December 1, 2014 Illinois Baptist

IB Insider

Illinois’ Asian population grows page 10

Nate Adams: Embrace the here and now page 4

Looking for the light page 3

B-101: What is your real job? • Immortal Lottie, pages 9-10

LET THERE BE

Fear not for behold page 5

Pinkies page 12

News and updates

Throughout the week:

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Leaders seek peace in Ferguson

SBC reps join prayer in troubled Missouri town

Ferguson, Mo | In the months since violence rocked their town, First Baptist Church has tried to be a lighthouse in the storm

“Our staff has worked a lot of extra hours,” Associate Pastor Ron Beckner told the IB, “but nobody’s complained because we feel like we’re there ‘for such a time as this ’”

The death of teenager Michael Brown, who was shot and killed by Police Officer Darren Wilson, sparked weeks of protests and national news headlines Now, with a grand jury weighing whether to indict Wilson, many believe the city could explode

into violence again

But while media has painted the town as a “powder keg,” Beckner said, during Ferguson’s daylight hours, there are no safety concerns The church has continued its Wednesday evening Awana program with no dropoff in attendance from the 100 kids that attend, most of them from the community At the church’s Halloween-alternative event, the crowd of 1,000 people was mostly African American, Beckner said

He’s been at the event every year of his tenure at the church and said, “I

Continued on page 2

Christmas stories: pages 6-7

You won’t believe what’s in the box

The necessar y journey from cradle to cross Advent devotions: His wonderful names

IMB’s Platt plots simple structure

Olive Branch, Miss | During his first trustee meeting as head of the International Mission Board, David Platt outlined his five-point strategic plan for the mission agency, announced personnel changes, and preached at an appointment service for 63 new missionaries

Platt’s five goals for IMB are: exalting Christ, mobilizing Christians, equipping the church, facilitating church planting and “playing our part in completing the Great Commission,” he explained to trustees during Nov 6-7 meetings

“Missions is not our life Christ is our life I want to lead us to love Him, to enjoy Him and to exalt Him among all peoples ”

Platt identified four steps to lead the organization: shaping culture, streamlining strategy, simplifying structure and solidifying leadership

“We’re working and pleading for God to raise up multitudes of workers,” Platt said “And when He does and I believe He’s doing it now we don’t want to have a small funnel that people have to squeeze through to be involved with IMB in getting the Gospel to the nations ”

Instead, Platt said, “we want to simplify our structure to set the sails for the wind of God to blow His people to the world ”

PRAYER WARRIORS – First Baptist Church, Ferguson, Mo , held a prayer summit as the city braced itself for a grand jury decision many feared would result in more violence

MBC Photo David Platt

Bae released from North Korea

The sister of former prisoner Kenneth Bae told reporters her brother “still has heart and compassion for the people” of North Korea “He wants the best for them,” Terri Chung said the day after her brother ’s release resulted from a special diplomatic visit by a top U S official Bae was arrested in 2012 for “hostile acts” against the country’s government and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor He had organized several tours to the country prior to his arrest, and was referred to as a missionary in much of the news coverage about his imprisonment

Moore addresses Vatican meeting

“A distinctively Christian urgency” drives stians to proclaim marriage as a life-long on of a man and a woman, Russell Moore said during the Vatican’s Human Colloquium last month The president of the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission was part of the gathering of 300 religious leaders, including Pope Francis In his address, Moore said marriage is “a picture of the very mystery that defines the existence of the people of God the gospel of Jesus Christ ”

Bible museum coming in 2017

Construction on an eightstory museum dedicated to the Bible is set to begin this week in Washington, D C The Museum of the Bible will house the world’s largest private collection of biblical artifacts, owned by the Green family, who also own Hobby Lobby stores “We want to invite all people to engage with this book,” board chairman Steve Green told Baptist Press The museum is set to open in 2017

What’s your ideal church?

When Barna asked Millennials to describe the worship setting they prefer, 77% chose “sanctuary” over “auditorium.” But the majority also favored modern and casual over traditional and dignified The results of the new study show some “cognitive dissonance” among 18- to 29-year-olds, the researcher reported “Many of them aspire to a more traditional church experience, in a beautiful building steeped in history and religious symbolism, but they are more at ease in a modern space that feels more familiar than mysterious ”

Preacher breaks world record

Clocking in at 53 hours and 18 minutes, Florida pastor Zach Zehnder’s recent sermon broke the Guinness world record for Longest Speech Marathon, The Christian Post reported The sermon’s aim “was to talk about God’s ridiculous commitment to his people,” said Zehnder, pastor of theCross in Mount Dora His message, preached from Friday to Sunday, raised money for a non-profit organization that offers free addiction recovery programs.

Ferguson pray-ers gather ahead of grand jury decision

Continued from page 1

believe the people were more appreciative and positive this year than ever before ”

The church has opened its facility for prayer meetings and several community gatherings, including an organized meeting between a group of young protestors and local police In November, Baptists gathered at the church to pray for the community, the state of Missouri, and the nation

“You know all the stuff that has been going on in North County St Louis,” Jim Breeden, director of missions for St Louis Metro Baptist Association, told the Nov 13 prayer summit “We need and will take all the prayers we can get But

Continued from page 1

As a result, Platt brought three personnel recommendations to IMB trustees two requiring a vote describing the moves as “high-level, 40,000foot decisions” designed to “set the stage” for subsequent decisions in the days to come

First, IMB trustees approved Sebastian Traeger, an innovator and entrepreneur based in Washington, D C , to serve as the agency’s executive vice president Traeger, 40, is an elder at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D C , and author of the book, “The Gospel at Work ”

He has co-founded, built and sold several companies, including Village Phone, which launched mobile services in rural developing communities in El Salvador; Christianity com, a self-publishing platform for Christian organizations; and Razoo com, a crowd-funding site that leverages small acts of charity to support a variety of causes

In addition, Platt said, Traeger “stands on strong biblical, theological foundations that inform a healthy understanding of the local church, global mission and every Christian’s involvement in both ”

“As David starts to lead the organization with a vision for raising up more missionaries, forming more teams and incorporating more professionals, I can see how my experiences as an innovator will be helpful,” Traeger said “All my work is for the King, and I’m humbled and excited by my assignment with IMB, where I can put my hand to the plow in serving David, our staff and our workers on the field ”

Traeger will replace Clyde Meador, 69, who has served in the role since July 2003

it’s not really about North County or about race relations; it’s really about God’s people humbling themselves and coming before the Lord ”

Gary Frost, the North American Mission Board’s Midwest vice president, compared negativity in the community to negativity in Nehemiah’s day as he rebuilt Jerusalem’s wall

“There are people poised for destruction and hoping all literal hell breaks loose,” Frost said “That’s the atmosphere we’re dealing with But it’s not a matter of policing

“Only God can heal and thwart the tactics of the enemy,”

Frost said, referring to Satan “We need to pray that God

would thwart the plans of all the agendas that have shown up here for the purposes of advancing any person and not the glory of God ”

As Ferguson anticipates the grand jury’s decision, Beckner said church members have been notified not to assume anything, but to check the church’s website, e-mail and phone messaging system should there be any cancellations

“We are not boarding up anything,” he said “It is our intention to present to the community that we are a church of God, that we love them and care for them and we want to be a resource to them ”

–With info from Baptist Press

Meador will continue to serve on the IMB leadership team as executive advisor to the president Meador had discussed transitioning away from IMB to a new area of ministry upon the arrival of a new president, but Platt asked him to wait

“I want and need the kind of biblical, missiological, experiential and personal wisdom that exists in Clyde Meador,” Platt said, acknowledging that he expects Meador to speak into “every decision that is made, every change that is considered, and every step that is taken ”

Trustees also voted to approve Zane Pratt, 57, as vice president for global training Pratt, who currently serves with IMB as theological education strategist for Asia, has 21 years of IMB missions’ experience.

