This report includes contributions received by the Illinois Baptist State Association through the second quarter of 2024. For questions about this report, write to IBSA Operations Team, 3085 Stevenson Dr., Springfield, IL 62703, email JeffDeasy@IBSA.org, or call 217-391-3106.
But percentage giving continues to decline in new Lifeway survey
A large majority of Southern Baptist pastors believe the Cooperative Program supports the ministries and missions their church values and allows their church to support more missions endeavors than it could on its own.
The Cooperative Program (CP) is Southern Baptists’ unified plan of giving through which cooperating Southern Baptist churches give a percentage of their undesignated receipts in support of their respective state convention and the Southern Baptist Convention missions and ministries.
A survey of Southern Baptist congregations conducted by Lifeway Research in the fall of 2023 found 2-in-3 congregations have an overall positive view of CP (67%) and believe CP is the most effective and efficient way to support the spread of the gospel worldwide (66%). The Cooperation Study Group which reported to the 2024 SBC Annual Meeting in Indianapolis asked Lifeway to conduct the study, for comparison with a similar poll 15 years ago.
Among participating congregations, 2-in-3 (66%) say they give 5% or more of their church budget through CP. And 3-in-4 (76%) say their church’s budget percentage given through CP has increased or stayed the same over the last five years.
“We are grateful for the significant number of churches that maintain Cooperative Program giving as a convictional priority,” said Jeff Iorg, president of the SBC Executive Committee. “There are so many competing demands—from pressing local ministry needs to national economic challenges—yet these churches stay the course year by year. These dependable gifts are the financial backbone for the entities of the Southern Baptist Convention.”
Sentiments about CP have shifted since 2007-08 when Lifeway Research conducted a similar study. The share of pastors who have a positive view of CP decreased from 81% in 2007-08 to 67% in 2023. In 2007-08, 80% of pastors described CP as being the most effective and efficient way to support the spread of the gospel worldwide, while only 66 % said the same in 2023.
Nearly 8-in-10 (79%) say CP supports Southern Baptist entities, ministries, and missions their church values. That’s down from 90% in 2007-08. Nearly 3-in-4 (74%) say CP allows their church to support more missions endeavors efficiently than it could on its own, compared to 86% who said the same in 2007-08.
In the latest study, 9-in-10 (91%) congregations indicate CP’s objective to send and support missionaries in North America and around the world is “very” or “extremely important.” Slightly fewer say it’s very or extremely important to educate and equip pastors, missionaries, and other ministry leaders (85%) and to provide resources to plant churches in North America and around the world (84%).
More than 3-in-4 congregations (77%) say it’s very or extremely important that CP supports missions and ministries in their state convention, and 68% say addressing social, moral, and ethical concerns of our faith and families is very or extremely important.
“The objectives of the Cooperative Program still resonate with Southern Baptist congregations,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “The gospel is the motivator for cooperation that is seen most clearly in sending and supporting missionaries, providing theological
education and church planting.”
When indicating how important the benefits of CP are to their church, 81% of congregations say supporting SBC entities, ministries, and missions their church values is either very or extremely important. Of those who choose this benefit as being of very or extremely important, 86% agree this currently describes CP.
Southern Baptist congregations report the following benefits come close behind in being either very or extremely important:
→ CP allows their church to support more missions endeavors efficiently than they could on their own (78%).
→ CP allocates contributions among state, national and global ministries, missions and entities appropriately (79%).
→ CP supports state convention entities, ministries and missions their church values (77%).
→ CP is the most effective and efficient way to support the spread of the gospel worldwide (74%).
Slightly more than half of Southern Baptist congregations (51%) say protecting churches from direct funding appeals by entities is either a very or extremely important benefit to their churches. When asked to indicate their level of agreement with the statement “our church is pleased with the direction of the SBC,” over half (56%) agreed, 33% disagreed, 10% said neither agree or disagree, and 2% said they didn’t know. Overall, 7-in-10 Southern Baptist congregations say their church’s satisfaction with CP depends on their satisfaction with the overall direction of the SBC (70%).
For more, visit LifewayResearch.com.
