Illinois Baptist
CULTURE WATCH
Minors in transition
Decisive court ruling coming P. 4
MISSION
Campus ministries
Phil Nelson’s $5 investments P. 9
The IVF debate
Incoming president focuses on connections
Springfield | “We have never needed connection more than we need it now,” IBSA President Doug Munton told the association staff in a December chapel service. Munton was elected at the IBSA Annual Meeting in November. He said despite the readily available relationships through the internet, people have never been more disconnected than they are today. That goes for pastors and churches too.
“I want us to be connected in three ways,” Munton said, describing the areas he hopes to draw attention to during his term. “We are connected theologically, we are connected missionally, and we are connected relationally.”
In theological terms, Munton pointed to the centennial observance of Southern Baptist’s statement of faith. This is the 100-year anniversary of its adoption in 1925, and the 25-year anniversary of the Baptist Faith and Message (2000)
“We’re not trying to poke our finger in the eye of other denominations, but we’re baptized after salvation by
Total giving by IBSA churches as of 11/30/24 $4,818,004
2024 Budget Goal to date: $5,399,509 2024 Goal: $6 Million
It was a big idea in 1925, and it started in a notable place. There were 5,600 Southern Baptists in new Ellis Auditorium in Memphis. Air conditioning did not exist yet, and “it was oppressively hot” for people dressed in their Sunday best, remembered M. O. Owens Jr. He was 11 at the time, and 99 when he told the story to Baptist Press in 2013. His father, a pastor, took the boy to witness history happening.
“Before that day [of the CP vote], there were very few Sundays there wouldn’t be someone appealing for an offering,” Owens said. “I remember my parents talking about it, Dad saying we needed to figure out a way to lump some of these appeals together—foreign missions, home missions, Indian missions, orphanages and more. And then he heard about [what is known today as the Cooperative Program] and he was tickled pink when it happened.”
The winds of 2025
Somehow 2025 seems a more consequential new year than usual. Maybe it’s because it feels like just yesterday that people were simultaneously hyping the year 2000 and dreading Y2K. Now, suddenly it seems, we’ve reached the quarter century mark. And a generation of young adults weren’t even born at the turn of the century—a phrase that used to mean a long, long time ago.
So how should we and our churches prepare for this milestone year of 2025? Does it give us reason for hope, for hesitancy, or for hunkering down?
When heading out on a journey or adventure and anticipating its joys or perils, we often speak of the wind. We might say there is an evil or ill wind blowing. Or we might express optimism by saying we feel a new wind in our sails. In aviation, in business or economics, and even in describing life itself, we often speak of headwinds and tailwinds.
So as our churches now face 2025, let me suggest two headwinds and one tailwind worth anticipating.
First, there is the headwind of a culture that is increasingly hostile toward the authority of Bible, and perhaps especially conservative Baptist faith. Especially in the arenas of the sanctity of life, sexual identity and morality, marriage and family, and even potential censorship from stating biblical beliefs, our churches can expect to be increasingly challenged.
It’s not just because the Baptist Faith and Message celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2025, and 25 years since the last major update, that 2025 will be an important year to teach sound biblical doctrine in our churches. If you need help with resources for doing that, call our IBSA offices or e-mail me personally.
Second, there is the headwind of generational change, even within our churches. When IBSA surveys churches each year, the consistently expressed top needs are, “Help our church to grow” and “Help our church reach younger people.” Yet it is all too rare to find in today’s churches the intentional adjustments that demonstrate relevance to younger generations.
$20 Billion
Since that day, Southern Baptists have given more than for missions through the Cooperative Program.
The Illinois Baptist staff
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The general telephone number for IBSA is (217) 786-2600. For questions about subscriptions, articles, or upcoming events, contact the Illinois Baptist at (217) 391-3127 or IllinoisBaptist@IBSA.org
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If this resonates with you or your church, I invite you to register for the Illinois Leadership Summit hosted at the IBSA offices January 21-22. The main session and breakout speakers for this conference will help church leaders understand the cultural and generational challenges they are now facing, and offer practical advice for becoming a “future-ready church.”
An
important year for headwinds and tailwinds
IBSA wants to help your church face into these headwinds. After all, aviators would tell us that headwinds can actually assist flight when you know how to respond to them. But let me remind you of an even more important tailwind.
A friend once told me of the difficult time he was having blowing his leaves together for composting on a windy day. After watching his frustrations out the kitchen window for a while, his loving wife came out and simply asked him, “Why don’t you work WITH the wind?” When my friend heeded her advice and made a few simple adjustments, he found he could corral the leaves in just a few minutes. His headwind became a tailwind. He later told me, “I guess that’s what it’s like to work WITH the Holy Spirit.”
The Holy Spirit provides not only the external power of God, but internal transformation that allows us to adjust and join God, both as we face the headwinds of the future, and as we experience his tailwind in the sails of our lives. Let’s face 2025 with that power, and with the faith, hope, and obedience that can make this the special year that I believe God wants it to be in the lives of our churches.
Nate Adams is executive director of the Illinois Baptist State Association. Respond at IllinoisBaptist@IBSA.org.
NATE ADAMS
“Legos snap together to make all kinds of wonderful things. They are made for connections. Christians are made for connections as well. We work best when we work together.”
from the front: new year’s vision
Continued from page 1
immersion. We practice some things that are different than other groups,” Munton said. “That connects us theologically.”
Southern Baptists are also connected missionally. “If we didn’t have a Cooperative Program, some bright seminary student would have to come up with this idea. They’d have to say what they said 100 years ago, ‘Why do people come beg for money every week?’”
Munton told of the work of James and Sonya Herron, a missionary couple from his church now serving in Uganda. “They have started so many churches in Uganda, it’s crazy,” he extolled.
“James is the sweetest man in the world, super effective missionary. He would be a terrible fundraiser, because he could never brag on himself. He could never tell about how great he’s doing and how much he needs your money.” CP allows them, and all SBC missionaries, to focus on ministry instead of fundraising, concentrating on their skill set for advancement of the gospel.
Munton pointed to the need for increased connection through relationships.
“Can I tell you a little secret? Most pastors hardly ever see anybody except the folks in the church.