Exerpted from Tess Rivers’ report for Baptist Press

In 2013, IMB missionaries and their ministr y partners:

Shared the gospel

1.7 million people

Saw more than more than Started more than

274,000 190,000 13,000

trust

with Baptized churches

– Data from 2014 Annual Statistica Report

C&G Partners photo

APPOINTED – Jim and Mandy Wells, who will serve in Mexico, share their story at an IMB commissioning service at First Baptist Church in Olive Branch, Miss IMB Photo

The BIG Picture Looking for truth in South Asia

“When you look back at Paul and Jesus, you can almost spell ‘disciple’ T-I-M-E,” says Christian worker Mitch Englehart* “If we want to see God move in an area, then we need to invest between 60 and 90 days a year into these guys ”

“These guys” are Englehart’s two main church-planting partners in South Asia, Rakesh and Manoj Between them, they’ve seen more than 1,200 new churches and 3,000-plus baptisms in the past five years

Both of the partners minister in and around rural villages, which means that after Englehart arrives in their respective cities, there’s often hours of driving still ahead to get where they’re going

“One hundred dollars gets us a taxi or jeep to travel around for three days so we can go from village to village,” Englehart says The same amount buys about 35 Bibles, “so we can put the Word in people’s hands ” All of these expenses from trains to taxis to Bibles represent just a few of the needs provided for by Southern Baptists’ giving through the Cooperative Program and Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions

“We can do so much more together than we can by ourselves, and that’s the genius of Lottie Moon,” Englehart says “When we go home [to America], they call us heroes But all of us are heroes because we couldn’t do it without those folks who are praying and giving They’re our heroes ”

*Name changed – From www IMB org

MIDWESTERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY exists for the Church.

mbts.edu 800-944-MBTS

Kansas

From start to nish, Midwestern Seminary strives to dramatically transform students by renewing their minds with biblical truth, igniting their hearts with ministry passion, and enriching their souls with deepened Christ-likeness. We are growing the future leaders of the church who are whole-heartedly dedicated to ful lling the Great Commission as they go forth into all the world.

SEEKERS – A family watches Brahmin priests perform an elaborate Hindu ceremony on the banks of the Ganges River It’s heartbreaking to see this much energy, this much effort, going to something that is meaningless, Christian worker Mitch Englehart* says IMB photo by Paul W Lee

Nate Adams

Home is here and the time is now

ecently Chicagoland church planter Dave Andreson was addressing a group of mostly college students on the subject of how to pray for your community I was there primarily because our son Noah was hosting the meeting at his church, Calvary Baptist in Elgin

Most of the students were from Judson University there in Elgin, where IBSA is developing a church planting partnership Dave spoke pointedly to them “If you’re not currently praying for your community, let me tell you why that probably is,” he said “It’s because you haven’t really taken ownership of this community You think of your community as the place that you’re from, or where your family lives You figure you’re just here for a few years, going to school, so why bother? In the meantime, many of the people you will meet here desperately need to know Jesus Christ ”

I winced with conviction at the truth of Dave’s observation, and not ju lege students Sadly, I’ve know who seem to have the mindset situation is temporary, and as a r seem to be just biding their tim ally

“Oh we just came here for Bi job, but we’ll be going back home eventually,” they sometimes say And yet when asked how long they’ve

Pray through the news

lived there, the answer is often twenty or thirty years

Or, “When our kids are older and life slows down some, we may have more time to do missions or help with outreach ” Especially in today’s ever-changing and mobile society, we cannot wait until our situations are more “permanent” to take ownership of our communities That day may never come

Dave went on to speak of the passion that Jesus had for a city, and for a crowd, and for a man named Zacchaeus He urged us to be like Jesus and see our city, and our crowds, and the God-created individuals around us with spiritual eyes And he invited us to pray with him for Avondale, the Chicago neighborhood that he has now made his home, and where he is seeking to plant a new church Avondale is a community of only two square miles, yet 40,000 people live there It has no Baptist church, and little if any evangelical witness

Dave challenged us all that night to take ownership ur communities, wherever we find ourselves, and o it now We can’t wait for more permanent or

ideal circumstances People need prayer, and relationship, and the Gospel message

His challenge reminded me of a time that our family ate at a fast food restaurant, when our boys were still little Though the employees were working hard, the dinner rush had overwhelmed them and more than half of the tables were a mess while the trashcans overflowed So as we left, I asked our boys to help me clear the rest of the tables in the restaurant, in addition to our own “But Dad, we don’t work here!” one of them cried And yet because I asked them to, they helped me take responsibility for other people’s messes, there in our temporary community

As we enter another Christmas season and begin reflecting on the birth of Christ, let us remember that Jesus willingly entered our world and made it His home He “became flesh and dwelt among us ” He saw us in our sorry state, and paid the price to clean up the mess of our sin that he didn’t make

So let’s enter in and spiritually invest in our own communities, even now Let’s take ownership of where we live, even if it doesn’t feel permanent, or even if it’s in a difficult place like the Avondale neighborhood of Chicago Our community, wherever it is, is our mission field Home is here, and the time is now

Nate Adams is executive director of the Illinois Baptist State Association Respond to his column at IllinoisBaptist@IBSA org

Ronnie Floyd: A man with a plan

“Great Awakening: Clear Agreement, Visible Union, Extraordinary Prayer ” The theme for the 2015 Southern Baptist Convention won’t fit easily on a T-shirt But it’s a clear prescription for the kind of spiritual awakening Ro nie Floyd has been talking about since his election as SBC President

The complex rallying cry also is a departure from the themes chosen over the past several years

While past presiden have certainly called Bap tists to greater engagement in evangelism and missions, this is the first year in recent memory that a leader has set so direct a path to a common goal

Floyd, pastor of Cross Church in northwest Arkansas, is uniquely situated to call Baptists to prayer He’s written books on prayer, fasting and revival He gathered leaders for regional and national meetings devoted to praying together He is also leading the SBC at a time when churches are baptizing fewer people and facing more pushback from the culture

When asked in a recent media conference call what he’s learned in his first few months as president, Floyd said he has found that Southern Baptists are optimistic about the future of the denomination

“I have also found that while we have our challenges, people are very hopeful that we’re gonna find a way to make things happen together ”

Perhaps that’s why “clear agreement” and “visible union” are two

prongs in Floyd’s theme: He’s hearing that Southern Baptists want to move forward as a denomination, despite decline or differing theology “Southern Baptists need to be together,” he told media, refercing why he wants as many people as possible to be at the SBC Annual Meeting next June

The Call to Columbus might be a difficult sell it’s an out-of-the-way convention city for many Baptists, it’s an election off-year,” and there’s no Disneyworld or White House anywhere nearby

But Floyd’s call to “extraordinary prayer” something he has trumpeted since his election is intriguing He drew the phrase from a Jonathan Edwards sermon whose title rivals that of Floyd’s new e-book in length In “Pleading with Southern Baptists , ” the SBC President lays out the need for a great awakening in our culture and our churches (see sidebar at right), and suggests five action items

His plan is reminiscent of the Isaiah 6 cycle people prayed through at the IBSA Annual Meeting in November, not because of its content, but because Floyd’s list puts the priority on prayer as the jumping-off point for any great move of God.

