2. THIRD BAPTIST CHURCH 2601 GRAND AVE. GRANITE CITY, IL 62040
www.thirdspeople.com (618) 877-0040
3. On the Cover: The North Fenton Baptist Chapel, located in Chenango Forks, New York.
This is the church pastored by Clint and Pauline Potter, great friends of Granite City and
Third Baptist Church. Photo courtesy Central New York Baptist Association.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
DL’s Perspective 2
Breaking News 4
Notebook 5
Jots from Jane 6
Pictorials 7
Easter Pictorial 8
3Q History Page 10
Party Time! 12
From the Editor’s Desktop 13
Special thanks to Earl Drennan for the fund-raiser newspaper spread and concept.
3Q is available online — in full color —
at www.thirdspeople.com
3Q
3Q Magazine is an independent publication created and published
by the members of Third Baptist Church, Granite City, IL.
4. 2 3Q SPRING ‘08
By D.L. Patterson
Our New York Connection
I have been asked to write an account of Pastor Clint Potter in New York,
and his association with the people of Third Baptist Church. I believe it
would be fitting to do so in the same genre as Dr. Luke did in the first of his
two volumes found in the New Testament. (You know Luke – the one who
wrote a gospel, the book of Acts, and was St. Paul’s physician).
So, I have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been
fulfilled among us, so that we can hand them down, because we were eyewit-
nesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I have investigated every-
thing from the beginning, it seemed good to write an orderly account for you,
most excellent church members, so that all may know with certainty of the
things we teach.
After their season of suffering, Clint and Pauline have shown up for
yearly visits to Third Baptist Church, mostly in September, due to family
obligations – weddings, first grandchild, etc. During these visits, they have
given us a report of their ministry with pictures. We had prayer, gave them
an offering, blessed them, and sent them back to New York for another year.
Now, flashback to 1996. I was pastoring in Samaria (outer MCBA) when
I attended the Holiday Wrestling Tournament at the high school gymna-
sium with my brother Jerry. We sat in the right balcony with a group of
men who were my dad’s old friends. During a break in the medal round, I
stood, stretched, turned, and spotted a guy I hadn’t seen since high school:
Clint Potter. So, we talked a little, and he told me he had two boys going
for medals. By then, it was time to start the finals.
Well, during the finals, all I could think about was Clint. Because I knew
he had been a ‘sinner’ in high school, just like me. After all, you get to know
a person pretty well when you have classes, plus P.E. together (Patterson /
Potter). Clint and I had met at Coolidge our freshman year (I had come
from Central Jr. High). In fact, out of that class, I know of five guys who
accepted Christ after high school, and are in ministry now.
I kept thinking that this may be the only time I’ll ever see him, and I’ve
got to tell him about Jesus. My next thought was “No – look where you are
and who is with you (friends). Besides, you are a pastor and you already tell
a lot of people about Jesus. Take a day off, have fun.” This conflict went on
all during the wrestling meet. Finally, it was over. I told the Potters good-
bye and walked to the stairs. When I reached the stairs, I just knew I had to
5. 3 3Q SPRING ‘08
talk to him about Jesus. So, I waited for him to come, and I started to
share my faith. As I started talking, Clint also began to talk about his faith
in Jesus. We had a good laugh about what happened, because he had been
going through the same thing that I did during the finals.
During the next several years, I’d see Clint at church or MCBA events.
Well it was during this time that Clint became involved with Meals of Love,
and had gotten to know Jane Raphael. Also, during this time, he had the
opportunity to do some Bible teaching, and the Lord called him into minis-
try.
He and Pauline were involved in mission efforts through the church they
attended here in the association. They even went on a mission trip to south
central New York. Well, one of those churches asked him to be their pastor.
So, about a year later, and after much prayer, Clint and Pauline quit
good paying jobs to go pastor in New York. The Home Mis-
sion Board promised Clint and the church that they would
support him financially. And, as all missionaries do, they
took tests, had their backgrounds researched, provided refer-
ences, etc. They passed each stage of the process with flying
colors. Then they got the OK from the Board to move to New
York.
Once they had arrived in New York, the Board decided not
to fund them because of the fact that before they became
Christians they had been married, divorced, and were now
remarried.
So, then, there they were in a strange place with no money
and no jobs. What do you do?
Clint said “God called us here, and He will provide.” And He has. They
have been pastoring in New York for about 10 years now.
