radar of public recognition.  Certainly, our state has its share of apathy ? but if church health were based solely on work ethic or desire, our church houses would be filled.

Revival is a gift of God that has its share of conditional layers.  We must take sin seriously.  We must love people of all varieties.  We must not be shackled by our own preferences, but understand that function greatly outweighs form.  Our God has no limits.  We can have healthy churches, and we must, for the Kingdom?s sake.

I have asked all our churches to consider two objectives this year.

1.      Set a goal to double your baptisms.  Baptisms represent salvations.  Jesus came to seek and to save the lost.   Our marching orders are to faithfully share the glorious gospel.  If every Southern Baptist church in our state baptized six more than last year, we would double our baptisms.  The staff at Illinois Baptist State Association has set aside resources and manpower to partner with you and your association to assist you in this worthy goal.

2.      Consider enhancing your missions giving by increasing your gifts to the Cooperative Program.  Illinois Baptist State Association will use those funds both effectively and efficiently in our state and will pass on funds to be used in North America and around the world.

The old hymn says, ?Faith is the victory ? that overcomes the world.?  With the blessing of Almighty God and hard work we will no longer ask the question, ?Why Not Us??  But we will boldly declare, ?To God be the glory, great things He has done.?

Remember ? wherever you go, whatever you do ? say a good word for Jesus!

Twice a year between five and ten thousand motorcycles roll into Southern Illinois for Hog Rock, a weekend biker rally notorious for sex, drugs, booze, and rock and roll.  An association evangelism meeting got Dr. Gerald Miller to thinking about organizing some kind of Christian outreach while the mass of bikers was in town.

He took the challenge to members of Peter's Creek Baptist Church, where he is pastor.

"Our church recently established an evangelism outreach team with three goals.  First, they were to develop strategies and plans to promote evangelism in our church.  Second, to go out into Hardin County with God's message.  Third, they were to devise plans and strategies to assist other churches with evangelism programs," Miller said.

They applied that mandate to the fall Hog Rock motorcycle rally held on Oct. 9 and 10.

"We came up with two welcome centers.   One is on a vacant lot right in the middle of Cave-in-Rock, just at the top of the hill from the Ferry landing.  We then connected with one of our county commissioners to set up a booth right at the Y in the road where people enter Hog Rock," Miller said.

Miller says the welcome centers created what the 50 or so active Peters Creek members thought would be a worthy Christian service project and with some divine intervention it grew.

"We contacted the Illinois Baptist State Association.  They donated some gospel tracts.  We came up with bottled water, candy bars, and cookies to hand out and a few gifts for the riders. We got tourist maps for Hardin County that show some of the scenic stops around our area," Miller said

Miller and his wife, Judy, contacted friends at Fellowship Baptist Church in Vienna where they had formerly served.  Some of the older youth agreed to bring a group from Shawnee Community College to help with street witnessing in Cave-In-Rock while the bikers were in town.

Miller was then put in contact with a Christian motorcycle group from Sterling, Ill.

"They're called the Holy Ghost Riders.  They offered to bring eight cyclists, men to actually go on the grounds of the Hog Rock event to witness.  Five of the wives came to assist at the welcome locations.  It really kind of snow balled beyond what we originally envisioned," Miller said.

Hillcrest Baptist Campground housed the Christian bikers for free.  Churches of the neighboring Big Saline Baptist Association offered to pay the $30 per person entry fee for the Christian bikers to enter the Hog Rock event. They also provided meals for the volunteers.

"Things really came together.  I think it is a really good opportunity to put forth a Christian witness.  I learned another Christian biker group has been in there for four or five years now," Miller said.

In addition to neighboring Illinois churches, Miller got some advice from a Baptist church in Marion, Kentucky, just across the Ohio River that sets up a biker welcome center for the nearby Little Sturgis Rally.  Van Yandell told Miller ministering to bikers requires some out of the box thinking.

They're not going to stop if they think they're going to get preached at.  Anything that says 'church' sure seems to make them gun-shy," Yandell observed.  "I noticed several riders get off their bikes, look directly our church banner, then get back on their bikes and take off.  I just took the banner down and that way we were just a 'welcome' station rather than a 'church' welcome station.  Probably the bikers that need Jesus the most are the ones that run away."

