Marion | A steady stream of red, orange, yellow, green, purple, and blue buckets flowed into the lobby at Cornerstone Church during the IBSA Pastors Conference and Annual Meeting November 7-9. The blue five-gallon buckets were new this year, signifying an addition to the ministries supported by the collection of goods for Illinois Baptist entities and compassion ministries.
The blue buckets were filled with toiletries and personal care items for refugees arriving in Chicago and migrant workers in Southern Illinois. “Shout out to churches in Southern Illinois” who have partnered in ministry with Hispanic churches, Pastor Jonathan de la O said enthusiastically at the Pastors Conference. In Chicago, de la O’s church has led outreach to migrants bussed from the Mexico border in Texas.
The personal care items will go to the men, women, and children who arrive in Chicago with little more than the clothes on their backs.
“Our church was really excited about supporting the ministries,” said Paul Cooper, pastor of Marshall Baptist Church. “One of our members heard about it at our associational meeting. She recommended getting a bucket for each of our small groups.”
The church delivered the goods, as did churches across the state that filled 377 buckets and brought many more rolling carts and boxes of supplies.
“Buckets of Blessing” was started last year to supply the Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services and its ministries at Angels Cove Maternity Home and GraceHaven Pregnancy Resource Clinic, and Pathways Counseling. Christian Activity Center in East St. Louis is also a recipient of the outpouring of supplies.