“It’s time to pray,” he said shortly after he was elected in Baltimore “Quite honestly, it’s past time to pray ” Baptists have heard the call, clearly outlined Now, the question is whether they’ll heed it

Southern Baptists called to pray

“We must take desperate steps forward spiritually during these desperate times in which we live,” SBC President Ronnie Floyd wrote in his recently released ebook He called Southern Baptists to five action items:

1 Challenge your church to pray at sunset on Saturday or sunrise on Sunday for God’s power to come on the pastor and the church’s worship services

2. Between the months of January and May 2015, plan a month-long emphasis on what God’s Word says about repentance, extraordinary prayer, revival, awakening, and reaching the world for Christ

3 Dedicate an entire worship service to extraordinary prayer for spiritual revival, the next Great Awakening, and that the world will be reached for Christ

4 For every Southern Baptist: Spend one day in May praying and fasting for spiritual revival personally, in the church, in America, and for the completion of the Great Commission in our generation

5. Come to Columbus, Ohio, for the 2015 Southern Baptist Convention, where the Tuesday evening session will be committed to joining together in extraordinary prayer – Excerpted from “Pleading with Southern Baptists to Come Together Before God in Clear Agreement, Visible Union, and Extraordinary Prayer for the Next Great Awakening and for the World to Be Reached for Christ,” by Ronnie Floyd Download the free e-book at www ronniefloyd com

et’s take

of our ommunities, wherever we find ourselves We can’t wait for more permanent or ideal

A real gift: Seeing grace in consumerism

It’s that time of year again Christmas pageants, Advent sermons, beautifully lit homes, crowded malls, and of course television commercials showing you “the perfect gift for this holiday season ” Consumeristic binge-shopping and “once a year sales” have become as much a part of American Christmastime as trees, stockings, and the Nativity scene

Modern Christians are quick to point out the gross consumerism that surrounds the celebration of Christ’s birth and we often viciously fight to curb and challenge Consumeristic Christmas™

Perhaps rightfully so As we all know, Christmas is more than just an excuse to spend money in excess, get together with family, and watch “It’s a Wonderful Life ” Christmas is a time to celebrate that God loved humanity enough to send His Son to free us from the unsolvable mess of sin we’d gotten into Christmas marks the beginning of the end for humanity’s sin problem

And, amazingly, we live in a culture that recognizes that

Our culture may not recognize that they recognize it, but think about it for a second: probably almost everyone you know (if you live in the United States) changes up their life rhythms to spend prodigious amounts of money on other people, make an effort to get together with estranged relatives, and even go to church (sometimes)!

Whenever I think of how most nonChristian Americans celebrate the

Christmas season, I’m deeply moved The secular “holiday spirit” reminds me of Paul’s words to the Greek pagans in Acts 17:

“And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for, ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are indeed his offspring’”

(Acts 17:26-28 ESV)

If we set aside our criticisms to consider the Christmastime shopping habits of most people, we will glimpse something that echoes the woman in Mark 14:3-8 who anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive oil people spending reckless amounts of money on gifts for their children, parents, friends, and relatives

At the mall, masses of people seek to communicate the deep and Christ-reflecting love they have for their families and neighbors in the best way they know how: through gift-giving

While there are clearly sin issues at play in American consumerism, let’s be encouraged that at least at Christmas the generosity of Jesus flows through our malls and checkbooks And when we talk with our non-Christian neighbors about Jesus this Christmas season, we, like Paul, can affirm God’s image, God’s love, and God’s common grace in them

Nick Rynerson is a staff writer for Christ and Pop Culture and works for Crossway Publishing in Wheaton

π A slice of life

22%

The world has gotten scarier in recent months. If the ongoing threat from Al Qaida, government-sponsored terror in Syria, escalating conflict in Israel, and the persecution of Christians across the Middle East were not enough, now there’s the march of ISIS, a vast, mobile, and unpredictable kind of terror that produces beheadings on our TV screens and a surge in troop deployment

We might soothe ourselves by saying, “That’s far away over there,” if not for Ferguson, Missouri The scenes of protests following the shooting death of a teenager by a city policeman are still fresh, and the threat of deadly riots pending the outcome of a grand jury investigation of the policeman’s actions is even scarier. Our Illinois friends who live in metro St Louis television markets have been subjected to four months of daily news coverage predicting trouble Teachers, pastors, and church leaders have all been advised what to do if protests again turn violent

And don’t forget Ebola For people all over the world, these are scary days But into such frightening times, God often sends a message: fear not

The Lord assures Joshua as he assumes command after Moses, “Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9)

Gideon, ordered to save Israel from the Midianites, is fearful until he hears from God himself: “But the Lord said to him, ‘Peace to you Don’t be afraid, for you will not die’

(Judges 6:23)

From Lamentations, the prayer of all Israel: “You come near when I call on You; You say: ‘Do not be afraid ’”

(Lam 3:57)

And most famously, the head of a night-sky army tells a little band of shepherds outside Bethlehem, “Fear not, for behold…” In their declaration there’s a reason for steely nerve: A savior, a rescuer has been born

When God sends the message to be brave and courageous, he often couples it with an assurance of his own presence “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your

God I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10)

In Isaiah’s question, “Who has believed what we have heard? And who has the arm of the Lord been revealed to?” (53:1), the prophet is referring to the coming Messiah God’s strong right arm is Jesus himself That’s who will defend us That’s who will protect us

Fear not, Peter, the Lord’s strong arm will hold you up, even on the roiling sea With such an all-powerful guard alongside, there is no reason to be afraid

Kizzie Davis, owner of the Ferguson Burger Bar, told KMOX radio last week she refused to board up her new business, as other owners were doing ahead of the grand jury’s report. The mom-and-pop hamburger shop opened one day before the death of Michael Brown and survived the first protests “We had no issues at that time,” Davis told the reporter “Prayerfully, we won’t have any issues if unrest occurs this time ”

“Fear not” is not an idle command; God backs up what he says “For behold” is an invitation to look and see that His promise is ready to be tested and fully verified.

Jesus, walking on water, tells the disciples: “‘Have courage! It is I Don’t be afraid ’ ‘Lord, if it’s You,’ Peter answered Him, ‘command me to come to You on the water ’ ‘Come!’ He said” (Matt 14:27-29)

Customers commended her brave stance “Cool management They fear no one, but God,” one posted at the restaurant’s website (And the turkey burger topped with a fried egg got five stars )

Davis reminds us all that we can’t live in fear, even in fearful times And if we follow her example, we too will stay open, keep cooking, and pray

Eric Reed is editor of the Illinois Baptist and associate executive director for IBSA’s Church Communications Team

Table Talk: Theology, ministry, and things that matter

Words to Ferguson: “Fear not, for behold”

Nick Rynerson

Eric Reed

In the declaration, there’s a reason for steely nerve: A savior, a rescuer has been born

His name

Advent devotions about the Messiah

udrey Mieir recalls sitting in a church service on Christmas morning The children had presented a program, and Mieir admits she was lost in thought, until the pastor began reading from Isaiah 9:

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

She began turning the phrase over in her mind: “His name is wonderful ” That afternoon she wrote the song we’ve come to know, not as a Christmas carol, but as declaration of Jesus’ name worthy of praise in any season

Returning to church, she taught the new song to the youth choir and they sang it for the first time on Christmas night

As we enter the Advent season, waiting to celebrate Christ’s arrival, let’s consider again the wonder of His name

Here are five devotions

Read one each weekend until Christmas, starting on November 30

Or save them for Christmas Week, starting on Sunday, December 21.

