January 20, 2020 Illinois Baptist

Illinois Baptist

Pastor deployed

Church supports his year in Afghanistan

Riverton | Pastor Kip Troeger and his church are in uncharted territory. They’re also on different continents.

Troeger, a chaplain with the Army National Guard, deploys this month for a year of service in Afghanistan. Many pastor/chaplains called to long deployments resign from their churches. Troeger’s church, First Baptist in Riverton, fully expects him to return as pastor after his time in Afghanistan.

“Why wouldn’t we?” is deacon Mark Barber’s simple response to how the church decided to keep Troeger as pastor. The congregation will be led by a long-term intentional interim pastor until Troeger is back in Illinois. “Pastor Kip’s going to be deployed,” Barber said, “but we’re deployed to do various things here in the community to build the church.”

Troeger’s church commissioned him as a missionary Jan. 5, praying over him and his wife, Barb. The chaplain gets emotional at the memory of the send-off. “I think we’re both on this parallel journey, both going towards the Lord,” Troeger said of himself and his church. “And when we do get the chance for a

Thinking about legacy

How others remember you really matters

The Illinois Baptist staff

Editor - Eric Reed

Managing Editor - Meredith Flynn

Graphic Designer - Kris Kell

Contributing Editor - Lisa Misner

Administrative Assistant - Leah Honnen

The general telephone number for IBSA is (217) 786-2600. For questions about subscriptions, articles, or upcoming events, contact the Illinois Baptist at (217) 391-3119 or IllinoisBaptist@IBSA.org

The Illinois Baptist is seeking news from IBSA churches. E-mail us at IllinoisBaptist@IBSA.org to tell us about special events and new ministry staff.

POSTMASTER: The Illinois Baptist is owned and published every three weeks by the Illinois Baptist State Association, 3085 Stevenson Drive, Springfield, Illinois 62703-4440. Subscriptions are free to Illinois Baptists. Subscribe online at IBSA.org.

Understanding the world where we live and serve

Church needed here...

Location: South Shore

Focus: Young families

Characteristics: South Shore is a predominately African-American neighborhood on Chicago’s lakefront. More than 51,000 people live in this 3-square mile community.

Prayer needs: Pray God will raise up a church planter who is prepared to reach the next generation with the good news of Jesus Christ

– IBSA Church Planting Team

CONVENTIONAL WISDOM

Snapshots from the world of Illinois Baptists

“The drug epidemic has infiltrated our churches and neighborhoods. It is not localized to a particular region or socio-economic class. Addiction is no respecter of persons.”

– Robby Gallaty, pastor and author

Pain in the pews

LifeWay Research asked Protestant pastors: Do you know someone who has personally been affected by opioid abuse?

the cooperative program

Giving by IBSA churches as of 1/10/20 $113,992

Budget Goal: $121,154

Received to date in 2019: $272,248

2020 Goal: $6.3 Million

NATE ADAMS

2020 vision

With the arrival of 2020, many leaders and organizations, including many churches, seem to be thinking and talking about vision. Just as 20/20 vision implies clarity and accuracy, so an organization that has a “2020 Vision Statement” seems to promise that it sees where it is going, and that its declared direction can be trusted.

But in organizational or even church life, vision casting faces a couple of major challenges.

One challenge is that it is too easy, and therefore too common, for leaders to simply dream up lofty goals or bold statements and call them vision. In the Bible, vision is something that is received from God, usually as a result of an encounter with God. What the future holds becomes clearer, for better or worse, because the light of God’s presence and word illuminates it.

Vision encounters in the Bible were rare, and certainly not something an organization could expect to receive for each of its annual planning cycles. What leaders often mean when they talk about vision for their organization is “where they would like their plans and work to lead them,” or “what they would like things to look like in a preferred future.” Those are certainly good things to think through, and to map out. But vision, true vision, may be a word that we tend to use too lightly.

The good news for churches about vision, and the Bible’s high standard for the word, is that it’s not really necessary for each church to come up with an original vision, even for the year 2020. In knowing Jesus, and understanding his Great Commandment and Great Commission, every church has an encounter with God and an illuminated vision for its future. In other words, a vision statement that declares a church will love God, love one another, and make disciples of Jesus throughout the world has its own 2020 clarity.

But that introduces the second challenge. Even a clearly articulated, biblical vision is often not enough. In fact, in my experience, it is not usually a lack of vision that limits a church’s effectiveness, but a lack of strategy, or will, or follow-through to execute the vision.

I remember serving at the North American Mission Board 20 years ago when our church planting team presented a “2020 vision.” In fact, I remember being impressed with the very idea of such a far-sighted vision. The team had done the math, and calculated that 50,000 churches would need to be started by 2020, just to keep up with North American population growth.

At a very inspirational retreat, the “vision” of planting 50,000 churches by 2020 was declared. And we set off to do that work.

A couple of years later, we were still falling far short of the 2,500 churches a year that the vision required. So the vision was modified to say that 50,000 churches by 2020 was still the goal, but that the growth curve would start more gradually, and not be linear. We would start by planting 1,500 churches per year, and then as 2020 grew closer, that number would grow to 4,000 or 5,000 a year.

A few years later, we didn’t talk about that bold vision statement any longer. And now, as we enter 2020, Southern Baptists are planting a few hundred churches a year instead of a few thousand.

And so as we enter this special year of 2020, perhaps we would do well to remember these two lessons: biblical vision is more than a declaration of lofty goals. And fulfilling even a biblical vision requires the will, followthrough, and hard work of execution.

Vision is easier to talk about than to fulfill. But working hard to fulfill the vision of the Great Commission is worth everything it costs.

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

Love God, love one another, and make disciples.

Churches summoned to Capitol

State rep urges prayer during legislative session

Springfield | State representative Dave Severin says Illinois lawmakers need prayer. So he’s urging churches to sign up and sit in the gallery when the legislature is in session. The Republican from Marion, who is a member of Whittington Baptist Church, says the idea came to him last June as he was driving home following the end of the spring session. Lawmakers had just passed the Reproductive Health Act which gave Illinois the most progressive abortion laws in the nation. As lawmakers voted, Severin saw groups of women wearing red capes and white hats from the TV series “The Handmaid’s Tale,” sitting in the gallery to demonstrate their support for the “progressive” abortion legislation.