Dickerson joins IBSA
Springfield | Pastor Bob Dickerson is returning to the IBSA staff as a part-time zone consultant for Southern Illinois. Dickerson served as Associate Executive Director for Church Strengthening prior to his return to the pastorate in 2007. For 17 years, Dickerson has served as pastor of First Baptist Church of Marion. He announced his retirement from that position in December, and rejoined the IBSA team as of January 1.
Dickerson attended Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and holds both master’s and doctoral degrees from Luther Rice Seminary. He served as associate pastor of Maryville Baptist Church, and as senior pastor for Caledonia, Union
Many of them don’t have somebody to talk to about the problems of their lives. They don’t have anybody who helps them through the journeys of the ups and downs that come with life and ministry.”
He called on IBSA to focus on relational connections. The current emphasis on “For the Pastor” is one way that will be addressed in 2025. The cohorts and peer groups offered in Multiply Gatherings (formerly Hubs) are another.
Our denomination needs unity, he summarized. “We need that more than at any time in my lifetime.” The Association is needed to provide training for effectiveness in ministry. “And we need encouragement to be a Barnabas in the lives of other people.”
This is Munton’s second tenure as IBSA President. He previously served in 2010-2011, and as Vice President from 2008-2009. He also served a term as 1st Vice President of the Southern Baptist Convention. Munton will mark 30 years as pastor of First Baptist Church of O’Fallon this year.
▸ Read more from Doug Munton at IllinoisBaptist.org.
—Eric Reed
Leadership
Summit set for January 21-22
To make churches ‘future ready’
Leadership in the last five years has evolved significantly, especially in the wake of Covid-19 and recovery from the pandemic closures. IBSA is prepared to help pastors and church leaders with the Illinois Leadership Summit (ILS), scheduled for January 21-22 at the IBSA Building in Springfield.
ILS is held annually in the years between the Midwest Leadership Summit gatherings, bringing Illinois leaders together for an extra boost.
Missionary, FBC Eldorado, and FBC Duquoin. In addition to his tenure leading church strengthening, Dickerson served as IBSA Board Chair twice, most recently in 2019-2020.
“We are excited that he is now coming back to be a part of our IBSA team,” said IBSA Associate Director Mark Emerson. “Bob knows our state well, and his ministry insight will be especially appreciated in Southern Illinois.”
Dickerson is married to Robin and they have two adult sons.
—IB Staff
The two-day event will offer 21 breakout sessions across three time slots. Insightful plenary sessions on the current culture will cover ministering successfully in this environment. The theme is “Building Future Ready Churches.”
Author and keynote speaker Daniel Yang has a new book out on that topic. Other speakers include Kelly Kannwischer, who will discuss generational differences and how to minister to them. Pastors Paul Cooper and Tyler Sterchi will discuss growing churches and successful ministry in Illinois.
ILS is free for IBSA church leaders, but registration is required. More information about the speakers and the breakout sessions is also online at IBSA.org/Illinois-leadership-summit
COOPER
STERCHI KANNWISCHER
YANG
DICKERSON
ERLC calls pending ruling ‘monumental’ for transitioning minors
U.S. Supreme Court weighs Tennessee law banning medical treatments
Washington, D.C. | Protestors on both sides of the debate massed outside the U.S. Supreme Court building Dec. 4, chanting and singing “Sweet Caroline” loud enough to drown out the reporters’ live shots. Inside, the justices heard arguments in a case which will determine the constitutionality of a Tennessee law banning gender transition procedures for minors. The ruling could have impact on similar limitations in 25 other states.
“It sounds like Southern Baptists can be cautiously optimistic that the Supreme Court will uphold states’ ability to protect vulnerable minors from a kind of medical experimentation that was unthinkable in our nation just a few years ago,” said Scott Foshie, board chair of the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC).
Three transgender teenagers and the Biden administration are suing Tennessee officials in order to bar the state from enforcing the ban. Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti is named as the defendant in the case, called U.S. v. Skrmetti
The Tennessee law prevents health care providers from prescribing medication or performing procedures on minors in order to “transition” them to an identity opposite of their biological sex. Doctors in the state were required to end gender treatments on minors by March 31, 2024.
“The Supreme Court’s decision will have a monumental impact on the safety and security of children vulnerable to a harmful gender ideology, not just in the state of Tennessee, but across the nation,” said ERLC president Brent Leatherwood. “Harmful procedures like hormone therapy, puberty blockers and surgery impose lifelong, devastating consequences on their well-being.”
The ERLC, in conjunction with the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, previously filed an amicus brief in the case supporting the Tennessee law. It was one of 50 briefs filed in support of the law. IBSA ministry partner ADF, the Alliance Defending Freedom, has supported the Tennessee law. Matt
Sharp, senior counsel for ADF, has been on the front lines all the way to the Supreme Court. He spoke at the protest outside.
Elizabeth Prelogar, solicitor general of the U.S., spoke on behalf of the Biden administration in the case.
“This case is about access to medications that have been safely prescribed for decades to treat many conditions, including gender dysphoria,” Prelogar said. “But SB1 (the law) singles out and bans one particular use. In Tennessee, these medications can’t be prescribed to allow a minor to identify with or live as a gender inconsistent with the minor’s sex.
“It doesn’t matter what parents decide is best for their children. It doesn’t matter what patients would choose for themselves. And it doesn’t matter if doctors believe this treatment is
essential for individual patients. SB1 categorically bans treatment when and only when it’s inconsistent with the patient’s birth sex.”
The law would apply equally regardless of sex, and the discrimination component of the solicitor general’s argument is based on the Court’s 2020 Bostock decision, which reinterpreted the sex-based discrimination to include gender identity. The plaintiffs alleged the law intentionally targets transgender individuals and is therefore sex-based discrimination that interferes with the parents’ ability to make medical decisions for their children.
Matthew Rice, solicitor general for the state of Tennessee, said in his opening arguments that the state’s law is not discriminatory and instead focuses on banning the use of the medications and procedures on minors for safety or medical reasons.
“Tennessee lawmakers enacted SB1 to protect minors from risky, unproven medical interventions,” Rice said. “The law imposes an across-the-board rule that allows the use of drugs and surgeries for some medical purposes but not for others. Its application turns entirely on medical purpose, not a patient’s sex. That is not sex discrimination.”