After I found out that the Home Mission Board had denied their funding,
I told Jane and Pastor Mark about it. Then I wrote a request to our Missions
Committee at Third Baptist, asking them to help the Potters with an offer-
ing – which they have done. I am so thankful for TBC’s response to Clint
and Pauline.
After all, he is a kid from Granite City wanting to be obedient to the Lord.
Isn’t that what the apostle Paul tells us – that we are His bondservants?
And, this equals obedience.
So, this is how my relationship with Clint was rekindled 25 years after
high school.
I always look forward to our visits when he returns to Granite City, and
the phone calls we have in between those times, as we share what God is
doing in our lives.
3Q
6. 4 3Q SPRING ‘08
Breaking News!!
Breaking News!!
The Clint and Pauline Potter Fund Raiser at Third Baptist Church of Granite City was
a rousing success!! Fund Raiser promoters report donations of over $1,200. This was
enough to cover costs of the event plus send the Potters $1,000 to help them in their minis-
try. Rusty Rogers was on hand to entertain the crowd, as he made a made dash on his
horse through the Fellowship Hall every time a new donation amount was announced.
Curiously, main attraction Patsy Cline was a no-show at the event. Rumor has it that
the excitement of the event simply did not leave enough time for Ms. Cline to perform. Ei-
ther that, or she was stuck doing kitchen duty; no one is really sure.
Finally, there have been conflicting reports on whether the Granite City man pictured
above actually did ingest five bratwursts. However, no one is denying this was the best
BBQ ever.
7. 5 3Q SPRING ‘08
By Mark Powell
Toward a Missional Church
As we think of TBC and our calling to missions, and if we consider the
current emphasis within Christendom on doing acts of missions -- every-
thing from fighting global warming to feeding the hungry, we might well ask
within this prevailing context just what a missional church would look like?
At its base, a missional church comes into being because a local disciple-
ship community recognizes that it is God Himself who is on mission in the
world, and that he has, in grace, chosen to outwork this mission primarily
(but not exclusively) through his local congregations.
There are several important implications from this idea:
• This means the church is not the goal of missions...
• The church is a witness to God’s mission...
• And finally, all a church does is missions...
Another way to say this is to say that if the only missions a church does is
its annual foreign missions offering promoted by the denomination, or if
some sort of mission work is added to whatever else the church is doing,
then this must be seen as a failure of mission!
For it must be remembered that God’s mission is nothing short of Jesus,
as the Christ, who is God’s final and complete word of redemption for all of
humanity. That is, in the mission of God, we witness to the fact that we our-
selves have met and found completion through the power of the Christ, the
risen one, and that the world will also find this same power available for
new life and a new way to live if it will turn to this God who is on mission,
this God who ever seeks those who have lost their way and who are willing
to admit this as reality. And it must also be remembered that this Jesus,
and him alone, is the calling of the church -- for we have been sent!
But, and here’s the kicker, how is a church to be missional without a thor-
ough consideration of its surroundings (read: context). I mean, to assert that
a church must “preach” the gospel, but then fail to not think through just
what that gospel sounds like to the ears (and minds) hearing it preached, is
selfishness, and spells the doom of the gospel!
So, the question here is simple and challenging: How does the gospel we
This article continues on Page 13...
8. 6 3Q SPRING ‘08
By Jane Raphael
Grab Your Paddle and Get Set for VBS
Imagine the Hawaiian islands and the heart-pounding thrill of the Pacific
Surf. You almost can smell the salt-scented breeze. Surfers are not the only
adventurers you will see riding the crest of a wave.
Outrigger canoe racing teams ride the waves with speed and skill. Their
specialized canoes are fitted with lateral supports known as "outriggers."
These supports give stability to otherwise unsteady canoes allowing the pad-
dlers to navigate the rough seas and thundering tides of the ocean.
Lifeway's Vacation Bible School theme for 2008 is Outrigger Island: Liv-
ing God's Unshakeable Truth. With the crashing waves of modern-day me-
dia, the unpredictable seas of daily family life, and the troubled waters of
simply growing up, it is no
wonder that our children’s be-
lief systems can capsize before
they even get started.
We cannot change the world
in which the kids are growing
up, but we can equip kids to
navigate that world with the
stabilizing truth that God is
real, Jesus is His Son, Jesus is
the only way to receive salva-
tion, the Bible is God's word, and ultimately, their actions show what they
truly believe. Based on Psalm 86:11, Outrigger Island is more than a tropi-
cal paradise. It's the place where kids will develop the stability they need to
face a world of shifting sands and wavering opinions.