“Where were the Christians? Where was the Church?” Severin thought. “It’s not about me,” he told the Illinois Baptist. “It’s non-denominational. I’m not pushing anything other than prayer for our state.”

Ultimately, Severin said, “I want to encourage Christians across the state that God would turn legislators’ hearts and give them wisdom to promote things that are good and right—that he would give people reason to come to Illinois and stay in the state.”

A church from southern Illinois has already registered to bring a bus load of 55 people to Springfield when the spring session begins Jan. 28. And Sammy Simmons, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Benton and IBSA President, said his church is also working to bring a team.

“Instead of complaining about the decisions in Springfield, maybe God’s people should pray that God would lead the decision makers,” Simmons said. “Prayer does matter, and prayer is a great offensive weapon.”

Register at Facebook.com/ prayforspringfield.

Big legal pot sales in Illinois Hospitals prepare for uptick in ER visits

Springfield | Customers spent more than $10.8 million on legal marijuana in the first five days of 2020, after recreational use of the drug became legal Jan. 1. Illinois has 37 marijuana dispensaries spread across the state, with nine clustered in Chicagoland.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported demand for marijuana is “off the charts,” with customers willingly waiting in line in the cold to purchase the product. The paper also reported Chicago police didn’t see an increase in people driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs from Jan. 1-5. But some hospitals have seen or are expecting to see an increase of marijuana-related visits, the Chicago Tribune reported Jan. 13.

The Illinois Poison Center received questions about 11 pot-related cases between Jan. 1 and Jan. 12, compared to four calls the same time last year. Three involved small children, the Tribune said.

As part of the effort to legalize recreational

marijuana, Gov. J.B. Pritzker agreed to pardon individuals convicted of low-level marijuana offenses—possession of 30 grams or less. However, state’s attorneys can consider vacating cases involving up to 500 grams.

On Dec. 31, the governor expunged 11,017 marijuana convictions in 92 counties dating back decades. Noting the disproportionate number of African Americans jailed for such crimes, some hailed pot legalization as a civil rights victory.

However, a study published by the Tribune in May 2019 showed how in Colorado, where recreational marijuana has been legal since 2014, the arrest rate for African Americans still remains twice that of whites. In addition, each of the following has increased: fatalities among cannabis-positive drivers, ER visits, calls to the poison control center, homelessness, and arrests for organized crime-related marijuana offenses.

‘Jeopardy’ answer sparks debate over Bethlehem

A contestant’s answer about Jesus’ birthplace was ruled incorrect on a recent episode of “Jeopardy.” But the fallout was more than the $200 Katie Needle lost for answering “Palestine” as the site of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

After Needle’s answer was rejected, a fellow contestant rang in and answered “Israel,” which was credited as the correct answer. The show may have tried to find a compromise (Needle’s score was increased by $200 after a commercial break, but the change wasn’t explained). The debate continued online, with many commenters noting the Church of the Nativity is located in the West Bank.

Recognizing the controversy over the answer, producers immediately substituted a replacement clue, but the unedited video was accidentally aired anyway.

Gay students sue seminary

Two former Fuller Theological Seminary students are suing the school for what they say is a violation of anti-discrimination laws. Fuller, located in Pasadena, Calif., holds marriage to be a “covenant union between one man and one woman,” according to its Sexual Standards policy. Former students Nathan Brittsan and Joanna Maxon say they were expelled for being in same-sex marriages.

“We think [it’s] unlikely that courts would accept these kinds of arguments because they’re weak claims,” said attorney Daniel Blomberg of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, who’s representing Fuller in the lawsuit. “But they’re dangerous.”

– Christian Post, Christianity Today

Get breaking news in The Briefing online, posted every Tuesday at www.ib2news.org.

– Lisa Misner

– June 2019

illinois voices

5 ways to pray

For service members and their families

I joined the Army in 2004 because God gave me a heart to impact soldiers for him. He impressed upon me the tremendous opportunity to reach future leaders. Only a handful of military members will make the military a career, but those who do will have an opportunity to lead hundreds, if not thousands. A greater number will leave the military in less than 10 years, but still will serve as leaders in their homes and communities, and often in business and government.

Christians in the military have a great opportunity to make an impact for the kingdom. It is critical we pray for these brothers and sisters, because the military is a very dark and difficult place. Those who are called to advance the kingdom on this battlefield must navigate minefields of sin and suffering, which can be difficult on marriages and families. That is why it is critical that we pray for those who serve:

Pray for the gospel to take root in the military.

Pray for chaplains to be called into military service, along with leaders who enable them to shepherd.

Ask God to raise up godly leaders at all levels of military leadership.

Pray for the resilience of military families.

Pray for the transition of military members and families to civilian life.

Our communities are filled with veterans, National Guard members, and reserves who are often unnoticed. These warriors can sometimes struggle to connect with others because of their experiences. Churches that find creative ways to reach these men and women will reap the reward of the leadership which they have garnered from their service in the military. They will be loyal and labor hard to see the kingdom advance as their warrior ethos pushes them onward.

Brad Lovin is IBSA’s administrative director of mobilization. He served with the U.S. Army from 2004 to 2016, completing his service as Battalion Executive Officer.

From the front: PASTOR’S DEPLOYMENT IS MISSION OPPORTUNITY

Continued from page 1

reunion, they’re going to reap the benefits of having a pastor on the mission field for a year. And I’m going reap the benefits of new growth and leadership and direction under the interim pastor’s leadership.

“I think it’s going to be a really powerful thing for both of us.”

(In the interest of full disclosure, we should say that Troeger’s wife, Barb, is executive administrative assistant with IBSA, and the interim pastor will be Eric Reed, editor of the Illinois Baptist. “We are so impressed with Kip’s service as a military chaplain and bivocational pastor, and the church’s commitment to his ministry through the military, that we would have shared their story here even if we didn’t have direct connections to it,” Reed said. “Being ‘deployed’ is a model for us all.”)

