March 1, 2023 Illinois Baptist

Illinois Baptist

6 lessons from our lawsuit

Building believers

Saddleback ousted

Nashville, Tenn. | The vote to disfellowship Saddleback Church from the Southern Baptist Convention may have been the most surprising action by the SBC Executive Committee (EC) at their trustees meeting Feb. 20-21, but other news from the meeting may have considerable long-range implications, including spending half the EC’s $12 million reserve in a single year.

Six churches were removed from SBC membership after the EC determined they were “not in friendly cooperation” with the denomination. Five of the six dismissals were related to female pastor concerns.

The churches are New Faith Mission Ministry in Griffin, Georgia; St. Timothy’s Christian Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland; Calvary Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi; Fern Creek Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky; and Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California.

Saddleback ordained three women as pastors in 2021, prompting debate at the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim over the definition of pastor and its application to

Illinois Voices with Nathan Carter

The Illinois Baptist staff

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The BIG Baptist family album

Our Illinois mission field

Luke Schmeltzer is laying the groundwork for a new church in his hometown, Joliet. Pictured here with his wife, Jessica, and their daughter, Olivia, Luke said, “We hope to reach students at Joliet Junior College and the many in Joliet who don’t see their need for Christ. We already have a committed core group of three families and a potential meeting space! Pray that God would prepare our family for this great calling.”

Pray the news: Earthquake relief

As relief agencies continue to ship supplies to earthquakedevastated parts of Turkey and Syria, pray that the SBC’s Send Relief workers can deliver goods and the gospel together for homeless and grieving people in desperate need.

Cooperative Program at work: VBS

Hopedale, Illinois was home to the first ever Vacation Bible School in 1894. Today one-fourth of all baptisms in Southern Baptist churches come from the summertime evangelism outreach. Using the innovative Lifeway curriculum for 2023, with a board game theme called “Twists and Turns,” IBSA staff and expert VBS leaders are training volunteers through regional clinics to teach Scripture and lead children to faith in Jesus Christ.

Total giving by IBSA churches as of 1/31/23

$425,937

2023 Budget Goal to date: $573,999 2023 Goal: $6 Million

NATE ADAMS

Good new days

We all have “good old days” in our lives. They may be the days when we felt most successful or appreciated, or when things were done the way we agreed with or liked, or when those we respected were in charge. Most of us have good old days in our churches too. Days when our favorite pastor ever was preaching, or when our Bible study group was especially close, or when our church’s ministries were thriving. Worship leaders were choosing the songs we loved, our church was respected in the community, and new people were attending and even joining, but not requiring uncomfortable change. Ah yes, the good old days.

And while in the past the good old days might have been different for each of us, 2019 somehow became the good old days for all of us. Things weren’t perfect that year by any means, but the arrival of Covid made 2019 our last common reference point for “normal.”

But now it’s 2023, and the time of year when we at IBSA look at 2022 year-end data and surveys from churches and seek to learn from them: 2020 and 2021 were not encouraging, with overall declines in churches’ worship and Bible study attendance, baptisms, and missions participation and giving.

Year-end 2022 data is more encouraging. Compared to 2021, baptisms in IBSA churches were up 40%, worship attendance was up 13%, and Bible study attendance was up 19%. VBS enrollment was up 38% and mission project participation was up 9%. And though giving through churches, which held up remarkably well during Covid, dropped almost 7%, the percentage of undesignated offerings that IBSA churches gave to missions through the Cooperative Program increased over 1%.

The footnote to all that good news, of course, is that those comparisons are of 2022 to Covid-impacted 2021. Compared to 2019, our last reference point for “normal,” most of those categories are still at least 20% lower. As we’ve all been told, and most of us have learned with understandable regret, the good old days are not coming back. They weren’t coming back before 2019, because the landscape of our culture, our lives, and yes, our churches is constantly changing. And even the good old days of 2019 are not coming back, because those landscape changes only accelerated during Covid.

Look for 3 signposts ahead

Here’s the good news, however. The good old days are not the goal. They never should be. The goal is to stay faithful to the Word of God and the unchanging gospel, to adapt to the changes and challenges of our times, and to set our sights on the good new days.

What are the good new days, and how does each church find its way there? I believe the road has at least three signposts. The first is spiritual renewal based on an honest, inward look led by the Spirit of God. The second is intentional preparation, especially by church leaders, to pivot the church’s posture and plans toward engaging spiritually lost people in their community, whatever that takes. And the third is actual, obedient behavior changes that turn the church inside out into its community to join Jesus in his mission to seek and to save the lost.

You’ll notice those three signposts don’t mention favorite preachers or preferred music or even close relationships. I think those are things that happen along the way. I think the good old days only look that way in the rearview mirror, and that they were only good back then because the church was joyfully and passionately pursuing the good new days. That’s what really made the good old days good.

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

Editor - Eric Reed

Graphic Designer - Kris Kell

Contributing Editor - Lisa Misner

Team Leader - Ben Jones

From the front: EC spending, women pastors at issue

Continued

men only in the Baptist Faith and Message (2000). Rick Warren, founder of the California megachurch who was planning his retirement, appeared at the convention and spoke from the floor. He defended the church’s ordination of the women and affirmed his love for the denomination. He also speculated that that would be his last convention.

He was right.

At the convention, the Credentials Committee brought a recommendation to dismiss Saddleback Church, second largest in the SBC with 23,000 in 12 locations. After an impassioned statement by Warren, the Committee withdrew its motion until a later study could be conducted on the definition of “pastor,” and whether women in ministry leadership who are not senior pastors could be called “pastor.”

In addition to the three women who were ordained, Stacie Wood, the wife of Warren’s successor, Andy Wood, holds the title “teaching pastor” and has been referred to as co-pastor of Saddleback.

EC Chairman Jared Wellman said the disaffiliations came because of “the churches continuing to have a female functioning in the office of pastor.”

The churches can appeal the decision at the June 2023 Annual Meeting in New Orleans, which would bring their membership to a vote by the messengers.

While Saddleback Church did not immediately respond, Warren said he received an outpouring of support on social media. Warren said he would respond directly to the denomination.

The sixth church that was dismissed, Freedom Church in Vero Beach, Florida, was charged with a “lack of intent to cooperate” in a sexual abuse investigation. The pastor, Richard Demsick, told the Tennesean newspaper, “We are deeply saddened by the false allegations, which are slanderous….There are no sexual abuse allegations,” he said. “There have been false reports based on gossip.”

Big spending questioned

EC trustees learned more than $6 million of the group’s investments were spent in 2022. During the previous February 2022 meeting, financial reports indicated the EC had $15 million in investments and a little under $3 million of those were designated as restricted so that left around $12.2 million available for use.

“The assets have been cut in half,” said EC member Monte Shinkle of Missouri. “We dropped $6 million this past year. We have $6 million left…it doesn’t look good.”

Mike Bianchi, interim chief financial officer, noted the EC received an unqualified opinion

(which is good) on its 2022 audit report, but the auditors emphasized “the sexual abuse issues, the DOJ investigation and the deteriorating liability of the EC” as concerns.

The current pace is “unsustainable,” Bianchi said, noting options such as liquidating assets (including the EC building), changing financial arrangements, obtaining other financing, etc., were discussed with the auditors.

Trustees adopted a proposed 2023–24 SBC operating budget of $8,305,500 (roughly the same as the 2022–23 budget) and a proposed 2023–24 SBC CP allocation budget of $195,250,000 (down slightly from the 2022–23 budget of $196 million with percentages to entities such as IMB, NAMB, seminaries, etc., remaining steady).

A few EC decisions need more research for full understanding, The Baptist Paper reported, such as why the SBC’s chief parliamentarian for more

than 35 years, Barry McCarty, will no longer be the parliamentarian.

A contract was approved Feb. 21 for vice parliamentarian Al Gage to step into the role of chief parliamentarian during the annual meeting in New Orleans in June, but the reasoning behind the change was not officially reported.

Abuser database announced

A first-ever ministry check “abuser” database will become a reality, reported Marshall Blalock, chair of the SBC’s Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force. Until now “there has been no cooperative mechanism to prevent abusers from going place to place…so this is an unprecedented, significant moment,” he told the 86-member trustee panel.

