February 23, 2015 Illinois Baptist

News

New Awakening

Christian leaders ourn martyred gyptians

secution of Christians in the MidEast continues with frightening ferocity, as a video released Feb 15 shows the apparent mass beheading of Egyptian Christians.

The chilling video shows blackclad captors leading hostages in orange jumpsuits down a beach in Libya, where at least a dozen are eventually beheaded Twenty-one Coptic Christians reportedly kidnapped in eastern Libya in December and January are believed dead

S p r i n g f i e l d | The New Awakening Evangelism Conference will bring three of the Southern Baptist Convention’s foremost teachers and revival preachers to Decatur March 27-28

Johnny Hunt, Alvin Reid, and Joel Southerland will speak during the conference at Tabernacle Baptist Church, which also includes 14 evangelism-themed breakout sessions

“We need a move of God’s spirit; we need another awakening, and I’m praying that it starts here, in us ”

The conference comes at a time when leaders are calling Baptists in Illinois and across the country to heightened prayer for spiritual awakening and revival Several factors have brought on the recent focus on awakening, Reid told the Illinois Bap-

“These are my brothers, faithful unto Christ even unto death,” Russell Moore posted on Instagram with an image from the video released by ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria). “King Jesus puts heads back on, and puts worlds back together Maranatha,” wrote the president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission

Coptic Christians are under the umbrella of Orthodox Christianity and represent 8-11% of the population in Egypt, CNN reported

“The video released today once again demonstrates the incredible evil that is being perpetrated by militants loyal to the Islamic State,” International Christian Concern’s Todd Daniels told The Christian Post

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“New Awakening” is the first statewide evangelism conference hosted by the Illinois Baptist State Association in several years The theme came out of a season of personal study on the first and second Great Awakenings and other historic revivals, said Tim Sadler, IBSA’s director of evangelism

“I was just convinced that our problem is not going to be fixed by a program; declining baptisms are not going to be fixed by another thing in a box,” Sadler said

tist: Baptists are aware they’ve lost the “home field advantage;” numbers are declining and we don’t have the influence we once had

“A lot of leaders are realizing we’re just not smart enough to build a program to fix this,” Reid said

Continued on page 3

In a guest post on The Gospel Coalition blog, Southern Seminary professor Tom Schreiner offered a Scripture-filled biblical meditation:

“In dying for Christ’s sake, in not loving our ‘lives even unto death,’ we are not losers but winners; we are not overcome by evil,” he wrote. “Instead, we are ‘more than conquerors’ (Rom 8:37; Rev 12:11) Those who are slain for Christ’s sake come to life and reign with Jesus Christ” (Rev 20:4)

Illinois churches join national SBC call to prayer

Illinois | First Baptist Church of Paxton has a newfound calling as prayer intercessors “Christ’s church in America is in desperate need of spiritual revival and renewal,” said Pastor Bob Stilwell “We need to be awakened from our comfort and complacency in our salvation We need to be shaken from our evangelistic lethargy ”

In January, Stilwell led his congregation in a concert of prayer similar to the prayer for spiritual awakening at the IBSA Annual Meeting in November The Paxton church is one of many in Illinois joining a national call to prayer, including more than 30 in metro Chicago

“As I prayed in preparation of God’s message to our congregation for the week focusing on interceding, the

‘We need a God intervention’

AT THE ALTAR – Chicago leaders convened a one-day prayer meeting and equipping conference in January at Lighthouse Fellowship Baptist Church in Frankfort

Miss Annie’s gingersnaps page 16

Hunt Southerland Reid

IBSA State Evangelism Conference Renew, refresh, replenish

Tabernacle Baptist Church in Decatur

BRIEFING the

Americans weigh in on ISIS

Only 22% of people agree with President Barack Obama’s 2014 statement that terror group ISIL (or ISIS) “is not Islamic,” LifeWay Research reported in a series of surveys conducted last fall But almost half of Americans also say the group is not a true reflection of the nature of Islam Among other findings: 37% of people are concerned about the Islamic code Sharia law being applied in America, and 76% of Protestant senior pastors say anti-ISIS airstrikes are needed to protect Christians in the region

‘Crusades’ comments criticized

President Obama’s National Prayer Breakfast comments comparing current acts of terrorism to past events like the Crusades sparked controversy among some Christian leaders “His flawed comparison to atrocities that happened hundreds of years o minimizes the severity of ISIS and other oups that are brutalizing and killing innont people,” Southern Baptist Convention President Ronnie Floyd (left) told Baptist Press

Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias put it even more directly on his ministry’s blog: “I cannot recall when I have heard such inappropriate words at so important an occasion, in such a time of crisis The world is burning with fear and apprehension We need a message that will inspire and encourage and redeem ”

BCHFS accredited by Hague

Illinois Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services recently achieved Hague accreditation for its adoption program, meaning BCHFS can continue to do home studies for adoptions in countries that require it The accreditation is also a first step toward being able to complete adoption placements internationally, but adoption specialist Regina Thompson stressed the agency isn’t equipped to do so now “Our main reason for getting Hague accredited,” Thompson said, “was so that we could continue to do international home studies ”

Bible Society moves HQ out of NY

The American Bible Society will relocate its arters to Philadelphia after selling -story Manhattan building for $300 on, The Christian Post reports “As work toward the goal of having 100 million Americans engaging with God’s Word and 100 percent of the world’s languages open for Bible engagement, our new Philadelphia headquarters will become the launching pad for Bible ministry in the U S and around the world,” said President and CEO Roy Peterson in a statement on the ABS website.

CNN to debut ‘Finding Jesus’

CNN will start a six-part series

March 1 that the news channel says “discovers fascinating new insights into the historical Jesus, utilizing the latest scientific techniques and archaeological research ” The Christian Post reports the series, titled “Finding Jesus: Faith, Fact, Forgery,” will feature commentary from Ivy League theologians and Los Angeles pastor Erwin McManus, among others

Prayer meetings

Continued from page 1

Lord revealed His vision for us as an intercessory church,” Stilwell said “God has begun the process of renewing hearts, changing attitudes and giving new life to our church ”

The call to prayer comes ahead of the 2015 Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Columbus, June 10-11 SBC President Ronnie Floyd picked up past president Fred Luter ’s call for revival. “Our greatest need is a mighty awakening in the nation This has to be preceded with a strong sense of personal revival and church revival,” Floyd said

At a meeting of SBC leaders and editors in Orange Beach, Alabama, last week, Floyd said registration for the Ohio convention is up 5% compared to this time last year That is significant, especially for a meeting held outside the Deep South, and Floyd is encouraged But, he said commitments to attend, made in the next 30 days, “are critical ”

“Are (Southern Baptists) really in agreement that the number one need in America is spiritual awakening?” Paraphrasing the theme of the annual meeting, he said, “We need visible union, we need to lock our arms together, and we need to extraordinarily pray for spiritual awakening ”

In metro Chicago, more than 75 people gathered at Lighthouse Fellowship Baptist

Measles in Illinois

The number of measles cases in Illinois has risen to 14, all confined to Chicagoland. State and county health officials are urging parents to vaccinate their children Michael J Zalewski (D-Riverside) and Michael P McAuliffe (R-Chicago) have filed House Joint Resolution 26 calling on the Illinois Department of Public Health to put rules in place to encourage higher rates of vaccinations for the 2015-16 school year

With the recent measles outbreak in California, the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission has been appealing to Southern Baptists to vaccinate According to Scott James, a Research Fellow of the ERLC’s Research Institute, “Vaccination glorifies God because it promotes the common good of society and contributes to human flourishing.”