Make your devotions a special personal time, or make it a family event with a wreath and candles, lighting one for each devotion Finally, on Christmas Day, light them all and wish Jesus a blessed birthday

– Eric Reed

FATHER Eternal

12/14 or 12/23

READ Isaiah 11:1-5

The coming Messiah is the Father of Eternity, the prophet says That’s a paradox Eternity exists forever, and yet there is one greater than eternity, who exists outside of time, who created it How can you birth something that has always been in existence? Yet God did

This distinguishes Isaiah’s Messiah from all other earthly kings and generals He existed before time began and will still reign after the conclusion of time He is from everlasting to everlasting, extending in both directions from the center point of time at Calvary He is eternal

It may seem strange to think of such a mighty and immortal ruler as “Father,” but in the Christ, we have one who cares for us as a father cares for his own children And he does it forever, because he is eternal When Paul described the believer ’s relationship with God as a small child who calls its father “Abba,” he gave us a glimpse into this paradox Who would dare climb onto the knee of a monarch and hug him around the neck but his own child who knows the mighty king as “daddy”?

PRAY Lord, thank you for your loving relationship with me that never ends

COUNSELOR Wonderful

11/30 or 12/21

READ Isaiah 9:2-5

What do people walking in darkness need? Direction? A guide? A seeing-eye dog?

Isaiah writes at a time when the world seems to be a very dark place, and getting darker About 800 years before the birth of the Messiah, there appears to be little hope In fact, the nation, already divided, will be taken captive in two waves As Isaiah writes, the army of the Assyrians is massing on the border, preparing for the takeover of the northern half of the Kingdom All Israel’s kings and priests have failed to steer the sinful people toward repentance Only a few prophets, such as Isaiah, had preached the truth, and that truth was the coming demise of the nation and a long captivity because of their sinful abandonment of the covenant with Yahweh

If the Israelites thought it was dark now, wait until the Assyrian army invaded

In this dire circumstance, Isaiah makes a bold prediction One is coming who is wise beyond human comprehension At the wisdom this counselor offers, people can only wonder His words will light their path The nation will see clearly the way of return to their God

For Israel, this will be no less miraculous than the man on the street corner tapping his white-tipped cane against the traffic, suddenly given sight

They will be in awe How wonderful

PRAY Lord Jesus, our world seems dark now, and dangerous Turn us from darkness to light Help me to recapture a sense of wonder at the wisdom of your words

Prince

12/21 or 12/24

OF PEACE

READ Micah 5:2-5a

Bethlehem had little known peace in its history An out-of-the-way burg on the road to Jerusalem, this village heard the marching of boots and bore the oppression of foreign armies Yet the prophet Micah, 700 years before it happened, predicted the coming of a new ruler whose reign would bring peace He wouldn’t come from a famous place, but tiny Bethlehem

As God often does, he works opposite of the ways humans would expect The King would be poor His bed would be in a barn His throne would be in heaven, and in the human heart

And as for peace: His is not the Pax Romana, a treaty between nations that lasts a few hundred years until one side or the other takes up arms again No, his peace is inviolable, extended from God to man “My peace I give to you I do not give to you as the world gives ” Eternal

PRAY Lord, let there be peace on earth where today there is aggression Grant that we may have the peace that comes from giving reign to King Jesus

BE CALLED… GOD Mighty

12/7 or 12/22

READ Isaiah 9:6-7

The Messiah will be strong and powerful, the prophet said, and he will be God Isaiah is not forecasting someone who will be like God He will be true God, very God, actually God, with all of God’s characteristics and capabilities To call him “mighty” is to use the same word theologians use to describe how God acts in human history

God created the universe, heaven, earth, and people That’s mighty God delivered his people from slavery, not just once (out of Egypt) but twice (also out of Babylon) God conquered armies on behalf of his people and even made the sun stand still to give Joshua extra time to defeat the Amorites That’s mighty

The Messiah will be mighty in the same ways, delivering his people from slavery to sin and giving them victory over death itself That’s mighty as only God can be mighty

PRAY Lord, there are so many times in life when our needs are beyond our capability Help us trust that the loving, compassionate Jesus is also mighty beyond our understanding and always standing ready to help us

GOD WITH US Immanuel

12/25

READ Matthew 1:18-25

A Dwight, Illinois, church named “Emmanuel” operated the “God-with-Us Preschool ” Can you imagine standing in a room of rambunctious toddlers and wondering, Just how in this melee is God with us?

Not until Mary birthed Jesus in an animal stall would anyone have thought to ask that question about a baby But Isaiah said the virgin would bear a son, and he would be God-with-Us

Staring into his squinty mottled face, his mother breathed relief And with his earthly father, she followed the angel’s instructions and named him Jesus Yahweh saves

But not only does he save, he leaves the grandeur of heaven and journeys to earth, subjecting himself to the indignities of humanity and even birth, to be with us

He does not direct man’s salvation from the relative comfort of heaven, but he comes to earth, and “for the joy that was set before him endured the cross ”

What comfort, that we do not serve a longdistance God, but a very present Savior who chooses to be with us in our greatest need

And every year as we return to the manger, we celebrate his incarnation, our greatest joy We watch his mother count his fingers and toes and whisper, “Immanuel,” God with us

PRAY Thank you, Lord, for coming to earth for us and for our salvation May we know joy in the reality of your presence this Christmas

Can this baby make a difference?

Why my family puts a shoebox under the tree

here do babies come from? It’s a question children have been asking through the ages and one that parents have found some creative ways of answering My family has a unique explanation for a baby’s arrival to its new family

When my dad, Charles, was about two years old, his mother was expecting a baby The day came for the birth, and the doctor was summoned to the farmhouse in northern Florida My grandfather took my dad and his older sister out into the fields to take a walk so that they would not be in the house during the delivery. A little while later, when they returned home, my newborn Uncle Benny was there Because the family did not have a cradle for the baby, Uncle Benny was placed in a shoebox So, if you were to ask little Charles Butler where babies come from, he would tell you that the doctor brings them in a shoebox

Seventy-five years ago, Benjamin Harrison Butler was born and placed in a box Two thousand years ago, another baby was born and placed in a box Benny was a gift to his family Jesus was a gift to the world

This is the time of year when Christians remember the gift of the Christ-child We hang lights, put up

trees, and buy gifts for one another We plan special worship services and send cards to family and friends But we must remember that Christmas would not exist if it weren’t for the crucifixion and resurrection The birth means nothing without the death For this is the gospel, that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead, conquering the power of sin in our lives

Grace, mercy, forgiveness, and new life are the true gifts given through Christ But we celebrate the gift at its beginning, the birth

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 says, “The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him ” When we accept the gift, our life is changed forever In fact we are given a new life And this new life is a gift from God

We know that We have heard it through numerous sermons and devotions We know it through our own life experiences But how often do we ignore the next part? Once we have received the gift of salvation, we then are given the responsibility of passing that gift on to others The verse tells us that we have been “given the task of reconciling people to him ” That means sharing the gospel Ch i tmas shopping season is upon will visit malls and shop online of us will spend hours making ifts to be given to loved ones But the clothes we give will be outgrown or wear out The toys will break or be cast aside The electronics will become outdated

Jesus is the one gift that will never fade away It is truly the best gift anyone could receive Paul describes it this way: “Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)