The ministry check website will be administered by Faith-Based Solutions, a new division of GuidePost Solutions, the company that conducted the investigation into EC leadership’s handling of abuse claims in the denomination.

The site will be a public record of “pastors, denominational workers, ministry employees and volunteers who have at any time been credibly accused of sexual abuse and who have been or are associated with a cooperating Southern Baptist church or entity,” said Blalock, noting the SBC Credentials Committee has approved the move.

– Reported by The Baptist Paper, with additional information from Baptist Press, Christian Post, and The

Tennessean

OUT – In June 2022, Rick Warren (above) objected to plans to dismiss the California megachurch church he founded for its ordination of three women as pastors. The motion was delayed, but trustees ousted Saddleback Church in February.

BIG VOTE – EC trustees approved recommendations and reports, including creation of an abuser tracking database, the unexpected expenditure of $6 million, and dismissal of six churches.

Barber running again

Urges SBC do the right thing, ‘even if it’s risky’

Nashville, Tenn. | A week ahead of the February SBC Executive Committee (EC) meeting, current SBC president Bart Barber emerged as a candidate for the post again in 2023—the only one so far. Louisiana pastor Steven James announced plans to nominate Barber for a second oneyear term.

He cited Barber’s thoughtful and biblically based exercise of the role as reasons for the second nomination, as well as his conservative theology.

The Farmersville, Texas pastor has made a few notable media appearances on behalf of Southern Baptists, including a 60 Minutes interview, but he has played a more restrained version of SBC President, when compared with J.D. Greear, who dealt with the sexual abuse controversy, turmoil involving EC leadership, and the Covid pandemic which extended his term to three years.

Barber “has been true statesman in his evaluation of the condition of our Convention,” Jones said. “When asked some very pointed questions, he never compromised the Word of God or downplayed the problems that are confronting us as a Convention or a nation. At the same time, he expressed a very positive outlook

about the future of the SBC.”

Whether the Conservative Baptist Network will field a slate of candidates as they did in 2022 has not been reported as of press time.

Imperfect people God uses Barber, meanwhile, continues to urge Southern Baptists toward right, if risky actions.

At critical moments in history, God has led imperfect people to do the right thing to impact His Kingdom—and that includes the Southern Baptist Convention, Barber told EC trustees during their meeting.

Preaching from Hebrews 11, the SBC president contended that Noah, Abraham, and Moses are often viewed by the Church as heroes of the faith, but they were also flawed individuals who struggled with fear and insecurity. They embraced their faith at the right time, Barber added, and God allowed them to be used to bring glory to his Kingdom.

“Like you and like me, they sometimes succeeded in trusting God, and sometimes fell back in fear,” Barber said. “It’s a list of people who regardless of their moments of doubt and failure, when the critical moment came, they were found standing firm in faith then.”

EC still searching for new leader Illinois’ Robinson had hoped for February vote

Nashville, Tenn. | Though the committee charged with finding the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee’s (EC) new president and CEO had hoped to introduce a candidate at the EC’s February meeting, search team chairman Adron Robinson said the wait will be a bit longer.

“We had hoped to have a candidate locked in,” Robinson said. “It looks like that’s not going to happen, but in spite of that, the process is going well.”

Robinson, pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church in the Chicago suburb of Country Club Hills said the team is taking its time, wanting to get it right.

“I am proud of the committee and the work they have done, how we have come together as a team, working together as brothers and sisters in Christ,” he said. “We have a strong finalist group, and we’re just trying to pray our way through that group to be sure that we have the best person for the job—God’s person for the job.”

A slate of 11 candidates was narrowed to seven, according to earlier reports. Interim EC President Willie McLaurin, the first Afri-

While Southern Baptists are full of flaws and fears, Barber noted they too have been used by God during key times in history.

Barber listed missionaries and pastors like Adoniram Judson, Frank Tripp, Adrian Rogers, and recent SBC leaders such as Richard Land. Each served the Convention at key times—which included the Great Depression, times of denominational conflict and in confronting racial divides—to help advance God’s Kingdom.

“None of those people were perfect in their faith or in any other circumstance,” Barber noted, “but at critical moments along the way, they found their faith and they led this body of

believers forward. And I’m thankful for them…I’m thankful for the God who leads them forward in faith.”

He noted, “In frightening times, with large questions and difficult problems before you, let us realize together that no matter what your failures have been in the past…the history of faith is made by people who know when the critical moment has come, and they are found believing at that time.

“Faith does not mean always doing the riskiest thing, but faith does mean doing the right thing even if it is risky,” Barber said. “I want to be found to be that person of faith.” – reported by IB staff and Shawn Hendricks of The Baptist Paper

Missourian named ERLC chief of staff

can American to head an SBC entity, is still a viable candidate, Robinson told EC trustees in their February meeting.

He asked for very specific help from Southern Baptists.

“The best thing Southern Baptists can do is continue to lift us in prayer—prayer for the candidates and prayer for the committee,” he said. “We know God is able to give us clarity about this decision, and our trust is in him.”

This is Robinson’s second time to serve on the search committee while representing Illinois on the Executive Committee. They are searching for a replacement for Arkansas pastor and former SBC President Ronnie Floyd who headed the central coordinating entity for two years.

Floyd resigned in October 2021 amid criticism of the EC’s handling of claims of sexual abuse by SBC churches and wrangling with the Sexual Abuse Task Force over control of the investigation into the EC’s actions.

McLaurin, an EC Vice President, continues to serve as Acting President and CEO until a permanent successor is nominated by the search team and confirmed by the 86 EC trustees.

– Baptist Press and IB staff

Nashville, Tenn. | Trustees of the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) confirmed appointment of Miles Mullin II as the entity’s vice president and chief of staff in a special-called business meeting.

Mullin brings Midwest perspective to the role, serving most recently in leadership development and church revitalization with the Missouri Baptist Convention. Prior to that, he was a vice president and professor at Hannibal-LaGrange University, and he taught church history at Southwestern Seminary in Ft. Worth.

MULLIN

ERLC President Brent Leatherwood told the Illinois Baptist in December that he was looking for someone to help him “bring a distinctive Baptist voice into the public square” and someone who “oozes Baptist theology” in relation to issues of public policy.

“I anticipate his skill set will help recalibrate the ERLC to being a ministry that brings people into conversation and ‘let us (biblically) reason together,’” Mullin’s former employer, Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Director John Yeats said.

Mullin has served as an ERLC trustee since 2019.

ROBINSON

McLAURIN

SBC President Bart Barber addresses the February EC Trustees meeting.

Annual report shows recovery

But there’s still a long road back from Covid and inflation

Springfield | The 2022 Annual Church Profile (ACP) paints a picture of churches reclaiming some of the ground lost during the pandemic and fighting to weather the challenges of economic inflation.

After two years of significant decreases in almost every church category, the 2022 ACP data showed that Illinois churches are experiencing renewed strength after the Covid-induced historic lows of 2020-2021. Significant year-over-year increases in four key areas of church reporting give reason to celebrate, but the numbers also confirm there is still much work to be done to return to pre-Covid levels.

1,985

Baptisms, Sunday morning worship attendance, Sunday school attendance, and Vacation Bible School enrollment all saw double-digit increases over the previous year. IBSA Executive Director, Nate Adams, described this as “encouraging news” after those numbers all saw precipitous drops between 2019 and 2021.

Churches reported 2,787 baptisms from August 2021 through July 2022. That was an increase of more than 40% over the previous year when many churches were meeting online at least part of the time. Sunday morning worship attendance also saw solid gains, reporting a total of 52,666 average in worship across 892 IBSA churches, church plants, and missions.

VBS enrollment also saw a large increase, up nearly 38% to 21,673. Historically, larger statewide VBS enrollment has been a contributing factor to increased professions of faith and baptisms in the following year’s reporting, so this offers good reason to hope for a continuing positive trend in next year’s numbers.

After two years of many Sunday school groups trying to meet virtually through Zoom or Facebook, a return to in-person opportunities drove a 19% increase in Sunday school attendance.