Hope Korean Community
Household of Faith, Markham
Iglesia Biblica, Chicago
Iglesia Buen Samaritano, Aurora
Iglesia Ciudad de Gracia, Chicago 0.00
Iglesia Cris. El Camino, Des Plaines
Iglesia El Mesias, Summit
Iglesia Evangelica Filadelfia 0.00
Iglesia Misionera North Avenue 0.00
Iglesia Nazaret, Berwyn 50.00 8.33
Immanuel, Chicago 6,000.00 68.97
In the Upper Room Ministries 0.00
International Fellowship 0.00
Jesus is the Life, Matteson 30.00
Karen, Wheaton 552.20 17.81
Korean Bethel, Schaumburg
La Mision de Jesus, Summit 0.00
Love Fellowship, Romeoville 1,760.00 9.89
Metropolitan, Gary 0.00
Mission of Faith, Chicago 600.00 6.90
Mt Calvary, Robbins 0.00
Mt Carmel Children of God, Chicago 500.00 16.67
Mt Joy, Chicago 0.00
New Beginnings of Chicago
New Faith International, Matteson 0.00
New Life Bilingual, West Chicago 0.00
New Lords Church, Mt Prospect 0.00
New Tabernacle of Faith, Chicago 0.00
Northfield Korean, Northfield 0.00
Peoples Community, Glen Ellyn 300.00 1.73
Pilgrim Rest Missionary, Chicago 0.00
Practical Word Ministries, Chicago 0.00
Primera Iglesia de La Villita, Chi. 643.90 80.49
Proviso Missionary, Maywood 100.00 0.33
Real, Chicago 300.00 6.67
Reborn Community, Chicago 500.00 11.36
Redemption Hour Ministries 96.80 0.74
Rehoboth Evangelistic, Matteson 50.00
Resurrection House, Dolton 0.00
Romanian of Metropolitan Chicago
Rose of Light, Chicago 0.00
Schaumburg, Schaumburg 350.00 1.69
Soul Reviving Missionary, Chicago 141.50 28.30 Springbrook Community, Plainfield 20,070.00 125.44
St James Community of Broadview 0.00
St John Baptist Temple, Chicago 100.00 0.12
St Joseph Missionary, Chicago 0.00
St Mark Missionary, Harvey 400.00 1.04
Starting Point Community, Chicago 1,200.00 40.00
The Launching Pad Worldwide 0.00
The Lord’s Church, Naperville 1,500.00 78.95
Tinley Park First, Tinley Park 4,001.60 70.20
True Fellowship Missionary, Chi.
Tyrannus Korean, Arlington Heights 350.00 7.00
Universal, Harvey 100.00 1.00
Uptown, Chicago 4,109.09 37.36
Vietnamese of Chicago, Chicago 300.00 5.45
Willow Springs First, Willow Springs 668.05 83.51
Chicago Yedong Korean 0.00
The Connection Community, Chi. 500.00 12.50
Glenview First, Glenview 2,889.37
SUBTOTAL 103,375.26 6.93
CLEAR CREEK
Alto Pass First, Alto Pass 100.00 2.22
Anna First, Anna 3,129.98 8.94
Anna Heights, Anna 30,450.00 49.03
Beech Grove, Thebes 414.02 15.33
Bethany, Cypress 3,918.60 20.84
Bethel, Cobden 344.12 9.30
Big Creek, Anna 4,064.52 65.56
Caledonia Community, Olmsted 367.19 1.59
Dongola First, Dongola 196.48 0.46
Dutch Ridge Missionary, Carbondale 0.00
East Cape, Mc Clure 880.43 23.17
Fellowship, Vienna 3,985.28 24.75
Grand Tower First, Grand Tower 0.00
Harbor, Marion 808.45 13.47
Harvest Church of S. IL, Anna 600.00 7.06
Immanuel Praise, Cobden 119.09 0.90
Jonesboro First, Jonesboro 3,994.93 25.13
Limestone, Cobden 100.00 2.27
Lockard Chapel, Jonesboro 263.49 8.78
Makanda, Makanda 350.00 23.33
Maple Grove, Ullin 600.00 4.96
Mill Creek, Mill Creek 0.00
Mound City First, Mound City 120.00 2.40