Along with advice, Yandell gave Miller several cases of cookies and some Biker Bibles to hand out.

"The Biker Bible is a New Testament. The title on the front says 'Hope for the Highway' with a picture of a motorcycle. The bikers really liked those.  We also had several who wanted a copy of the Jesus film to take home to their kids.  You never know what kind of impact that can have on a family later," Yandell said.

Even with all the goodies to hand out to bikers, Miller believes their strongest witness may be that they are just saying welcome to Hardin County.  He makes the distinction that they are not saying "welcome to Hog Rock."

"That's a subtle difference.  I'm not welcoming them to get sloppy drunk and do drugs; I'm welcoming them to my home area," Miller said.  "I'm going to provide them with a cup of water or cup of coffee in Jesus' name."

"We will share the Gospel where we can.  They will all get a tract inviting them to worship with us Sunday morning at 11 a.m. before they leave to go home.  On the back we've printed the Roman road.  If they open the door to talk, we'll be witnessing."

As for his experience sharing the gospel with bikers, Van Yandell says you can only do so much and then the Holy Spirit has to take it from there.

"This is one of those cases where I'm not sure there is a right or wrong way because all of those individuals are just as different as we are," Yandell observes.  "The bikers are pretty much a sub-culture.  I ride a motorcycle, but some of those folks just have a different mindset on things, whether it is the hedonistic lifestyle or whatever.  You just try to appeal to them in as many ways as you can.  If God opens the door to share the gospel, you do it."

Miller estimates maybe 200 bikers stopped at the two welcome booths over most of the two-day event. The Christian bikers logged about 1,200 contacts during the two days they spent on the Hog Rock grounds.

"We know we had an impact," Judy Miller said.  "As they were leaving the bikers were yelling out, 'Thanks for the chocolate,' and 'See you next year,' as they passed our booth.  Some of them said it was the first time anyone had welcomed them to the community.  That reaction made the hard work worthwhile."

Planning will start almost immediately on welcome centers for the larger summer Hog Rock rally next year.  Those plans include adding a biker worship service.  The Millers say all that will take more volunteers.  To contact the Millers call Peter?s Creek Baptist Church at (618) 287-8034.

Nancy Whitlow, a member of New Brighton Baptist Mission, served as the project coordinator.  ?I love doing the building on these homes,? said Whitlow.  ?It is such a blessing to see the excitement of the new homeowners.  What a joy to be able to work with such Godly women.  We have a great time together in fellowship as well as working together for a week.  

Already a veteran of three builds, Jeannine Myers, a member of Anna Heights Baptist Church, said building the house is the highlight of her year.  ?My hammer and pry-bar are always ready.  It is so wonderful to see familiar faces and meet new friends.  I love seeing how God works with this team teaching us about loving one another as we strive to work together.  We work hard and we eat well.? 

She continued, ?As we gathered each morning, I really enjoyed hearing from God?s Word as the sun was rising in the east.  Sherry, the homeowner, seemed grateful for each nail we drove.  Her children were so excited when their rooms took shape.  It was a blessing from God to be a part of His work in Wood River.? 

The women were moved by the appreciation the family showed them. According to Doris Toler, pastor?s wife at Carmi First Baptist church, ?In mid-afternoon on Monday, Sheree, the homeowner, stood in the middle of the house and cried when she looked around at two walls that had been framed up.  What a blessing to experience her joy!  This is her dream come true.  God blessed me by allowing me to work on this project.  That is my dream come true.?

By the end of the week the team members had learned dust piles and pounding hammers signified more than a house being built.  It signified a hope in the future.  Not only a hope for a new place to live, but also hope from the Father. 

If progress continues on schedule, the Winchester family will move to the home in November.  A father, mother, and three girls will hopefully sit down to a Thanksgiving dinner in their new home.  

Graham, who will turn 86 on Nov. 7, complained of ?a lot of discomfort in my back, hips and legs? as a result of two falls this year that broke bones. He stood for as long as he could behind a podium before sitting to complete his messages. He used a walker to move.

His voice was faint but his admonition was strong: Sin leads to death.