All these gains are encouraging but need context to paint a full picture. For example, worship attendance was up almost 6,000 people. While this is a nearly 13% increase from

(2022) 52,666

2021, it is still 22% lower than 2019. This aligns with anecdotal reports from pastors the past year that about 20% of their pre-Covid worship attenders are missing.

Despite the good news of regained ground, not all categories rose in the 2022 report. Church giving data showed decreases in several financial categories.

The total reported undesignated giving to churches dropped 6.5% to $89,136,294. Giving through the Cooperative Program (CP), the Southern Baptist Convention’s primary means of support for missions and ministry, decreased 5.5%, ending the reporting year at $5,513,999.

Additionally, the Mission Illinois Offering, 100% of which remains in Illinois to fund strategic missions and ministries, saw the largest drop, with $308,951 given, down 8% over the previous year.

These decreases all reflect the difficult financial climate in 2022 that saw inflation begin to rise in February and ultimately peak at 8%.

While the Annual Church Profile data painted a more complicated picture, IBSA’s Church Needs Survey, collected October through December 2022, was more straightforward. Church revitalization and leadership development were again identified as the greatest areas of help needed by IBSA churches. These categories have ranked high in the annual survey for the past several years, and in 2020 prompted IBSA to begin shifting more staff and resources toward helping churches in these areas.

Statehouse bills to watch

Lawmakers filed 6,421 bills in the 103rd Illinois General Assembly, spring session. Five bills are of interest to Illinois Baptists:

SB 1909, the Deceptive Practices of Limited Services Pregnancy Centers Act

This bill would allow pregnancy resource centers to be fined $50,000 by the State Attorney General for not offering clients abortion-related information about and would also give clients permission to sue the centers for not offering them the same. Introduced by Sen. Celina Villanueva, pending in the Senate Assignments Committee.

HB 1591 amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution Act.

This would make same-sex marriages performed in Illinois legal should Obergefell v. Hodges be overturned by the U. S. Supreme Court even if the same-sex couple resides in another state that prohibits such marriages. Introduced by Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy, passed through Judiciary Committee, and moved to the House Floor for a second reading.

HB 1793 amends the Equitable Restrooms Act.

This would apply to churches that rent their facilities to non-members. It requires public facilities making physical alterations exceeding 50% to construct designated multistalled all-gender restrooms. Introduced by Sen. Emil Jones III, pending in the Senate Assignments Committee.

The survey results indicate that this shift is beginning to make a difference. The number of churches indicating that they need revitalization “now” or “urgently” has decreased 28% since 2018. While church renewal is slow work, the IBSA Health Team led by Scott Foshie is helping dozens of churches and local associations to turn the tide.

As churches experience increasing difficulty finding pastors or volunteer ministry leaders, IBSA continues to respond. Among churches that worked directly with IBSA for ministry help in 2022, expanding personal leadership capacity was rated as the most effective area of ministry assistance.

The lasting impact of the pandemic continues to be felt, but churches are reporting progress that promises a brighter picture.

– Ben Jones

HB 1501 amends the General Not-ForProfit Act of 1986.

Corporations would be required to report annually to the Illinois Secretary of State the demographic information of its directors and officers including ethnicity, gender, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Filed by Sen. Emil Jones III, sent to Senate Judiciary Committee.

HB 1163 repeals the Reproductive Health Act creating the Illinois Abortion Law of 2022

This alters provisions of the Illinois Abortion Law of 1975 and defines a “fetal heartbeat.” It would further create the Partial-birth Abortion Ban Act of 2022 and the Abortion Performance Refusal Act of 2022. Introduced by Rep. Paul Jacobs, sent to the House Rules Committee.

– with information from Illinois Family Institute and Illinois Right to Life

*VBS 2020 attendance was lower at 10,354 during pandemic closures. This chart provides consistent year-to-year comparison with worship and baptism.

Baptists Send Relief after quake

Christians few in Turkey, but aid grows with SBC support

Southern Turkey | Southern Baptists’ Send Relief partners were on the ground in Southern Turkey within hours of a devastating earthquake and multiple aftershocks Feb. 6 that left nearly 50,000 people dead and 250,000 homes destroyed there and in neighboring Syria. As rescue efforts passed the one-week mark, rescuers continued to pull survivors from the rubble long after the 72-hour rescue window had passed.

In the meantime, efforts turned to a growing humanitarian crisis—burying the dead and feeding the living.

Send Relief President Bryant Wright (below) was on the ground amid the rubble. In a video released Feb. 11, he urged Southern Baptists to give and to pray.

Send Relief, a collaboration of the International Mission Board and the North American Mission Board, is Southern Baptists’ worldwide compassion ministry. Send Relief local partners began distributing water, food, and other emergency supplies within hours of the disaster. They’ve also been distributing much-needed blankets, as temperatures dip well below freezing at night.

The church in this region is small— approximately 6,000 people in a country of 88 million. Many jumped in their cars at the first news of the fallout, taking the initiative to hand out bread and blankets, create mobile soup kitchens, and take up collections across the networks of small house churches.

“The Turkish body of believers, as small as they are, are doing their best to show up because this is their home and their country, and they are proud of their people,” said Scott, Send Relief’s Central Asia associate area director.

“One local church experienced severe loss, with their senior pastor and his wife being buried alive under the rubble, but they are still giving glory to God,” he said.

“Their lives have literally been shaken, but their faith has not been shaken. They’re staying adamant that God is in control, despite the circumstances around them.”

$8 million for rooftop

The McCormick Foundation has added an $8 million grant to the community center fund led by Chicago pastor Corey Brooks. That means Brooks is only $6.5 million short of the $35 million he targeted to build the center to provide recreation, career training, wellness facilities, and to combat crime in Woodlawn.

Brooks raised $20 million during 345 days on the roof of an existing building at the site of New Beginnings Church. Almost a year living on the roof was “a learning experience” Brooks said, one that clarified his purpose to “make life better for people who are coming behind me.”

‘New day’ at BCHFS

With new staff and new direction

Carmi | Kevin Carrothers is spending lots of time getting to know the staff at Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services—but he isn’t the only one. Of 33 staff members at BCHFS, 22 are either new employees or new in their current positions within the last year.

Tens of thousands of survivors are sleeping in the streets, in their cars, or in parking lots to avoid being crushed by rubble if another building collapses. Families are spending excruciating nights exposed to the elements. Currently, there is no electricity, clean water, or food supplies in most of the cities in the region.

Send Relief is providing real-time coaching sessions for local partners in disaster response efforts and meeting needs in emergency situations. These personalized sessions teach partners how to look for the most vulnerable, the most underserved and those who can’t make it to the government’s food lines.

Wright said Send Relief ministry partners are hoping to “share the love of Christ in very tangible ways as well as to share the Good News as God gives us those opportunities to do so.” Wright and his team were on the way to Antakya, which is the biblical city of Antioch.

“In Acts 11:29, we see that the church at Antioch set the example for the church all through the ages,” Wright said. “They took up on offering for the church in Jerusalem that was going through a tough time.

“Now we can respond to their example as Antioch has been devastated by this earthquake, by praying for them and by giving to help them in this time of recovery.”

More information is available at Send Relief.org.

– Baptist Press and IB staff

“There’s a big learning curve for people like myself who have just started,” Carrothers told the IBSA staff in a February meeting. Carrothers joined BCHFS as executive director January 1, after a search of more than a year for a replacement for Denny Hydrick, who returned to a position in his native Mississippi.

CARROTHERS

“It does feel like a new day for the Children’s Home,” Carrothers said. “We’ve added more team meetings because we don’t know each other.”

With so many people in new roles, there’s “a lot of learning, and also a lot of patience,” he said. “And there’ll be some bumps along the way.”

Carrothers knew his ministry at the 105-yearold Illinois Baptist agency would be about rebuilding at first. Filling vacant staff positions was high on the list, and Carrothers continues to search for two development officers and houseparents. But with 13 counselors serving 14 locations, he reported that counseling sessions have returned to the record high levels of 2015-16. The girls’ cottage is full once again. Carrothers said he is cautiously optimistic that they may be able to open a second cottage later this year.