Mounds First, Mounds 369.30 24.62
Mt Olive, Dongola 1,841.00 141.62
Mt Pleasant, Pulaski 911.00 20.70
New Hope, Buncombe 1,461.43 12.18 Pleasant Ridge, Cobden 1,696.44 18.85
Reynoldsville, Jonesboro 0.00
S I Country, Makanda 1,000.00 37.04
Sandy Creek, Tamms 3,876.00 70.47
Shiloh, Villa Ridge 125.00 1.56 Tamms First, Tamms 1,530.00 20.40
Thebes First, Thebes 941.50 78.46
Ullin First, Ullin 10,458.00 51.77
United Missionary, Buncombe 4,075.40 22.27 Tamms Community, Tamms
Water Valley Country, Cobden 0.00
SUBTOTAL 83,091.65 19.29
EAST CENTRAL
Bement, Bement 293.64 6.53
Bethel, Danville 1,520.05 9.33
Calvary, Monticello 22,631.10 127.14
Church of the Cross, Mahomet 0.00 Cornerstone, Savoy 8,802.00 123.97
Farmer City First, Farmer City 722.35 13.89
Gibson City First, Gibson City 2,804.30 62.32
Normal Le Roy First, Le Roy 0.00 Pennsylvania Ave, Urbana 3,159.13 21.06
Normal 1,280.20 31.22
Champaign 247.04 7.06 Tolono First, Tolono 300.00 5.45 Weldon, Weldon 490.90 49.09 Cornerstone Korean, Savoy 600.00 85.71
Korean Church of Cham-Bana 90.00 18.00 River of Life Church, Urbana 1,759.68 73.32
SUBTOTAL 44,700.39
Victory, Mendota
Victory Rock Fellowship, Marengo
Gospel Grace, Woodstock SUBTOTAL
FRANKLIN
Caldwell, Benton
Calvary, West Frankfort
Christopher First, Christopher
Cleburne, Mulkeytown
Ewing First, Ewing
Faith Missionary, Christopher
Forest, Benton
Freedom Missionary, Mc Leansboro
Grace Fellowship, Benton
Missionary, Ina
Jackson Grove, Benton
Christway, Godfrey
Crosspoint, Edwardsville
Dow Southern, Dow
Faith, Highland
Grace, Granite City
Granite City Second, Granite City
Heartland, Alton
Highland Southern, Highland
Holiday Shores, Edwardsville
Iglesia Maranatha, Collinsville
Maryville First, Maryville
Meadowbrook First, Moro
Metro Community, Edwardsville
Mitchell First, Granite City
Mosaic, Highland
New Douglas, New Douglas
New Hope, Worden
North Alton, Alton
Pleasant Ridge, Collinsville
Reformed, Granite City
Breese Community, Breese
The Bridge, Alton
SUBTOTAL
GOSHEN
Dahlgren, Dahlgren
18.98 Liberty, Burnt Prairie 2,556.00 24.34
Mill Shoals, Mill Shoals 0.00
Mt Carmel First, Mount Carmel 10,590.37 22.82 North Side, Fairfield 2,620.78 34.04
Northside Missionary, Grayville 7,358.60 29.55
Olive Branch Msny., Wayne City 1,836.65 18.18
Pleasant Grove Msny., Fairfield 750.00 11.03
Pleasant Hill The Brick Msny., Geff 744.59 29.78
Samaria Missionary, Albion 7,656.00 50.04
Sims Missionary, Sims 1,361.38 17.02
Stewart Street, Carmi 1,721.25 20.49
Ten Post Oak, Keenes 681.00 10.16
Wayne City, Wayne City 11,268.36 53.15
SUBTOTAL 87,295.40 28.48
HEARTLAND
Chatham, Chatham 22,138.09 66.68
Delta, Springfield 14,217.48 209.08
Eastview, Springfield 9,000.00 35.43
Edinburg First, Edinburg 0.00
Greenview First, Greenview 1,305.80 23.74
Havana Southern, Havana 652.75 27.20
Kincaid, Kincaid 0.00
Living Faith, Sherman 10,105.92 26.81
Meadowbrook, Auburn 600.00 4.17
Mt Zion Southern, Kilbourne 1,918.00 16.39
New Horizons Southern, Pawnee 132.24 22.04
New Lebanon, Kilbourne 252.24 3.66