Boots on the ground

The Troegers both say Kip’s military career has been orchestrated by God from the beginning. He had long sensed a call to ministry, Barb said, and the couple served in children’s ministry in their home state of Wisconsin as well as at Living Faith Baptist Church in Sherman.

He had already passed the traditional age cutoff when he began pursuing a career in the Army. But he felt called, and God opened doors, the Troegers said. Troeger was inducted into the National Guard Chaplain Corps in 2013 and endorsed as a chaplain by the SBC’s North American Mission Board. Then in 2017, he also became pastor in Riverton.

Over the years, Troeger has volunteered for deployments that didn’t work out. “The minute I finally said, ‘OK Lord, whatever,’ this one came through,” he said of his current assignment. And with an added bonus: he will deploy with soldiers from the unit he has served with for almost three years.

After a January departure, he’ll spend time training at Ft. Bliss in Texas. Some of

his training will be alongside the soldiers in his unit, but Troeger will also have a chaplain-specific list of tasks to check off, including counseling techniques, sermon preparation, and running a chapel.

Once in Afghanistan, he’ll facilitate services, counsel soldiers, and provide much-needed spiritual support. Soldiers face the same life issues as civilians, but separation can make things more difficult.

“The military is a huge mission field,” Barb said. “I’m hoping God’s going to use him in a mighty way. We’re praying for baptisms. We’re praying for lots of salvations.”

Chaplain Troeger sees his deployment as a missions assignment to share the truth of Jesus Christ. “My ultimate goal is to share the gospel. If you can keep one guy out of hell…” Troeger’s voice trails off as he chokes up.

He won’t carry a weapon in Afghanistan (no chaplains do), but he will be assigned a chaplain’s assistant who would take control in a combat situation. Troeger said the prospect of combat isn’t frightening because of his eternal perspective. “If you really buy into the one hundred percent lordship of Jesus Christ—it’s his show and it’s his game—all of a sudden, the prospect of maybe getting killed isn’t a scary thing.”

During his time away, the church in Riverton will be praying for their pastor— both “wholesale” prayers for protection, Barber said, and for specific needs. His two years pastoring the church have prepared him for this new venture, Troeger said. He’s had experience working with different groups of people. His computer holds two years of sermons.

“I can look back and see how God worked all this out. Before my experience as a pastor, I don’t think I would have been nearly as prepared as I am now,” Troeger said.

“I think in the Lord’s perfect plan, he did that intentionally.”

– Meredith Flynn

BRAD LOVIN

COMMISSIONING SERVICE – He and his church are on parallel missionary journeys, Kip Troeger said. First Baptist in Riverton prayed over the pastor (seated, with his wife, Barb) before his deployment to Afghanistan.

HOMEFRONT – The Troegers credit God with orchestrating Kip’s military career and his recent deployment.

IN FOCUS

SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION

NW Convention head to face Mohler

SBC presidency is now a two-man race

Vancouver, Wash. | A group of Southern Baptists has announced their intention to nominate Randy Adams, executive director of the Northwest Baptist Convention (NWBC), as president of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Adams’ intended nomination will be brought to messengers at the SBC annual meeting June 9-10 in Orlando, Fla.

Albert Mohler, president of Southern Seminary, was announced in November as a candidate for president.

Adams said that if elected, he would aim to focus on the SBC’s Great Commission efforts, rebuilding trust among the Convention’s churches, entities and other organizations, reported the Northwest Baptist Witness

In an announcement on Adams’s personal website, he said he believes the SBC needs a directional shift.

“I am allowing my name to be entered into nomination for the presidency of the SBC because I believe that we need a clear change in direction in order to fulfill our God-given mission and reverse our present course of decline in every key measurement of Great Commission advance.”

Blake Gideon, pastor of First Baptist Church in Edmond, Okla., and president of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, is the intended nominator of Adams at the SBC annual meeting. “His experience, integrity, and the vision he has for the SBC is vital,” Gideon told Baptist Press. “We face some increasing challenges from our culture and increasing decline and division in the SBC. Randy is the kind of guy who will lead us according to God’s word, and unite us behind the Great Commission.”

– From Baptist Press

Baptists weigh faith and politics

As campaign season heats up

West Palm Beach, Fla. | Family Church and Pastor Jimmy Scroggins became the latest Southern Baptists to interact directly with President Donald Trump, when he and his wife, Melania, attended a worship service at the Florida church.

The Trumps traditionally attend Christmas Eve services at the Episcopal church where they were married, the Associated Press reported. But Dec. 24 found them at the downtown West Palm Beach church led by Scroggins.

“It was our pleasure to have @real DonaldTrump and @FLOTUS join us for worship this evening,” Scroggins tweeted after the service. “First time I’ve ever met them. They were both extremely gracious, participated in the entire service, and stayed through the end. Always glad to make a big deal about Jesus!”

Responses to his tweet ranged from admonition—one responder said Scroggins should have posted about the service itself instead of Trump’s presence—to gratitude. “So glad you got to make much of Jesus tonight!” tweeted First Baptist O’Fallon pastor Doug Munton.

Last summer, Trump made an impromptu visit to McLean Bible Church, the Virginia congregation pastored by former International Mission Board President David Platt. The pastor took some heat for his decision to pray for the President on stage, and later acknowledged that some in his congregation were hurt by the action.

When Vice President Mike Pence visited the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in 2018, Baptists debated the appropriateness of a political figure addressing the denomination.

In 2019, Baptists meeting in Birmingham approved a resolution acknowledging growing tensions around political and other differences, and committing to create a cooperative culture in the SBC.

In the resolution, Baptists pledged to “resist a divisive spirit which hinders our cooperative work by seeking to narrow or broaden the confessional commitments affirmed in The Baptist Faith and Message, by imposing methodological uniformity, and by promoting a cultural or political agenda.”

Other candidates named

Stephen Feinstein, pastor of Sovereign Way Christian Church in Hesperia, Calif., will be nominated for second vice president during the 2020 SBC annual meeting in Orlando.

Feinstein said his main goal with the position is to be an example of a small church pastor that gets a seat at the SBC table.

“The vast majority of SBC churches are small. “Yet our convention celebrates large churches and the pastors of large churches. It would be nice for other pastors of small churches to know that the convention values us [small churches] too.”