With the ongoing ministry of GraceHaven Pregnancy Resource Clinic in Mt. Vernon, and developments following the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade, Carrothers anticipates BCHFS will become “a more proactive voice for sanctity of life issues” and for pregnant women considering the future of their unborn children.

Carrothers urged Illinois Baptists to pray for BCHFS, for its financial support and discernment for the staff as they seek to serve children and families in emotional need.

MISSION

Under construction

BY ERIC REED

Ayoung woman stands in the shadow of the red brick sanctuary looking across the street.

Atop a building under construction is her husband. He’s on the roof of the house that will become their home. Several young men are there with him.

The little girl standing beside her says something quietly. The mother reaches down and takes her hand. Together they cross the street and climb the steep concrete steps to their future front porch.

“Daddy!” the four-year-old calls.

Her father is showing one of the men how to use a nail gun to fasten decking to the rafters before roofing begins. He shifts the angle of the tool and the air is punctuated by “ka-POW! ka-POW!” The student gets the hang of the pneumatic nailer and continues with his task. The instructor leans over the edge of the roof and switches to doting father-tone with his little girl two stories below.

This is a new adventure for Jesse Webster

Not fatherhood; he has five children, four girls and a boy from one-and-a-half to nine years old. And not construction; he owned a construction company and he’s built his own house before. It’s the combination of all his skills as builder, family man, and pastor that he’s drawing on for the newest challenge: reaching his new neighborhood with the gospel of Jesus Christ, and giving the young men here skills to build a better life.

Hello, city life

It’s not often a congregation chooses to leave a bucolic country setting where they’ve worshiped since 1842 and move 18 miles into town. But Sugar Camp Baptist Church did.

“There was a rich spiritual heritage there,” Webster said of the church in the rural farming community that was home to his wife, Kayla’s family, going back for generations, “…great seasons and stories of how the Lord had worked, and saved lives, and changed people.”

Webster, now 33, was first called as youth pastor eleven years ago, when he and Kayla moved to Illinois from Springfield, Missouri where he grew up and they both attended Baptist Bible College. He started his own business, working

FOR HIS GLORY

Pastor Jesse Webster and Sugar Camp Baptist Church saw the need in Mt. Vernon as a land of opportunity. So the church moved to the city four years ago. Today Webster is using his lifetime in construction to train people in the vocation. And he’s sharing a lot about following Jesus Christ while he does it.

What happens when a small country congregation finds lots of need in the city—and decides to move there.

as he had with his father and brothers. “From the time we could walk, we were on construction projects.”

Then he succeeded the pastor. After a time, it became clear to him that the future for Sugar Camp was limited. As with many rural churches, the population around them was dwindling.

The nearest community, Belle Rive, was seven miles away. With 300 residents, the village had lost 14% of its population in the previous decade. The church of about 50 people might hang on for some years, but not forever. Besides, the real opportunity to share the gospel was in Mt. Vernon.

“Our sphere of influence was in Mt. Vernon where everyone worked. And we wanted to do ministry there—recovery from addictions and restoring families. We would reach people, but they would say it’s a long drive to our church,” he said.

“We started asking, ‘Why do we put the burden on them; why don’t we drive to them?’

“We began praying ‘no reservations’ in our prayer meetings, that God would use us for whatever he wanted to do.”

As might be expected, not everyone was thrilled with leaving their home of 180 years for a community with all the issues born of lostness—poverty, crime, addiction, and broken relationships. The decision was months in development. An October outreach event proved to be a turning point.

“One brother who strongly resisted was upset that we cancelled Sunday night service to come to town to pass out candy. He told me, ‘I was on

the cold-water committee; I could have dumped a bucket on it.’

“But later he described a long line of people waiting for candy, over 500 children and families, a line that he could not see the end of. And he said, ‘If the Lord was sending us here how could I say no?’”

Seeing the brokenness in people’s lives revealed a disposition of darkness, the pastor said, and the need for Christian witness in the city. Three months later, Sugar Camp voted to pack up and move. The decision was unanimous.

Their commitment came at the same time Logan Street Baptist Church was completing its own relocation project with a new, larger campus on the west side of Mt. Vernon near I-57/64. Webster learned they would be selling the facility in the city’s center.

Logan Street’s leadership wanted a congregation to begin ministry in the neighborhood with the same focus on drug recovery and life restoration that burdened the Sugar Camp church. The property listed for far more than the church could afford. “If we could buy the Logan Street building, we knew it was something only God could do,” church members told Webster. Relocation also meant that Webster would finish the dream home he was building for his family, then sell it. And his wife would have to agree to such a sacrificial move.

She did.

Over the next year, the young pastor completed the house that was just right for his growing family, sold it, and moved them all to his in-laws’ basement. Perhaps, one day, he would build another.

How doors opened

The neighborhood around the new church property was built mostly in the 1920s and 30s. The houses are wood frame structures with clapboard siding; many are in obvious need of repair. From the toys and bikes in the front yards, it’s obvious that children live in some of these houses. But as the demographics in the area have shifted in recent years, connecting with a diverse population in an area in economic decline has proven challenging.

In the middle of this community sits the red brick church, an expansive property with lots of education space, plenty of well-kept parking, and a full-size gymnasium. Ultimately, the purchase was completed for one-fifth the advertised price, and Sugar Camp moved into a 50,000 square foot home full of promise—and work.

“We’re getting to know our neighbors,” Kayla said, standing in the parking lot. She points to a couple of houses down the street and describes the families. “The older lady in the block behind us has been very interested in the construction.” Kayla is making friends with her future neighbors.

Two events, in particular, began opening doors.

“I got a call from a pastor asking to use our building for a funeral,” Webster said. “There wasn’t a place in Mt. Vernon large enough for the crowd the pastor of this African American church was expecting.”

Webster agreed to open the facility for that funeral, and others have followed. “They knew that our heart was for them.” The pastor has befriended several pastors of African American churches. One would prove instrumental in his future housing plans.

The other key event was a trip to a home improvement store. “I was at Menard’s one day. A young man was loading lumber with me. He asked how I knew how to build a house. I told him that I learned from my father.”

Not knowing a trade school he could recommend, Webster offered to let the man help him in order to learn.

Then the idea was born: For His Glory Trade School. With a decade owning and operating his own construction business, Webster knew he could teach the trade to people who needed a vocation. But how to get started?

A video. Webster found a local producer of hip-hop music videos. As unlikely as it seemed, hip-hop advertising online for a trade school was a good fit.

LIGHT/HOUSE – Trade school student Donald looks up as Pastor Jesse Webster and another student, Markeith, nail down roof decking on the future parsonage. “We’re going to live among the people,” Webster said of his new neighborhood, “shining light in the darkness.”

One of the video maker’s friends, Dee, was the first to sign up; then his brother Aaron, and two more men, Donald and Markeith. Joining them was Landon, a 13-year-old homeschooler who also saw the video ad. He focuses on school lessons in the morning and comes to building classes in the afternoon.

Rounding out the group was a genial woman in her 60s who wasn’t looking for a career, but welcomed the hands-on training. “I have a lot of things that I need to do around my house,” she said, wielding a tape measure and a carpenter’s pencil. “It’s so expensive, so I thought I’d learn how to do it myself. Pastor Jesse let me join in.” She is very engaged with the crew, and freely tells how the church is connecting with the community where she has lived for a long time.

At first Webster planned to use the gymnasium as a workshop. Each student would build a section of a wall, about 3 x 6, to learn the basics. Then a better idea emerged. A property across from the church became available. Webster envisioned a small house—just two bedrooms, he said, and their son could sleep on the sofa. But one of Webster’s new pastor friends advised him to dream bigger.

With their “forever” house in the country sold, and news that the forty-year-old gym required a roof, there wasn’t enough money to expand the new house. But the pastor assured him. “You need more house for that family,” the pastor said. “God will provide.”

Webster shared that recommendation with the deacons, and with prayer, they agreed. The house became a two-story project, with three

bedrooms and a basement that might be finished later.

And within a week, a donor had called with a six-figure gift to repair the gymnasium.