New Life, Athens 500.00 8.20
New Life, Waverly 184.98 10.28
Pasfield Southern, Springfield 978.82 18.13
Petersburg First, Petersburg 10,288.00 72.45
Riverton First, Riverton 1,110.86 28.48
Roanoke, Springfield 0.00
Rochester First, Rochester 15,594.72 104.66
Sandridge New Hope, Petersburg 1,250.00 89.29
Southtower Community, Dawson 4,428.35 34.60
Springfield First, Springfield 0.00
Tallula, Tallula 300.00 20.00
Together on N. Grand, Springfield 15,690.48 33.96
Western Oaks, Springfield 18,843.00 144.95
Iglesia Principe de Paz, Springfield 0.00
SUBTOTAL 129,491.73 46.48
KASKASKIA
Bethel, Odin 1,342.19 7.37
Calvary, Effingham 1,073.49 17.60
Carlyle First, Carlyle 4,398.63 17.25
Central City, Centralia 5,256.00 125.14
Crossroads of Centralia, Centralia 1,470.00 6.48
Diamond Springs, Shattuc 1,029.00 85.75
Emmanuel, Salem 1,351.45 67.57
Eternity, Centralia 0.00
Fairman, Sandoval 224.70 12.48
Faith, Breese 885.00 98.33
Flora First Southern, Flora 3,458.88 22.76
Iglesia Latina, Effingham 0.00
Marshall Creek, Odin 1,093.00 23.26
Mulberry Grove First 5,164.26 46.11
New Hope, Effingham 1,500.00 2.33
Odin, Odin 965.31 12.07
Patoka First, Patoka 3,103.50 39.79
Pocahontas First, Pocahontas
Salem First, Salem 22,346.17 95.09
Sandoval, Sandoval 91.35 2.61
Unity, Vandalia 20,911.66 29.12
Wamac Missionary, Centralia 645.48 6.27
West Gate, Trenton 1,500.00 7.50
Wisetown, Greenville 5,799.60 96.66
Zion Hill, Centralia 2,808.00 26.49
SUBTOTAL 86,417.67 23.96
LAKE COUNTY
Crossroads Comm., Port Barrington 600.00 10.17
Family Bible International, Gurnee 180.00 4.50
Iglesia Gran Comision, Waukegan 2,031.67 48.37
Iglesia Renacer, North Chicago 300.00 16.67
Light and Grace, Waukegan 300.00 5.00
Lighthouse Church of Antioch 10.00
Meadowridge, Zion 6,987.00 88.44
Mundelein First, Mundelein 60.00 5.00
New Song Ministries, Zion 0.00
Pleasant Grove Msny., Waukegan 0.00
Sanctuary Messianic, Lindenhurst 150.00 4.29
The Gathering, Gurnee 1,127.00 93.92
Winthrop Harbor First 0.00
Iglesia El Camino, Round Lk Hts
Southwest, Chicago
SUBTOTAL 11,745.67 22.81
LOUISVILLE
Bloom Southern Missionary, Flora 1,525.25 33.89
Pelley Road, Rockford
Effingham First, Effingham 26,819.21 114.12
Fillmore, Fillmore 1,556.06 9.73
Grace, Nokomis 2,274.97 19.44
Hagarstown, Vandalia 162.00 5.40
Herrick, Herrick 408.96 2.62
Hopewell, Pana 252.00 1.95
Life Community, Hillsboro 2,160.00
Mt Carmel, Ramsey 264.00 9.78
Mt Moriah, Coffeen 557.96 3.77
New Bethel, Ramsey 418.26 59.75
New Hope, Tower Hill 0.00
Oconee, Oconee 271.48 18.10
Overcup, Vandalia 1,346.12 17.48
Pleasant Mound, Smithboro 550.70 14.12
Ramsey First, Ramsey 14,203.68 52.80
Redeemer, Panama 1,373.61 152.62
Reno Southern, Greenville 293.36 11.28
Schram City, Hillsboro 796.38 44.24
Shiloh, Nokomis 175.00 1.23
Smith Grove, Greenville 5,258.00 27.82
Smithboro, Smithboro 0.00
Sorento Southern, Sorento 0.00 Taylor Springs First 511.00 4.65
Vera, Ramsey 3,102.21 96.94
Walshville, Walshville 1,167.02 29.18
Woburn, Greenville 294.00 7.17
SUBTOTAL 105,184.45 34.17
SALEM SOUTH
