Cory Matthews was ordained to ministry at Faith Baptist Church in Breese in October. Matthews, who is pastor of the church, has also served churches in Missouri. He is a graduate of Missouri University of Science and Technology and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Amy, have eight children ranging in age from 12 years to 2 months.
Emmanuel Baptist Church in Salem honored their pastor, Larry Shelton, and his wife, Janet, in November for 50 years of ministry in Illinois. Shelton is in his second pastorate at Emmanuel; he previously served there in the 1970s. He also pastored Bloom Southern Missionary Baptist Church in Flora, First Baptist Church, Odin, and Wamac Missionary Baptist Church in Centralia. The Sheltons have lived in Salem for more than four decades.
Five students with Illinois ties received degrees in December from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.:
• Caleb D. Beaty, Bloomington, Master of Divinity
• Wyn S. Boerckel,Bloomington, Master of Divinity
• Joshua Cherry, Berwyn, Master of Divinity
• Andrew T. Hartmann, Troy, Master of Divinity
• Andrew K. Huette, Gridley,Doctor of Ministry