Master, Carpenter

Four days a week, the students meet to learn their trade. They start in the chapel with Bible study and prayer. Webster sits on a stool. Behind him, the platform is lined with windows that will go in the new house.

On this day, the topic is Peter’s denial of Jesus. “I’ve got notes here on my shim,” the pastor said, referring to a sliver of wood he has written Bible references on. Dee makes a good observation comparing Peter’s denial to Judas.

The teacher pulls no punches as the discussion goes to real and challenging life issues, including child rearing and tempation. The class is well engaged. “I can’t tell you they’ve all been saved, but they’re interested,” he said.

After prayer he announces, “The levels are here. They’re the good ones.” There are murmurs of approval as he hands out new tools. “Put these in your kits,” he says, referring to six tall red cases in the hallway that will each hold $2,000 of equipment, gifts the students will keep after graduation later in the spring.

“I want them to be ready to go to work when they finish here,” he said.

On this day the weather is good. They leave the chapel and cross the street to begin measuring and cutting two-by-fours and sheets of decking. Soon the roof will be ready for shingles—a milestone—and interior work can begin.

Building beds for needy kids

The teacher’s aide pointed at the picture of pajamas on the flashcard and asked the boy to say the word. The boy had a puzzled look, so she asked again, “What do you sleep in, Ricky?”

“The couch,” he responded.

Some needs are evident, publicly visible to the community. But tucked away behind four walls are needs that never cross the minds of most people. Even in small communities (like the one in the real-life anecdote above) children go to sleep every night in need of something as simple and life-altering as their own bed.

Pastor Ronnie Tabor of Crossroads Church in Centralia became aware of this need and decided to do something about it. Inspired by a non-profit in Florida that delivers volunteer-made beds to children in need, he committed to get outside the walls of his church and meet this same need in his local community.

He organized their first bed building project in 2020, but soon discovered that partnering with a local chapter of a national organization, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, would be more effective.

“Working with them provides a simple, safe process that lets young kids through seasoned saints show up for two hours on a Saturday and serve side-by-side to make a difference,” he said.

Bedding and building materials are provided through national partners as well as volunteer donations from church members. The church works with the organization’s local chapter to set up a “build day” on-site at the church. Then volunteers from the church join forces to build and deliver beds to approved applicants, ages 3-17.

In three building projects, Crossroads constructed and placed more than 80 beds. “The most amazing thing is how it impacts people who have experienced it,” Tabor said. “Word of mouth and excitement spreads and more people show up for the next build day.” This includes the families who have received beds. “They show up at the next event, too!”

– Ben Jones

Annie Armstrong offering urges gospel generosity

As spiritual need grows in North America, so does the call for missions support. Here are four stories.

Matt and Ruth Lahey St. John’s, Newfoundland

More than a hundred years before Matthew and Ruth Lahey came here as church planters, the last church in the Kilbride neighborhood of St. John’s burned to the ground and was never rebuilt.

“For many Newfoundlanders, the idea of church is bound up in a building: church is something you go to, not what you are,” Matthew said. So, when the building was

and Vanesa Viveros Lincoln, Nebraska

destroyed, so was the church.

It’s in this melting pot of traditions, progressivism, liberalism and misconceptions of Christianity that the Laheys are planting Kilbride Community Church.

“What we’re doing is frontier missions. We’re in a community that hasn’t had the gospel in it since

Vergil and Kelsey Brown Portland, Oregon

Oregon is one of the least-churched states in the nation. It’s where Vergil and Kelsey Brown planted one successful church in Portland and after 10 years, felt God’s call to leave it in the hands of a new pastor and plant again.

1892, or maybe worse, has had a perverted version of the gospel,” Matthew said.

Church planting here is not a quick process, but the Laheys are committed.

“Christianity isn’t something reserved for 90 minutes on Sunday,” Ruth said. “Everything we do is an opportunity to minister to and reach our community—all for Christ’s glory.”

Kay Bennett

New Orleans, Louisiana

Human trafficking emergencies don’t happen on schedule, so there’s no such thing as an “average day” for Kay Bennett, director of Send Relief’s Baptist Friendship House.

The Viveros family had no plans to leave Mexico City where Angel was a local pastor. Then they heard about the great need in the U.S. Midwest. Angel and Vanesa felt God calling them more than 1,700 miles away to minister to immigrants— in Lincoln, Nebraska.

“The impulse in our hearts is to be missionaries, and the Midwest is greatly lacking in ministry to Hispanics,” Angel said.

The Viveros family is planting Cosecha Iglesia Bíblica in a vibrant, multicultural community. Angel said it’s a place that needs the true gospel in the face of a growing prosperity gospel presence.

The church is a source of community by intentionally sharing the gospel while meeting physical needs with wellness clinics, English classes and family friendly events.

They’ve even gained a reputation in the community—if there’s an event where people are being served, their church is right in the middle of it.

Angel said that he, Vanesa and their young daughter, Zuri, are a team and that is their strength. “I’m not just a pastor with a family. We each have a place to serve and create relationships.”

The family moved to a part of the city that might as well have been another world away—especially for the couple’s kids. For people in the Brown’s community, Christians are an oddity.

“Most of our neighbors do not know a single Christian, but they ask questions. We quickly had to get comfortable with that. God is leading them to Christ through relationships,” Vergil said.

The Browns started with a home prayer group that quickly grew into Redemption Church.

The church is now growing in attendance and baptisms and hopes to soon launch additional church plants.

“I’m hooked on church planting now and just doing bold things for Jesus,” Vergil said. “It was scary. It was really scary, but we’re so glad we did it.”

“The doorbell or phone can ring and change my whole day,” Kay said. Chances are that day was already filled with serving meals to

March 5-12 at most SBC churches

Annie Armstrong was strong willed, to say the least. When the founder and head of the Woman’s Missionary Union heard that Southern Baptist missionary Lottie Moon was suffering in China for lack of financial support, she started a let-

ter writing campaign urging churches to pass the plate. One year she wrote 18,000 letters, pounding them out on a manual typewriter.

So renown was her tenacity for the cause that a similar offering for missions in the U.S. was eventually

those experiencing homelessness, handing out hygiene supplies, leading Bible study, managing training programs, and more.

It’s this loosely controlled ministry chaos that’s most familiar to Kay.

“I have often said I found a home with the homeless,” she said. “My call from the beginning was to minister to hurting people.” There’s no shortage of hurting people in the French Quarter of New Orleans. People living on the streets are typically dealing with trauma and are vulnerable to being trafficked.

Kay said the way to help people in desperate need is to see each one as an individual with a unique story and come alongside to listen and walk with them. “God never gives up on us, so we can never give up on anyone else.”

For more resources and to give online, go to AnnieArmstrong.com Or scan the code

renamed for her. Today it’s the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions.

The Week of Prayer is March 5-12. The 2023 goal is $70 million to support special missions of the North American Mission Board.

Angel

100 million people

“About 60% of our missionaries currently serve in closed countries, where they can’t get a missionary visa,” IMB President Paul Chitwood recently shared. “We anticipate that will continue to grow. So that’s a huge issue…Access is very difficult.” But in God’s sovereignty, the growing worldwide refugee crisis is presenting what Chitwood described as “a problem and an opportunity.”

Political crises, natural disasters, and wars in countries like Venuzuela, Ukraine, Aghanistan, Syria, and Congo have driven the global refugee population in the world to over 100 million.

“There are more displaced people in the world today than any time in human history,” Chitwood said. This is a humanitarian tragedy but also an opportunity to reach people who may have been closed off from the Gospel in their native countries.

Send Relief, the compassion ministry collaboration between the SBC’s International Mission Board and the North American Mission Board, focuses refugee ministry in the U. S. through their Clarkston Ministry Center, just outside of Atlanta. They also currently provide long-term strategic response projects around the world in places like Afghanistan, Syria, and Venezuela, as well as the U.S. border with Mexico.

As the displaced, often women and children, flee turmoil in their homelands, sometimes walking hundreds of miles, many end up at Send Relief centers run by IMB personnel and supported by volunteer teams from U.S. churches.

“We serve displaced Venezuelans breakfast and lunch every day through two humanitarian houses,” said Liz, IMB leader in Cucuta, Colombia. “And we share the gospel with them, because each house serves as a church plant.”