Therapy bill to Senate

Five days after it was introduced in the Illinois House, the

Church in Frankfort for an allday prayer and equipping conference in late January. The prayer coordinator for Chicago Metro Baptist Association, Cheryl Dorsey, urged attenders to seek God’s direction

“I used to tell God what I wanted and needed until I had a time when I didn’t know what to pray I learned to pray, ‘God, how am I going to pray about this?’” Dorsey said. “It was as if God said, ‘When are you going to find out what I want you to pray?’”

IBSA’s Dennis Conner, church planting director for the Northeast region, told one breakout session, “We say with our mouth that we trust God, but in

our hearts, we trust ourselves Our churches need a sense of desperation.”

That feeling of great need is common to people responding to the call to prayer “We need to be filled with a sense of urgency in sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ the unfailing hope that only he offers to a hopeless world,” Stilwell said “At FBC Paxton, we’re praying for the Holy Spirit to bring about such a renewal in our own hearts and the hearts of all of believers throughout Illinois, across the nation and throughout the world ”

And from Floyd: “Why don’t we call on God to do what we wring our hands about because it hasn’t happened?”

Pray through the news

Conversion Therapy Prohibition Act was introduced to the State Senate by Sen Daniel Biss (D-Evanston) The bill, which would ban gay conversion therapy in the state, was introduced in the House by State

ACLU seeks clients

The Illinois American Civil Liberties Union is looking for people who believe they were denied services in the state due to the religious beliefs of service providers

Rep Kelly Cassidy (DChicago) on Jan 23 Both bills are still in committee and could be discussed when the General Assembly meets later this month

According to the Illinois Family Institute’s website, “If passed this bill would prohibit parents of a child or teenager who experiences homoerotic desire, gender dysphoria, or Gender Identity Disorder from having access to counseling that may include facilitating change in feelings or volitional activity even if such change is desired by both parents and their children ”

The group said on its website, “LGBT people suffer similarly at the hands of those who would distort the concept of religious liberty: state-licensed and subsidized adoption agencies have refused to place children for foster care or adoptions with same-sex couples; LGBT couples seeking to start a family have been denied assisted reproductive medical services; businesses have asserted the right to discriminate against gay and lesbian couples in providing photographs, catering services and public accommodations ”

The online article ends with a “Share Your Story” button linked to a contact form

– Sources: Associated Press, ERLC com, Legiscan com, IllinoisReview com, ACLU IL org, ILGA gov, IllinoisFamily org

Rick Dorsey (center), pastor of Beacon Hill Missionary Baptist Church, leads a small group discussion at the Frankfort meeting with Phil Miglioratti (right), IBSA’s prayer ministries consultant

– Holy Spirit, help us talk to our heavenly Father about awakening and church health Give us ears to hear and hearts that will respond

The BIG Picture Re-build helps Filipinos find firm foundation

Cebu Island, Philippines | In a part of the world still reeling from Typhoon Haiyan more than a year ago, a team of Illinois Disaster Relief volunteers worked to re-build homes, and a measure of hope

They met two brothers who were living in a literal pigsty By the end of the week, they had a new home A woman whose husband abandoned her and her children needed some way to make a living The team started construction on a roadside food cart for her

On the northern tip of Cebu Island, many people have been living hand to mouth since the November 2013 typhoon, said team leader Mike Robertson.

“There were people living underneath a tarp spread between trees,” said the member of Rochester First Baptist, who returned to the Philippines in January after an initial trip there a year ago Including the most recent group, four teams from Illinois have traveled around the world to help with the rebuilding effort facilitated by Baptist Global Response

Robertson’s team partnered with local workers to build two houses from the ground up, and repaired four others The best news from the trip came a week after they got back to Illinois: A young woman who had been the recipient of a house built by the team accepted Christ at a Bible study led by a local pastor

New house, new hope, new life

Evangelism conference to focus on revival

Continued from page 1

“We need a God intervention I think we need to get to a place where there’s a sense of desperation ”

Reid, a professor of evangelism and student ministry at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, will teach twice during large-group sessions at the conference, and also lead a breakout session reaching the next generation Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Church, Woodstock, Ga , and Southerland, executive director of evangelism strategies for the North American Mission Board, also will preach twice in Decatur

Attendees will choose three breakout sessions from a list of options, including: reaching men with the gospel; attractional evangelism events; prayer and evangelism; Bible storying as a means of sharing the gospel; and more The conference also will offer breakout tracks for women and church planters

Chad and Rachel Ozee, planters of Journey Church in Bourbonnais, will lead in worship and will also give a bonus concert following the Friday evening session

New Awakening begins Friday at 6:30 p m ; the Saturday session is 8:30 a m to 2:30 p m The cost is $10 per person for IBSA churches, and $15 for churches not affiliated with IBSA

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel, located directly across the street from Tabernacle Baptist Church Contact the hotel at (217)

422-8800, and ask for a room listed under the IBSA New Awakening Evangelism Conference

For more information on the conference and to register, go to www IBSA org/evangelism

BAPTIST BUILDERS – Cebu Island residents pose under the breezeway of a new home with the Illinois Disaster Relief team who helped construct it during a January mission trip The team included (from left): Mike Robertson; Marty Mastagni from Oklahoma; Brenda Spada, Rochester FBC; Marilyn Thomsom, Third Baptist, Marion; and Don Full (center), pastor of Havana Southern Baptist Church Submitted photo

Hidden entrances S

everal years ago Beth and I had the opportunity to travel overseas to Amsterdam As Sunday approached, we began scouting out nearby churches with English-speaking worship services. Finding only one within walking distance, we made plans to attend and committed to starting out early But it was not early enough

This was before the days of GPS and smart phones, and all we had were verbal directions from the place we were staying We recognized the various street names and landmarks they told us we would find along the way We knew we were in the right neighborhood But we could not find the church

Did we ask others for directions along the way?

Well of course, though as a self-respecting husband who rarely feels lost, I waited as long as possible But most of the folks in the neighborhood spoke only Dutch, and at least one of our well-intentioned helpers actually directed us to a German-speaking Lutheran service, which only cost us more time

Finally, as the scheduled wor was upon us, we met a nice little was willing to walk with us a s and point down a narrow alleywa probably walked past it several but never realized that it led where we needed to go

Somewhat by faith, we walked down that narrow

passage until it opened up into a beautiful courtyard And right in the center was a beautiful old stone church, the place of worship for which we had been searching.

What a rich and deep worship experience we had that morning On the way out, we inquired about a stained glass window that had caught our attention, one that seemed to depict pilgrims gathered for prayer on an ocean shore It turns out the church in which we were worshiping that morning was the church from which the Mayflower pilgrims had departed for the New World almost 400 years ago

When we returned to the hotel and told them of our difficulty finding the church, the staff apologetically acknowledged that the neighborhood had grown up quite a bit around the historic church New buildings and thoroughfares now surrounded and somewhat masked the entrance to the courtyard They were glad that someone familiar with the entrance had showed us how to find it recent days, I have sometimes wondered what it hat keeps me from feeling a more consistent eness to God Like that narrow alleyway in Am-

sterdam, it seems the path to greater intimacy with God can be hard to find, even when I’m diligently looking for it

Psalm 100 gives us a wonderful word picture of entering God’s gates with thanksgiving, and entering His courts with praise Recalling that psalm during some recent soul-searching, I asked myself if I had been feeling or expressing genuine thanksgiving to God

I began realizing how much my prayer life had been consumed with either asking for things to be different or expressing frustrations, neither of which came from a heart of gratitude toward God Like the buildings and thoroughfares that had grown up around that historic church, I had somehow allowed various disappointments and distractions to obscure my vision of God They were keeping me from recognizing that I enter the courtyard of praise through a gateway of thanksgiving, and that God’s goodness and salvation and sovereignty merit my continual gratitude, even when things aren’t going my way Have your circumstances allowed obstacles such as discontentment or frustration or something else to creep in to your spiritual life and block your intimacy with God? Like that kind little man in Amsterdam, let me point you once again to the gateway of thanksgiving. You will be so delighted with where it leads.