The attorneys then faced questions from the justices, who seemed to lean on the side of upholding Tennessee’s
Trial date set for Hunt suit against SBC
Nashville, Tenn. | A June 17, 2025 trial date has been set for Johnny Hunt’s defamation lawsuit against the Southern Baptist Convention. Hunt, a former SBC president and executive vice president of the North American Mission Board (NAMB) contends his reputation and earning capability were damaged by claims in a study on sexual abuse in the denomination that he had inappropriate, unwanted contact with another pastor’s wife at a beachside condo in 2010. The allegation, reported in the Guidepost Solutions study in 2022, said the incident came a
week after Hunt concluded his term as SBC president. It also purported to document attempts by Hunt to cover up the encounter for several years.
Ironically, the jury trial for Hunt’s suit against the SBC will come one week after the 2025 SBC Annual meeting in Dallas.
Negotiations for a settlement failed in September, sending the suit to court. Lawyers for Hunt have claimed his misconduct was a private matter and the SBC ruined his reputation by making it public.
The SBC Executive Committee has spent about
ban. A majority of the six conservative justices seemed skeptical of the arguments presented by the challengers, while the three liberal justices seemed to side with the challengers.
Leatherwood affirmed Rice’s arguments and called on the High Court to uphold Tennessee’s law banning the dangerous procedures for minors.
“As Tennessee’s Solicitor General pointed out, these novel and experimental treatments often leave children infertile and with permanently damaged bodies,” Leatherwood said. “Given those harmful effects, it is not only entirely appropriate, but constitutionally permissible, for the state to intervene to protect these vulnerable minors. They need care and compassion, not a radical remaking of their bodies.”
Another speaker at the protest was Chloe Cole, who underwent significant medical intervention in an attempt to become a male and is now a well-known detransitioner, trying to reverse the procedures. Cole has testified in a U.S. House subcommittee about the harm done to her.
concluded, “I am hopeful that a favorable ruling by the Supreme Court on this case will help wake up those in the medical community who need to see minor gender transitioning for what it is and admit they were wrong to ever support it.”
A decision in the case will likely come in May or June of 2025.
$3 million in legal fees on the case so far. A settlement is still possible. In setting the trial date, the judge said if the parties settle after June 12, they will still be responsible for certain court costs. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for June 9. IB staff, with info from
Foshie
excerpted from Baptist Press, with additional reporting by Illinois Baptist staff, photos from Baptist Press
HUNT
Test tube test IN FOCUS
The debate over invitro fertilization pits ethics against heartache
BY ERIC REED
In the debate over the ethics of invitro fertilization, while Southern Baptist messengers at the Annual Meeting in Indianapolis considered a resolution denouncing the practice, one moment stands out.
Daniel Taylor from Paris, Michigan, asked messengers to amend the resolution to soften the language, citing friends who had children through IVF. “In its original form, the resolution would castigate and condemn the entirely moral and ethical actions of these two friends of mine, calling their faithful sacrifice, struggle, and blessing a wicked thing,” he said.
Messengers voted down his amendment.
Then Zach Zahadak from Fairborn, Ohio, came to the floor mic. “I’m against the idea that this technology is so wicked that it cannot be employed,” he said. “I have a son because of IVF. I have another son, 20-weeks-old, in my wife’s womb because of
IVF,” he said. They also have more embryos in frozen storage. “I have ten embryos that I love and with every bit of my being we will have or see born into a Christian family.”
A third messenger’s story was probably the most surprising. Monica Hall from Paducah, Kentucky, opposes IVF completely. “There is no way to describe the treatment of embryos at any point of the IVF process as ethical or dignified,” Hall said. She told how she had “adopted” four frozen embryos and attempted to gestate them. None survived.
Messengers approved the resolution calling on Southern Baptists “to reaffirm the unconditional value and right to life of every human being, including those in an embryonic stage, and to only utilize reproductive technologies consistent with that affirmation, especially in the number of embryos generated in the IVF process.”
P. 6
Signs of the time
At a rally outside the Alabama Capitol, signs demonstrate the range of opinion over IVF. After a February State Supreme Court ruling giving frozen embryos personhood status, the sides squared off over controversial storage and possible destruction of unused embryos produced for pregnancy implants.
—Photo by Alabama Reflector
Heartbeats
We recently had a client who was abortion-determined. She was going to abort the baby if she did not see the heartbeat during the ultrasound. During our conversation she stated that Jesus is her Savior, so she allowed me to pray for her and the baby.
During the ultrasound, the baby was too small to detect the heartbeat as she was four weeks pregnant. However, she agreed to return the following week, which she did, but still a little early to detect the heartbeat. She agreed to return a third time, and we saw the heartbeat. During these weeks several people were praying that she could hear the truth and choose life for her baby.
When she saw the heartbeat, she was relieved, and it was miraculous to see her change from being pro-abortion to pro-life. Her heart softened and she seemed relieved. She was able to tell her mother about the unplanned pregnancy and received support from her family.
The client returned for a fourth ultrasound at nine weeks. During the fourth ultrasound, the heartbeat could not be detected, and it was apparent that the baby had passed. She began to cry for the baby she had lost. Her heart had changed from one of “I will terminate” to a heart of “I will choose life.”
As we talked with her, she grieved but she recognized God’s love. Neither she or I understand why things happen the way they do, but we know God loves us, and he knows what is best. This client experienced God in a deeper way and her faith has grown through this process.
Our clients need to hear the truth as the world will not give this to them. Please continue to pray for our clients who are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy and are tempted to abort the child. Please pray for our staff to continue to show God’s love.
Regina Thompson, LCSW, is program manager for GraceHaven Pregnancy Resource Clinic, a BCHFS ministry.
8 million people have been born by invitro fertilization in the U.S. Currently 2.3% of babies result from IVF.
Continued from page 5
The resolution was drafted after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos could be considered unborn children for the sake of civil lawsuits. Two facilities in the state were sued after an employee destroyed frozen embryos in 2020. Medical providers in Alabama stopped IVF treatments for a short time, until the state passed a law protecting them. But the status of the unimplanted embryos remains an issue. And the ethical handing of the multiple unused embryos required to produce a single pregnancy is where medical ethicists, theologians, and SBC church members come in.
And there are the people who simply want to have children, by whatever means possible.