This global displacement provides access to people who may have never heard the gospel before; it also leads to spiritual openness.

“A lot of times they’re more willing to hear the gospel truth, to hear a message of hope when they’re at that broken and disruptive and painful point in their life,” Chitwood said.

The generosity of local church members places people and supplies right were refugees need them. Since the Send Relief partnership with IMB began, Southern Baptists have given almost $16 million dollars to global refugee and relief work.

IN FOCUS

Unsettled

Churches welcome refugees who become neighbors in Illinois and nationwide

Jorge Rodriguez’s young church is engaged in one of its city’s most urgent ministry needs. Buses of asylum-seekers are arriving in Chicago—people looking for safety, peace, and a chance for better lives. These new arrivals are the most recent sojourners in Rogers Park, the church’s densely populated and highly diverse neighborhood.

“We all know what it’s like to be a foreigner,” the pastor said. “When we were strangers and foreigners to the covenant promises of God, he drew us. And he’s made us citizens of a kingdom that we got ushered into by faith.” The gospel is the impetus for the church’s care for the foreigner.

The U.S. government set this year’s ceiling for refugee admissions at 125,000. The same ceiling in 2022 resulted in just over 25,000 admissions, but the higher cap

signals a desire to return the refugee resettlement program to higher numbers.

The resettlement of refugees in Illinois is not a new phenomenon. Since 1976, the Illinois Department of Human Services reports 129,000 refugees relocated here.

Recently, in addition to Central American migrants bussed north from the Mexico border, and Afghanis and Ukranians escaping war, the state has received refugees from Congo and Myanmar, among other countries. With 1,531 people in 11 shelters in December, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot asked the state legislature to give the city $53.5 million to fund its refugee and migrant support.

In many places, the church feels the need to step up.

A Lifeway Research survey found 86% of pastors in the U.S. believe Christians have

P.

– Ben Jones

WELCOME – IMB President Paul Chitwood prays with Polish pastors preparing for refugees from Ukraine.

a responsibility to sacrificially care for refugees and foreigners. But 44% said their church has a sense of fear about global refugees coming to the United States. Still, another Lifeway Research study found nearly 4-in-5 evangelicals (78%) would support changes to immigration laws that both increase border security and establish a process to earn legal status and apply for citizenship for those currently in the U.S. unlawfully.

For Rodriguez’s Grace Family Church in Chicago, refugee ministry looks like helping collect and deliver winter coats to a refugee center. It’s inviting neighbors to dinner. It’s recognizing they’re called to not only love foreigners new to the city but also foreigners who have lived in their neighborhood for decades.

Examples nationwide

The Afghan-American Church in Fremont, California, launched in 2018 to share the gospel with the Afghans in the Bay Area. Mike, who’s originally from Afghanistan, and his wife, Hannah, lead outreach to refugees.

“They believe America will be the promised land, the land flowing with milk and honey,” Hannah said. Instead, new arrivals face scarce housing, few job opportunities, mountains of paperwork, and unfamiliar systems that are difficult to navigate.

In 2021, the Taliban overtook Afghanistan’s

government, leading to an influx of Afghan refugees in the U.S. The church received many calls asking for assistance. “They tell each other, ‘Go to the church,’” Hannah said, recounting how members of the community have learned to turn to churches and Christians in the area. “They know we want to help people, and they know we are Christians.”

The church helps refugees complete paperwork and find housing. They operate an English program, offering classes in person and online. They organize Easter and Christmas events and reach out to kids through a backpack drive and an English camp.

Serving in Afghanistan’s special forces, Mike experienced a devastating military mission in Kandahar province. In the aftermath, he had the desire to read the Bible. He soon had a dream in which a voice told him, “Share the gospel with your people, my son.”

Eventually he put his faith in Christ. Later he began to minister to Afghans through a virtual class on the basics of Christianity.

“We love the Afghan people,” Hannah said. “It’s because of our love for them that we are going to share what we believe to be good news, that they don’t have to worry about the future, that there is hope in Jesus.”

On the opposite side of the country, three things align to make Clarkston, Georgia, a good fit for refugees: affordable housing, job availability, and public transportation, said Trent Deloach, pastor of Clarkston International Bible Church (CIBC).

“They’re fighting for a better future for their children, more than anything,” Deloach said of the refugees who come to Clarkston. Reportedly 60,000 refugees have lived at least temporarily in Clarkston over the last several decades.

To meet the needs of its diverse population from 60 countries, CIBC practices “new neighbor care.” The church offers a host of ministries: English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, welcome events, holiday gift baskets, diaper giveaways, driving lessons, and the Refugee Sewing Society—a micro-business enterprise involving 20-25 artisans.

STEADY STREAM – 1.7 million people attempted to enter the U.S. at the southern border in the year ending Oct. 2022. While the nation debates immigration reform and border security, “the SBC has backed up words with action, spearheading compassion ministry by our churches, state conventions, and national entities,” wrote Brent Leatherwood of the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. “Around the country, our Baptist brothers and sisters are opening their churches and their homes to people from around the world as they assimilate into our communities.”

A partnership with the North American Mission Board has increased the church’s outreach. The Atlanta Send Relief Ministry Center assists refugees with job placement, medical care, and summer camp.

“We dream of the day when every one of our neighbors has a Christian friend who can point them toward Christ,” Deloach said. “We love our diverse neighbors unconditionally because God loves them unconditionally.”

– By Meredith Flynn, read the full story at LifewayResearch.com

A new survey of Hispanic churches shows their attenders are younger and more evangelistic than at other Protestant churches—and there are more of them in worship on any given Sunday.

Together with two dozen other religious organizations, Lifeway Research polled 692 pastors of churches that are at least 50% Hispanic for the largest survey of its kind. Their findings are significant.

Most Hispanic Protestant churches (54%) have been established since 2000, including 32% founded in 2010 or later. Only 9% trace their history prior to 1950.

Not only are the churches relatively new, but most people in the congregations are also new to the United States. The majority are first generation Americans (58%), born outside the country. A quarter are second generation (24%), with parents who were born outside the U.S. And 17% were born in the U.S. to parents who were also born in the U.S. As a result, 53% conduct their services only in Spanish, while 22% percent are bilingual.

“The growth in the number of Hispanic churches in the U.S. has been remarkable,” said

Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “While some of these congregations were started within Anglo churches—14% of Hispanic congregations in this study currently are conducting services within a church that is predominantly non-Hispanic—the missional impetus has clearly come from within the Hispanic community itself as two-thirds of these congregations are led by first-generation immigrant pastors.”

The average worship attendance is 115, about double the SBC average. Also in contrast to the denomination as a whole, half of the churches (50%) are in a large metropolitan area with a population of 100,000 or more, while 31% are located in small cities, 9% in rural areas, and 8% are in suburbs.

The average Hispanic Protestant church is markedly younger than its Anglo counterparts: 35% of the congregation is under age 30, including 18% under 18. Another 38% are age 30-49, and 28% are 50 and older.

“Hispanic congregations are very active in engaging new people,” McConnell said. “Not only

Effective Evangelism

79% 69% 73%

Study shows Hispanic churches are young, vibrant, and growing 796973

schedule faith sharing opportunities

had 5+ new faith commitments of the newly commited became active

is there much evangelistic activity in Hispanic churches, but God is also blessing them with new people who commit to following Jesus Christ.”

Approximately 7-in-10 churches reported regularly scheduled witnessing opportunities, with five or more baptisms in the previous year, and resulting in 3-of-4 converts becoming active in church life.

– Lifeway Research (Jan. 2023)

PREP AND LANDING – Church leaders gathered with the Send Relief Denver ministry center for a Care for Refugees training as Afghan refugees were resettled to their area.

GROWING

MEET THE TEAM

Asbury’s TikTok Revival

In the age of social media, this outpouring spread like wildfire

Let’s hope it’s real. Shall we say that at the outset? The sight of hundreds of students singing, praying, and confessing at the altar in their college chapel for two weeks is uplifting for us all—if the revival is real.