No nominees have been named for first vice president, recording secretary, or registration secretary.

Matt Henslee, pastor of Mayhill Baptist Church in Mayhill, N.M., will be nominated for president of the 2021 Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference, held in Nashville, Tenn., in conjunction with the 2021 SBC annual meeting.

“My prayer is for the Pastors’ Conference to be a time for all to come together in unity and endeavor to reach the world as we preach the word,” Henslee said.

– From Baptist Press

McLaurin to Executive Committee

Willie McLaurin has been named vice president for Great Commission relations and mobilization at the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee (EC)—a new position created to maximize resources and gospel impact at the EC.

“Willie McLaurin is a highly relational, disciplined, gifted and growing leader,” said Ronnie Floyd, EC president and CEO. “We believe he has been prepared uniquely for this role on our team and he will be able to join us in calling all Southern Baptists to reach every person for Jesus Christ in every town, every city, every state, and every nation.”

McLaurin has served as special assistant to the executive director at the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board since 2005. A native of North Carolina, he holds a master of divinity degree from the Duke University School of Divinity and an undergraduate degree from North Carolina Central University.

As EC vice president, he will implement Cooperative Program and stewardship education, work to strengthen relationships and promote increased giving among Southern Baptist churches, and develop strategies to strengthen relationships with multiple demographic groups within the SBC.

– From Baptist Press

FEINSTEIN

HENSLEE McLAURIN

OFFICIAL VISIT – President Donald Trump (left) and his wife, Melania, are greeted by Pastor Jimmy Scroggins and his family at Family Church in West Palm Beach.

ADAMS

Casting vision for 2020 and beyond

Last year, IBSA announced a new focus on church revitalization. Across the Midwest, Baptist state conventions are strategizing for greater effectiveness, and allocating resources to ministries that will reach more people with the gospel.

The State Convention of Baptists in Ohio is at the beginning of a three-year strategy and structure visioning process for reaching their state, initiated by the convention’s Mission Council in July. At the convention’s annual meeting last year, messengers met the 12-member team of state leaders who will guide the process in conjunction with the Houston-based Denominee consulting ministry.

Messengers also approved a call to prayer for evangelism and church planting in underchurched areas of the state. An estimated 64% of Ohio’s 11.8 million people are not active in any church.

In Iowa, annual meeting keynote speaker Ronnie Floyd, president of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, exhorted churches to renew their urgency for evangelism. He pointed out the sharp drop in professions of faith among 12-17 yearolds and challenged Southern Baptist church leaders to embrace the call to reach these next-generation leaders for Christ.

Chase Abner, lead church planting catalyst, moderated a panel discussion of church planters who shared stories of both the challenges and triumphs of church planting.

“Church planting in Iowa is necessary, exciting, and possible,” said Abner, a former IBSA church planting strategist. He invited Iowa churches to be actively involved in church planting by teaching the next generation of church planters and becoming a sending church.

Trends in the Midwest

Southern Baptists in the north strategize for gospel advance

Leaders from multiple Baptist state conventions will gather in Springfield Jan. 21-23 for a three-day training experience focused on reaching more people with the gospel in the midwestern U.S. The Midwest Leadership Summit, held every other year, brings together Baptists who know well the spiritual need in the region.

In Illinois, almost 1,000 Southern Baptist churches are working to reach more than 8 million people who don’t know Christ. Across the Midwest, fellow Baptist state conventions are doing the same in their states, often with fewer congregations and more territory to cover.

Last fall, state conventions gathered for their individual annual meetings, where leaders shared new strategies for evangelism and church planting. As Midwest leaders ready for the January Summit, reports from those meetings show they bear some similar burdens. Churches across the Midwest minister in vastly different mission fields, but share the unique challenge of being Southern Baptist in the northern United States.

They also are often faced with doing more with fewer resources. Still, Midwest conventions have prioritized giving through the Cooperative Program, the Southern Baptist Convention’s main channel for funding local, national, and international missions and ministry.

State conventions forward a percentage of money given through the Cooperative Program to the SBC Executive Committee, to support theological education and North American and international missions. Remaining gifts stay in the states for ministry and missions there. IBSA sends 43.5% to the Executive Committee, the 13th highest among state conventions.

Some states have adopted a 50/50 split, including Iowa and Ohio in the Midwest. Others in the region have incrementally increased the percentage they forward to the Executive Committee. At their annual meeting, the Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention voted to increase the percentage of Cooperative Program gifts forwarded to the SBC to 36%. For several years, MWBC has been increasing the percentage forwarded to SBC. In 2015, the percentage was 17%.

The State Convention of Baptists in Indiana raised its Cooperative Program percentage to support SBC causes to 36% from 35%. The Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists and Dakota Baptists also voted to increase giving to national and international SBC causes.

Along with supporting missions in North America and across the world, CP also helps church leaders advance the gospel in underreached parts of the Midwest. Church planter Stephen Carson started Connection Church Belle Fourche in South Dakota in 2013. From the beginning, the church has given 10% of its tithes and offerings through the Cooperative Program.

“Southern Baptist efforts were so good to get us started,” Carson told Baptist Press last year, “that we felt we needed to be part of doing that for other church plants and international missions.”

11 new churches were planted in the Twin Cities during the past year, and eight more are already scheduled to plant in 2020.

PLANTING IN IOWA – Chase Abner (left) moderated a panel discussion with Iowa church planters at the state convention’s annual meeting last year. “Please pray that God would continue to lead the way as our churches work together to start healthy works led by healthy leaders and families,” Abner said. BP submitted photo

States resolve to prevent abuse, care for survivors

Several Midwestern state conventions, including IBSA, adopted resolutions condemning sexual abuse and supporting strategies to prevent it in the future:

• Indiana messengers voted to implore churches to be proactive in preventing abuse, and to raise up advocates to walk alongside victims and guide churches through the process of dealing with abuse. Messengers also pledged in the resolution to bring to light “deeds of darkness as Scripture demands” and to “support one another in sharing our knowledge and resources.”