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

The seismic shift on marriage

Will the shifting tide of public opinion produce conservative pulpits and liberal pews? That was one question asked as editors of Southern Baptist state newspapers and executive directors of state conventions met in Alabama last week It wasn’t the main question, but, for me, it may be the most enduring

We Baptists flew in under the radar Our meeting produced not a blip on any media screen Instead, the news out of Alabama was the court battle over issuance of samesex marriage licenses and the predictable local coverage of gay couples waiting four days outside shuttered county offices

The state Supreme Court’s Chief Justice, Roy Moore (he of the Ten Commandments monument fame), had ordered probate courts to obey Alabama law, which limits marriage to a man and woman by a 2006 constitutional amendment But a federal judge, who overturned the gay marriage ban in January, countermanded Moore’s advisory opinion By week’s end, probate court judges were issuing licenses and gay couples were getting married outside the courthouse

Alabama Baptists issued a statement supporting a traditional definition of marriage And in the hallways of the editors’ and executives’ meetings, there were a lot of “I never dreamed in Alabama!” comments But overall, there seemed to be a sense of inevitability, sort of like it felt in Illinois last year when samesex marriage was legalized here While the majority of Alabamians do not support same-sex marriage, the

numbers have shifted significantly, even there, where half the population is Southern Baptist

After the marriage story broke, the head of one SBC entity attending the meeting asked a question that demands my further consideration

Given the rapid liberalization of public opinion on same-sex marriage and other moral issues, is it possible that pastors and leaders of SBC entities will find themselves heading organizations that are more conservative than the people in the pews especially younger people?

(That’s just the opposite of what happened in mainline denominations in the 20th century, when leaders grew far more liberal than church members )

If we are honest, some of us already feel this tension between pulpit and pew, especially in places where many of our church members come from other faith backgrounds And polls show younger people of all faiths tend to hold more liberal views on social issues than their elders Southern Baptist church members will be shifted by the tide of public opinion, the agency head said, if we pastors and teachers don’t provide a firmer biblical foundation

And the next wave is coming soon

A U S Supreme Court ruling possibly in June could determine the legality of same-sex marriage in all 50 states Justice Ginsberg has fueled speculation by saying the nation is now ready to deal with the issue, all of us, all at once Expect Southern Baptists to speak to that, but will anyone, even our own people, listen?

With recent court action in Alabama, same-sex marriage is now legal in

37 states.

In the remaining states, bans on same-sex marriage are being challenged and court action is pending

13 states 52% 35%.

YES

Only allowed same-sex unions in June 2013, when the U S Supreme Court struck down part of the Defense of Marriage Act of Americans now support same-sex marriage, according to Pew Research, but in 2001, the approval rating was only

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg told Bloomberg this month that it “would not take a large adjustment” for Americans if the Court decides in favor of same-sex marriage

“The change in peoe’s attitudes on that sue has been enorous I think that as re and more people came out and said that ‘this is who I am,’ the rest of us recognized that they are one of us ”

What I told our new governor

Every year, my family goes to the Springfield City Basketball Tournament to watch our four city high schools duke it out for the top spot A few weeks ago, we were sitting at the tournament on a Saturday night when I got a text message from my roommate: Bruce Rauner, Illinois’ newly elected governor, was there

I quickly scanned the crowd looking for men in suits and a cluster of people After searching for about 10 minutes, my mom spotted him among the crowd looking just like the rest of us, wearing blue jeans I immediately decided I wanted to meet him My sisters and a friend of ours from church headed down to where he was sitting near the court Gov Rauner was taking photos with a few other people, and when it was our turn, he smiled at us brightly and told us to come in close and put our heads together

I introduced myself and told him that I was a middle school teacher He laughed and said, “God bless you ” We went back to our seats, but later that evening, I went back to talk to him and his team a bit more I told them that I teach at a diverse school, with students from more than 10 countries I invited him to meet our students, most of whom have probably never met anyone that influential, especially a government official

As Christians, I think it’s easy to get intimidated or star-struck by people that lead lives that seem more important than ours Yes, the governor of Illinois does make many important decisions for our state But he’s also like the rest of us, a human being put

Government leaders need support, encouragement, advice and gospel centered truth, says Carrie Campbell (second from right)

on this earth to glorify God My introduction to Gov Rauner reminded me that not only is it extremely important that we lift up our government officials in prayer, but also that we build relationships with them when we have the opportunity They need our support, encouragement, advice, and gospel centered truth just as much as the next person does Romans 13:1 calls Christians to action in just this way: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God ” So I put forth a challenge to you: The next time you come in contact with a government leader, encourage that person with a friendly introduction, handshake, and as God gives opportunities with gospel centered truth.

Carrie Campbell is a middle school teacher in Beardstown and a member of Delta Church in Springfield

“I find it odd that our current strategy for encouraging spiritual maturity is stickers ”

As a measles outbreak continued to spread to more states, Pew asked Americans:

Vaccines for diseases such as measles, mumps and rubella are for healthy children

9%

7%

Don’t

Table Talk: Theology, ministry, and things that matter Struggling against the darkness

“So what do you think about demons?” This was the random text message my 21-year-old brother sent me a few months back I replied, “They sound scary, and they’re totally real ”

He called and told me of his friend, John, who believed he was being harassed by a demon John doesn’t go to church, but he decided to call a few of the local pastors in his town, asking them what he should do In each instance, the pastor didn’t believe his story, and offered nothing further

John lives out of state from my brother and me, so I offered to call Soon, he was explaining his story to me Let’s put it this way YIKES! The hairs on my neck stood at attention as John explained this entity’s ability to take a visible shape while bringing him feelings of dread and even depression He was now worried that this “entity” (I told him demon was the correct term) would attempt to possess him, and he was highly fearful

I’ve heard of pastors who have blown off these types of stories A

previous pastor I served with said he had received a call from someone who thought they had a demon in their house When I asked him what he was going to do, he replied, “Not go over there!” This didn’t sit well with me Jesus spent many days defeating demons who were bringing hopelessness and harm to people all over Israel (Matthew 8:16, Luke 11:20, bunches of others) The Bible spoke of demons as a real threat, and I was shocked that our church didn’t act accordingly

After telling John I believed him, I asked about his relationship to God He admitted to having none, though he had been growing more curious about spiritual things And as John continued to talk, I realized these attacks had intensified during this newfound curiosity Long story short, I shared with John the Good News of Jesus and he willingly repented of his sins over the phone and placed his trust in Jesus Then, we had a crash course in Holy Spirit theology I told him that according to 1 Corinthians 6:19, no one can ever possess him

now that he has become a temple of the Holy Spirit John hung up the phone sounding much more confident about the future

83%

In fact, in the three months since John accepted Christ, he’s experienced a great change Because the local pastors didn’t offer hope, he was unwilling to attend their churches I’ve been discipling him by phone, texts, and e-mails He reports no visits from this demon since his salvation, and he is reading his Bible and spending time in prayer John is also finding new plans opening up for his life He is moving to a new city in February to continue his education, and the first question he asked

me was, “How do I find a good church when I get there?”