Those who stood to speak at the June convention often said they believe in the sanctity of human life. But there were clear differences among them whether that extends to frozen embryos.
“We need to slow down,” said Jason Thacker, an ethics professor at Southern Seminary’s Boyce College. He served as an adviser to the Resolutions Committee that brought the resolution. Christians are using IVF without considering the ethical implications of unused embryos, the committee contended. Thacker said they hoped for “the end of IVF as routinely practiced.”
30s, they have any chance to a bear a child. Their doctor told them there is a 60% chance that one of their embryos will result in a pregnancy.
In 2018, the American Center for Reproductive Medicine Associates reported that three embryos are required to produce one that will survive to live birth. But in the California couple’s case, retrieval of 19 eggs had not yet produced a pregnancy.
Christian disagrees with the SBC resolution that views IVF as an artificial intervention in God’s design. “Was it God’s design for my husband and me to have difficulty conceiving?” she asked in an essay published by the “Today” show.
“I think about how my parents raised me to believe that God can heal and perform miracles,” said Christian, who was reared in two Southern Baptist churches, but has since left.
“According to the Bible stories I learned as a girl, Jesus walked on water and raised Lazarus from the dead,” she said. “But my parents
and love them and they are looking for an opportunity to do that,” he said. “To have a statement that says we’re against this is a confusing signal to many in our churches.”
Hebert said there have been couples using IVF in every church he has pastored. In fact, 2.3% of births in the U.S. result from IVF. That’s more than 8 million children since little Louise Brown was the first “test tube baby” in 1978.
No easy answers
With those numbers, pastors can count on questions from possible parents and hopeful grandparents about the ethics of IVF. It’s often asked this way: How does God feel about IVF?
“Those conceived in a lab are fully made in God’s image, but that doesn’t diminish the rupture to our theological anthropology that IVF requires,” Walker wrote for The Gospel Coalition.
Southern Seminary President Albert Mohler was a co-author of the resolution, along with Professor and Illinois native Andrew Walker “Restricting abortion is not a pro-life victory,” Mohler said to the Danbury Institute prior to the vote, and as reported by Religion News Service.
“The pro-life victory is the elimination of the murder of the unborn. And that means in every stage of fertilization all the way to natural death.”
Mohler called IVF an engineered system that results in destruction of embryos. “That is as immoral as anything we can imagine,” he said.
8 million stories
For couples who desperately want children, the ethical issue may be less clear and less a deciding factor in their quest for family.
Kayti Christian and her husband, Anthony, “banked” embryos in their attempt for a successful implantation. The Los Angeles couple contends that it was their only option if, in their
also taught me that God created the brains responsible for inventing modern medicine and that ignoring the medical interventions available to us would be like choosing to drown despite a nearby life raft.”
Those who pastor couples wrestling with infertility will recognize the heartache, and for some the attempt to reconcile ethical conflicts. Mohler called it “compromise in our churches,” where couples say they believe in the sanctity of human life, yet embrace IVF.
Among American adults, 70% want couples to have access to IVF, but only 50% find the resulting destruction of embryos morally acceptable, according to Pew Research. Pew found around a third (35%) believe “human life begins at conception, so an embryo is a person with rights.”
This resolution was not the best answer for infertile couples, Pastor Andrew Hebert of Longview, Texas, told RNS. “Because they are pro-life, they desire to have children
At the time the resolution was presented in June, Walker posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Southern Baptists can no longer be silent or sit on the fence about IVF.” Pressed by a public radio station in Indianapolis, Walker said while the resolution does not advocate forbidding IVF, that is a stance he holds.
“Protestants, I fear, have unwittingly acquiesced, with the greatest of intentions, to an industry that promises life by also tampering with it. Given what is happening in the culture, now is as good a time as ever to speak with biblical clarity,” he posted.
Meanwhile, the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission has called on Congress for increased regulation. “…While we lament the deep pain caused by infertility, we cannot remain silent about the ethical problems posed by in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other forms of assisted reproductive technology (ART) as currently practiced in the United States,” ERLC President Brent Leatherwood wrote to U.S. Senators as they considered the IVF Protection Act. Senate Republicans blocked the bill twice last summer.
Speaking for Southern Baptists, Leatherwood wrote, “We must redouble our efforts to create a culture where the preborn–even at the earliest stage–are seen as essential neighbors in our society worthy of being saved, where parents are served, and where families can flourish.”
—with additional reporting from Baptist Press, ERLC, NBC, RNS, WFYI
Sanctity of Human Life
A biblical imperative
Throughout Scripture we see how God values the people he made
The Bible teaches that all people are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). This truth gives every person inherent dignity and value, regardless of life’s situations. As Christians, we are called to reflect God’s heart by defending the life of the unborn, protecting the vulnerable, healing the wounded, and restoring the broken. These priorities demonstrate God’s compassion and love. They point to his desire for abundant life (John 10:10).
Scripture unveils God’s personal involvement in the creation of life, even before birth. Psalm 139:1316 proclaims, “For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb…. Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began.”
sus modeled this principle by showing compassion to the sick, those with disabilities, the distressed, and the dejected (Matthew 9:35-36). Jesus’ actions emphasize the divine value of every individual, challenging us to act with Christlike compassion and tangible efforts for those in need.
Defending the life of the unborn aligns with God’s command to safeguard the helpless (Proverbs 31:8-9). The unborn cannot speak for themselves but depend upon others to uphold their lives. This principle resonates with Job’s declaration, “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life” (Job 33:4). All life belongs to God.
As believers, we must respond to the biblical call (James 1:27) to care for the most vulnerable. This means demonstrating compassion to those facing unplanned pregnancies with loving support rather than judgment. Offering practical resources reflects God’s heart for life. Defending the unborn honors God the Creator.
The Bible repeatedly stresses protecting the vulnerable, including the poor, the widow, the orphan, and the stranger. Proverbs 14:31 teaches, “The one who oppresses the poor person insults his Maker, but one who is kind to the needy honors him.” Je-
The sanctity of life also encompasses a commitment to healing, which resonates with God’s desire for wholeness and restoration. Jesus demonstrated his power and willingness to heal the spiritually and physically wounded throughout his ministry. Mark 5 exemplifies Jesus’ compassion and authority over life as he delivers a demonically oppressed man, heals a woman suffering from chronic bleeding, and raises a young girl from the dead.