Here at Third Baptist Church on June 9 to 13 the Island Guides
(teachers) will be helping the Wave Riders (kids) to understand these un-
shakable truths and make them a part of their daily life. To do this we will
use worship, music, crafts, mission study, recreation, and snacks.
Mark your calendars! You don't want to miss it.
3Q
9. 7 3Q SPRING ‘08
Super
Time
A good time was had by
all on Feb. 3 as a crowd
partied and enjoyed —
well, some enjoyed —
the big upset by the
New York Giants over
the New England Patri-
ots. A huge big-screen
picture made for great
viewing and snacks
flowed aplenty.
The Quicker Picker Uppers
When the ladies visited the Christian Activities Center in East St. Louis in Feb-
ruary, they discovered a huge need existed for paper towels. Third responded
with over 180 roles of paper towels that were picked up by CAC assistant
director Russell Smith. Jane Raphael and Debbie Heil helped with the loading.
12. 10 3Q SPRING ‘08
Edited by Rob Raphael
Solid Foundations
As Third Baptist Church entered its second full year of existence, the
church still met in the McKinley School building. Members had agreed in
July 1937 to proceed with the purchase of two parcels of land at the inter-
section of 26th and State Streets. The church’s second pastor, W. K. Sisk,
had been in charge for seven months as the Third’s first an-
niversary approached.
On April 17, 1938 the church met to celebrate its first
year of existence. Among the many accomplishments publi-
cized in the bulletin were:
• Sunday school was organized on April 4, 1937 with 108
in attendance
• The church was organized on April 18, 1937 with 97
members, increasing to 164 within 30 days
• The church ranked in the state’s top ten in giv-
ing to missions
• Maintained a Sunday School mission in a
“trailer camp,” leading several to Christ
• Accepted a fine lot donated for use as a parson-
age
As that first anniversary passed architect plans
were being finalized for the new church building,
now deemed to be located at 26th St. and Grand
Ave. As stated above, another “valuable lot” at 25th
and Edison Streets had been donated by Mrs.
Stubbs for use as a parsonage. The site of the
church was chosen “judiciously” to be in a residen-
tial location “in the direction of the growth” in popu-
lation just a half-mile from Downtown.
The cornerstone ceremony occurred on Oct. 23,
1938, as seen in the news article at right. The foun-
13. 11 3Q SPRING ‘08
dation and brick work for the first floor had already been completed prior to
the laying of the cornerstone. There remained enough work to “carry the
construction in to the next year.” It was also noted that “men of the church”
had donated their time to construct the new building; and also a
team of bricklayers had donated their services on a Saturday to
help the cause. The cornerstone was donated by R.J. Cox of Win-
stanley Church in East St. Louis.
When the building was to be finished, it was estimated that it
would be valued at $28,000 and church members would take out
a loan for between $10,000 and $12,000. At this point, it was
noted that the membership of the church had increased to 300.
The Rev. E.W. Reeder of Carbondale was to speak at the corner-
stone service.
Rev. Sisk resigned on Sept. 1, paving the way for Third’s next
Rev. H.R. Moore,
preacher, Rev. H.R. Moore of McLeansboro. It was he that was
Third’s third pastor.
presiding when the cornerstone was laid and the new church
building was completed. The building was dedicated on the church’s third
anniversary, April 21, 1940. This editor wishes every one could see the in-
credible two-page spread that appeared in the Granite City Press-Record on
the Monday before the dedication. Such a decidedly biased and grand view
of a church event would never be seen in a paper published within the last
30 years, guaranteed.
For the dedication, Third brought in a heavy
hitter. Dr. Lee R. Scarborough, president of the
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and
the Southern Baptist Convention was the main
speaker at the event. A “loud speaker hook-up”
made it possible for the overflow crowd — seated
in all parts of the building — to hear the speak-
ers.
A news brief in the Press-Record after the
event said Scarborough was “at his best” in deliv-
ering a “dynamic” and “powerful” speech about
the “Human Side of Church Building.” Quoting
the Press-Record still, Scarborough said to the
unsaved: “Prepare to meet thy God, for we can be
so alive today and so dead tomorrow.”
The services of the day resulted in the addi-
tion of six members to the church.
3Q
14. 12 3Q SPRING ‘08
Party Time!
Every month, usually the second Monday, there's
a party going on in Adult III department. The offi-
cial name for this group is "The Keenagers" but most
of us know it's just a bunch of "old folks" out for a
morning.
