The American Baptist Churches of the Great Rivers Region (GRR) was formed in 1967, as a merger of the Missouri Convention of American Baptists and the Illinois Baptist State Convention (not including Chicago). It was the first of the "regions" created as part of a massive denominational reorganization. However, its roots go back much further.

The first identifiable Baptist church in the Illinois Territory was at New Design in 1787.  About 30 years later, John Mason Peck was appointed the first Baptist home missionary.  He and his wife, Sallie Payne Peck, were sent to the “wild west” of Illinois and Missouri.  Peck’s work was centered on the Mississippi River Valley.

Peck planted churches, encouraged Baptist associations, founded schools, and advocated for missions.  He was resisted on all counts.  Yet, he should be counted as successful.

Though his school (Shurtleff College) ultimately failed, its heritage of resources continues to support American Baptist ministries on a multitude of university campuses through the Shurtleff Foundation.  The Baptist Convention organized at White Hall in 1834, was the progenitor of the Great Rivers Region.  Several churches Peck started still exist, most notably the Kane Baptist Church.  The Great Rivers Region continues in the heritage espoused by John Mason Peck that we be not just Baptists, but cooperative, missionary Baptists.

The Great Rivers Region is not only large, but also highly diverse.  Part of our diversity is rooted in the conflicts in the mists of our history.  Divisive conflicts included:  slavery, open vs. closed communion, Sunday School, and cooperative missions.  These struggles especially took a toll on Baptists in the southern portion of Illinois.

Part of our diversity is related to political struggle.  The “Missouri Compromise” affected not only national destiny, but also Baptist destiny.   After the Civil War, the Missouri Baptist General Association adopted a plan that eschewed affiliation with either the American Baptist Home Mission Society or the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).  By 1919 this plan was dissolved by the singular affiliation with the SBC.  But some churches continued to maintain  congregational affiliation with the Northern Baptist Convention.  In 1959, 13 churches banded to create the Missouri Convention of American Baptists and were affiliated with the ABC.  The struggle, while less intense, is reflected to this day in the number of historic GRR churches (mostly in Missouri) with official ties to both ABC and SBC.

Part of our diversity is lifestyle.  The Great Rivers Region includes one bona fide metropolitan area (St. Louis), the environs of two others (Kansas City and Chicago), other large to medium size cities, small towns, and open rural areas.  We are home to farmers, skilled laborers, educators, managers, entrepreneurs, and aristocrats.

Part of our diversity is ethnic. The Great Rivers Region is not just plain vanilla.  There are growing numbers of African-American churches affiliated with the Great Rivers Region.  Also, an explosion of Hispanic churches seems imminent.  More recently, Baptists from Burma have found their way to freedom in the Great Rivers Region.  We are rich because of the varieties of ethnic representation in our midst. 

Part of our diversity is theological.  Given the convoluted history of Baptists in Illinois and Missouri, early ecclesiastical struggles, range of lifestyles, and growing ethnicity, it should be no surprise that a range Baptist theologies and practices can be found here.  While overall we are "right of center," we stand firmly in the mainstream of Baptist thought.

But diversity is only part of the story.  Since John Mason Peck was one of our earliest organizers, it comes as no surprise that mission is the thread that ties all this diversity together in community.  As evidenced by our first attempts at organization, the Great Rivers Region has attracted cooperative, missionary Baptist churches.  Our founding documents declare our shared purpose to "promote of the Kingdom of God."  Though over 175 years old, this same declaration continues to inform our most recent vision statement:  Healthy congregations engaged in effective Christian ministry locally and globally.  Our congregational focus is clear and deliberate; our mission field is near and far.  The Great Rivers Region exists to challenge, assist, represent and empower churches for mission.  

Illinois and Missouri are not the same today as in the 1800's.  The world has also changed.  Consequently the shape of mission has changed as well.  The GRR Regional Ministry Board has adopted overarching goals to set our congregational priority for this decade.

Our first overarching goal is to cultivate passion for mission both locally and globally.  GRR churches have been driven by God’s mission from the very beginning.  We have deep ties to Bacone College and Murrow Indian Children’s Home.  That same passion exists within our borders for Judson University, Huddleson Baptist Children’s Home (now One Hope United), Peoria Friendship House of Christian Service, and other institutions and ministries.  It should be no surprise that we are number 1 in our support of American Baptist institutions and ministries through the Institutional Support Process. 

We consider ourselves “home base” for a number of ABC missionaries including the Jeff & Annie Dieselberg, Scott & Tan Coats, and Kristy Engel.  As part of our covenant partnership with Costa Rica, we also claim Gary & Mylinda Baits and Ruth Mooney.  We are excited as Taku and Katie Longkumer are in the process for appointment to Northeast India.  In all, there are 11 Missionary Partnership Teams (MPTs) operating in the Great Rivers Region.          

In 2002, after nearly 20 years of mission trips, the Great Rivers Region entered a formal covenant with the Federation of Baptists in Costa Rica.  The emphasis of this covenant is on partnership and mutual respect.  Every year there are multiple groups from GRR to Costa Rica and deep friendships have been formed.  Likewise, Baptists from Costa Rica have visited GRR; joined with us in Habitat for Humanity Projects; participated in our meetings; and even sent us offerings in response to natural disasters.

The Great Rivers Region responds to other opportunities and they arise.  GRR churches led the way in Habitat for Humanity projects in Baton Rouge LA following hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  Our ABMen participate in the denomination-wide disaster relief ministry.  Our ABWM is a national leader.  Churches and youth groups are encourage to find other mission and ministry opportunities.

Our second overarching goal is to create a learning and resource network of GRR churches and pastors.  We offer events and services to challenge, assist, represent and empower churches, including guest speakers such as George Bullard, Carolyn Gordon, Jeff Johnson, and Marvin McMickle.  But we know that churches and pastors learn best and most consistently from one another.  So we feature GRR churches and leadership in workshops and events.  We share the stories of great ministry ideas in print and on the web.  We encourage pastors to form intentional learning communities to enhance ministry effectiveness.

Our third overarching goal is to recruit and retain competent, qualified pastoral leadership for GRR churches.  Effective pastoral leadership and effective churches go hand in hand.  The ministerial staff of the Great Rivers Region understands that one of the most important things we do is to help churches find the right pastor.  Closely coupled with that is the goal to help that pastor be the best they can possibly be.  GRR scholarships help individuals in college and seminary education.  GRR matching intern grants encourage churches to help persons explore the possibility of ministry.  We have developed an educational system for those who are unable to attend seminary.  We believe the future of ministerial leadership in our region is going to be largely bi-vocational or part-time.  This brings special challenges for both churches and those who are called to the ministry.  We don’t have all the answers, but we are focused on the challenge and learning as fast as we can how best to respond.

The church in America is facing some serious challenges.  GRR churches are not immune to those challenges.  God has not rescinded the Great Commission, and Christ has not left us orphans.  We believe the Holy Spirit is more than equal to the challenge and is at work among us stirring up the coals of mission to full flame in a new way.