Healing is not only about physical well-being but also about addressing emotional and spiritual wounds. Psalm 34:18 assures us, “The LORD is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit.” As the body of Christ, we are instrumental in this mission of support to those struggling with issues such as anxiety, abuse, addiction, and spiritual lostness. By offering the hope of Jesus Christ, the wounded have the opportunity to experience the grace of God. This serves as a reminder of God’s redemptive work in our lives, allowing us to love patiently and to encourage the hurting.
The fall of humanity to sin’s destructive power (Genesis 3) severed our relationship with God. The biblical truth of restoration is the heart of the gospel, proclaiming that Christ came to reconcile humanity to God (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). We are entrusted with the responsibility to proclaim that reconciliation with God is possible in Christ alone, but also seek peaceful reconciliation with one another whenever possible (Romans 12:18). Thus,
We take the ‘scary’ out of adoption
A ministry that saves lives and changes many more
I pulled into a parking space at the ER one rainy afternoon. I looked over at the very pregnant birthmother in the passenger seat.
“Ready to go?” I said.
I remember her hesitating before asking, “You’ll go in there with me, right?”
For a second, I remembered that we had only known each other for two weeks. Exactly two weeks ago, she came into our office and cried as she told me why she was making an adoption plan for her unborn child. She shared with me the stories that had led her to our office, and inevitably to this hospital. I had exactly two weeks to help her look over profiles of hopeful families and choose one who promised to love her child unconditionally.
“You’ll love him like he’s your own flesh and blood, right?” I remember her asking.
“We’re called to defend the unborn, protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and restore the broken.”
restoring the broken requires intentional efforts to mend what sin has fractured. When we seek restoration, we highlight God’s transformative power, bringing hope to a fractured world.
The biblical exhortation to champion the sanctity of human life compels us to defend the unborn, protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and restore the broken. These actions may be individual acts of service and kindness or community ministries such as maternity centers or counseling services. They are opportunities to reflect God’s character and his values of life and peace.
We live in a world that often disregards the sacredness of life, yet Christians are called to be God’s shining light through word and deed, that all people are precious in God’s sight. As we embrace this divine mandate, we proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, participate in his redemptive work, and demonstrate the intrinsic worth and dignity of every human being.
Kevin Carrothers is executive director of Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services, comprising of the children’s residential facility in Carmi, Angels Cove Maternity Home and GraceHaven Pregnancy Resource Clinic, both in Mt. Vernon, Faith Adoption services, and Pathways Counseling.
The very idea of a mother asking someone this question was enough to put a big lump in your throat, but she bravely asked all the scary questions. I remember watching her and wondering how anyone could judge her for the sacrifice she was making. She was giving her child the chance at a life she never had, and a life she knew she could not provide.
Two days later I walked into her room and saw her gathering her things as she waited for me to drive her home. “They’ve discharged the baby,” I said. Her delivery wasn’t nearly as scary as she had imagined, and she was relieved to have that part behind her. “I would like to say goodbye,” she said, as she reached for a bag. She pulled out a small teddy bear. “The family
said it was okay to give him something” she said responsibly. She made her way over to the door, holding tightly the teddy bear and telling me why she had chosen this specific one over the others. “You’ll go in there with me, right?,” she said, with a half-smile and tears in her eyes that she was trying to gather before they fell. Driving her home, I thought about all that she had been through, not just today, or the past two weeks, but during her young life. How today felt like the end of something and also the beginning. She made a plan and stuck to it. She already loved the adoptive couple, and they were going to be a big support for her as she continued to work on herself and her life choices.
Suddenly, she had me take a different exit, and I wasn’t sure where we were heading. “This is where my grandmother lives,” she said when we got to the stoplight. I had no idea what kind of support she would receive inside, and apparently neither did she, because she asked one more time, “You’ll go in there with me, right?”
Whether we are speaking at a local high school or working in the field, we strive to take the scary out of adoption. Thank you for your continued prayers and support.
Valeri Veteto is program manager for Faith Adoption Ministry, a service of BCHFS. She says, “My passion for adoption came from a place of recognizing that we, as believers, have been adopted into God’s family, and that adoption is close to the Lord’s heart.”
2025: What we’re watching
Top stories that promise new developments
Two presidents
With the incoming Administration, Southern Baptists may be watching on two fronts: How will President Trump support and encourage religious freedom and traditional cultural values? And how will the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission align itself with the views from the pews under current ERLC President Brent Leatherwood? Former head Russell Moore found himself at odds with the first Trump White House, especially over immigration. But Leatherwood is sticking to a narrower playlist, focusing especially on religious freedom, prolife, and gender issues.
No peace
Toppling the 50-year Syrian dictatorship yields further instability in the Middle East. Whether Islamist forces will solidify their grip after the fall of the Assad regime raises uncertainty about peace, but also the treatment of Christians and Sikhs. “My mother is a Christian,” a Syrian woman told CBS News. “We told her it would be okay.” But some observers fear genocide for non-Muslims. Already there are reports of rebels stealing food supplies from Christian relief organizations.
WATCH: For continued conflict in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, and Ukraine, and a shift in U.S. response.
No drama
When Jeff Iorg assumed leadership of the SBC Executive Committee, he said the people in our churches were ready for a lot less drama. But we’ve had another of those years when reporting the big news from the convention drowned out the good news from the mission fields. The role of women in pastoral leadership may not be settled. And sexual abuse claims may be news again, especially if the defamation lawsuit by former pastor, SBC President, and NAMB VP Johnny Hunt goes to trial in June.
WATCH: Listen for dismissal of additional churches over women in pastoral leadership as a signal that the drama isn’t over. And watch for the Hunt trial or a settlement, either of which could force liquidation of SBC assets.
WATCH: Will Leatherwood have frequent invitations to attend relevant White House ceremonies? Or will evangelicals have a modified relationship this time around?
BIG 100
More undercover missionaries
Over the past decade, the number of countries on the persecuted churches watch list has increased from 23 to 55, and it continues to rise. So does the number of Southern Baptist missionaries who are serving incognito. “About 60% of our personnel currently serve in countries where they can’t get a missionary visa,” IMB President Paul Chitwood said. “That’s higher than it’s ever been.” Churches and families are increasingly warned against posting info about their loved ones abroad because that jeopardizes their ministries and their lives.