What is the takeaway for us? First of all, there were pastors who had an unbeliever call them for hope and they offered NONE We have the hope of salvation and purpose in Jesus When an unbeliever approaches us, no matter their dilemma, we must be prepared to help them see that Jesus is calling them in the midst of their crisis

Secondly, if the Bible warns us of something, we had better take it seriously! Satan and his demons are real and they are working tirelessly to deceive, depress, and destroy souls. We must remain aware that spiritual warfare is going on all around us Sometimes we can see it more clearly than others, but we are not fighting against people, but against “the spiritual forces of evil,” according to Ephesians 6:12 God has called us to be warriors for the gospel who will help the hurting and broken find hope in Jesus Christ As Peter said, let us always be prepared to share the hope that lies within us

Heath Tibbetts is pastor of First Baptist Church, Machesney Park

“When an unbeliever approaches us, no matter their dilemma, we must be prepared to help them see that Jesus is calling them in the midst of their crisis.”

Day1

In the last 100 years, Southern Baptists and evangelicals in general have lost significant ground in the church-to-population ratio, especially in the non-South regions of North America and in and around large cities where more than 80% of the population lives

The 2015 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering and Week of Prayer is focused on Send North America, the North American Mission Board’s initiative to bring hope to an ever-increasing population, by empowering the largest network of local churches to plant more congregations across North America

Use this guide to pray for those on the front lines living on mission and planting churches, and give to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering so that many others may be sent

Pray today for young people in NAMB’s “farm system,” a process that discovers, develops and deploys the next generation of missionaries Some serve local churches as shortterm student missionaries, while others are engaged in church planting as an intern, apprentice, or lead planter

Pray also for those who are mentoring farm system missionaries, helping them discern God’s direction for the future

“I was born in Texas,” said Jonathan Land

“There’s a reason people don’t like people from Texas They are just so arrogant about being from Texas I used to be that guy ”

South Dakota has taken some edge off that arrogance Land pastors Connection Church in Sioux Falls, which launched last Easter as a church plant of Connection Church in Spearfish, S D Land’s secondgeneration church plant is also supported by Mobberly Baptist in Longview, Texas, which, as a sending church through the North Ameri-

Travis and Staci Kerns work to start new churches in Utah, where 70% of the population is part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)

In his 18 years of studying Mormonism and working with LDS people, Kerns has only seen two people convert to Christianity Most Protestant churches in Utah run between 50 and 100 people, and the average tenure for pastors of any Christian church is 14 months That’s why Kerns’ work as a city missionary for Send North America is so crucial

Pray for Travis and Staci and the church planters in Salt Lake City as they serve in a place where the truth of the gospel is not often well received and their faith isn’t popular

can Mission Board, helped start the original Connection

Within three months, Connection Church in Sioux Falls broke the 50attendee barrier, which is a milestone for Southern Baptists in the Dakotas Land looks forward to the day his church can help other new plants like Mobberly Baptist helped his congregation

Pray for Jonathan and his wife, Shelby, as they grow Connection Church with an eye to where to start more churches

Generation Send (GenSend) offers young adults a handson missions internship in an urban context GenSend-ers gain a practical knowledge of the realities of missions and leadership in the city

“Many people go on mission trips for a week or two then return home to grow in their faith,” said Austin Coleman, who served in New York “My GenSend experience has shown me that growing and sharing my faith should never be separate Every day we must live lives on mission ”

Pray for GenSend-ers as they discern where God is working and where He wants them to serve long-term

3In Toronto, where many people seem happy and successful without Jesus, church planter

Daniel Yang and his wife, Linda, are living life on mission as they bring the gospel to a city growing in population and influence Trinity Life Church is a church plant in the Regent Park neighborhood

Residents seeking identity and

truth are finding it through the person of Jesus Christ

Pray for Daniel and Linda as they serve the diverse community and work with fellow planter Mike Seaman to grow Trinity in what is known as the world’s most ethnically diverse city a gateway to the rest of the world

5

Church planter Mark Lashey notes there are almost 130,000 people living within a 15-mile radius of his home in Townsend, Delaware, and very few evangelical ministries to reach them with the gospel He and his wife, Tammy, started a Bible study in their home that would grow into LifeHouse Church

In the past two years, more than 200 people have been baptized and more than 600 attend services each week

“Our community is very receptive to the gospel,” Lashey said “They are (spiritually) hungry ”

Pray Mark and Tammy will be mindful to rely only on God for direction on next steps for the church Pray also that LifeHouse members will embrace living life on mission in their community and beyond

Annie Armstrong’s passionate advocacy for missions led Southern Baptists to name the annual offering for North American missions after her, 100% of which goes toward empowering missionaries to live out God’s call Were she alive today, Annie would see a much different world than the one of her lifetime (1850-1938) Yet, she would also see the need that never goes away people need the gospel

Pray for your role as a “modernday Annie” in being an advocate for missions and missionaries how can you strengthen it?

Missionaries and modernday Annies live on mission

They pray for more leaders to rise up, they give more to send more, and they are mobilized in their everyday lives to live out the gospel in intentional ways that multiply disciples

As you have used this prayer guide to pray for Send North America efforts, and as you give to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, you are a hope-giver Like Annie, though, you must influence others to support the work of your missionaries Visit anniearmstrong com to learn more

Pray for opportunities to live an intentional life on mission that attracts people to Jesus

Daniel Yang (left), lead pastor of Toronto’s Trinity Life Church, meets with neighbors Rebecca, Ava and Kelley Ackerman at a local cafe

Travis, Staci and Jeremiah Kerns

Worship leader is just one of the roles church planter Jonathan Land (left) fills at Connection Church in Sioux Falls, S D Jaz Terzic joins the worship band on bass

Mark and Tammy Lashey with Abby-Jane, Hudson and Sophia

THE CHURCH CONNECTION

Formative years

Every fall at the College at Southeastern in Wake Forest, N C , incoming students start a one-year discipleship process They meet every week in small “D Groups” of a few students, led by an older undergrad, seminary student, or local church leader Their conversations touch on a variety of topics, like prayer, baptism, and the local church

“I really want our students to understand that they’re part of something much bigger than they are,” said Drew Ham, who directs the Office of Discipleship and Spiritual Formation at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

“The mission of the church should be the mission of their lives; the relationships of the church should be the relationships of their lives ”

But often, when students arrive at school, away from home for the first time, that’s not the case Even for

those who grew up in church, learning what it means to invest in a local body of believers can be challenging

On their own

“This is a time of life when they’re trying to figure things out on their own, and all of a sudden, they don’t have their mom and dad knocking on their door saying, ‘Come on, let’s go,’” said Keith Krispin at Judson University

As chair of the Elgin school’s Christian Ministry department and Master of Leadership in Ministry program, Krispin said teaching students about the local church is directly related to his department’s mission to “educate, equip and empower life-long spiritual leaders for ministries worldwide, strengthening the body of Christ for all generations ”

“To see students engaged in the life of a local church it’s vital for their

learning and for their spiritual growth,” Krispin said. It’s also something Judson communicates on the broader campus, outside of the Christian Ministries department

“Our students attend Bible classes, they participate in chapel, and they get to hear about what God is doing in the life of local churches as pastors come in and share, as ministry leaders come in and share ”

For some students, the college years represent a time when they came to truly understand the value of the local church, beyond just attending worship on Sundays Trinity Griffin said finding a church wasn’t the hard part for her, but sticking with it and investing in her church proved more difficult

The senior at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo , said people at the church she’s part of made her feel at home And being four hours away from her actual home in Belleville, Ill , that was important

“The people that I met were the most caring people and they really wanted to take care of me,” Griffin said Her generation is looking for that, she said, for people who will accept them and care about them

They also want opportunities to serve, said Judson University junior Trey Gilmore But they may not respond to a traditional all-call for volunteers at church “I just see Millennials here at college sitting here waiting almost,” Gilmore said They may not go out and look for a way to serve, but they’ll respond to leaders who meet them where they are, and who value who they are and what they’re doing

On-the-job training

For students planning a career in ministry, engaging with a local church can help hone their skills and open their eyes to different ways to teach or lead, even if they already have years of experience in their field

Casey Lore entered Lincoln Christian University as a seasoned worship leader. But his degree program’s requirement that he visit different kinds of churches than the one he grew up in exposed him to drastic differences in how people worship

“Being at Lincoln has really given me the ability to step into any kind of worship service, and really be in the

Continued on page 10

Joining forces

Seminaries partner with local churches

Now is not an easy time to be a seminary At a recent meeting of Southern Baptists in the Midwest, seminary president Jason Allen outlined the crises institutions of theological education (and higher education in general) currently face:

-Resources are limited, and maintaining enrollment is difficult

-They face a crisis of commitment; to whom are they accountable?

