IBSA’s year marked by ministry pivots

In a year no one anticipated, the Illinois Baptist State Association made necessary shifts in ministry while continuing to connect with leaders and develop the next generation.

It has been a highly challenging year to do ministry, said IBSA Executive Director Nate Adams in his report in Decatur. While state staff would have preferred in-person ministry to connect with churches across the state, 2020’s major vehicles were online—webinars, town halls, prayer gatherings, and leadership training.

“In spite of the weeks and months in varying degrees of shutdown,” Adams said, “by God’s grace, we can still celebrate many victories.”

Across Illinois, IBSA saw 14 new churches planted in 2020, and 60 churches are in some stage of planning or planting right now. The association also welcomed 10 new churches through affiliation. Adams reported more than 800 pastors and leaders have been engaged in leadership development in 2020, in addition to general ministry skill training delivered to more than 4,000 leaders from more than 500 churches.

In spite of the advances, Adams noted, many ministries have had to press the pause button, including IBSA’s two camp facilities that were only able to host small groups later in the year. Both camps have new managers, he said, and are ready to receive Illinois Baptists in 2021. “Please come back to camp in 2021,” he said. “We’re ready for you.”

Although most churches had to halt mission trip travel in 2020, IBSA is prepared to help churches find a place to serve next year. The association is facilitating affinity networks that help congregations know how to pray for a specific region of the world, and prepare to serve there in the future.

After a report by IBSA Board Chair Bob Dickerson, messengers in Decatur approved a 2021 IBSA budget with a Cooperative Program goal of $6.2 million. IBSA will maintain its Cooperative Program ratio of 56.5%/43.5% (IBSA/SBC), excluding shared expenses not to exceed 10% of the Cooperative Program goal, and with Cooperative Program funds received beyond the budget goal to be distributed at a ratio of 50%/50%. Messengers also approved the Board’s recommendation to access up to an additional $400,000 in reserves as necessary to support the 2021 IBSA budget.

Dickerson encouraged Illinois Baptists with Paul’s words in Philippians 4 about relying on God’s strength in every circumstance.

“Spiritual flexibility depends on Christ’s provision, and that’s how the IBSA Board has done their work in 2020,” said the pastor of First Baptist Church in Marion. “And I hope how we do our work in the years to come, as God leads and guides us to adapt to changing circumstances without compromise of our beliefs and our mission to fulfill the Great Commission.”

Focus on revitalization

Adams noted the enthusiasm at the beginning of 2020 related to IBSA’s church revitalization efforts. Many churches found it necessary to postpone their plans in order to manage challenges related to the pandemic, he said, but IBSA believes there will be a strong renewal of interest in revitalization by pastors, churches, and associations in the coming year.

“We are poised for 2021 to be a year of comebacks.”

The association itself has also undergone a refocusing process with help from national consultants. From that work, Adams reported, IBSA has created a set of core values that will guide its service to churches in the future:

Engagement with churches

Helpfulness to churches

Excellence for churches

Advance through churches

IBSA has also drafted a statement that reflects its strategic direction: “Deliver network value that inspires each church to thrive in health, growth, and mission.” Through whatever challenges lie ahead, Adams said. “We love you, we’re here for you. We want to know you. We want to engage with you. Please call on us. That’s our heart.”

Officers and recognitions

IBSA’s four officers were reelected to serve again in 2021: President Sammy Simmons, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church, Benton; Vice President Heath Tibbetts, pastor of First Baptist Church, Machesney Park; Recording Secretary Sharon Carty, member of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Carlinville; and Assistant Recording Secretary Brianna Trowbridge, member of Samaria Missionary Baptist Church, Albion.

Adams recognized IBSA’s Bivocational Pastor of the Year: Robert Kirby of First Baptist Church, Tamms. The pastor’s family has recently navigated his own struggle with cancer, as well as his wife’s. In Decatur, Adams shared passages from a letter written by the person who nominated Kirby. “When people reach out to him to offer encouragement and hope, they are the ones who end up receiving it. Bro. Bobby is a living testimony of how a Christian should respond when life gets tough.”

Pastor Paul Hicks was also recognized for 50 years of service at Murdale Baptist Church in Carbondale. He is currently one of seven pastors in Illinois who has reached the ministry milestone. The 2021 IBSA Annual Meeting is Nov. 10-11 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield.

Be it resolved

Messengers to the IBSA Annual Meeting approved four measures in Decatur, including a resolution on appreciation for host church Tabernacle Baptist in Decatur, and for the GraceHaven pregnancy resource clinic launched in 2020 by Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services. Resolutions also included:

Parental Rights Bill HB 4870

WHEREAS Illinois General Assembly House Bill 4870 (HB4870) mandates the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine for all sixth-grade students in public, private, parochial, and home schools, and

WHEREAS government intervention through HB4870 may ignore the rights of parents to make decisions for their children based on religious freedom and appropriate exemptions, now therefore, be it

RESOLVED that the elected messengers do respectfully urge legislators of the State of Illinois to refuse this amendment to the Communicable Disease Prevention Act, adhering instead to the preservation of the rights of parents to make decisions for their minor children in keeping with their personal religious standards, and with their Constitutional rights of equal justice and due process.

Unity after the 2020 election

WHEREAS Scripture urges unity among believers through a spirit of humility, gentleness, patience, and love (Ephesians 4:3), and

WHEREAS cooperation of churches in the Illinois Baptist State Association is based not on political beliefs, party affiliation, or support for particular candidates in any election, but on unity in the work of elevating Jesus Christ in the church, community, and home, be it therefore RESOLVED, that the elected messengers do hereby seek to set an example of unity, showing the world we are Jesus’ disciples by the way we love each other even in our political differences.

CHILDREN’S HOME AND FAMILY SERVICES