WATCH: Some of the countries where missionaries shield their identity are surprising, with European nations joining the list. Look for growing limitations on reporting overseas mission stories.
Believers, Bibles, baptisms
The centennial celebrations of the SBC’s twin pillars, Cooperative Program and Baptist Faith and Message, come at an opportune time. Churches continue to whittle away at their percentage giving to missions through CP, now below 5% on average. The goal was 10% for many decades, and our leaders continue to call on churches to raise the standard again. Likewise, biblical literacy is at a modern-day low. All our churches could use a refresher course in what Baptists believe— especially since decreasing numbers of our attenders have Baptist backgrounds. WATCH: Leaders who will step up—raising CP giving and teaching our basic beliefs—can use 2025 to make a significant change in the trajectory of their churches.
Generous response
In addition to the Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief teams that responded to callouts following hurricanes Helene and Milton, Illinois Baptists gave more than $82,000 to DR in the second half of 2024. The offering is a remarkable amount. Recovery in hard hit Appalachia continues, with ongoing waves of DR volunteers expected to assist this year, much like the prolonged mission to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
Evangelism efforts expanded among IBSA churches in 2024, and 2025 holds promise if the trend continues. With an increase of 30% in baptisms the previous year, the waters were stirring. And the churches baptizing zero or one last year was reduced from 629 to 427—a 32% decrease in those reporting no baptisms.
Another hopeful word, Bible sales are up 22% as of October 2024. And Lifeway Christian Resources sales have increased 30% after several years that saw flagging business and closure of all stores. The Christian Standard Bible represents 27% of Lifeway’s Bible sales.
WATCH: Gen Z is leading the way with a new wave of spiritual interest. Look for effective churches to reach young adults with biblical answers for life issues.
WATCH: Look for yellow shirts in the news, and new appeals for financial support to meet the next disaster.
Phil Nelson and the campus evangelism team set up a table with camp chairs every couple of weeks. The offer to answer questions draws a lot of interest.
Nelson shares the gospel on the SIU-Carbondale campus, and baptizes a new believer. Afterward, he often has several lunch meetings with the student to start him on the discipleship journey. Nelson’s own faith journey began at SIU with a mix-up in his dorm room assignment.
John Havel (below), a volunteer who works with Phil Nelson on the SIU campus doing evangelism, shares Christ with a student from India on a recent fall day.
MISSION
Phil’s $5 deal
A pastor’s passion for campus evangelism
BY RICHARD NATIONS
Carbondale | When Phil Nelson walks on a university campus, he is always looking for a student to talk with about Jesus. His game plan is simple. He and a few students and friends set up a circle of camp chairs with a sandwich board sign. The sign offers, “Ask me two questions about God or religion and I will answer you and pay you $5.”
Students ask what he’s doing. They engage in conversation and he urges them to ask him any two questions they want. After answering to the best of his ability, he gives them the money. Many times, this leads to deeper conversations about faith and there are almost always some who receive Jesus.
The pastor of Lakeland Baptist Church, Nelson has been active with college ministries most of the time since he first showed up on the Southern Illinois University campus in the mid-1970’s.
Nelson grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, the son of a Methodist minister and a school teacher. But Nelson said he quit church in the eighth grade
because it was boring. The way the preacher’s kid got out of going to church was to get a part-time job working on Sundays. His parents let him choose to make money instead of forcing him to go to church.
Nelson played football in high school and competed on the school debate team. He looked for a university out of state, instead of going to the local school where he knew his buddies would spend most of their time partying. He chose SIU-Carbondale because it offered a major in psychology as well as speech and debate.
The incoming freshman’s dormitory paperwork got lost and he had no place to stay. So he took a room at the Baptist Student Union dormitory, which at that time offered rooms for rent. Nelson’s new home was the base of Baptist campus ministry at SIU.
Within two weeks Nelson received Christ as his Savior. BSU staffers surrounded him with discipleship and mentoring.
Continued from page 9
Since that time Nelson has been very enthusiastic about sharing Christ with students. He goes out with a group of students about every two weeks doing evangelism on university campuses.
In recent years he’s been setting up his sign on the campus of SIU and occasionally University of Illinois at Champaign. They talk to students
INFLATION – Pastor Nelson offered to give $3 to students willing to ask two faith-related questions, but “you can’t buy a candy bar for $3 today,” he said. So he raised the premium to $5. The appeal has proven to be a popular means of opening gospel conversations on campus.
about Jesus, and Nelson said they have seen several hundred willing to engage in conversation with them. A few students each month pray to receive the Lord at these campus outings.
A good investment
One day last fall, the team was on the Carbondale campus when a freshman from Chicago came over to their sign. “I’m afraid to die without Jesus,” he said. A team member from Steeleville Baptist prayed for the Holy Spirit to give the student the faith to believe, and Nelson led the young man in a prayer of commitment to Christ.
For the next few days, Nelson met the student for lunch to help him get started on his walk with Christ. Nelson bought lunch. “Students find that hard to turn down,” he said.
That same day, another freshman came over to ask her questions.
“How is it that people can profess to know Jesus and yet live such immoral lives,” she asked, “come to church and praise the Lord, and show no sign of repentance or contrition?”
“We talked at length about this,” the pastor said. “It became apparent to this young lady that she had never trusted Christ. She had attended church but had never turned from her own sin and received Christ. She
was very concerned about her own sinful state before God. I asked her if she was willing to believe in Christ, and she said she was.”
Nelson believes offering $5 to answer questions is a good strategy for evangelism. It replaces what would have been street preaching in years past. This method is low-key and attractive. And the students are curious if Nelson will really give them $5 to talk with him. He does.
Nelson has a financial backer who has provided him with ample funds for this project. His church occasionally helps him buy candy bars, bottles of water, and copies of the Jesus film along with Bibles.
Creating a welcome environment
The question-and-answer sessions are becoming a fixture on the campus. One day a couple of administrators watched Nelson closely. After a while they told him he could not sit there and talk with students. He would have to move to an area of campus that is designated for “free speech.” Nelson pushed back and said he had a constitutional right to free speech in the public environment of the campus.