Antioch Missionary, Bonnie 70.00 1.75
Baker Street, Walnut Hill 205.25 29.32
Belle Rive Missionary, Belle Rive 8,593.22 41.51
Bethel, Mount Vernon 0.00
Bethlehem, Salem 0.00
Blaze Chapel, Centralia 0.00
Camp Ground, Mount Vernon 383.04 6.28
Casey Avenue, Mount Vernon 543.00 4.28
East Hickory Hill Msny., Bluford 100.00 2.27
East Salem, Mount Vernon 13,914.00 37.71
First Bonnie Missionary, Bonnie 118.00 1.51
Harmony Msny., Mount Vernon 1,200.00 42.86 Kell, Kell 1,108.68 31.68
Lebanon Msny., Mount Vernon 6,791.20 21.29
Logan Street, Mount Vernon 50,597.39 99.99
Long Prairie, Belle Rive 0.00
Mt Vernon Second, Mount Vernon 1,320.00 12.94
New Hope, Mount Vernon 1,200.00 32.43
Old Union Missionary, Mt. Vernon 792.08 9.00
Opdyke, Opdyke 1,305.00 8.47
Panther Fork Missionary, Texico 3,722.10 28.63
Park Avenue, Mount Vernon 1,580.73 7.03
Pleasant Grove, Iuka 1,320.00 4.47
Pleasant Hill, Mount Vernon 8,477.30 17.59
South Side, Mount Vernon 100.00 0.74
Summersville, Mount Vernon 0.00
West Side Msny., Mount Vernon 300.00 1.62
Woodlawn First, Woodlawn 1,903.00 23.79
SUBTOTAL 105,643.99 25.94
SALINE
Bankston Fork, Harrisburg 0.00
Carrier Mills First, Carrier Mills 5,991.00 36.98
College Heights, Eldorado 945.30 13.50
Dorrisville, Harrisburg 38,430.97 44.07
Eldorado First, Eldorado 15,261.05 35.82
Galatia First, Galatia 4,558.70 30.39
Gaskins City Msny., Harrisburg 0.00 Harco, Galatia 3,114.66 16.14 Harrisburg First, Harrisburg 37,968.48 38.98
Herod Springs, Herod 1,460.60 66.39
Junction First, Junction 0.00
Land Street Missionary, Harrisburg 200.00 16.67
Shawneetown First, Shawneetown
SANDY CREEK Athensville, Roodhouse
Winchester 0.00 Bluffs, Bluffs
Shepherd
UNION
Brookport First, Brookport 4,629.52 12.44
Calvary Missionary, Brookport 1,511.16
County Line Missionary, Simpson 1,800.00 21.43
Cypress First, Cypress 96.00 13.71
Dixon Springs, Golconda 0.00
Grace, Metropolis 200.00 6.67
Hillerman Missionary, Grand Chain 5,977.00 101.31
Immanuel, Metropolis 2,214.14 10.06
Joppa Missionary, Joppa 6,628.51 36.83
Karnak First, Karnak 5,632.13 32.56
Metropolis First, Metropolis 20,112.58 22.91
Mt Zion Missionary, Buncombe 2,389.67 37.34
New Beginnings, Metropolis 355.00 29.58
New Hope, Belknap 11,216.58 46.16
New Salem Msny., Creal Springs 225.00 15.00
Revelation Road, Buncombe
Seven Mile, Metropolis 109.10 1.47
Simpson Missionary, Simpson 360.00 1.18
Vienna First, Vienna 2,234.50 6.11
Waldo Missionary, Metropolis 2,019.96 3.31
Legacy, Metropolis 0.00
SUBTOTAL 67,710.85 17.81
WESTFIELD
Ashmore First, Ashmore 300.00 7.69
Casey First, Casey 29,214.03 64.92
Charleston, Charleston 11,585.64 167.91
Clarksville, Marshall 7,642.01 63.68
Enon Missionary, Ashmore 434.01 7.89
Faith Southern, Neoga 525.36 12.81
Friendship, Charleston 0.00
Greenup First Southern, Greenup 5,500.00 39.01
Macedonia, Casey 985.22 14.07
Marshall, Marshall 25,302.22 40.94
Martinsville First, Martinsville 4,513.02 22.57
Mattoon First Southern, Mattoon 4,901.39 10.84
Mt Zion, Neoga 50.00 2.27
Mullen, Montrose 681.41 25.24