A few years ago, my dad told the story of Uncle Benny’s birth to his Sunday school class He also related it to the birth of Christ and how he was placed in a box A few weeks later the class gave my dad a present It was a baby doll in a shoebox to represent both Uncle Benny and the baby Jesus Now, if you were to visit the Butler home at Christmas and look under the tree, you would see a baby doll, dressed in blue, in a shoebox He is

named Uncle Benny, but he is a reminder to our family that the greatest gift of all is Jesus, a baby who was born and placed in a box It is also a reminder that the baby should not stay with us, but we should be giving Jesus to others

So, as you look for that perfect gift this Christmas, don’t overlook the gift you already possess Jesus is the gift that is always the right size, won’t wear out or go out of style, and will be exactly what they were wishing for Serena Butler is Upper Midwest regional manager for Operation Christmas Child She formerly served as IBSA’s director of missions awareness and Illinois WMU

We must tell the whole story of Christmas

n the corner of Lawrence and Western Avenues on Chicago’s north side, teenager Jonathan Peters wondered about the real meaning of Christmas

“I was on the bus and I got off and I was doing some shopping I just remember seeing all these people…and just seeing the difference it seemed to be making around Christmastime,” said Peters, now the pastor of First Baptist Church in Columbia

“What is it about this that for these few weeks of the year, all these people seem to have this spirit of kindness and joy?” He wondered, “Is it real, and is it lasting?”

Peters wasn’t a Christian at the time As the son of a Jewish mother and Greek Orthodox father, religion was important in his home, but he didn’t have a personal faith, and he never heard the gospel as a child

But even before he came to Christ, “Christmas always seemed to be a time that inspired peace, hope and goodwill Though I did not know who Jesus was, I do recall wondering if in fact this tiny little baby in the manger could truly make a difference in the world ”

The intrigue early on, he said, was whether there was anything more to Christmas than what he saw on the surface

Now, as a pastor, Peters is driven to dig below the surface of Christmas traditions, recognizing and respecting the things that make the holiday so beloved, but also proclaiming the truth In his community, Peters said, people “don’t always think about why

did Jesus come? Why would God send his son? Why would God become incarnate?”

“What was the reason for that? What was the mission behind God sending not just a baby, but a rescuer who would come and redeem us?”

The prophet Isaiah gave this answer: “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5-12 HCSB)

The annual Christmas Eve service at First Baptist, Columbia, includes some expected elements, Peters said, like singing and a reading of the Christmas story from the Bible. But the church also celebrates communion as a way to recognize Jesus’ mission when he came to earth, and its fulfillment

We try to make it a very special time of the year, but we don’t miss the opportunity to proclaim Christ, he said “There’s lost people there, and they need to know why the baby came ”

has its

When death’s power was conquered, God’s life through Him poured;

Christmas has its cradle, and Easter has its Lord!

“Christmas has its cradle,” Rae E Whitney wrote in a 1986 hymn But, “Easter has its cross ”

Serena Butler

UNCLE BENNY – The Butler family remembers the best reason to celebrate Christmas

Jonathan Peters

– Ask the Spirit to make you aware in real time of opportunities to give a witness to the Christ of Christmas

“Christmas

cradle, where that Baby cried; in the Easter garden, Christ lay, crucified.

PEOPLE & CHURCHES

New Faces

Crossroads Community Church of Carol Stream welcomes Nate Nupanga as their Small Groups Director Nate came to the U.S. from the Central African Republic in 2008 as an international student After meeting Pastor Scott Nichols on the basketball court that year, he moved in with the Nichols and has been part of their family since Nate graduated from Taylor University in May 2014

In Memory

Mary Lotella Cole, 81, died Nov 15 at her home in Harrisburg She and her husband, Phillip, served as missionaries with the International Mission Board in Sub-Saharan Africa for 25 years before retiring to Harrisburg, where they joined North Williford Baptist Church The Coles were missionary teachers in Liberia, Kenya and Togo Mrs Cole is survived by her husband; sister Louise Swan; and several nieces and nephews

Ministry Positions

First Baptist Church, Le Roy, seeks a bivocational pastor who supports the Cooperative Program and embraces The Baptist Faith & Message Send resumes to: Pastor Search Committee, First Baptist Church, P O Box 21, Le Roy, IL 61752

First Baptist Church, Bolingbrook, is seeking a senior pastor. Send resumes to Nancy Mavrick at First Baptist Church, 314 E Briarcliff Road, Bolingbrook, IL 60440 or bolingbrook fbc@sbcglobal net

Kaskaskia Baptist Association is seeking a full-time Director of Missions to begin in 2015 Candidates should have experience working with churches and pastors, understanding that the DOM is a servant role who is willing to visit regularly with the association’s 30 churches Ministry includes facilitating a month-long camp, as well as encouraging churches to be mission-minded Contact Karla Rogers at Kaskaskia Baptist Association at (618) 432-7133 or office@kaskaskiabaptist org

Macoupin Baptist Association is seeking a part-time Director of Missions to lead the mostly rural association of smaller churches that have a strength and passion for missions, especially international Candidates should possess life and ministry experience, as well as leadership and administrative skills. Parsonage is available Direct correspondence to DOM Search Committee Chairman

Curt Ebert at Macoupin Baptist Association, 718 N Broad, Carlinville, IL 62626, or curtebert@gmail com

Meet the Zone Consultant

Zone: 8 (Metro East Association)

Other roles: Eddie serves as a New Work Catalyst for IBSA, and as Teaching Pastor at Mosaic Church in Highland

Birthplace: Morristown, Tenn

Family: He and his wife, Pamela, have two sons: Jacob, 16, and Isaac, 14

Years in Illinois: 15

Places you’ve lived here: Marion, Creal Springs, Swansea, Belleville

What makes your zone unique: It’s the second-largest population base in Illinois

(Chicagoland is first), has a strong base of Southern Baptist churches, and is part of the Send St Louis strategic focus for planting new churches Zone 8 also has the world’s largest ketchup bottle, located in Collinsville

Favorite restaurants in your zone: Thai House, Columbia; Five Guys, Fairview Heights; and China Restaurant, Highland IBSA zone consultants work with directors of missions and churches across Illinois For more info, go to www.IBSA.org/zone.

BCHFS announces ministry openings

Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services of Illinois is seeking individuals for these roles:

The Northern Illinois Development Officer is responsible for all fundraising and public relations activities within the region Applicants must have experience in sales, marketing, public relations or a related field Activities would include event planning, public speaking and soliciting financial support for BCHFS

Must be located in or willing to relocate to northern Illinois Position is full-time with benefits

BCHFS is also seeking Contractual Therapists for the Southeastern Pathways and Metro East Counseling Offices Must have a current LCSW or LCPC

A single female Relief Houseparent is needed to provide Christian guidance and supervision in a group home setting to troubled female or male adolescents Applicants would be required to rotate to different cottages with another female staff member, caring for the residents over a 4- to 5-day period Applicants must be 21+, HS diploma/GED The position is full-time with benefits

Send resumes to Baptist Children’s Home, Attn: Melinda Bratcher, 949 Co Rd 1300 N , Carmi, IL 62821, or e-mail melinda bratcher@ bchfs com

Pinkneyville ordination

Church Technology Conference

January 31 • 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

IBSA Building, Springfield

Get church technology training you won’t find anywhere else! Lear n how to use technology for outreach and to unite believers in corporate worship Help your staff create an attitude of worship from the bulletin to the preaching Cost is $10 per person (includes lunch)

www IBSA org/Worship

Jay Lowder, pastor of First Baptist Church in Pinckneyville, was ordained to the gospel ministry in July, one year after he and his wife, Christy, came to Pinckneyville from Duxbury, Mass , where Jay was a pastor and school principal He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Churches surpass Mission Illinois Offering goals