He stayed. And the administrators backed down. Later they became friendly, and they now acknowledge Nelson when he sets up on the
campus.
It’s been almost 50 years since Nelson enrolled in SIU, gave his life to Jesus, and started leading people to faith in Christ. As a tutor in his college chemistry class, he helped students with their chemistry questions, but he always found a way to share the gospel with them as well.
After graduating from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Nelson returned to Illinois. He served as college minister at the BSU where he came to faith in Christ, and later at University of Illinois. Nelson was on staff with IBSA as a college evangelism trainer, helping students share their faith. And for 20 years he has served as pastor of Lakeland Baptist Church.
Nelson says he and his wife, Melanie, are happy, living in Carbondale and serving the Lord. “My desire for the rest of my years is to pour ourselves into students on our college campuses,” he said.
He invites any pastor with a college in their community to partner with him. Nelson said he will go on campus with them and show them how to lead students to Jesus using questions and conversations.
Richard Nations is associational mission strategist for Sandy Creek Baptist Association.
Brad Wilcox
GROWING
MEET THE TEAM
Jonah Christiansen Campus Ministry at Illinois State University
Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa
Education: Spurgeon College with a degree in Business Leadership
Ministry prior to IBSA: Salt Company Staff at Keystone Church in Ankeny, Iowa
My journey: I’m a proud PK! My parents did an awesome job teaching me the gospel and truly lived it out. Following Jesus was an easy decision from a young age, praise God! I planted a church in BloomingtonNormal in 2022, which brought me to IBSA. I’m Salt Company Director at ISU.
My verse: Romans 1:16
Favorite Bible person: Paul. I’m thankful for his letters.
My ministry on campus: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest that he would raise up laborers and send them into his harvest” (Luke 10:2). We bring light into the dark and live as the salt of the earth so that students can find their hope, joy, identity and purpose in Jesus Christ.
What I like about ISU: Though there are 20,000+ students, it feels very close knit and homey. Big university with a small campus feel.
Hobby: Sports and time with the fam.
Book: Freedom of Self Forgetfulness by Tim Keller
Podcast: “With the Perrys” (Preston and Jackie Hill Perry)
Favorite snack: Granola cereal after Salt Company meets on Tuesday nights.
table talk
“D
That first meeting was awkward
But a mentor saved me from rookie mistakes
aniel, as part of your role at Gospelife Church, you’ll be meeting with Dave as your life mentor,” the executive pastor said. “Take the initiative to connect with him and aim to meet weekly or bi-weekly.”
I walked out of my meeting feeling a mix of confusion and uncertainty. I had just stepped into my youth ministry internship as a single, inexperienced young man, still unsure of my calling. I knew I had signed up to learn the ropes of youth ministry, but the concept of having a mentor was foreign to me. I had never had one before.
What made it more challenging was that Dave, my assigned mentor, wasn’t just any church member. He was a parent who had expressed concerns during my final interview about my readiness to lead as a youth pastor. And now, I had to meet with him regularly as part of my role.
Our meetings began hesitantly. Twice a month, we’d meet at a coffee shop for about an hour. The first few conversations were awkward as we navigated this new dynamic. But as time went on, the walls came down. I started asking questions, lots of them.
Dave didn’t just answer my questions; he walked with me through my journey. He held me accountable in my walk with God, gave me practical advice on training volunteers, and even helped me navigate my relationship with my girlfriend at the time (now my wife!). Over time, our con
versations grew deeper, and our meetings became more frequent. Eventually, I had the privilege of ministering to all of Dave’s children in the student ministry. His family became some of my biggest supporters, cheering me on through every stage of my journey. Now, years later, as I reflect on my ministry and personal growth, I realize how pivotal Dave’s mentorship was in shaping me. His investment in my life helped me develop spiritually, relationally, and practically as a pastor.
This experience has convinced me of one truth: every young student pastor needs a mentor. Here’s why:
1. Mentors keep you accountable. Recently, I had the opportunity to have dinner with Shane Pruitt, a nationally recognized leader in next-gen ministry. I asked him for one piece of advice that I should carry as a young pastor. His response was both blunt and profound: “Don’t be stupid.”
As he unpacked it, I understood the weight of his words. Ministry is filled with pressures and temptations, and many young pastors fall early in their careers simply because they lack accountability.
This truth hit home for me, especially when I reflected on my relationship with Dave. He didn’t just check in casually; he was intentional. Dave texted me regularly, asked the hard quesinto uncomfortable conversations.
“I think the pastor’s using too many sports illustrations.”
He kept me accountable in my walk with Jesus, my leadership in ministry, and my personal purity. His consistent presence in my life served as a safeguard. Without someone like Dave to speak into my life, I could have easily made decisions that derailed my ministry. Accountability isn’t just a safeguard; it’s essential for young pastors to thrive and remain faithful to their calling.
2. Mentors provide wisdom. One of the most challenging aspects of my role was handling conflicts with parents. While navigating disagreements with students felt manageable, parents were far more intimidating. During those moments, Dave became my go-to resource. Whether it was a quick text or a phone call, he always made time to listen and offer guidance. His perspective as a parent helped me see situations through their eyes, which was invaluable. He equipped me with tools to have difficult but productive conversations, not just with parents but also with church members. Over time, his mentorship sharpened my perspective, strengthened my conflict-resolution skills, and helped me lead with greater humility and grace.
3. Mentors will support you. Dave became one of my biggest supporters. Years after our first awkward meeting, Dave prayed at my wedding, my student pastor installation, and sat on my ordination council to approve my ordination. I had the honor of baptizing his son Jacob and praying at his elder installation. We became not just mentor and mentee, but genuine supporters of each other’s journey.
A godly mentor in a young pastor’s life is a win that will make all the difference. A mentor who believes in us, challenges us, and cheers us on through every stage of ministry is invaluable.
Daniel Kim is student ministry pastor for Gospelife Church in Wheaton.
The flip side of a clean slate BRIGHTER DAY
Happy New Year, Illinois Baptist readers! This year marks a pivot for the Brighter Day column. Over the next 12 months, we’ll examine the stories of 12 biblical women. We’ll let their life-changing encounters with God compel us to a fresh commitment to our own churches and communities.