Tuscola First, Tuscola 150.00 3.26
Westfield, Westfield 4,096.00 45.51
SUBTOTAL 95,880.31 38.80
WILLIAMSON
Adams Street, Herrin 0.00
Bryan Street, Herrin 174.00 4.83
Cana, Creal Springs 3,165.14 36.80
Carterville First, Carterville 22,323.11 59.85
Coal Bank Springs, Marion 0.00
Cornerstone, Marion 30,415.28 45.74
Creal Springs First, Creal Springs 300.00 13.64
Davis Prairie, Marion 806.47 25.20
Energy First, Energy 327.95 1.09
Fairview, Creal Springs 737.59 24.59
Goreville First, Goreville 6,560.57 17.13
Calvary International, Romeoville
Central, Olympia Fields
Christ the King, Plainfield
Clifton, Clifton
Coal City First, Mazon
Cristo Es Rey, Bolingbrook
Crosspointe, Oswego
Crosswinds Church, Plainfield
Emmanuel, Sandwich
Emmanuel, Lemont
Erven Avenue, Streator
Fellowship, S Chicago Heights
Friendship, Plainfield
Higher Ground, Midlothian
Moline
SUBTOTAL 9,665.41 19.25
REHOBOTH
Altamont First, Altamont 10,015.31 87.09
Bayle City, Ramsey 52.50 0.37
Bethel, Vandalia 20,025.89 100.13 Brownstown First, Brownstown 4,067.69 34.47 Calvary, Hillsboro 6,137.00 16.81
Celebration Community, Pana 0.00
Coalton, Nokomis 670.08 25.77
Ledford, Harrisburg 2,035.00 18.50 Liberty, Harrisburg 7,452.83 46.58
Long Branch, Galatia 987.77 17.96
McKinley Avenue, Harrisburg 12,533.68 18.88
Muddy First, Muddy 0.00
New Burnside, New Burnside 979.00 32.63
New Castle, Harrisburg 646.69 58.79
North America, Galatia 1,408.70 13.81 North Williford, Harrisburg 370.00 5.36 Ozark, Ozark 6,667.24 76.63 Pankeyville, Harrisburg 1,400.00 14.29 Raleigh, Raleigh 1,394.49 9.55
Ridgway First, Ridgway 3,527.03 26.32 Scott Street, Eldorado 1,152.44 42.68
Iglesia Camino Al Cielo, Joliet
Island City, Wilmington
Jackson Creek Fellowship, Monee
Journey Church of Kankakee
Main Street, Braidwood
Manteno First, Manteno
Momence First, Momence
New Beginnings, Streator
Parkview, Marseilles
Peru First, Peru
Somonauk, Somonauk
Transformation, S Chicago Heights
Cornerstone Ministries, Woodland
Herrin First, Herrin 100.00 0.27
Herrin Second, Herrin 4,247.29 50.56
Hurricane Memorial, Herrin 0.00
Indian Camp, Stonefort 3,165.06 73.61
Lake Creek, Marion 265.30 2.25
LivingStone Community, Marion 1,000.00 66.67
Marion First, Marion 15,500.00 15.88
Marion Second, Marion 48,624.33 36.04
Marion Third, Marion 187.00 0.31
Redemption, Johnston City 200.00 0.59
Shiloh, Thompsonville 0.00
Springhill, Creal Springs 570.01 19.66
The Cross Community, Marion 0.00
The Word in Marion, Marion 1,394.98 27.90
SUBTOTAL 140,064.08 22.66
MISCELLANEOUS
Akin Missionary, Akin 0.00
Anchor Palos, Palos Heights 500.00
Bethany Road Bible, Dekalb 0.00 Charis Community, Bloomington 500.00 3.57 Chicago Chin, Chicago
Pinckneyville
Paris, France | The City of Lights prepared for an influx of 15 million visitors as the 2024 Summer Olympic Games neared. Athletes, spectators, media professionals, and volunteers would soon be strolling along the Seine, clamoring for sights of Paris’ legendary art and architecture, and sampling local fare (pain au chocolat, anyone?).