A second resolution, “On Responding to Sexual Abuse,” recapped actions by the SBC such as the Caring Well Challenge, and urged “all of our churches to make addressing the sexual abuse crisis a priority in the coming year.” It urged pastors, churches, and church leaders to equip themselves to deal with the sexual abuse crisis, including considering the adoption of the Caring Well Challenge.

• In a resolution “On Awareness and Education for Appropriate Behavior,” Ohio messengers encouraged church leaders “to find resources, current education, and definitions regarding appropriate actions, practices, terms, and verbal titles in the areas of abuse, harassment, and comments with the opposite sex,” and to implement training utilizing those resources.

• Baptists in Iowa also are partnering with the Caring Well initiative to provide training and resources to help protect vulnerable people.

“The Caring Well Initiative is a twopronged approach to dealing with this age-old problem in our culture,” said Chris Eller, BCI associate executive director.

“Yes, we must do all we can do as churches to be safe for children, but we also must recognize that the church should be a refuge of safety for the many abuse survivors who attend our churches.”

More Midwest highlights

• Dakota Baptists honored Executive Director Garvon Golden, who retired Dec. 31 after serving 20 years in the Dakotas. The two-state convention also provided a night’s lodging for messengers trapped by a snowstorm that hit during the meeting’s final day.

Missions Director Buck Hill joked, “I think we’d have snow if we met in July.”

• Missouri Baptists celebrated restoration and renewed cooperation while welcoming to the annual meeting all Missouri Baptist entities, including three that broke away from the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) in 2000-2001. After months of seeking private reconciliation and Christian arbitration, Missouri Baptists directed the MBC to seek a legal remedy as a last resort. This led to protracted litigation ending in February 2019.

“We truly are better together, believing with all our hearts that the cooperative message is a biblical message for today,” MBC Executive Director John Yeats told messengers. “When we say we believe the message of cooperation, it is not mere intellectual assent. It means we practice it, we teach it, and we glorify our Lord through it.”

• Baptists in Minnesota-Wisconsin celebrated 65 partnerships between churches in those two states and congregations in Missouri. The five-year missions partnership effort is currently in its third year. “Our churches want to be on mission,” Missouri catalyst Rick Hedger said at the Minnesota-Wisconsin annual meeting. “They want to come here and serve alongside you.”

MINISTRY TO LATINOS – Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo., celebrated a milestone during its 66th Commencement Ceremony Dec. 6, as 29 Spanishspeaking church planters earned their Church Planting Certificates. Two of those graduates also received a master’s in Theological Studies with an emphasis in Pastoral Ministry from the school’s Spanish Language program.

500 churches by 2025—

The four staff members of the Dakota Baptist Convention cover 146,117 square miles.

that’s the goal in Michigan, which currently has more than 300 SBC congregations.

FAITHFUL WITNESSES – Nearly 54,000 people have heard the gospel through a longstanding ministry at an annual motorcycle rally in Sturgis, S.D. Garvon Golden, executive director of the Dakota Baptist Convention, said 10,647 people have accepted Christ at the rally over the past 14 years. BP photo

AFTER ATTACKS

Faithful split on Iran

But Baptists agree on prayer

Christians may differ about the best response to Iran’s Jan. 8 missile attack against military bases in Iraq housing U.S. troops, but they seem united in acknowledging the gravity of the situation and calling for prayer.

No casualties were reported from the attack, which followed a U.S. military strike Jan. 3 that killed Iran’s top military commander, Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani. That strike, ordered by President Donald Trump, divided both the country and faith leaders. A USA Today/Ipsos Poll found 42% of Americans supported the military action, 33% opposed it, and 25% said they didn’t know what to think.

Just over half of those surveyed—52%—called President Trump’s behavior with Iran “reckless” and 62% said the attack made it more likely that the United States and Iran would go to war with each other.

Religion News Service reported religious leaders were divided on Iran along largely partisan lines, with liberals opposing the Trump administration’s actions and conservatives supporting it. RNS also pointed to a June survey by Politico/Morning Consult that found evangelicals more broadly supported military action against Iran after Iranian forces shot down an unmanned U.S. drone. According to the survey, 51% of evangelicals supported military action, compared to 37% of all registered voters.

Has the killing of Soleimani and its immediate aftermath made the United States more safe or less safe?

Somewhat less safe

28%

27% 21% 15%

Much less safe

9%

Much more safe

Don’t know

Somewhat more safe

–

In light of the increasing tensions, some Baptist leaders urged prayer. Daniel Heimbach, a Southern Baptist ethics professor who advised President George H.W. Bush during the 1991 Persian Gulf War, said the complexity of America’s dealings with Iran underscores the need to pray that “God gives our leaders wisdom, patience, and self-control and restrains those stirring trouble.”

Russell Moore, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, urged Christians to pray for military personnel and leaders, as well as President Trump and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper.

“At the same time,” he said, “we should also remember our brothers and sisters in Christ in the persecuted church in Iran right now. We should pray for the day when Iran will finally be free from the tyranny of this despotic regime and the church and people of Iran can live their lives in peace.”

– Baptist Press, Religion News Service

with the lord

Wendell Garrison, 88, died Dec. 28 in Swansea. He served as a pastor for more than 50 years, retiring from Winstanley Baptist Church in Fairview Heights. Garrison was a past president of the Illinois Baptist State Association, and also served on the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee in Nashville, Tenn. He authored several devotional books which reflected his faith in Jesus Christ. Garrison is survived by six children and stepchildren. His second wife, Mary, died in June 2019.

Betty Boling, 87, died Dec. 12 in Marion. A native of South Carolina, she married Charles Boling in 1952. The Bolings served churches in South Carolina and Texas before moving to Pinckneyville, where Betty taught elementary school. In 1988, Charles became director of missions for Williamson Baptist Association in Marion, where Betty worked as a substitute teacher in local schools and taught Sunday school at Second Baptist Church. She is survived by her husband, Charles.

reporter’s notebook

Whenleaders disappoint

“If you ever hear anything bad about Michael Landon, don’t tell me,” my mother said some decades ago while we were watching an old episode of Little House on the Prairie. “I wouldn’t be able to watch his shows anymore.”