?Have you always honored your parents as you should?? Graham asked the Friday night crowd of nearly 40,000. ?Have you ever stolen, or cheated anybody? Have you ever committed immorality? Jesus said if you even look on a woman to lust after her in your heart, you?re guilty. Have you ever borne false witness against somebody, lied against somebody? Have you ever coveted anything? Then you?re a sinner.?

Graham explained the sequence that leads to death ? being born in sin, choosing to sin and being sinners by practice.

?We die,? the beloved evangelist said, ?and at my age, I know the time is near.?
More than 2,100 people responded to Graham?s invitation on Friday night. Bob Paulson, a 12-year employee of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association who serves as managing editor of Decision magazine, looked up into the stands at Arrowhead and said, ?The people just keep coming, and that?s amazing.?

An invitation at a Billy Graham crusade is never routine, Paulson said.

?These people are going to have lives transformed,? Paulson said. ?Who knows, 20 years down the road, how their families and everyone around them ? hundreds of people around each one of these people ? can be different because of what?s going on right now.?
 
The largest crowd of the crusade was Sunday, when 51,273 people came to the open-air venue. The overall attendance for the crusade was 154,974.

Graham plans to hold his next crusade Nov. 18-21 in Los Angeles. He also has scheduled a crusade next year in New York City.

Hamilton recently appeared on NBC's ?Today Show? to discuss the book she coauthored with her pastor, titled "Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board."

"To be honest, I never wanted to write a book," Hamilton said. But after encouragement from her family and friends, she decided it was the right thing to do in order to provide people with a larger picture of her faith and the people who have helped her get back into the water after the attack.

In the book's forward, Hamilton tells how she spent many hours pouring her heart out to Rick Bundschuh, her spiritual adviser and pastor at Kauai Christian Fellowship Church in Koloa, Hawaii.

"In the end, I'm really proud of what I've written here," Hamilton writes. "... I hope it helps people find faith in God and in their own strength and ability. I hope it motivates someone going through a tough time right now to keep on fighting until they rise above it."

Hamilton said she doesn't want people to pity her for losing an arm at such a young age. She wants them to see an example of how to cope when life doesn't go as planned. And she clearly states what her sources of strength have been.

"My strength came from my relationship with Christ and from the love and encouragement of my family and friends," she writes.

The teenager even has an answer for those who wonder why God would allow such a tragedy to happen to a young, vibrant surfer who showed so much promise as a professional competitor.

"I don't pretend to have all the answers to why bad things happen to good people," Hamilton writes. "But I do know that God knows all those answers, and sometimes He lets you know in this life, and sometimes He asks you to wait so that you can have a face-to-face talk about it.

"What I do know is that I want to use what happened to me as an opportunity to tell people that God is worthy of our trust, and to show them that you can go on and do wonderful things in spite of terrible events that happen," she adds.

Floy Oliver was a valued administrative assistant for a major corporation in the Chicago area. Her main job, though, was as a volunteer worker for the Bible Memory Association. Through the years she led hosts of children and youth, including our kids, to memorize the Scriptures. Because of Floy, there are hundreds of adults who have a solid foundation in the Word of God to face the challenges of life.

Floy was also a great encourager, especially of her pastor. I remember a time when due to a convergence of circumstances I was about at rock bottom. I would have had to put on stilts to walk under a snake?s belly. During this period, Floy planned and executed a surprise ?This Is Your Life? celebration for me. She arranged for people from my past to come, even providing places for them to stay! That night this totally surprised pastor sat on the front pew of a crowded auditorium and tearfully listened to one after another from my past and present encourage me as Floy beamed.

We talked with Floy and Claude by phone from Oklahoma a few months ago. She was 86, blind, and homesick for Heaven. What a welcome she must have received!

This week we had a call saying Dottie Mosteller had passed. She and her husband, Paul, were missionaries in Thailand for over 30 years. Their contributions there were tremendous, but their impact on my life predated their missionary service.

I enrolled at Murray State (Ky.) College in 1948. I was a grossly backslidden, hopelessly confused and aimless freshman. Dottie Brizendine was the Director of the Baptist Student Union on that secular college campus. She and that little band of believers reached out to a boy who was ?in the pits?. They loved, accepted, and cared. I remember one day Paul Mosteller, then Dottie?s fianc?, had a conversation with me that totally changed my life.

Praise God for people who let the Lord use them to impact the lives of others. Thank God for ?precious memories?.