Speaking of community, the first woman in our series has very little company when we first meet her. In fact, she’s alone when Jesus approaches her—conspicuously alone, in the middle of the day. He asks her for a drink, sparking a conversation that covers the fraught relationship between Jews and Samaritans and the woman’s own painful past.
Their meeting ends with an astonished, missional plea from the woman when she returns to town. “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” (John 4:29). Many people in her town believed in Jesus because of her testimony. And then they believed because Jesus himself came to them, leading them to profess, “This really is the Savior of the world.”
At a time of year when we celebrate clean slates and fresh starts, what an example this is! An encounter at the well results in a completely new life for this woman and the people in her town. Living water. A well that will never run dry. No more thirst.
The TV series “The Chosen” told the story of the woman at the well in a way I’d never heard before. In the show, we see her again after her meeting with Jesus, having a meal with him and some of his followers. She’s bubbly and nervous, and there are a few eye rolls from the people around her. You can almost imagine them saying to one another later, “She’s a lot, isn’t she?”
I first saw that scene a few years ago, but it has come back to mind again and again as I’ve thought about how hard it is to settle into a fresh start. Yes, there’s miraculous encounter with God to celebrate. But there is also the reshuffling of norms, the forgiveness of old hurts, and the graciousness required to make room at the table.
For those of us who had a fresh start with Jesus a while ago, the woman at the well’s story can move us to ask some new questions: Where can I add a chair? Who can I invite to Sunday school or small group? What are the sacrifices I can make to include someone new in my circle?
This year, how can we make space for someone’s fresh start?
Meredith Flynn is a wife, mother of two, and writer living in Springfield. She and her family are active members of Delta Church.
EVENTS
January 9
Tax Seminar
Where: Salem South Association Office, Mt. Vernon When: 6 p.m.
What: The basics in church and staff taxes for ministers, church treasurers, personnel committees, and deacons. Presented by Alan Monroe, owner of Monroe Accounting Solutions and Illinois Baptist pastor.
Cost: Free
Info: IBSA.org/events/church-tax-seminar/ Contact: LindaDarden@IBSA.org
January 21
Youth Leader Lunch
Where: IBSA Building, Springfield When: Noon
What: Ready to strategically invest in the lives of students? Join Bill Allison, Jonathan Meyer, and Michael Awbrey as they discuss strategy for impacting the Next Generation.
Cost: Free Contact: MichaelAwbrey@IBSA.org
January 21-22
Illinois Leadership Summit
Where: IBSA Building, Springfield
When: 1:30 p.m. Tuesday-12:30 p.m. Wednesday
What: An opportunity for you to connect with other leaders, share experiences, and hear from leaders who specialize in preparing churches for the future. Featured speakers include Daniel Yang, Kelly Kannwischer, Paul Cooper, and Tyler Sterchi, plus 21 breakout sessions.
Cost: Free
Info: IBSA.org/illinois-leadership-summit/ Contact: TammyButler@IBSA.org
February 2-3
Pursuing God Together Marriage Retreat
Where: Wyndham Springfield City Centre
What: Retreat for pastors and wives provides encouragement, replenishment, and renewed passion in pursuit of God’s purpose.
Cost: Free, but space is limited
Info: https://ibsa55435.ac-page.com/PGTFeb25all Contact: TammyButler@IBSA.org
February 28-March 1 and April 11-12
Student Discipleship Retreats
Where: February 28-March 1 at Lake Sallateeska Baptist Camp and April 11-12 at Streator Baptist Camp
When: Friday 5 p.m.-Saturday 5 p.m.
What: A Done-For-You Disciple Now Weekend! The theme and curriculum, “Gravitate,” comes from our friends at LeaderTreks and is provided by IBSA! For students grade 6-high school.
Cost: $40, plus $10 for optional T-shirt
Info: IBSA.org/events/student-discipleship-retreat-sallateeska/ Contact: TammyButler@IBSA.org
March 2-9
Annie Armstrong Easter Offering and Week of Prayer
Where: Your church Info: anniearmstrong.com
March 4
Metro Peoria All Church Training
Where: First Baptist Church, Morton When: 6:30 p.m.
What: Bring the entire leadership team, paid or volunteer, for two educational breakout sessions. Ministry training areas include children, student, women, worship, and more.
Cost: Free Info: IBSA.org
Contact: TammyButler@IBSA.org
March 13
Metro East All Church Training
Where: Meadow Heights Baptist Church, Collinsville
When: 6:30 p.m.
What: Bring the entire leadership team, paid or volunteer, for two educational breakout session. Ministry training areas include children, student, women, worship, and more.
Cost: Free Info: IBSA.org
Contact: TammyButler@IBSA.org
March 20-21
Revive Gathering with Richard Blackaby, Mark Clifton, and Team
What: IBSA and NAMB are offering this free two-day conference for pastors and lay leaders, led by Richard Blackaby and Mark Clifton.
Cost: Free
Info: IBSA.org/revive25
Contact: ScottFoshie@IBSA.org
see the IBSA calendar for more events. www.ibsa.org/calendar/
IMPORTANT YEAR-END INFORMATION
Now is the time to check your records to ensure that gifts given through IBSA have been credited to the proper designations. Any changes or contributions received in our office by 9 a.m. on January 6, 2025, will be included in the 2024 giving. Gifts received after this date will be credited as 2025 giving.
Please contact AshleyParsons@IBSA.org if you have questions or need assistance. Thank you.
NeTworkiNg
Send NetworkiNg items to IllinoisBaptist@IBSA.org
New Beginnings Baptist Church in Streator seeks fulltime pastor. Founded in 1876, the church serves a city with a population of about 12,200 people. Attendance has been about 74 over the last year. Submit a letter of interest and resume to nbbcnewpastor@gmail.com.
Tallula Baptist Church, a small but loving congregation seeks a bivocational pastor. Please send resumes or recommendations to Search Committee, Tallula Baptist Church, 308 N. Ewing, Tallula IL 62688.
Summerville Missionary Baptist Church is seeking a pastor. The church is located at 1114 Fairfield Road in Mt. Vernon. Applicants should contact Ed Merriman at 618-315-9633 or Edmerriman9999@gmail.com.
Search more church openings at IBSA.org/pastor-search or scan this code.
MEREDITH FLYNN