She enjoyed the actor as Little Joe Cartwright on Bonanza and as Jonathan, the angel-on-a-mission, in Highway to Heaven, but it was the character of Laura Ingalls’s Pa she most liked. Whatever gossip I may have heard, I kept it to myself.

I wish I could say the same about personal failings of religious and political leaders.

Simultaneous to the IBSA Annual Meeting, two Illinois churches were dealing with claims of abuse by pastors. Both incidents were long ago and neither involved the Illinois churches where those pastors served, but both churches naturally were feeling trepidation after breaking news about men they had respected.

Disappointment with leaders could be the subtitle for most of the news from Washington lately, especially as Congress has taken up the issue of impeachment. No matter which side of the aisle one identifies with, the problem of clay feet has been painfully evident.

My awareness of this started in the days of Watergate, when for weeks televised hearings pre-empted my afterschool cartoons on all three channels. Later it was the moral implosion of the Swaggart and Bakker ministries within weeks of each other that brought suspicion of leaders into church life. And in the current era, it’s a challenge to find leaders worthy of devotion or emulation.

With our hearts aching from pastoral failure and our heads throbbing from political incivility, how shall we respond in these days characterized by personal disappointment in people we want to respect?

No matter the circumstance, pray. It is the duty of believers to pray for those in authority and to be obedient to authorities, Scripture says. (See 1 Timothy 2:1-4, Hebrews 13:1-2.) That doesn’t change when we don’t care for the leaders or their actions. There’s a church service I see online sometimes where the pastor routinely prays “for Donald our president and J.B. our governor.” That prayer is guaranteed to agitate everyone, as opposing parties and philosophies are represented in those few words. But it complies with biblical instruction.

Praying for leaders does not mean we ignore falsehood or failure. We should confront it when it’s in our realm of responsibility. We should not turn a blind eye to the misdeeds of our leaders. The biblical standards for confrontation and forgiveness apply just as much as those for honesty and repentance.

Confronting the truth about our leaders’ failings will often require that we do a personal gut-check for pedestal building. Leaders have farther to fall when we elevate them too highly. And our level of disappointment is often in direct proportion to our estimation of them. Or overestimation.

God is perfect; the rest of us are mere mortals, no matter our office or position.

Responding in a Christlike way when disappointed with those we have respected requires that we operate in grace, “bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive” (Colossians 3:13), but without providing opportunity to repeat the offense.

In these times of rancor and failure and untoward disclosures, there’s only one problem with the responses I have espoused: I have to do them.

– Eric Reed

How their failure makes demands on us.

RESOURCE

leadership legacy

What people will remember

My husband’s missions investment brought people to Jesus

A few months after my husband died last year, I went on a mission trip he was scheduled to take to the Dominican Republic. It is a very special place to both of us. We led numerous teams there to help local churches reach the people in their communities with the gospel.

This was the hardest trip I’ve ever taken. The people Keith had worked with there were grieving his death, as I was and still am. Even after decades of marriage, I hadn’t fully realized the deep impact he had on other people. Keith was a simple man, but he was so authentic in his relationships. Like a dad or a big brother, he often represented strength to the people around him.

Walking through a Dominican village on that trip, a lady stopped me and grabbed my hands. “Keith,” she said to me. “I was his best friend.”

Over and over, I met with people in that country who felt the same way about him. I had gone to the DR to see people we love and to get some kind of closure. What I experienced there showed me Keith had been aware that his investment in the place was only as valuable as his willingness to prepare the people to take responsibility for their mission field.

He didn’t help create ministry so he could run it during a couple of trips overseas every year. He intentionally invested in leaders there. His friend Ramon Ortiz is one example. Over the years, Keith brought volunteers to help Pastor Ortiz’s church host Vacation Bible School and train adults to share their faith. He encouraged the Dominican church toward their own missions strategy—to reach their country and others. Our church in Raymond took a vision trip to Mexico, with the intent that we would return with a team from Pastor Ortiz’s church.

Keith’s legacy is evident in the DR. Pastor Ortiz’s church is preparing to dedicate a new building. There are dozens of families involved in the ministry there and committed to seeing their fellow countrymen come to know Christ. Here in Illinois, many of the people and churches Keith took to the

DR are still going. They’ve developed long-term partnerships because of the missions potential he saw and shared with them.

I don’t know exactly what my role will be in continuing Keith’s work in the Dominican Republic. Much of what he worked toward is already continuing through leaders there. But I did come away from my trip reminded of this part of Keith’s legacy: he knew it wasn’t about him. All the effort he put in would have been wasted without the intent to turn the ministry over to the people best positioned to do it. He also spent much of his time investing in them personally.

There are connections to be made to our work here, as local church leaders are called “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). May we be the kind of leaders who are called “friend” by the people we lead, and whose legacy is that we knew it was never about us.

Carmen Halsey is director of leadership development with IBSA. Keith pastored Raymond Baptist Church from 2014 to 2019.

The

Reader’s Guide to the Bible: A Chronological Reading Plan

George H. Guthrie

Includes a daily reading plan designed to take the reader through the whole Bible in one year, plus commentary, timelines, and small group discussion questions.

curve

Lead your church to focus on evangelism this spring.

Plan one or more of the following:

“One” lunch: Is your church engaged in the “Who’s Your One” strategy to pray for people who don’t know Christ? Ask members to invite the friend they’re praying for. Don’t announce to the crowd they’ve been part of a campaign, but make them feel welcome.

Gospel distribution: Order Scripture portions and hang them on every doorknob in the neighborhood.

Look to the cross: Plan a sermon series to coincide with Lent and Easter.

For more outreach ideas, find the Spring issue of Resource magazine at Resource.IBSA.org.

Brian Dodd on Leadership Online resource

Brian sends almost daily e-mails to my inbox and is a diligent compiler of leadership articles from many different authors. His blog is a go-to for me on a regular basis.

Keep it Shut

Karen Ehman

Two chapters in this enlightening read that most caught my attention were “Zip It and Pray: How to Talk to God Before You Talk to Others” and “Behind the Screen: Controlling Your Digital Tongue.”