Mission Illinois facts, videos and study materials are still available at www IBSA org/mio

Eddie Pullen

A s e r i e s f r o m t h e I l l i n o i s B a p t i s t • V o l

G o i n g w h e r e t h e g o s p e l i s o p p o s e d

a r e a C h r i s t i a n . ” S h e w o n d e r e d i f h e h a d c o m e t o a rr e s t h e r “ Y e s , I a m ” “ D o y o u h a v e a B i b l e I c o u l d r e a d ? ” S u e i n v i t e d t h e m a n i n f o r t e a a n d g a v e h i m a B i b l e A f e w w e e k s l a t e r, h e c a m e b a c k t o v i s i t a n d s h e a s k e d h o w t h i n g s w e r e g o i n g w i t h t h e B i b l e r e a d i n g T h e c a p t a i n t o l d h e r h e h a d b e c o m e a C h r i s t i a n a n d h a d l e d s i x m e n i n h i s u n i t t o C h r i s t P e w R e s e a r c h r e p o r t e d i n 2 0 1 1 t h a t 1 3 % o f t h e w o r l d ’s C h r i s t i a n s l i v e i n t h e A s i aP a c i f i c r e g i o n , u p f r o m 4 . 5 % a c e n t u r y a g o . C h r i s t i a n s i n C h i n a a r e a m i n o r i t y g r o u p , o n l y 5 % o f t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n S t i l l , t h a t ’s 6 7 m i l l i o n C h r i s t i a n s . I n a p a r t o f t h e w o r l d w i t h a r i c h m i s s i o n s h i s t o r y , t h a t ’s g o o d n e w s . * N a m e c h a n g e d

T h e t w e e t s f r o m t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l M i s s i o n B o a r d ’s t e a m i n E a s t A s i a t e l l t h e s t o r y o f t h e r e g i o n : “ L i s t e n t o B r i a n R i p k e n * s a y t h a n k y o u t o S o u t h e r n B a p t i s t s f o r t h e i r g i f t s t o t h e L o t t i e M o o n C h r i s t m a s O f f e r i n g . ” A n d b e l o w i t : “ P l e a s e a s k f o r G o d ’s p r o t e c t i o n o v e r a n a t i o n a l C h r i s t i a n w o r k e r w h o h a s b e e n d e t a i n e d , a s w e l l a s t h o s e c l o s e t o h e r ” A s i a i s w h e r e S o u t h e r n B a p t i s t m i s s i o n a r i e s f i r s t t r a v e l e d t o s p r e a d t h e g o s p e l t o t h e w o r l d L o t t i e M o o n , f a m e d m i s s i o n a r y t o C h i n a , i s t h e n a m e s a k e o f a n o f f e r i n g m a n y c h u r c h e s c o l l e c t e v e r y C h r i s t m a s t o s u p p o r t m i s s i o n a r i e s s e r v i n g t h r o u g h t h e I M B . B u t p a r t s o f t h e c o n t i n e n t a l s o a r e m a r k e d b y g o v e r n m e n t r e s t r i c t i o n , p e r s e c u t i o n , a n d w i d e s p r e a d a d h e r e n c e t o a t h e i s m o r r e l i g i o n s o t h e r t h a n C h r i s t i a n i t y J a c k a n d A v a h S h e l b y f r o m I l l i n o i s w e n t t o A s i a i n 1 9 6 8 a s m i s s i o n a r i e s a p p o i n t e d b y t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l M i s s i o n B o a r d . T h e c o u p l e s t a r t e d i n H o n g K o n g a n d l a t e r l i v e d i n M a l a y s i a a n d I n d i a T h e y r e t u r n e d i n

1 9 8 6 t o H o n g K o n g , w h e r e J a c k s e r v e d a s t h e B o a r d ’s r e g i o n a l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e f o r C h i n a , L a o s , V i e t n a m , P h i l i p p i n e s , C a m b o d i a , a n d O u t e r M o n g o l i a T h e S h e l b y s o r g a n i z e d m e d i c a l t e a m s t o s e r v e i n t h e r e g i o n , a n d r e c r u i t e d E n g l i s h t e a c h e r s t o c o m e t o t h e u n i v e r s i t i e s . T h e t e a c h e r s w e r e n ’ t p a s t o r s , J a c k s a i d B u t a s t h e y t a u g h t , s t u d e n t s a s k e d q u e s t i o n s “ T h e y c o u l d n ’ t a g g r e s s i v e l y p r o s e l y t i z e , b u t i f t h e s t u d e n t s a s k e d t h e m q u e s t i o n s , t h e y w e r e f r e e t o a ns w e r, ” h e s a i d . A 6 8y e a ro l d t e a c h e r f r o m N o r t h C a r o l i n a n a m e d S u e w a s s u r p r i s e d o n e e v e n i n g w h e n a n a r m y c a p t a i n k n o c k e d o n h e r d o o r “ P e o p l e h a v e t o l d m e t h a t y o u

T h i s i s a 2 0p a r t s t u d y o n t h e b a s i c b e l e f s a n d m i s s i o n s o f o u r d e n o m in a t i o n I t i s d e s i g n e d f o r n e w b e i e ve r s , n e w B a p t s t s , a n d t h o s e w h o w a n t a r e f r e s h e r C i p i t o u t o f t h e n e w s p a p e r, f o d i n t o a f o u rp a g e e a f e t , a n d s h a r e w i t h t h e p e o p l e w h o w o u d b e n e f i t f r o m t h e n f o r m at o n Y o u m i g h t e v e n l e a d a s t u d y B1 0 1 c a n b e u s e d f o r : • N e w m e m b e r s c l a s s e s • S t u d y o n m i s s i o n s i n I l l i n o i s a n d a r o u n d t h e w o r l d • E x p l o r a t i o n o f d o c t r i n e s i n T h e B a p t i s t F a i t h & M e s s a g e M a k e a s m a n y p h o t o c o p i e s a s y o u n e e d f o r s t u d y g r o u p s , c h u r c h m e m b e r s , a n d w o r s h i p a t t e n d e r s O r d o w n o a d t h e P D F s a t w w w .

W e s e r v e i n … A s i a T h e c o n t i n e n t s h o m e t o t h e t w o b g g e s t c o u n t r e s n t h e w o r d , a s w e l a s n u m b e r s 4 , 6 , 8 , 9 a n d 1 0 : I n d o n e s a , P a k i s t a n , B a n g l a d e s h , R u s s a a n d J a p a n W h a t a r e y o u d o i n g o n W e d n e s d a y n i g h t s ?

P a u l a d v i s e d h i s p r o t é g é T i m o t h y t o “ b e p r e p a r e d i n s e a s o n a n d o u t o f s e a s o n ” t o s h a r e t h e w o r d ( 2 T i m o t h y 4 : 2 ) W e a l n e e d a f e w t o o l s n o u r e v a n g e l i s m k i t : ( 1 ) O u r p e r s o n a l s t o r i e s . W r i t e y o u r s t o r y o n o n e s h e e t o f p a p e r : W h a t i f e w a s l i k e b e f o r e I k n e w J e s u s H o w I c a m e t o f a t h C h r i s t H o w m y l i f e i s d f f e r e n t n o w C a n y o u s h a r e y o u r t e s t i m o n y i n t h e l e n g t h o f a s h o r t e e v a t o r r d e ? T r y i t

( 2 ) T h e B i b l e ’s e x p l a n a t i o n o f s i n a n d s a l v a t i o n . M a n y p e o p l e m e m o r i z e a f e w v e r s e s s o t h e y c a n s h a r e t h e m w h e n e v e r n e e d e d . L e a r n t h e R o m a n s R o a d : R o m a n s 3 : 2 3 , 5 : 8 , 6 : 2 3 , 1 0 : 91 0 , 1 3 . A n d t h e r e ’ s a l w a y s w o n d e r f u l J o h n 3 : 1 6 .