-Colliding worldviews bring into focus issues like same-sex marriage

-Identity and mission are gray areas: What is a seminary to be and do?

David Dockery was installed last October as president of Trinity International University in Deerfield, Ill , which includes Trinity Evangelical Divinity School He voiced similar concerns in his inaugural address.

“The changes in higher education seem to be ever shifting in terms of philosophy, methodology, and delivery system possibilities

“Frankly, it is impossible to keep up with these never-ending changes, but we must continue to monitor these trends in order to help us provide Christ-centered, church-connected, and culturally engaged education that is faithful to our institutional heritage, while seeking to be ever more in touch with the reformulations of the world in which we now

find ourselves ”

The shifting sands of theological education, the crises that institutions are grappling with, have prompted many seminaries in North America to abandon their church-centric calling, said Allen, who leads Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo

“Theological education, in as much as it has a right to exist, has a right to exist to the degree that it faithfully serves the local church ”

To advance the gospel

Seminaries seeking to reinforce and nurture partnership with the local church are doing so by ramping up their connections with local congregations At Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N C , for example, students can earn course credit for the seminary’s EQUIP internship program

“At Southeastern Seminary we want to equip our students to fulfill the Great Commission, but we believe that theological education is best done in partnership with the local church,” said President Danny Akin “The most direct way we do this is through our EQUIP program, where we identify and partner with churches and para-church organiza-

tions to provide practical theological education through internships

“We take seriously our task to develop students, but we also know that some lessons must be learned in the fiery furnace of ministry,” Akin said “Working with local churches to train students together is the best way we can do that ”

The SEBTS website offers information for churches and ministries that want to sign up for EQUIP, including a letter from Associate Vice President John Ewart explaining the program’s biblical foundation In 2 Timothy 2:1-2, the Apostle Paul urges Timothy to share what he has learned with other “faithful men who will be able to teach others also ”

“Church leaders today must continue this pattern,” Ewart wrote. “We certainly must share the teachings of Scripture openly and faithfully from our pulpits, in our small groups and in our daily conversations to all who will listen But we should also seek out specific, qualified individuals to whom we can entrust this message The gospel has advanced and the Great Commission has been carried out in this manner throughout the centuries ”

In Kansas City, Midwestern Seminary has instituted school-wide standards focused on the local church The school’s logo states its position plainly: “For the church ”

At the recent Midwest Leadership Summit in Springfield, Ill , President

Fuller Theological Seminary: 3,258

Pasadena, CA

The Southern Baptist

Theological Seminary: 2,634

Louisville, KY

Southwestern Baptist

Theological Seminary: 2,429 Ft Worth, TX

Dallas Theological Seminary: 2,084

Dallas, TX

Gordon-Conwell

Theological Seminary: 2,067 South Hamilton, MA

Southeastern Baptist

Theological Seminary: 2,024

Wake Forest, NC

New Orleans Baptist

Theological Seminary: 1,608

New Orleans, LA

Asbury Theological Seminary: 1,467 Wilmore, KY

Golden Gate Baptist

Theological Seminary: 1,390 Mill Valley, CA

Trinity Evangelical Divinity School: 1,170 Deerfield, IL

THE CHURCH AND HIGHER EDUCATION

Local churches are learning labs for students

Continued from page 7

moment and allowing the Spirit to work in that,” said Lore, who’s currently interning at a church in Terre Haute, Ind Between 80 and 90% of Lincoln’s student body is actively engaged in ministry, Lore estimated Leaders at Lincoln “don’t want you to just be in school learning and then go out and hope for the best They want you to be actively involved doing it while you’re learning ”

“I thought it really helped me in that area,” said Rubin, a student from Memphis, Tenn The internship “put me in a position to actually be teaching the Word of God” multiple times, he added “I thought it kind of affirmed that calling that I felt the Lord had upon my life ”

For some, local churches provide hands-on experience and a new vision of what biblical community can be

“I think I kind of used to view the church as something you go to because God tells you to, and you learn about Jesus, and you leave,” said Marcilyn Rowan The third-year Christian Ministries major from Judson now leads a small group of middle schoolers at a church in St Charles She has seen how “going to church” can actually mean so much more than attendance: giving of your time, meeting with others believers, and actually being a body instead of just receiving a lesson and then heading home

C

o l l e g e D i r e c t o r y

The Midwest is home to 38 member schools of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities * Those in bold are currently listed in the top 25 of U S News & World Report’s regional universities or regional colleges

Anderson University

Anderson, IN

Bethel College

Mishawaka, IN

Bethel University

St Paul, MN

Bluffton University

Bluffton, OH

Calvin College

Grand Rapids, MI

Cedarville University

Cedarville, OH

Central Christian College

McPherson, KS

College of the Ozarks

Point Lookout, MO

Cornerstone University

Grand Rapids, MI

Crown College

Many Christian schools encourage or require internships or practicum experiences for students in ministry degree programs Tre Rubin recently completed a pastoral internship at Evanston Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Scott Kelly Rubin, a biblical studies major at Trinity International University in Deerfield, said the internship affirmed his calling to teach

That’s the mindset Drew Ham wants to instill in students at Southeastern The school is training ground for those who want to go on in future ministry, he said

“The classroom’s going to give you a lot of that head knowledge, but it’s in the local church that you’re going to be implementing that head knowledge, through the outworking of your hands ”

Saint Bonifacius, MN

Dordt College

Sioux Center, IA

Evangel University

Springfield, MO

Goshen College

Goshen, IN

Grace College &

Seminary

Winona Lake, IN

Greenville College

Greenville, IL

Hannibal-LaGrange

University

Hannibal, MO

Huntington University

Huntington, IN

Indiana Wesleyan University

Marion, IN

Judson University

Elgin, IL

Malone University

Canton, OH

MidAmerica Nazarene

University

Olathe, KS

Missouri Baptist Univ

S Louis, MO

Mount Vernon Nazarene

University

Mount Vernon, OH

North Central University

Minneapolis, MN

North Park University

Chicago, IL

Northwestern College

Orange City, IA

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, IL

Southwest Baptist University

Bolivar, MO

Spring Arbor University

Spring Arbor, MI

Sterling College

Sterling, KS

Tabor College

Hillsboro, KS

Taylor University

Upland, IN

Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights, IL

Trinity International Univ

Deerfield, IL

University of Northwestern – St Paul

St Paul, MN

University of Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls, SD

Wheaton College

Wheaton, IL

York College

York, NE

*Lincoln Christian University in Lincoln, Ill , and Moody Bible Institute in Chicago are theological affiliates of the CCCU

“The body of Christ is out there. You need to get involved, you need to use your gifts, you need to go be an encouragement, you need to go make a commitment ”

Jeff Brown, Dean of Students, Hannibal-LaGrange University

For seminaries, local church is key

Continued from page 8

Allen gave nine ways the “for the church” vision is expressed on campus, including a culture that esteems the local church, decisions made in light of it, denominational commitment, and passion for revival in the church

