OFFERING 2014 Planting new rural churches

This family has a vision for their not-so-nearby neighbors

Davis Junction | Two young boys are standing by the door of a small metal building, formerly an electrician’s workshop, handing out bulletins Their older sister, age 8, is inside in the children’s classroom playing with several preschoolers who live nearby Their mom slices a spice cake in the kitchenette, while their dad tunes his guitar before he leads worship

They are the Pittman family.

Each Saturday evening, they drive about 45 minutes from their home in Ashton to Davis Junction, a mix of farms, mobile homes, and newer houses

This area is beginning to grow Some people who live here work in Rockford or the far west suburbs of Chicago Yet, until recently there was only one small church to serve over 3,000 people in the immediate area

“It’s very clear that the people here don’t have a clear understanding of what the Gospel is,” said planter Brad Pittman, “that we need a relationship with Jesus Christ ”

This is the third location for Grace Fellowship After 13 years as a member of the Ashton location, Pittman eventually joined the staff with pastors Jeremy Horton and Brian McWethy, and he joined in their vision

“The Lord really laid on our hearts first to plant in Amboy, and he has really blessed there with people being baptized and then in Davis Junction,” Pittman said “We want to be an Acts 1:8 church that not only plants here locally, but we’re going into our state, that we’re going into our nation, we’re also going into our world ”

The Pittmans’ commitment involves the whole family Brad’s wife, Jennifer, went back to work full-time so he could serve fulltime as a church planter and pastor They also found ministry partners in Illinois Baptists “IBSA was super-supportive in what we’re doing, because that’s what they’re all about as well,” Pittman said

“Because of Illinois Baptist’s faithful commitment to missions giving, the IBSA Church Planting Team is able to partner with smaller rural churches,” John Mattingly said “We presently have 13 ongoing new works in Northwest Illinois ” This is a region where active church involvement is not part of the fabric of life

So the need is great So is the potential

“This is a part of the state where Southern Baptists have had little presence,” said Van Kicklighter, head of IBSA’s Church Planting Team “When Baptists moved from the south, they settled primarily in the metropolitan areas of the north to work in industry They did not come to Illinois to buy farms so we have few churches in these kinds of settings ”

There are about 8,000 multi-site churches in the U S now, mostly in cities As a multi-site congregation, Grace Fellowship is taking the strategy to rural areas “There are over four million people living in the non-urban context in Illinois,” Mattingly said. “I believe God has prepared many more churches like Grace Fellowship to step out in faith and do something remarkable ”

“This is not the typical multisite church plant,” said Kicklighter, “but a commitment to reproduction and, even more importantly, sending people who will impact another place with the Gospel ”

For the Pittmans, it’s worth the drive. Every Sunday, Jennifer said, “the kids ask, ‘Are we going to Amboy, Ashton, or our church?’ I say, ‘We’re going to our church!’”

Playing with new friends in the little metal church building, it’s clear they wouldn’t want to be anywhere else

You can lead the Offering & Week of Prayer in 10 simple steps

Get social media talking. Post the Promo Video on your Facebook page, tweet it, show it in worship

Show the videos. Use one per week in several worship services, or plan one big mission study event and show all the videos

Pray. Pray in worship services Plan a special prayer meeting for Illinois missions Encourage attenders to use the printed MIO Prayer Guide

Set the goal The need is greater than ever Consider $10 per resident member, or 10% above last year’s offering The statewide goal is $475,000

Publicize, publicize Starting four weeks before the offering, in bulletins, newsletters, e-mail, and with posters

Distribute the MIO Prayer Guide and offering envelopes on the first Sunday of the emphasis week (The envelopes are enclosed for participating churches )

Collect the offering And keep on until you surpass your goal