The new home of Regular Baptist Ministries in Elgin, Illinois.
When I was a pastor, I would often remind my church family, “Never presume upon the goodness, blessing, and provision of God. Give thanks for past victories and for growth and progress, and trust God for what we envision to accomplish by His grace.”
This we must also do in our fellowship. I thank God for victories, growth, and progress at Regular Baptist Ministries and trust Him for what He will yet do.
Regular Baptist Ministries Relocates
Regular Baptist Ministries is praising God for the sale of its building and the provision of a new home office. We listed our Arlington Heights, Illinois, office for sale in June 2022, and on September 19 we received a full-price cash offer from our next-door neighbor, a logistics corporation. We moved into our new office October 24.
Several of our staff members have worked remotely for many years, some in distant locations. But with the onslaught of COVID-19, additional staff members transitioned from the home office to their home offices. With the remaining in-house staff using only one-quarter of the building, the property was far larger than necessary.
Regular Baptist Ministries now leases space at Harvest Bible Chapel in Elgin, Illinois, twenty-five miles west of the Arlington Heights property. Those choosing to work on-site are enjoying ample office space and a large meeting area.
“With the market for properties like ours still reeling from the pandemic, it was difficult to predict our timeline, selling price, and future location. But God in His perfect timing brought us a better deal and future plan than we had imagined,” says Mark Johnson, treasurer and controller.
The assets of the sale will be reinvested into the various branches of Regular Baptist Ministries.
These last few years have been extremely choppy waters for us as a fellowship, with significant financial headwinds. COVID-19 brought a substantial slowing of sales for Regular Baptist Press, from which we are yet recovering. In addition, the GARBC national representative unexpectedly resigned, the director of Regular Baptist Press exited the helm, and churches have experienced stress from various sources. Yet God has faithfully provided through regular giving, product sales, exceptional work from the Regular Baptist Ministries staff, and now the sale of our building.
God unfailingly cares for His children, His people, His churches, and our fellowship. I thank God for His provision, Mark Johnson for leading the sale and the move to a new facility, and the staff for consistently supporting the transition and for showing incredible agility and servants’ hearts.
Commentaries Coming Soon
Another item of importance is the significant progress in Regular Baptist Press’s New Testament Exposition Commentary project. Daniel Davey and Chris Miller, editors of the series, and I are working diligently to finish the first volume, Matthew, so it will be available for sale in 2023. Additional finances are yet needed to fully fund this series of commentaries. Generous donors have given $120,000, but the project needs at least another $80,000. Pray for the completion of this series. And give!
International Conference in India
The Biblical Baptist Partnership International, a ministry of Regular Baptist International, will gather January 26–28 for a conference at Camp En Gedi and Retreat Center in Manipur, India. The last time the BBPI met was in 2017, and COVID-19 laid aside any recent plans for international ministries to connect, so the association is looking forward to being together. H. C. Stephen, former chairman of the BBPI, is coordinating this conference. Also attending will be Darrell Goemaat, coordinator of Regular Baptist International. I will lead training and preaching sessions.
I have now served as interim national representative of the GARBC for a bit more than a year. I can do little more than thank God for His mercy and sustaining grace. My wife, Debbie, has been a champ as we live our unexpected post-pastoral ministry life. We remain steadfast in our love for Christ, for each other, and for our grand fellowship of churches.
We don’t know what the days ahead will hold, but we do know Who holds the day!
- This article was published in the Winter 2023 Baptist Bulletin. Subscribe to the Baptist Bulletin or purchase a gift subscription. If you already subscribe to the print edition, sign up for free digital access.
David E. Strope is interim national representative of the GARBC.