I B S A . o r g / B 1 0 1 . P r o d u c e d b y h e e d t o r s o f t h e l i n o s B a p t s t : E r c R e e d , M e r e d t h F l y n n L i s a S e r g e n t D e s i g n e d b y K r s K e l

C l ip an d Sha re B10 1 w i t h Pasto r s Chu r c h s ta f f Discip les hip leade r s Miss ions leade r s New me m be r s L o o k f o r B1 0 1 i n e v e r y i s s u e !

T h s i s t h e 1 3 t h i n o u r 2 0p a r t s e r e s . T h a t m e a n s m o r e t h a n h a l f t h e e s s a y s o n T h e B a p t s t F a t h & M e s s a g e a r e r e a d y f o r u s e i n a n e w m e m b e r s c a s s , s m a l g r o u p , o r d o ct r i n e s t u d y L o o k o n l n e a n d d o w nl o a d t h e s e t W e ’ v e b u n d l e d t h e m f o r e a s y p r n t i n g a n d d s t r i b u t i o n B y t h e w a y : I f y o u n e e d c o p i e s o f T h e B F & M ( 2 0 0 0 ) , t h e y c a n b e d o w n l o a d e d t o o , o r I B S A w l l p r o v i d e t h e m f o r y o u r n e w s t u d y g r o u p . L i s a S e r g e n t @ I B S A o r g

C h a p l a i n ’ s m i s s i o n : B e t h e r e a n d l i s t e n

D a n L o v i n i s a s t a t e c h a p l a n f o r t h e I l l i n o i s F r a t e r n a O r d e r o f P o l c e , a n d a s o s e r v e s a s I B S A ’ s c h a p l a i n c y c o o r d i n a t o r .

a p p r o a c h e d L o v i n a n d t o l d h i m h e h a d s a v e d h i s l i f e . T h e m a n s a i d t h a t a s a

1 6y e a ro l d , h e h a d a l m o s t t a k e n h i s o w n l i f e o n t h e o n ey e a r a n n i v e r s a r y o f h i s f a t h e r ’s d e a t h

L o v i n w a s c a l l e d o u t t o t a l k t o t h e t e e n a g e r, a n d g o t h i m s o m e h e l p a t t h e l o c a l h o s p i t a l . “ I t h i n k t h e b i g g e s t p a r t o f c h a pl a i n c y i s t h e m i n i s t r y o f p r e s e n c e , a n d t h e m i n i s t r y o f l i s t e n i n g , ” h e s a i d . “ A n d I t h i n k [ t h o s e a r e ] t w o g i f t s t h a t a n y c h a p l a i n h a s t o h a v e I f t h e y h a v e t h a t , t h e y ’ r e g o i n g t o g o a l o n g w a y i n t h e i r c h a p l a i n c y ” A m e n t o r o f L o v i n ’s u s e d t o s a y , “ W h e r e t w o o r t h r e e a r e g a t h e r e d , t h e r e s h o u l d b e a c h a p l a i n . ” “ R e a l l y , w h a t h e w a s s a y i n g w a s , ‘ W h e r e p e o p l e a r e g a t h e r e d t og e t h e r, w e n e e d a w i t n e s s . ’ ”

A t a t i r e p l a n t , i n t h e h o s p i t a l , o n a r i d ea l o n g w i t h a p o l i c e o f f i c e r.

C h a p l a i n s s e r v e w h e r e t h e n e e d s a r e .

T D a n L o v i n ’s f i r s t e x p e r i e n c e w i t h c h a p l a i n c y s t a r t e d a r o u n d a b r e a k r o o m t a b l e a t t h e t i r e p l a n t w h e r e h e w o r k e d L o v i n w a s b r a i ns t o r m i n g w i t h a f e w c ow o r k e r s a b o u t t h e n e e d s t h e y s a w i n t h e i r w o r k p l a c e . T h e y d e c i d e d c h a pl a i n s t r a i n e d v o l u n t e e r s w h o s e r v e a s s o u n d i n g b o a r d s , c o u ns e l o r s , a n d s p i r i t u a l a d v i s o r s c o u l d h e l p m e e t t h o s e n e e d s . “ W e ’ r e l i t e r a l l y t h e c h u r c h ’s m i ss i o n a r y o u t i n t h e f i e l d , ” L o v i n s a y s o f t h e m e n a n d w o m e n w h o s e r v e a s c h a p l a i n s i n a v a r i e t y o f s e t t i n g s : i n h o s p i t a l s , p r i s o n s , t h e m i l i t a r y , a f t e r n a t u r a l d i s a s t e r s , a n d a m o n g l a w e n f o r c e m e n t o f f i c i a l s , t o n a m e a f e w . O f t h e

2 5 03 5 0 c h a p l a i n s i n I l l in o i s , L o v i n e s t i m a t e s m o r e t h a n

8 0 % a r e v o l u n t e e r s S o m e a r e r et i r e d ; s o m e a r e f u l lt i m e p a s t o r s ; s o m e w o r k a f u l lt i m e n o nm i ni s t r y j o b . T h e N o r t h A m e r i c a n M i ss i o n B o a r d o f f e r s e n d o r s e m e n t f o r c h a p l a i n s , w h i c h L o v i n e n c o u r a g e s

b e c a u s e i t l e n d s m o r e c r e d i b i l i t y . H i s o w n c h a p l a i n c y s t o r y c o u l d h a v e b e e n s h o r tl i v e d . T h e t i r e p l a n t s o o n c a m e u n d e r n e w m a na g e m e n t t h a t d i d n ’ t s e e t h e n e e d f o r t h e c h a p l a i n c y p r o g r a m B u t h i s m i s s i o n t o s e r v e a n d t o h e l p o t h e r s s e r v e d i d n ’ t e n d t h e n S t i l l w o r k i n g a t t h e p l a n t , L o v i n m o v e d i n t o l a w e n f o r c e m e n t c h a p l a i n c y i n M t

V e r n o n , w h e r e h e h a s m i n i s t e r e d f o r

2 0 y e a r s W h e n h e w a s o n e y e a r f r o m r et i r e m e n t a t t h e p l a n t , h e s a i d , a m a n

m i s s i o n i l l i n o i s P r a y f o r a n e w c h u r c h

C h i c a g o s s o u t h w e s t s u b u r b s

L o c a t i o n :

F o c u s : M u t i p e g e n e r a t i o n s o f i m m i g r a n t s f r o m S o u t h A s a

a n d t h e M i d d l e E a s t , a n d t h e i r U Sb o r n c h i d r e n P r a y : T o d e v e o p f i r s ta n d s e c o n dg e n e r a t o n l e a d e r s , a n d f o r c h u r c h e s t o p a r t n e r w t h e a c h o t h e r t o m e e t t h e n e e d s o f r e c e n t i m m g r a n t s

–F r o m t h e I B S A C h u r c h P a n n g T e a m

What’s the best Christmas scent? Is it cinnamon? Pine? Nutmeg? No, it’s much better than those!

