94 see pie in the face

Joel Vancil, who takes over as the new owner of B & J Power Equipment in Du Quoin Jan 4, is also a great person and pastor whose Sunday morning messages seem to be packing them in at the Sunfield Baptist Church.

On Sunday, Vancil delivered on his bet that if 70 or more people were sitting in his church two Sundays ago he would take a pie in the face. There were 86, and yesterday 94 came to see Vancil "pay up."

It was wildly popular Du Quoin singer and songwriter Chris Slene who got to deliver the pie in the face after the morning worship.

Vancil has grown his church exponentially over the past several months, starting his work with fewer than 20 in attendance on a regular basis.

His messages are a featured in the Du Quoin Evening Call.

Vancil isn't normally given to theatrics like this.

But, he is so sincere that particularly in these times God's message is so important, all bets are off on what he will do to have people hear the gospel in a sincere and well-delivered way.

Between Sunday morning messages, Vancil and friends have been installing computers and software and doing inventory at the town's favorite lawn mower shop.