“Some people think a seminary’s job is to kind of take a bunch of young students and polish them and give them kind of the secrets to success, almost like a Dale Carnegie course or a Norman Vincent Peale presentation or something like that,” Allen said

But a seminary’s job is not to churn out graduates that can make Jesus’ church successful, Allen said. Jesus himself promised to build his church in Matthew 16:18 And while MBTS wants their students to be successful in their ministry contexts, the predominant focus is on instilling faithfulness in them

Practical partnerships

From Chicagoland, Trinity International University uses its website to connect with local churches, including information about scholarships, hosting a student through a field experience, and even a link to submit prayer requests to the Trinity staff

“TIU is committed to developing strong relationships with the church,” says the school’s website According to the site, Trinity offers matching grants for students whose education is supported by their church, and also for students who attend a church that

has partnered financially with the school Trinity, affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America, also offers scholarships for some students pursuing church planting

At Lincoln Christian University and Seminary in Illinois, partnership with local churches is a five-pronged approach Lincoln offers its partner churches those who send students or support the school financially a “five star promise,” said Director of Church Ministries David Upchurch

The promise includes an annual visit from a Lincoln representative, the school’s annual report, help in filling open ministry positions, a free online class audit for someone in the congregation, and assistance in the area of practicing better stewardship

Upchurch’s mantra when it comes to partnership is “if you send us a check and we send you a thank-you note, that’s not really much of a partnership ”

“Everything rises and falls on relationship,” he said “In return we want to send students that are equipped to live their mission out to the churches, to the business world, all over the world as missionaries, etc ”

Moving the church closer to fulfilling its Great Commission

PEOPLE & CHURCHES

New Faces

Tabernacle Baptist

Church in Decatur has called Randy Johnson as senior pastor Johnson previously led Florida Boulevard Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, La , and also pastored churches in Kentucky He and his wife, Leigh, have three children: Nathan, Anna and Caleb Scott Foshie is the new pastor of Steeleville Baptist Church. Originally from Tennessee, Foshie served as an associate pastor for 15 years He and his wife, Audra, have three children: Lydia, Levi and Liz MeadowRidge Church in Zion has called Bruce Allen as senior pastor Allen previously pastored University Baptist in Orlando, Fla , and also has led churches in Virginia and Kentucky He served four years as a sergeant in the U S Air Force and is married to Laura They have three children: John, William and Paul

Resources

Pews: 20 padded pews in good shape, available for a donation in an amount decided by the donor Contact Dave Gilley from The Word in Marion at (618) 313-2233

Ministry Positions

Charity Baptist, Carlinville, is seeking a full-time or bivocational pastor A college education is preferred, but not required. Please send resumes to Craig Frankford, 23082 Bird Farm Rd , Carlinville, IL 62626, or craig frankford@yahoo com

New Hope Baptist, Aurora, seeks a full-time senior pastor Send resumes to budgie728@att.net, or call Edna Lloyd at (630) 236-9062 or Darron Pitts at (630) 624-861

Stewart Street Baptist, Carmi, seeks a bivocational pastor Send resumes to Roger Hortin at 1357 County Road 900 East, Carmi, IL 62821, or randkyh@msn com

First Baptist Church, Anna, seeks a full-time minister of music and youth Candidates should have at least four years of college and five years of church experience E-mail resumes to lessinks@hotmail com

First Baptist, Jonesboro, seeks a full-time associate pastor of student and family ministry At least four years experience in that area is preferred Send resumes to JFBC search@yahoo com, or contact the church at (618) 833-7981

Cristo Es Rey Baptist Church in Bolingbrook is seeking a children’s minister. Applicants are not required to be bilingual; e-mail info@ibcer org or call Pastor Carlos Jimenez, (630) 739-7914

First Baptist Church, Maryville, is seeking a full-time preschool minister/director Send a resume and cover letter to Lora Fuller at lfuller@fbmaryville org View the job description at fbmaryville org/ jobs

Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services is accepting applications for a full-time Development Officer in Central Illinois, responsible for all fundraising and public relations activities within the region Applicants must have experience in sales, marketing, public relations or related field Go to BCHFS com/employment, or contact Melinda Bratcher at (618) 3824164, x111

BCHFS is also seeking Contractual Therapists for our Southeastern Pathways and Metro East Counseling Offices Must have a current LCSW or LCPC Go to www BCHFS com/employment, or contact Melinda Bratcher at (618) 382-4164, x111

PAID ADVERTISEMENTS

First Baptist Church of Farmington is seeking a full-time associate pastor with an emphasis in worship E-mail inquiries or resumes to fbcfarm@sbcglobal net, Attn: Personnel Committee, or mail to Personnel Committee, 210 North A Street, Farmington, MO 63640

First Baptist Church of Trenton, Missouri, is seeking a full-time pastor Send resumes to Pastor Search Committee, 2421 Oklahoma Ave , Trenton, MO 64683, or e-mail fbc@grundyec net

Churches surpass Lottie Moon Offering goals

Van giveaway blesses ministry family

Litchfield | Jason Jenkins’ search for a van for his growing family ended in an unusual place: First Baptist Church On Sunday, Feb 1, FBC Litchfield handed over the keys to a 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan in great shape following repairs by a mechanic who is part of the church’s men’s ministry team

FBC advertised the van giveaway in the local newspaper, through word of mouth, and on Facebook “They said that Jesus not only met spiritual needs but also physical needs and that they wanted to give away a van,” Jenkins posted in a testimony on his own Facebook page More than two dozen people applied, Pastor Tim Shrader said, and a commit-

tee of Christians (who aren’t members of FBC) decided who would receive the van

Jenkins is an employee of Love Packages, a ministry based in Butler that distributes Christian literature around the world He and his wife, Chrissy, have a young daughter and are expecting another baby in July (Coincidentally, the couple was married at FBC Litchfield )

“I say all of this to say that Jesus Christ is faithful and true,” Jenkins concluded in his online testimony “He is worthy of our lives and He is good all the time. Not just because he blesses us, but even in trials and hurts, He is good ”

GIFT – Tim Shrader (second from right) awards a renovated van to Jason and Chrissy Jenkins.

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 1 7

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W e s e r v e i n … S o u t h A m e r i c a T h e r e d d o t s r e p r e s e n t 1 2 1 u n r e a c h e d , u n e n g a g e d p e o p e g r o u p s i n S o u t h A m e r i c a ; f i v e a r e i n C h i e , w h e r e B r y a n a n d D e a n a W o f s e r v e 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 ?