The “aroma of Christ” is something every Christian spreads like a sweet perfume

Read carefully: “But thanks be to God, who always puts us on display in Christ and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place

“For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing” (1 Corinthians 2:14-15)

How are you handling extra stresses of the Christmas season? With unusual expectations, bulging calendars and extra work, it’s easy to become anxious and self-absorbed But that’s not an option for a Christian

You are assigned to spread the fragrance of Christ everywhere God’s the source; you’re the scent-carrier

Try these simple ways to intentionally spread His aroma:

If you use social media, each update, “like,” or photo can be a life-giving fragrance to readers seeking purpose in life and an uplifting aroma to Christians

–

In the place where you work, your Christ-like fragrance permeates

LEADERS AND LIFE

The aroma of CHRISTmas

the atmosphere Give your best work effort during this season Be extra patient and kind with coworkers and clients

Share His aroma with children. Kneel down and say a kind word to your young neighbor or relative or a toddler crying in a grocery cart

– Before you cross any threshold into a room a party, your office, the living room, a doctor ’s office silently ask God to help you spread the aroma of Christ

Public places need His scent Be aware as you walk through the mall or

– 2 Corinthians 2:14,

stand in a slow checkout line, at a concert, game or town festival

Fill your own home with the aroma of Christ Talk about Him Be joyful. Treasure small moments. Take pleasure in your family and guests

To believers and nonbelievers, friends, enemies, neighbors, hairstylist, babysitter, server to every individual you encounter spread the fragrance of Christ

Isn’t it amazing that God has entrusted you, His follower, to spread the life-giving fragrance of Christ everywhere you go? Smell sweet this CHRISTmas season

Reprinted from Baptist Press Diana Davis is on the web at www diana davis org and on Twitter @diana davisideas She is an author, columnist and ministry wife in Pensacola, Fla Her newest book, “Six Simple Steps Find Contentment and Joy as a Ministry Wife” (New Hope Publishers), releases on Jan 5

Not so fast!

Q: We’ve got our starter emergency fund in place, and we’ve paid off the last of our debt Currently, we rent an apartment but m y w i f e r e a l l y w a n t s u s t o b u y a h o u s e now She also wants us to use a 30-year, 100% financing plan, and says this wouldn’t cost any more than we’re paying in rent I d i s a g r e e wi t h h e r i d e a , a n d s h e ’ s u p s e t with me How can I make her see this is a bad plan?

A: I think she probably knows deep down this isn’t a good plan She’s found something she really likes, and she’s mad because you’re not going along with the idea It’s called “house fever ”

When you buy a home with nothing down and little-to-no money in the bank, you’re inviting Murphy and his cousins Broke, Desperate and Stupid to move in with you In other words, you’ll find yourselves in a mess because you didn’t have the maturity and wisdom to wait until you

Training

Oppor tunities Training Oppor tunities

Dec 13: Winter Worship Conference

Training for leaders and musicians; see ad below for more details

Where: Tabernacle, Decatur

Contact: DebbieMuller@IBSA org

D c 29-30: Youth Encounter udent evangelism

onference

Where: Prairie Capital Convention Center, Springfield

Cost: $40 through Dec 5; $45 Dec 6-Dec 28; $50 at the door

Web: www IBSA org/ students

January 10: Tax Seminar

Free seminar for pastors and church financial leaders; led by Alan Monroe, pastor and CPA

Where: FBC Woodlawn, 9 a m -noon

Contact: SylvanKnobloch@ IBSA org

January 24: All State Youth Choir Auditions

For students in grades 9-12

Where: Dorrisville, Harrisburg; Emmanuel, Lemont; Rochester, Springfield Auditions also may be submitted in MP3, CD, or video format

Contact: DebbieMuller@IBSA org

January 31: Church Technology Conference

For staff and volunteer leaders

Where: IBSA Building, Springfield

Contact: CathyWaters@IBSA org

DAVE Says Financial advice from Dave Ramsey

had your fully funded emergency fund of three to six months of expenses in place, plus a 20% down payment saved up for a house

The idea that you save money because your house payment is the same, or even a little less than your rent, is a myth It costs more to own a home, period As a homeowner, you’re exposed to all kinds of things you never have to worry about as a renter

We all have times when we get excited by something we want and do things we shouldn’t I’ve done it, and I’ll bet you have, too But in situations like this, you’ve got to sit down and talk things out I’m not sure how to get your wife to realize this or act more mature, but I do know that people who charge into things of this magnitude without thinking are the very ones who end up in my office for financial counseling or filing bankruptcy!

Dave Ramsey is a prolific author and radio host

“But thanks be to God, who always puts us on display in Christ and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place ”

HCSB

What Christmas is all about ding

ns celebrated the holiday as kids, compared to now:

Attend a gathering with extended family or friends on Christmas Eve or Day

Put up a Christmas tree

Send Christmas or holiday cards

Attend religious services on Christmas Eve or Day Go caroling

THE GIFT THAT NEVER ENDS

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works ”

– Ephesians 2:10

Some gifts are easy to ignore, like the $300 in unredeemed gift cards forgotten in a typical American home. Between 2005 and 2011, a total of $41 billion was wasted on those cards

This year, my family will be enjoying a gift nobody could ignore: Our first grandchild, born in May He is a gift from God, and with current technology, we get pictures and videos almost every day It is exciting to watch him grow and change. He is being nurtured in a Christian home We pray for his salvation and are committed to helping him understand and fulfill God’s plan for his life

This baby is a gift of great value, very different from gift cards we forget about Of course, this time of year we celebrate the gift of greatest value: God sending his son, Jesus, to save the world from sin and hopelessness, and to transform our lives so that we can do good works. May this Christmas season remind us of the gift of being used for His purposes

PRAYER PROMPT: Thank you, God, for your gift of Jesus Help me, at every stage of life, to be a demonstration of your workmanship as I share Jesus with others

Odis Weaver is pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Plainfield and is currently serving as president of IBSA Pastors are invited to join the online “IBSA Pastors’ Prayer Room” by e-mailing oweaver7307@gmail com

POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE

Clip and save in a prayer journal, your Bible, or stick on the fridge

Missionaries:

Mario and Julieta Aguirre (with Juliette)

Planting: Dios Con Nosotros, Gage Park (Chicago)

Reaching: Hispanic families

Pray: For wisdom as we relate to our neighbors and share the gospel, for spiritual growth of new believers, and for our 2015 outreach process with a local school

92%

51% 32%

of those surveyed said they celebrate Christmas said it’s more of a religious holiday said Christmas is more of a cultural observance

PewForum org, Dec 2013

Potluck Blogger

Cranberry Salad

My grandmother made these individual salads, nicknamed “pinkies” by our family, every Thanksgiving –

Meredith Flynn

Ingredients

2 T sugar

1 large can crushed pineapple, drained

1 can whole cranberry sauce

½-1 c chopped pecans

12 oz Cool Whip

To make: Mix cream cheese, mayo and sugar Fold in pineapple, cranberry sauce, pecans and Cool Whip Prepare muffin tin with cupcake papers, fill each cup (almost full) with cranberry mixture, and freeze for three hours Store extras in freezer

Chart Toppers

Holiday hits (and one miss)

A Harris Interactive Poll measured which films and songs Americans most look forward to seeing and hearing at Christmas:

Movie: “A Christmas Story”

Animated Special: “A Charlie Brown Christmas”

Song: “Silent Night”

Song you wish you’d never hear again: “Jingle Bells”

"God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him.”

1 John 4:9, HCSB