Paul Westbrook

Hometown: Wherever I’m living at the time! My parents were IMB missionaries to Argentina, so I grew up out of the country. We moved there when I was 3 and came back to the U.S. for my senior year of high school. I’ve been in Illinois for 32 years, so this is now my home.

Family deets: I’ve been married to my beautiful wife, Melody, for 36 years. We have four adult sons.

Ministry background: I served as youth pastor while in college, pastored in Oklahoma City four years, and then started and pastored Metro Community Church in Edwardsville 31 years.

My call: I received Jesus at a young age and can’t imagine my life without him. I was a shy kid who was scared to stand in front of people and speak, so when God called me to be a pastor, I didn’t want to have anything to do with it. I came up with all kinds of other careers, but God kept pursuing me. I finally surrendered to his will, and it has been an incredible adventure!

Life verse: “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me— the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24).

My favorite Bible person: Paul. He was so focused and passionate about loving Jesus and people, even when it meant doing things differently.

My go-to ice cream: Haagen Dazs vanilla—not just any vanilla!

On my bookshelf: Leadership books in general

Movie character: Jason Bourne

A quote I find myself saying often: “That’s different.”

Tiny Asbury University has a history of spiritual outpourings. But this may be the first one fueled or extended by social media. TikTok and YouTube are replete with videos, short and long, of the non-stop worship experience that emerged from an ordinary chapel service on Feb. 8.

Within a couple of days, people were coming from everywhere to join the unending worship service. Lines were soon a half-mile long to get into the chapel. Speculation quickly arose whether

Matz said. “Assuming this is a genuine work of the Holy Spirit, our hope at HLGU is that Lord would not pass over us. Instead, we long for a genuine work of the Spirit of God that leads to praise, confession, repentance, recommitments, and salvations.”

History repeating

This isn’t the first time such a prolonged gathering has happened in Wilmore, Kentucky. What is original to this outbreak is the posting of thousands of videos and Instagram responses, producing a steady stream of visitors to the campus chapel. And there’s abundant coverage from the Christian Broadcasting Network and others speculating that this revival will change the world, while equally strong opponents declare it vapid emotionalism.

rise of the Jesus People Movement.

(Ironically a movie called Jesus Revolution featuring one of the founders, Greg Laurie, was released Feb. 22, just as Asbury administrators were trying to reroute spectators to local churches and return campus life to near normal.)

The first of six Asbury Revivals followed the 1904 Welsh Revival and was simultaneous to the 1906 Azusa Street Revival. The 1950 Asbury Revival came a couple of months after Billy Graham’s inaugural Los Angeles tent revival swelled from three to 16 weeks.

Apparently, revival does not happen in isolation.

the revival would break out on other campuses, as it did after the famous 1970 Asbury Revival.

Lee College in Cleveland, Tennessee, and Cedarville (Ohio) University ultimately reported extended worship sessions in February, as did Samford University, a Baptist school in Birmingham.

And a small group of students from Hannibal-LaGrange University traveled to the Asbury campus to witness the event.

“My hope and prayer is that this is a genuine movement of God that will call a generation to faith in Christ,” HLGU President Robert Matz told the Illinois Baptist. “Those who study revivals know that they come after seasons of genuine prayer, fasting, repentance, and confession of sin.

“Last year, HLGU experienced a crisis and through prayer, fasting, repentance, and confession saw God’s kind provision,”

The woman who drove from south Georgia to Wilmore so her children can participate in Holy Spirit history wanted it to be real. So did the man from Mississippi who jumped in his truck to drive north just an hour after hearing about the unending confessions two states away. And the couple who flew from Europe. And so on.

But not everyone is convinced. One apologist asked whether the social media that drew the crowd also put undue pressure on students to continue the event, and people on other campuses to copy it. Why would we need to drive to a “Holy Spirit hot spot”? Can’t the Spirit of God be poured out anywhere at any time without some kind of low-church, handme-down apostolic succession?

The 1970 revival spread when Asbury students traveled to churches and colleges sharing their testimonies. The most effective were the least skilled speakers, according to a 2010 documentary posted on YouTube. That revival ultimately spread to 130 campuses. It came in the environment of Vietnam protests, the Kent State shootings, and the

The proof is not in the numbers of people, or places it occurs, or how it is generated, but in the results, as many observers have pointed out. How many were saved? How many had their lives turned Godward? How many were called to missions?

Not every purported revival produces such world-changing results. Frankly the Toronto Blessing Laughing Revival of 1994 comes to mind, as does the highly criticized six-year Brownsville Revival beginning in 1995, that conveniently relocated from Texas to the Florida panhandle when its evangelist moved on.

Still, we all want revival to be real, even if it breaks out first among people with holiness roots instead of Baptists. SBC pastor and prayer leader Bill Elliff called the 2023 Asbury Revival “a wonderful mercy drop.”

“Millions of desperate believers in our nation are crying out for the next nationwide spiritual awakening,” Elliff posted after spending five days on the campus. “Small outbreaks are happening everywhere.”

As Elliff indicated, we should continue to pray that it’s so.

Eric

Reed is editor of Illinois Baptist media.

Church Planting Director IBSA Mission Team

NeTworkiNg

Send items to IllinoisBaptist@IBSA.org

Herod Springs Baptist Church seeks bivocational pastor with good biblical knowledge. Send resumé to Linda Banks, 315 Karbers Ridge Rd., Herod, IL. 62947.

New Life Baptist Church of Waverly seeks highly motivated bi-vocational preacher. Must have knowledge of the Bible and be willing to share it with others. Have a desire to help grow our church and serve God. Send resumé to 341 East Elm, Waverly, IL 62692.

West Side Missionary Baptist Church is seeks a bi-vocational pastor. Send resume to the church at 2900 Veterans Memorial Drive, Mt. Vernon, IL 62864, Attn: Gary Chesney, Rodney McCoy, or send email tktwjh5@charter.net.

Streator Baptist Camp seeks full-time summer workers and volunteers for recreation leadership, food service, and facilities upkeep during IBSA camps season. This will be for ten weeks starting May 26. Housing and meals provided. Visit StreatorBaptistCamp.org for information, or contact JacobKimbrough@IBSA.org.

WELCOME with the lord

Rochester First Baptist Church has called Will Bynum as pastor. Bynum previously served Mt. Olive Church in West York beginning in 2009, and since 2018 has planted Restoration Church in Adel, Iowa. He is known to Illinois Baptists from his leadership at Super Summer and Youth Encounter. Bynum and his wife, Susan, were welcomed in a service Feb. 26.

Sam Foutch was called as pastor of Marshall Creek Baptist Church in October. He previously served as pastor of Kell Baptist Church and interim pastor at Wells Chapel. A native of Salem, Foutch and his wife, Carole, have four children and five grandchildren.

Christopher Spenner joined Salem First Baptist Church as associate pastor in January. He is a graduate of Louisiana Baptist University and comes to Salem after leading student ministry in Florida. He and his wife, Melissa, have one son.

Pastor Donald Neisler, 90, died January 31 at his home in Athens. Neisler served in the U.S. Navy, worked for Nickel Plate Railroad, as a farmer, and for Illinois Consolidated Phone Company. For the last 60 years he served as a bivocational pastor in Donnellson, Nokomis, Nortonville, Nilwood, Auburn, Athens, and Mt. Zion and New Lebanon Churches in Kilbourne. He recently served as an elder at Western Oaks Church in Springfield. In the 1970s, he was recognized as pastor of Illinois’s fastest growing church plant.

Neisler served as Athens city treasurer and mayor. He owned a laundry business and tax service. June, his wife of more than 70 years and a former IBSA employee, survives him. Memorials may be made to the Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services.

Marge Fowler, 90, died Feb. 7 in Warrensburg. She had been a member of Tabernacle Church in Decatur and FBC Crystal Lake. Fowler, a retired public school nurse, was active in Woman’s Missionary Union, served in Illinois WMU leadership, and joined many mission trips. She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Arlen, and other family members. Memorials may be make to National WMU in Birmingham, Ala.

“Immediately following his Noah sermon series, I’m confronting Pastor Doug about his unhealthy dependence on special effects.”