– Jeanette Cloyd, North Side Baptist Church, Fairfield

– Andre Dobson, pastor, Calvary Baptist Church, Alton

– Paula Joy, Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services

meet the team

Kevin Jones

Church Planting Director

Family: Married to Lindsay; three children: Ace (7), Miles (5), and Lorelei (4)

Moved to Illinois: In 2019, from Texas Illinois favorites, so far: The snow!

We love the snow. The only time we’ve been around this much was on a family trip to South Dakota.

Favorite thing about church as a kid: Mission trips, including Houston, Washington, D.C., South Dakota, and Romania

Favorite thing about church now: Fellowship

Favorite sports team: Texas Longhorns

Favorite movie: Gladiator

Favorite book: The Cross of Christ by John Stott

Favorite Old Testament prophet: Daniel

Favorite Scripture: Philippians 1:21

Scott Foshie

Revitalization Director

Family: Married to Audra; three children: Lydia (13), Levi (11), and Liz (8)

Moved to Illinois: In 2015, from Tennessee Illinois experience: Pastored Steeleville Baptist Church for five years, and served as a Zone 9 consultant for IBSA and Associational Mission Strategist for Nine Mile Baptist Association

Favorite thing about church as a kid: Hearing our teachers tell such engaging stories about Jesus and how God worked in the lives of people in the Bible

Favorite thing about church now: Seeing people give their lives to Christ, and people who know Jesus grow in their walk with him. I also love seeing God bring revival and new life to churches.

Favorite sports teams: Tennessee Volunteers and St. Louis Cardinals

Favorite movie: Courageous

Favorite book: Experiencing God

by Henry Blackaby

Favorite Old Testament prophet: Daniel

Favorite Scripture: John 15:5

Christian community from your couch

It won’t surprise you to read that strong relationships are integral to the growth and health of a church. People are more likely to stay connected to a church when they’re connected to the people there, especially among younger generations. A 2013 Barna study of twentysomethings found those who stayed active in their faith after high school were twice as likely to have a close personal friendship with an adult inside the church than those who dropped out.

Traditionally, we’ve looked to groups and classes to form the bonds that aren’t as easily attainable through Sunday morning worship attendance. But as schedules get busier and families are stretched thinner, a new solution may be in order. May I suggest virtual community?

Right off the bat, it doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence, I know. After all, what’s colder than a screen? Is it really possible to build strong relationships and warm fellowship when everybody stays at home? As a member of a recently formed virtual discipleship group, I can tell you the past few months have revolutionized the way I think about Christian community and relationships.

Six of us meet for an hour every week, late enough that kids are in bed and I’ve even had time to brew a cup of (decaf) tea. My husband, Chris, and I settle in and log into a virtual meeting, and we spend the next hour talking to four of our friends about the spiritual discipline or practice we’ve studied that week.

We’ve covered Bible-reading, the practice of Sabbath, and Scripture memorization, among others. Our next training module is on evangelism. In more than 30 years as a Christian, the concept

of discipleship has never seemed as attainable as it has in this season of walking with others along the same road—from the comfort of my own couch.

When I think about what has made my virtual community so effective, I think it boils down to three things:

Our meetings are consistent and mostly distractionfree. The coaches who lead our group (my pastor and one of our elders) have worked hard to keep our meetings to an hour. We start with a brief time of prayer requests and reasons to celebrate from the previous week. Since our time together is relatively short, we maximize the hour by sticking close to our material for the week.

No one in our small group gets off easy either—our coaches are quick to aim a question at one of us who hasn’t spoken much during a particular session. Sometimes the answers are easy, but not always. More often, one of us “verbally processes” an idea for a few minutes while the others

listen closely, then respond. This virtual “iron sharpening iron” has illuminated why the writer of Hebrews encourages Christians to meet together:

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV).

The second key to effective online community has been study material that is focused on personal discipleship. The curriculum we use, developed by the North American Mission Board, includes articles and book chapters to read, videos to watch, and a few written assignments to complete every week. The homework, which amounts to around three hours a week, points me as an individual believer to deeper devotion to Christ and stronger commitment to spiritual disciplines.

Each unit of study has a Scripture verse or two to memorize, which we practice at the beginning of each meeting. Although the meeting is online, the homework often takes us away from our screens and into the real world. The session on spiritual disciplines, for example, asked us to develop a plan for practicing a particular discipline, and share it with another Christian.

Lastly, our time on each week is formatted like a coaching session. We submit our assignments online before our weekly meeting. Our coaches review them and ask discussion questions about what we’ve written. It’s discipleship in real time. The format compels me to get my homework done, and allows me to learn from how my fellow group members are interacting with the material.

These principles are transferrable to in-person gatherings too, but they may be especially helpful for people who are new to the concept of community. Those of us who are busy or easily distracted can benefit from the accountability of weekly assignments and a consistent meeting time.

My community has invited me into warmer fellowship with fellow believers because I know there are people personally invested in my spiritual development, as I am in theirs.

Meredith Flynn is managing editor for the Illinois Baptist

group is comfortable sharing.

Online discipleship has revolutionized the way I view church fellowship and relationships.

It often takes several meetings before a new small

Is my teen depressed? the counselor

My talkative 16-year-old son seems quieter lately and isn’t really having fun with his friends like he once did. He is a great kid, but I’ve notice he is eating less and interacting less. Do you think he might be depressed?

It has been estimated that one-in-five American teenagers meet criteria for either depression or anxiety at some point before age 20. In most cases, depression is categorized as mild, moderate, or severe. Determining whether a teen has mild to moderate depression is sometimes difficult even for medical professionals. Symptoms of depression in adults may vary from those of teenagers, complicating matters even more.

Depression symptoms like diminished interest, loss of energy, depressed mood, lack of concentration, feelings of worthlessness, and weight loss or gain are somewhat universal. However, teen depression symptoms may include other emotional and behavioral indicators, some of which may be confused with normal teenage behavior. Teenage depression symptoms may include complaints of physical pain, feelings of anger over small matters, irritable/annoyed mood, extreme sensitivity to failure, restlessness, less attention to appearance, and self-harm.

Depression is all the more serious when a child reports having frequent thoughts of death, dying, or suicide. If your child tells you they have not only thought about suicide but have developed a plan

to carry it out, you must take immediate action by getting them to an emergency room.