m o t i n g t h e i r p a r t i c u l a r b r a n d o B a p t i s t t h e o l o g y a n d g a v e m o r e c o p y t o p r o m o t i n g a n d a s s i s t i n g t h e c h u r c h e s i n t h e i r w o r k ” T o d a y , t h e I l l i n o i s B a p t i s t i s a m i x o f l o c a l a n d n a t i o n a l n e w s c h u r c h s u c c e s s s t o r i e s , m i n i s t r y t r e n d s , h o wt o ’s , o p i n i o n p i e c e s a n d c o v e r a g e o f g o v e r n m e n t a n d c u l t u r e i s s u e s t h a a f f e c t h o w C h r i s t i a n s l i v e o u t t h e g o s p e l i n o u r w o r l d . T h e i B 2 n e w s b l o g l a u n c h e d i n 2 0 1 2 t o c o m m u n i c a t e b r e a ki n g n e w s b e t w e e n i s s u e s o f t h e p a p e r, w h i c h i s d e l i v e r e d e v e r y t h r e e w e e k s . I n t h e p a s t s e v e r a l y e a r s , I B S A ’s c o m m u n i c a t i o n s s t r a t e g y h a s e x p a n d e d t o i n c l u d e n e w p r i n t p i e c e s , l i k e b i m o n t h l y b u l l e t i n i n s e r t s f o c u s e d o n c o o p e ra t i v e m i s s i o n s g i v i n g , a n d R es o u r c e m a g a z i n e , a s e a s o n a l p l a n n i n g g u i d e f o r c h u r c h e s . A n d a s t h e w a y p e o p l e g e t a n d r e a d n e w s c h a n g e s , s o h a v e I B S A ’s o nl i n e m e d i a o f f e r i n g s , w h i c h n o w i n c l u d e F a c e b o o k a n d T w i t t e r p a g e s , a V i m e o v i d e o p a g e , a n d t h e w e e k l y e C o n n e c t i o n n e w s l e t t e r. A n e w c o m m u n i c a t i o n p i e c e f o r l e a d e r s , i L e a d , w i l l l a u n c h i n 2 0 1 5 . F o r i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e s e r es o u r c e s a n d t o s u b s c r i b e , g o t o

I t ’s r a r e t h a t a n o r g a n i z a t i o n ’s f l a g s h i p p u b l i c a t i o n p r ed a t e s t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n i t s e l f . B u t i n t h e c a s e o f t h e I l l i n o i s B a p t i s t , B a p t i s t s i n t h e s t a t e w e r e r e a d i n g t h e n e w s p ap e r m o r e t h a n a y e a r b e f o r e I B S A w a s f o u n d e d . S e a s o n e d B a p t i s t p u b l i s h e r W i l l i a m P. T h r o g m o r t o n f o u n d e d t h e p a p e r i n 1 9 0 5 , w h i l e a l s o s e r v i n g a s p a s t o r o f F i r s t B a p t i s t C h u r c h i n

T h e I l l i n o i s B a p t i s t t h e n ( J a n 6 , 1 9 5 0 ) a n d n o w

M a r i o n H e s o o n r es i g n e d h i s p o s t a t t h e c h u r c h t o g i v e h i s f u l l a t t e n t i o n t o t h e p a p e r, M y r o n D i l l o w n o t e s i n h i s h i s t o r y o f I l l i n o i s B a p t i s t s T h r o g m o r t o n w o u l d n e e d t h e e x t r a t i m e H e u s e d t h e p a p e r t o c a m p a i g n f o r a c l e a r d e f i n i t i o n o f w h a t i t m e a n t t o b e B a p t i s t , a n d l a t e r f o r I B S A ’s f o u n d i n g , t r u mp e t e d i n t h e F e b 9 , 1 9 0 7 , i s s u e “

I N C K N E Y V I L L E M E E T I N G

I B S A o r g / c o m m u n i c a t i o n s o r em a i l C o m m u n i c a t i o n s @ I B S A . o r g .

P e o p e o f f a t h h a v e s t r u g g l e d w i t h t h e m o r a l i t y o f o b e d i e n c e t o t h e g o v e r n m e n t s n c e b e f o r e t h e t i m e o f J e s u s T h e P h a r i s e e s w e r e t r y i n g t o t r a p J e s u s w h e n t h e y a s k e d , “ S h o u l d w e p a y t a x e s ? ” b u t h i s r e p y t o t h e r q u e s t i o n f r a m e s o u r t h e o l o g y a b o u t t h e g o v e r n m e n t e v e n t o d a y : I t i s p o s s ib l e t o h o n o r t h e r u e s o f t h e n a t o n a n d t o k e e p r e s e r v e d t o G o d w h a t s h s W h i l e o u r A m e r i c a n c u t u r e i s n o t t o b e e q u a t e d w i t h G o d ’ s k n g d o m , B a pt i s t s h a v e h i s t o r c a l l y s o u g h t “ t o b r i n g n d u s t r y , g o v e r n m e n t , a n d s o c i e t y a s a w h o l e u n d e r t h e s w a y o f p r i n c i p l e s o f r i g h t e o u s n e s s , t r u t h , a n d b r o t h e r l y l o v e , ” a s d e s c r i b e d i n T h e B a p t i s t F a i t h & M e s s a g e ( 2 0 0 0 ) . T h e s e p a r a t i o n o f c h u r c h a n d s t a t e , i n t e n d e d t o a s s u r e f r e e d o m o f r e l i g i o n , d o e s n t p r o h i b i t C h r i s t i a n n f u e n c e ; a p p r o p r i a t e p a r t i c p a t i o n , o b e d i e n c e s o l o n g a s i t i s m o r a a n d e t h i c a l , e n h a n c e s o u r i n f l u e n c e

T h s i s t h e 1 7 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

X

E C T A T I O N S R E A L I Z E D , ” r e a d t h a t h e a d l i n e . T h e p a p e r d es c r i b e d I B S A ’s o r g a n i z i n g m e e t i n g a s “ a n i m m e n s e a n d e n t h u s i a s t i c g a t h e r i n g o f B a p t i s t s ” T h r o g m o r t o n h e l m e d t h e I B u n t i l

1 9 2 7 F o r h i m , t h e p a p e r w a s a w a y “ n o t o n l y t o r e f l e c t B a p t i s t l i f e b u t t o m o l d a n d s h a p e i t , ” D i l l o w w r o t e i n “ H a r v e s t t i m e o n t h e P r a i r i e ” T h e e d i t o r s t h a t f o l l o w e d h i m “ w e r e l e s s p a s s i o n a t e i n p r o -

P r a y : F o r h e a t h a n d g r o w t h f o r t h e Q u a d C i t i e s B a p t s t c h u r c h e s , a n d f o r i n d v i d u a l s t o s e r v e o n a c h u r c h p l a n t n g m i s s i o n t e a m f o r t h e r e g i o 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

o c a t i o n : Q u a d C i t i e s F o c u s : H s p a n c p e o p l e g r o u p C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s : T h e Q u a d C i t i e s a r e a f u n c t o n s a s o n e c i t y b u t a c t u a l y c o m p r i s e s f v e , w i t h a p o p u l a t i o n o f a b o u t 2 7 2 , 0 0 0 T h e s e c o m m u n t i e s h a v e a s i g n i f i c a n t s e g m e n t o f S p a n s hs p e a k i n g p e o p

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

The ‘ideal’ pastor’s wife

What does the ideal pastor ’s wife look like?

Believe it or not, every pastor ’s wife is one-of-a-kind Don’t fall for the rumor that there’s a cookie-cutter mold for the ideal pastor ’s wife She’s not a clone of your previous pastor ’s wife, or any other ministry wife you know

I’ve known and observed hundreds of effective pastors’ wives, and can assure you that no two are alike! God created her uniquely her personality, giftedness, style, strengths and weaknesses She has a distinct background and Christian testimony

She may be tall, short, old, young, introverted or extroverted She may wear a ponytail, pixie cut or dreadlocks There are pastors’ wives who run marathons, barrel race, coach, hunt, garden, golf, and raise goats They’re vegetarians, foodies, volunteers, drummers, soccer moms and artists They’re biscuit burners and gourmet chefs Some even play the piano

If you get right down to it, there are only two requirements for an ideal pastor ’s wife First, she’s a child of God an imperfect sinner saved by His grace Second, she’s married to the pastor the only woman in the

entire world who’s qualified to be that pastor ’s wife

If you’re a member of a church whose pastor is married, try one of these ideas to encourage his wife this week:

• Notice how she encourages her husband in ministry Compliment her privately

• Be her great cheerleader Always have a good word to say about her

• Be aware that a great deal of her ministry work may be behind the scenes.