6 lessons from a lawsuit

Our church finally had its day in court. There was a lot to learn.

n February 2017 our church reluctantly filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Chicago. Our complaint? The Chicago Zoning Ordinance didn’t treat churches fairly with regard to parking requirements, which prevented us from buying our building. Well, we finally had our trial in January—nearly six years after filing suit! The wheels of justice turn s-l-o-w-l-y.

Here are just a few of the biblical truths that going through this long ordeal has made more vivid for me:

“Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known” (Luke 12:2).

Because of this experience I have become aware of a process called “Discovery.” Did you know that in litigation you have to turn over every email you ever sent on that topic? Be careful what you type. Your personal messages might not always stay private!

During our trial the most embarrassing moment was when one of the city’s zoning administrators got to see an email where I thought he was a woman after first talking to him on the phone.

This has provided me a chilling picture of the Last Day when every word, deed, and thought will be exposed. I know that on that Day when God judges the secrets of my heart (Rom. 2:16), my only plea will be Christ’s righteousness.

I know I wasn’t facing extreme persecution, but I still had the amazing experience of the Holy Spirit giving me words to say.

For almost one whole day, I was examined and cross-examined. It was like preaching a six-hour sermon, without notes! I had to remember exact dates, names, numbers, and the chronology of events that happened years ago. God brought it all back to mind and helped me make our case compellingly and represent the church winsomely.

I love having moments when I realize that I am weak and incapable, but then God takes over and guides my words. I want to put myself in more places like that.

His timetable is often way different than ours. He wants us to learn to persevere and trust him, to keep asking and not give up. What is so big and needed so badly that we are willing to continually pray for it over the course of many years?

Even now we are still waiting for the final briefs to be submitted and the judge to rule. It’s possible even after that there could be an appeal. It’s possible that in the end we could lose. No matter how this is resolved, the larger goal of seeing Christ’s kingdom come will still be something we must watch for and wait expectantly.

(Matt. 10:33).

I knew I would have the opportunity to testify in my opening statement about Christ. I wanted to be bold like Paul before Agrippa. However, as I was getting ready to take the stand, I became extremely nervous and almost chickened out. I did it, though, and was able to clearly share the gospel with the judge, court personnel, the City’s four attorneys, and whoever might read the transcript.

I was reminded that I want always to seize every opportunity to tell people about Jesus and not fear people.

“When they

be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you” (Matt. 10:19-20).

The resurrected Christ is seated “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Eph. 1:21).

In the courtroom I dressed my best. There was decorum. When the judge entered, we all had to rise. She could sustain or overrule objections. As this was a bench trial, she has the authority to make a final determination.

After being in court one day, I went to Bible study that night and we looked at the end of Ephesians 1 together. I was reminded that Jesus is far above the judge in a Chicago court. He is ultimately in charge and is using his authority for the sake of his church. What a comfort!

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27:14).

Have you ever noticed how many Bible verses speak of waiting? I hadn’t really slowed down enough to see them before this drawn-out legal battle. I want quick fixes and speedy resolutions. But God is patient.

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lam. 3:22-23).

This has been a long journey. But God has been faithful through it all.

Even though our court case is still ongoing, we were able to buy our building in 2018. It turned out to be a huge blessing, especially during Covid when many churches in Chicago couldn’t get into their rented spaces.

In 2019 we were granted a 100% parking reduction by the City. God has provided financially for us to remodel. Our church has more members now than ever before. Last year we had the most baptisms we’ve had since 2004.

Life is full of many “trials” we must endure, but the Lord is always working in and through them for our good and his glory.

Nathan Carter is senior pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church near the University of Illinois in Chicago. He also serves as Associational Mission Strategist for Chicagoland Baptists.

“Whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven”

deliver you over, do not

BRIGHTER DAY

Spectators or participants?

My church is in a season of refocusing on prayer. Every Sunday before the sermon, we break into small groups and pray together. One of the goals of this emphasis, our pastor has said, is to move from being spectators of prayer to participants in it.

Last season, the football team I have followed and loved my whole life started winning big every Saturday. They were awesome, overpowering every opponent and eventually reaching number one in the rankings. I watched every minute of every game and bought myself a new sweatshirt in case I got the opportunity to talk about them in the grocery store or at school pick-up. I turned back into the fan I hadn’t been in years.

Then, they lost a big game to a better team. A few weeks later, they lost again—in spectacular fashion—to a team they should have beaten. Halfway through that game, I turned off the TV. I had been devouring post-game analysis throughout their ascension, but I couldn’t bring myself to read any stories after that defeat. I was out for the season, back on the sidelines with the pain of my unmet expectations.

That’s why I grimaced when my pastor used the word “spectator” to describe the position we can be tempted to take in prayer. Removing myself from the action of prayer often happens when my expectations aren’t met. When God doesn’t answer like I think he will or wish he would, or on my timeline, it’s too easy to move off the field to the sidelines, merely watching instead of participating.

This is where the early church encourages me. In Acts 2, Christians “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). These people weren’t just floating through life from one win to the next. Yes, the Holy Spirit was moving powerfully and thousands were added to their numbers. But their leaders were confronted, arrested, and even killed for preaching about Jesus. Still, they stayed in the game despite the losses they endured.

I’m glad “devoted” is a verb in that account of the early church. It leads me to believe devotion wasn’t something they felt but rather something that moved them to action. It compels me to follow my church’s lead, and the early church’s example, as I step off the sidelines toward a deeper, more disciplined prayer life.

Meredith Day Flynn is a wife and mother of two living in Springfield. She writes on the intersection of faith, family, and current culture.

Tracker

Trends from nearby and around the world

Opinions: Our biggest problems

What’s wrong with America? The list is long in a new survey, and one-fifth or less of respondents agreed on the answers. Here are their top five.

1. The government

2. Inflation

3. Immigration

4. The economy

5. Unifying the country

People: Growing distrust

Trust in pastors is at an all-time low. Only 1-in-3 Americans rate pastors as “high” or “very high” in a new Gallup survey, down 30 points since 2001.

EVENTS

March 1, 15

What: Church Planting Regional HUBs Central Illinois: 3/1 - New City Church, Champaign; Metro East: 3/15 - The Heights Church, Collinsville

Contact: KevinJones@IBSA.org or PaulWestbrook@IBSA.org

March 5-12

Annie Armstrong

Easter Offering for North American Missions and Week of Prayer

Contact: LisaHarbaugh@IBSA.org

Info: AnnieArmstrong.com

March 17-18

Revive 23

Featuring: Mark Clifton and Richard Blackaby

Where: Pleasant Hill Baptist, Mt. Vernon Contact: IBSA.org/revive23

Below

April 14-15

– J.H. Sammis based the famous hymn on a profession of faith by a young man at a Dwight Moody-led revival: “I am not quite sure how— but I am going to trust, and I am going to obey.”

D-Now Weekend (students)

Where: Streator Baptist Camp, Streator Contact: JackLucas@IBSA.org

April 15

Disaster Relief Training and 40th Anniversary Celebration

Where: Emmanuel Church, Carlinville Contact: LisaHarbaugh@IBSA.org

Info: IBSA.org/dr

When the U.S. military left Afghanistan in Aug. 2021, retired Marine Chad Robichaux (above, right) wanted to rescue the Afghan interpreter who saved his life many times. The operation grew with a $21million donation and chartered planes. In just three days, “not only did we get Aziz and his wife and kids (out), we got 17,000 people,” Robichaux said in a new book. “God calls us to be obedient,” he said. “And I think it’s a great story of challenging people to just do the right thing when the right thing needs to be done.”

– Gallup, Lifeway Research, Discipleship Ministries, Saving Aziz (Thomas Nelson, 2023)

April 28-29

Priority Women’s Conference

Where: Bank of Springfield Center, Springfield

Cost: $50 per participant, $25 Leadership Breakfast (optional), $15 Ministers’ Wives Luncheon (optional) Info: IBSA.org/priority

MEREDITH FLYNN

“Learning to trust is one of life’s most difficult tasks.”

– Isaac Watts, 18th century pastor and hymn writer

“Trust and obey, for there’s no other way…”

Faith: The right thing