However from time to time we do allow a young-
ster or two (65 or younger) to join us. After all it is
our duty to help them know what the good old days were
really like.
What happens at the party?
We have time to visit! You
know like folks use to do while
sitting on the porch on Sun-
day afternoon. We chat about
what happening in our lives - good or bad. We often laugh
with each other.
We also have a time for learn-things like why do
we tell our kids to mind their P's and Q's or why
does a bride carry a bouquet of flowers? Then
there's always time for games. No we haven't
played hop-scotch lately but there are a lot of pencil
(brain challenging) games. And the highlight of the
morning: food. When the party is over we leave
smiling, refreshed and full. We leave counting our
blessings for friends and fun.
— Jane Raphael
15. 13 3Q SPRING ‘08
By Rob Raphael
Addictions
I decided to write about something I could really relate to this time in 3Q.
By the way, we have missed you. It’s amazing what the Devil will do to try
to delay the publication of this magazine. And unfortunately he often gets
his way. Anyway, when it comes to being an expert on a subject, for me it’s
easy: addiction.
There was a story about a man who was a long-time addict. He remem-
bered his lowest point. He was laying in a field, too drunk to get up, and too
drunk to fall asleep. He just kind of went in and out of consciousness wait-
ing for enough liquor to pass through his system that he could get up and
make his way home; or at least to a bed somewhere. He remembered a
bright light shining on him. When he opened his eyes, he saw the fuzzy im-
age of a policeman shining a flashlight at him. There was trouble on the
property, and a fight had broken out. But this man was so obviously wasted
the cop didn’t even consider him a threat. He left the man alone and went to
check on other people on the property.
It’s pretty sad when a drunk teenager is so out of it that he can’t even
cause trouble. The episode stuck with the man; and the image of the police-
man is clearly visible in his memory. How worse off can you be than that, he
thought. It’s a question I would ask too, especially considering that man in
the story is me.
That incident happened some 30 years ago or so, but it haunts me to this
day. I’m not really sure why. I should have been arrested — I was underage
— but I caught a break. I guess that made up for the time when I was 14 or
15 and got arrested for trying to sell marijuana when in fact I was not trying
to do that and was basically in the wrong place at the wrong time. That
would probably count as another low spot in my earlier life, although I hon-
estly cannot count that incident as the result of an addiction.
I think about the children and adolescents growing up today with so many
worries that they should not have to deal with. Fortunately they are edu-
cated about the dangers of alcohol and drugs and most of them do not fall for
that trap. It’s one of the Devil’s greatest tools. Yeah, I know the kids can
This article continues on Page 13...
16. 14
Notebook continued from page 5
have consistently preached sound to postmodern-postchristian people? If a
church would ever be brave enough to think through this, they would find
themselves deeply challenged. Another way to think about this is to remind
ourselves of the Sally Morgenthaler quote: “The culture is having a spiritual
discussion, and the church is not invited.”
And why aren’t invited? We are not invited, partly, because we have lost
our ability to listen, and partly because the culture no longer thinks we have
anything to contribute to the discussion. So, here we are, the light of the
world to proclaim, and we cannot find a hearing. What a tragedy! How far
we have fallen!
3Q
Editor’s Desktop continued from page 13
still get into a lot of trouble, but — and this is not a challenge — they could-
n’t hold a candle to us in those days. We were terrible — terrible!
I wish I could tell you that it got better right after that drinking incident
but it did not. I went on to develop my drinking problem even further, and I
added a couple of new addictions along the way. But something happened to
me that changed my life. Over a period of 20 years, I slowly got away from
these habits and found more positive things to hold on to. I can tell you that
throughout those years of drugs, alcohol, troublemaking, indecent behavior
— despite the fact that I tried to run away from him as fast as I could —
there was someone with me through the whole journey. Because as soon as I
turned to look for him, God was there.
God helped me break my addiction to cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana and
cocaine. He did this by helping me find the church, discover the love of His
people and the love of His son, Jesus Christ.
What I wish now is that I was done with all of my addictions, but I am
not. There are some things that are harder to get away from than others.
These addictions are powerful, and frustrating to live with. They separate
me from a true relationship with God. I know He is aware of them, and He
knows what needs to be done to deal with them. I know that God will one
day cure me of all addictions. That will be a glorious day.
Addictions come in all forms. Who among us can say they don’t have any
addictions? I hope that I can at least say I am facing my addictions, and
with God’s help I am dealing with them. I know I can do better. Help us all,
Lord.
3Q