• Show interest and encouragement in her outside-the-church involvements Understand that God works through every area of her life

• Say “thank you” occasionally She joyfully carries many extra responsibilities and burdens

• Pray faithfully for her

So what does your church’s ideal pastor ’s wife look like? She looks exactly like the woman who’s married to your pastor!

©This article is a revised excerpt from Diana Davis’ new book “Six Simple Steps Finding Contentment and Joy as a Minister ’ s Wife” (New Hope Publishers, 2015), www diana davis org

Training Oppor tunities Training Oppor tunities

February 23, 24: Tax and Retirement Planning Seminars

Where: Feb 23 – IBSA, Springfield, and Chicago Metro Association; Feb 24 – Emmanuel, Lemont

When: Times vary, go to www IBSA org/church health

February 26: iConnect: IBSA/Pastors Meet-Up

What: Introduction to IBSA staff, ministries, training and opportunities for pastors and church staff

Where: IBSA Building, Springfield

When: 10 a m to 3 p m

Contact: MarkEmerson@IBSA org

Feb 28, March 6, 7, 28: VBS Clinics

What: Training in multiple age groups and focus areas

Where: Feb 28 – IBSA, Springfield; March 6 – FBC Marion; March 7 – Pleasant Hill, Mt Vernon; March 28 – Uptown, Chicago

When: Times vary; go to www IBSA org/kids for details

March 9, 16, 17: Children’s Evangelism Conferences for parents and children’s ministry workers

Where: March 9 – Hillcrest, Country Club Hills; March 16 – Bethel, Troy; March 17 – Second, Marion

Contact: Times vary; e-mail TimSadler@IBSA org for details

March 14: Children’s Ministry Day

What: Hands-on ministry projects for kids in grades 1-6; cost is $15 Where: 13 locations around the state; registration open now at www IBSA org/kids

March 20-21, April 17-18: Disaster Relief Training

Don’t be bullied

Q: I have a student loan in default that is n o w b e i n g h a n d l e d b y a c o l l e c t i o n s agency They want me to pay the entire $ 2 0 , 0 0 0 n o w , o r c o n s o l i d a t e i t w i t h $ 1 6 , 0 0 0 i n c o l l e c t i o n f e e s a d d e d A r e these my only options?

A: There’s no way I’d consolidate and pay $16,000 in collection fees Right now, they’re trying to bully you They may eventually garnish your paychecks, but I think you can still work out something with these guys

You’ll have to repay the loan, and probably the interest and some of the late charges, but $16,000 is wrong Don’t run out and get another loan to pay it, but don’t let yourself be blackmailed, either You’ve made a mess by ignoring this for so long, so now you’ll have to save every penny you can and start sending them substantial amounts of money each month

Trust me, they’ll take your payments and cash the checks Hopefully, you can settle on a reasonable repayment structure and have this thing killed off in a couple of years

What: Classes in chainsaw, food prep, mudout, and more; $30 for new trainees, $10 for renewals

Where: March – Lincoln Avenue, Jacksonville; April – Streator Camp Web: www IBSA org/dr

March 20-21: Rekindling the Call

Retreat for IBSA pastors and wives

Where: Lake Sallateeska

When: 6 p m Fri to noon Sat

Web: www IBSA org/church health

March 27-28: New Awakening

Evangelism Conference

See page 1 for more information

April 10: Singing Churchmen

Workshop for pastors, worship leaders, and other men who love to sing

Where: IBSA Building, Springfield

When: 9 a m to 5 p m

Contact: SteveHamrick@IBSA org

April 10-11: Worship Resource Conference on “Doxology and Theology”

Where: IBSA Building, Springfield

When: Friday 7:00 p m , Saturday 8:30 a m ; cost is $10

Web: www IBSA org/worship

April 12: Cooperative Program Sunday, www IBSA org/cp

April 13-14: Resilient Call Retreat

What: Pastor leadership training

Where: Lake Sallateeska

Web: www IBSA org/church health

April 24-25: Women’s Resource Conference on living intentionally

Where: Tabernacle, Decatur Web: IBSA org/womensmissions

Keep flood insurance?

Q: I’m debt-free except for my home, and I’ll have that paid off in about 12 months I currently make $60,000 a year and live in an area of Florida that is designated as a flood plain Currently, I’m paying $1,070 a m o n t h f o r f l o o d i n s u r a n c e M y h o u s e i s worth $325,000, and water has only come up into the yard twice in over 20 years Do you think I need to keep my flood insurance policy?

A: From what you’ve told me, it sounds like your biggest concern might be if a hurricane caused a backwash in your area Insurance is already pretty tough in Florida when it comes to those kinds of things, but you don’t want to run the risk of your house getting mowed down and losing everything

If I were in your shoes, I’d like the protection of flood insurance What you’re paying for the policy is such a small percentage of your world, compared to the value of your home and your income Keep the policy!

Dave Ramsey is a prolific author and radio host

DAVE Says Financial advice from Dave Ramsey

Wish yo u were here

Find

Trending

Young leaders back at the SBC table

At the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting last year,

THE POWER OF TEARS

“Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him ”

8-9 c flour

½ lb butter*

½ lb lard*

1 pint molass

½ lb brown s

1 tsp cinnam

1 tsp ground cloves

art Lottie Moon, r Annie Armstrong for making cookies ea cakes, Annie’s ginger cookies of an offering y this month

s

*For a lower-fat cookie, substitute margarine for butter and shortening for lard

1 heaping T ground ginger

We know about tears They come easily to us in seasons of discontent or discouragement or despair We weep openly and unashamedly We are touched deeply by the losses of life and our tears flow We are told that crying is good for our physical health I agree

But where are the tears among those who serve God? We bemoan the decline in baptisms, but are there tear stains on our prayer lists? We are saddened by a growing apathy among God’s people, but do the pages of our Bible show signs of weeping? When we gather to pray corporately, are we startled by tears that flow from broken and contrite hearts?

God’s Word is clear Tears are powerful When we sow the gospel and water it with our tears, there will be a harvest Broken hearts lead to increased humility, new priorities, greater sacrifice, and renewed faithfulness to the mission of God

PRAYER PROMPT: God, I pray for a contrite heart that will always be a wellspring of tears for the sake of the gospel

To prepare: Mix ingredients with spoon or hands, and roll out dough thinly onto a floured surface Cut into shapes and bake at 375° for 7-10 minutes, less for very thin cookies

Recipe yields 100-150 cookies

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

5 new and upcoming Bible studies

25%

That’s a 10-year high mark, and 4 percentage points more than the previous year

16%

of attendees were under 40. of attendees last year were under 35, another 10-year high Convention leaders cite a desire to cooperate to advance the gospel, and excitement about the SBC’s leadership and direction, among reasons for the increase in engagement by young leaders – BPNews net, Jan 2015

POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE

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

Missionaries:

Dave (right) and Kirsten (center) Andreson (w/Abraham, Alexis and Abner)

Planting: Resurrection City Church, Chicago

Focusing on: The multi-ethnic, culturally diverse Avondale community

Pray: For the saints to partner with us in the gospel, for conversions, and for co-laborers, particularly a bilingual, Latino elder candidate and an individual focused on worship/arts

“I believe this increase is showing us that a generation believes cooperation matters, the SBC is still an influencer, and that we will be stronger than ever in the years to come ”

– Dean Inserra, pastor, City Church, Tallahassee, Fla

What Jesus Demands from the World Brian J Tabb, based on the book by John Piper Awake: The Call to a Renewed Life Ronnie Floyd

And you can be! In 2014, Children’s Ministry Day engaged more than 1,000 people, mostly kids, in hands-on missions projects March 14 is this year’s big day pick from 13 sites and more than 90 projects at www.IBSA.org/kids.