Ministries - Three Rivers Baptist Association

Our Ministry Teams

Each ministry team serves a specific purpose in equipping churches, supporting pastors, and advancing the gospel throughout Three Rivers Baptist Association and beyond.

Admin Team

Purpose: To glorify God and serve the churches of Three Rivers Baptist Association by overseeing administrative concerns and coordinating all associational teams and ministries.

Key Responsibilities:

Vision coordination across all teams
Annual administrative planning
Policy and protocol review
Resource allocation and budgeting

Moderator: Rene Escalante

Church Planting & Revitalization

Purpose: To equip, resource and encourage current planters, future church planters, and established churches to grow the Kingdom of God through new church starts.

Current Focus Areas:

Developing and training church planters
Providing strategic planning and demographic studies
Financial support for new church starts
Prayer support for church planting efforts

Director: Dan Eddington | (815) 725-7361

Church Strengthening

Purpose: To equip and resource pastors and lay leadership of association churches to be spiritually healthy, reach the lost, make disciples, and accomplish God's mission.

Training Topics Include:

Church polity and governance
Navigating change and transition
Relational small groups
Creative outreach strategies
Conflict resolution

Director: Andrew Post

Disaster Relief

Purpose: To bring help, healing, and hope in times of crisis in cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Illinois Baptist State Association. Trained disaster relief volunteers are sent to areas hit by natural disasters.

Focus Areas:

Physical Relief: 3 Rivers DR Team provides cleanup/mudout after floods, debris removal via chainsaw units, and temporary childcare.
Spiritual & Emotional Support: Deploying trained chaplains to provide comfort, prayer, and pastoral care to survivors and first responders.
Gospel Focus: Meeting immediate physical needs as a pathway to share the hope and love of Jesus Christ.

To make a financial gift to support our continued response to disaster needs in Three Rivers, go to: Give Online.

Team Coordinators:

Phil Arnold
Ken Cummins

Men's Ministry

Purpose: To develop men into spiritual leaders through authentic fellowship, mentorship, and service — equipping them to lead in their homes, churches, and community.

Focus Areas:

Relational Accountability & Fellowship: Creating safe environments where men can form authentic friendships, drop their guards, and support each other through life's challenges (career, marriage, personal struggles).
Leadership & Family Development: Equipping men to serve as spiritual leaders by starting or resetting a Men's Ministry in their home church. Becoming spiritual leaders in their home.
Service, Missions & Outreach: Mobilizing men for local hands-on ministry within the Association and at the Streator Baptist Camp.
Mentorship & Generational Connection: Pairing older, experienced men with younger men ages 13+ to pass down practical life advice, wisdom, and spiritual guidance.
Event & Retreat Planning: Organizing focused events—such as annual weekend retreats, breakfasts, or outdoor recreation—to foster bonding and attract men who might not attend regular small groups.

Team Director: Eric Johnson

Team Slovakia East

Purpose: Virtual Strategy Coordinator for Eastern Slovakia, partnering with the International Mission Board to reach the people of Eastern Slovakia with the gospel.

Prayer Requests:

Prešov Mission, (Milka and Michal Lapcak)
Košice Baptist Church, (Dalibor and Laura Smolnik)
Ekklesia Košice, (Dodo Michalec)

Team Coordinators:

Bob Dyer - Virtual Strategists/Logistics Coordinator
Dan Eddington - Director of Missions - (815) 725-7361

Women's Ministry

Purpose: To gather, encourage, and equip women across our region to deepen their faith, ignite spiritual growth, and foster Christ-centered community.

Focus Areas:

Women's spiritual growth and fellowship
Leadership development for women
Annual Women's Conference

Biblical Foundation: Titus 2:3-5 - Teaching older women to train younger women in faith and good works.

Director: Dr. Dan Eddington, Director of Missions

Youth Ministry

Purpose: To guide students into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ, equipping them to own their faith and to share it.

Focus Areas:

Summer camp (Streator Baptist Camp, IBSA events)
Student evangelism events (Youth Encounter, DNow)
Spiritual Discipleship & Scripture: Moving beyond just knowing Bible facts to focus on practical, daily application. Equipping teens to understand what they believe and ground their identity in Christ.
Relational Community: Building a safe, welcoming environment where students feel known, heard, and accepted.

Youth Director: Michelle Laird

Get Involved

Each ministry team welcomes participation from members of partnering churches. Contact us to learn how you can serve through these ministries.