With the limited information you have given concerning your 16-year-old son, it sounds like he may have some symptoms of depression, if those symptoms have lasted for two weeks or more.

Whether he has a medically treatable depression should be determined by his pediatrician. Medication and counseling together have been proven most effective in treating moderate to severe depression.

If it’s determined that your son is struggling with mild depression, there are some strategies to help him. Focusing on gratitude for God’s grace is a powerful way to combat mild depression (this requires focus that teens may lack if their depression is too severe). Other helpful strategies include movement and exercise, being in the great outdoors with God’s creation, tackling creative projects, promoting a healthy diet, engaging in less computer and screen time, looking forward to planned future events, encouragement from parents and friends, and positive experiences that expand his world.

I would also add this: enjoy your son’s company and let him teach you something new.

Mark McCormick is director of clinic operations for Illinois Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services. Send questions for Mark to IllinoisBaptist@IBSA.org.

Church Technology

dave says

Q

My wife and I have our budget ready. We’ll be following your plan in 2020 to pay off debt and get our finances in order. Do you have any tips for setting and sticking to goals in general?

A

That’s a fantastic goal. Living on a monthly budget, and telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went, is an important step toward gaining control of your finances. Combine that with getting out of debt, and you’ll be in charge of your most powerful wealth-building tool—your income.

If you’re following my plan, you already have goals in front of you where your money is concerned. For most Americans, though, a new year means nothing more than new resolutions without real plans. Don’t get me wrong. It’s good to make resolutions and set goals, but you can’t stop there. You have to formulate a plan that turns your dreams into bite-sized pieces of progress that will gradually create a big event in your life. If you want to achieve your goals, then keep these next things in mind. When setting goals, be very specific in what you want to achieve. Include steps that will help you get there, too. Being vague will only cause you to feel directionless and overwhelmed. Most people give up when these feelings arise.

Make your goals measurable

If you want to lose weight, don’t simply write down “lose weight” as a goal. Exactly how much weight do you want to lose? What

will it take in terms of exercise and dietary changes to make it happen?

Are your goals your goals?

Only you can realistically set your own goals. If your spouse, coworker, or friend sets a goal for you, chances are you’re not going to achieve it. Taking ownership will give you more opportunity to meet your goal.

Also, set time limits for your goals. Putting a time frame in place will help you set realistic goals. If you want to save a certain amount of money for a particular event, break it down and determine how much cash you need to put into your savings account each month leading up to that event.

And finally, put your goals and resolutions in writing. Putting them in writing will make you more likely to achieve them. Write down your goals, and review them often. This will give you motivation to make them reality.

I believe this is the process for success. Successful people reassess their lives regularly, and start living intentionally, in writing, and on purpose. Happy New Year!

advisor Dave Ramsey is a prolific author and radio host.

Forsyth Baptist Church seeks a part-time pastor to lead the church to fulfill the functions of worship, ministry, education, witnessing, and fellowship, and other pastoral duties typical of a Southern Baptist church. Resumés will be accepted through Feb. 29, 2020. Please send resumé to FBCjobs@ForsythBaptist.org, or mail to Pastor Search Committee, Forsyth Baptist Church, 138 E. Cox St., Forsyth IL 62535.

Ava Missionary Baptist Church seeks a bivocational pastor. Submit a cover letter and resumé with three references to Pastorambc@gmail.com.

DAVE RAMSEY

Financial

MARK McCORMICK

EVENTS

January 28

Tax Seminar

What: Valuable tax info for current and retired ministers, treasurers, and other church leaders

Where: Second Baptist, Marion Info: LindaDarden@IBSA.org

January 21-23

Midwest Leadership Summit

What: Focused equipping for leaders from Baptist state conventions across the Midwest

Where: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Springfield

February 6

iConnect: IBSA/Pastors Meet-Up

Where: IBSA Building, Springfield

What: An introduction to IBSA staff, ministries, training, and opportunities, for pastors and church staff members Register: AubreyKrol@IBSA.org

February 22

Church Technology Conference

What: Learn to use technology for outreach and connection

Where: IBSA Building, Springfield Info: JackLucas@IBSA.org

March 7, 14, 28

VBS Clinics

What: Training for leading VBS

Where: March 7: FBC Marion and Broadview Missionary Baptist; March 14: Logan Street, Mt. Vernon and Northside, Dixon; March 28: Chatham Baptist Info: TammyButler@IBSA.org

March 17, 31

Training Night

What: Free, quality church leadership training in topics including discipleship, missions, age-graded ministries, worship, and more

Where: March 17: Journey, East Peoria; March 31: Emmanuel, Carlinville Info: TammyButler@IBSA.org

March 21

Children’s Missions Day

What: Hands-on missions projects for kids in grades 1-6 Where: Multiple locations Registration coming soon: IBSA.org/kids

April 24-25

Priority Women’s Conference

What: Enjoy of time of spiritual renewal and fellowship, and increase your awareness of ministry opportunities and training resources.

Where: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Springfield Register: IBSA.org/Priority

THE NEW REALITY

A new front door

Although fewer Americans are joining churches, virtual congregations are growing. And experts say a church’s online presence is likely a valuable entry point for newcomers.

Twenty years ago, 70% of Americans belonged to a church. Now, the number is down to about half, according to data from Gallup. Fewer people in the pews could mean more logging in for online worship services, USA Today reported in a story about how churches are using technology to connect.

Jay Kranda is an online campus pastor for Saddleback, a California megachurch whose online worship service is viewed by 20,000 people. He acknowledges the need to bridge the gap between watching a service and truly engaging with a local church. Kranda also says virtual church is a good entry point for non-attenders.

“In the beginning, a lot of churches thought the internet would hurt and keep people from coming. But it’s actually one of the best ways to reach new people.”

– Jay Kranda, Saddleback Church

Church health expert Thom Rainer agrees:

“The overall pattern is that online ministries of churches are becoming a strategic part of the overall church ministry. They are not viewed today as much as a separate congregation than as an entry point for people ultimately to connect to the physically-gathered church.”

– USA Today, ThomRainer.com

The 2020 LifeWay VBS kit is all about building kids faith.