As the nations descended upon the French capital, the International Mission Board’s Paris team anticipated a whirlwind summer of opportunity for sharing Christ.
Though millions of arrivals come from other countries, most visitors to Paris this summer were expected to be from other parts of France.
Jason Harris, who is leading IMB’s Olympic outreach, expressed his team’s excitement about this unique moment to share Christ with so many French people—who remain one of the largest unreached people groups in the world—in one place at one time.
“There are pockets in France of 200-300,000 people where there are no evangelical churches at all,” Harris said. “So, to have people from all around France coming to Paris and have this opportunity to share the gospel with them is huge.”
Over the course of six weeks, their team is hosting more than 300 Southern Baptist volunteers from all over North America, from as far away as Canada to Florida to Nevada. Fourteen summer interns joined Harris’ team for six weeks of intensive evangelism surrounding the Olympic and Paralympic games.
Volunteers would start and end their days meeting at one of three church buildings in key locations
around Paris to worship, pray, and debrief. Harris’s team hoped to deepen partnerships with local French and international churches, share the gospel in their neighborhoods, and establish a solid foundation for future work together.
“Our desire is to see outreach during the Olympics launch us into a fruitful season of church planting in Paris, alongside the French church,” Harris said.
One group will be at the oldest Baptist church in Paris.
“I should say the oldest Baptist church building, because the body has completely died,” Harris said. “It’s a really unique and beautiful church building. That’s one location we’re excited about because there’s potential for church-planting work developing afterwards and it’s a target hub.”
The church, owned by the Federation of Evangelical Baptist Churches of France and adjacent to the Louvre and Musee D’Orsay in the heart of the Paris art district, is now home to a bookstore and permanent art space that can be rented. Harris said his team is partnering with a local French artist and believer who is passionate for the gospel to host an immersive art experience at the church based on principles of salvation.
“He’s an artist, so I think he’s used to thinking outside the box,” Harris explained. “He’s ready to try new things and experiment to get to know people and really relationally connect with people.”
Other planned outreach events included Olympic-themed fun festivals, international mic nights, ultimate frisbee games in local parks, and visitor rest stops.
“If you’ve been to Paris, it’s practically impossible to find a place to sit where you don’t have to pay 25 or 30 euros for a sip of tea,” Harris said, explaining why the rest stops might be a draw for tourists.
SBC volunteers will also utilize digital engagement strategies, as well as traditional avenues for sharing the
gospel, such as distributing water bottles and tracts, conducting spiritual surveys—which they’ve had surprising success with—and the time-honored Olympic pastime of pin trading with specially designed pins.
“We’re thinking of any way that we can to connect with people,” Harris
TRIPTYCH – The IMB’s digital engagement strategy team for Europe designed special Olympic trading pins with a clear connection to both the games and the gospel. “The important thing is that we present the gospel,” said IMB’s Jason Harris.
said. “There’s so much opportunity to interact and share the gospel with people where they are.”
Harris asked for prayer this summer as the Paris team partners with Southern Baptist volunteers to proclaim Christ to visitors from around the world and other parts of France, to facilitate outreach events, to serve and equip the French church and finally to implement wise and effective follow up after the games.
“My prayer is that the outreach for the Olympics would be a launching point, a springboard, for church planting in Paris.”
Karen Sosbee writes for the International Mission Board.
