FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 12/18/2019

SHARING THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS IN SONG

A Christmas tradition 40-years in the making brings joy to local nursing home residents, and helps members of one local church remember the true meaning of Christmas.  

Highland, IL (12/18/2019) – Every Christmas morning since 1979, members of the First Baptist Church of Highland have quietly gathered for a light breakfast and vocal warm-ups.  Song books are distributed and a schedule is announced as church members pile into cars to go Christmas caroling at local retirement and long-term healthcare facilities.  

“For some, Christmas is a time of loneliness or isolation, being in a nursing home or unable to be with family,” explains Adrian Rogier who, along with his wife Sharon, organized the first Christmas morning caroling for the congregation 40 years ago.  “For me, this is our way of saying there’s something more important than ourselves.”  

Six singers gathered that first year.  In recent years, members of Highland’s Family Bible Church have joined with the First Baptist congregation, sometimes creating a choir of more than 40 voices.

“We would bring our kids, and now our kids bring their kids,” says Rogier.  “Our kids can put down their gifts and go share Christmas joy with others for a few hours. It’s a teaching moment about the selflessness of God’s love and what Christmas is all about.  It’s a privilege to share that love and joy with others on Christmas morning.”

Mary Ann Simpson has been caroling with the church every year.  “It’s just what we do,” says Simpson. “It’s our way of sharing Christmas joy with the nursing home residents and staff who don’t get to spend Christmas with their families. My nephew has grown up caroling with the church every year of his life. It’s now just part of our family’s Christmas.”  

Church carolers will visit five local facilities on Christmas morning: Cedarhurst of Highland, The Highland Home, Faith Countryside Homes, Elderwerks Atrium Apartments, and Highland Health Care.  

The church welcomes anyone who would like to sing along.  Carolers will gather at 8:00am on December 25 at the First Baptist Church of Highland (2709 Poplar Street).

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Fore more information about this story, contact Adrian Rogier at (618) 654-2151 or Mary Ann Simpson at (618) 654-3235.

Enclosed photo: Members of First Baptist Church of Highland Christmas caroling at Cedarhurst of Highland on Christmas morning, 2017.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 12/16/2019

Highland Church Celebrates 70 Years

Highland, IL (12/16/2019) – The First Baptist Church of Highland recently celebrated a milestone 70 years of ministry, providing church members a time to reflect on the congregation’s resilience and mission.

Beginning with 34 members in 1949, the First Baptist Church initially met in rented space in the Kuhnen-Siegrist building at the corner of Broadway and Laurel in Highland.  That building was destroyed by fire in 1953 – the same year the congregation built their own church in the 1300 block of Poplar Street. A fire in 1997 destroyed that church building, prompting the church to build again, this time at its present location (2709 Poplar Street).  

“I’ve never seen such a resilient congregation,” says Rev. Rob Kirbach, the church’s pastor.  “Their decision to rebuild after the 1997 fire was quick and unanimous. These people are not prone to bend under adversity. Their dedication is inspiring.”    

Similarly inspiring is the church’s legacy of helping war refugees immigrate to the United States.  In 1959 the church sponsored the Driesner Family from war-torn Germany, helping the large family find housing and employment in Highland.  This resettlement ministry was repeated in 1964 with the Lawrenz Family, also from Germany, and again in 1977 with the Myint Family from Myanmar (Burma).

“This congregation was established with a passion for international ministries,” explains Kirbach.  “70 years later, we’re still looking for ways to extend hospitality and compassion to our global community.”  

The congregation currently sponsors Global Servants (missionaries) in Thailand, Laos, Haiti, and Hungary.  Earlier this year ten members of the church went to eastern Hungary to teach English language workshops in several schools there.

As to the future of the church, “I’m excited to see what God has in store for us,” says Kirbach. “But one thing won’t change; We’ll continue our focus on serving others as best we can. That’s our mission.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 12/09/2019

Highland, IL (12/09/2019) –

The congregation at First Baptist Church of Highland have donated a boatload – literally – to the food pantry at Highland Area Christian Services Ministry (HACSM).  The church’s annual food drive is now in its 7th year.

“The idea began several years ago,” explains the Rev. Rob Kirbach, the church’s pastor.  “While setting a goal for the church’s annual food drive, someone in the congregation suggested a ‘boatload’. The congregation embraced the challenge and has been giving a boatload to HACSM every year since.”

In recent years the ‘boatload’ drive focuses on items less-commonly donated, including laundry soap and paper products.  According to Teresa Boudouris, Food Pantry Director at HACSM, HACSM did not need to purchase toilet paper for its clients until mid-October this year, due partly because of the church’s 2018 boatload donation – a savings of approximately $1,000 for the food pantry.

“This donation really helps our budget and our clients,” says Boudouris, “as toilet paper is one of the most requested items we distribute.”  Other items collected in the First Baptist Church boatload include personal care and personal hygiene products, in addition to canned and boxed food.

“I’m very happy with the relationship this church has with HACSM,” says Kirbach, “and I’m excited to serve a church that invests so much into the community.” 

For more information:

Rev. Rob Kirbach, First Baptist Church of Highland – (618) 654-4145

Teresa Boudouris, Food Pantry Direcor at HACSM – (618) 654-9295