March 3, 2014 Illinois Baptist

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The bold look of Mohler page 4

Point of contact pages 6-7 Throughout the week: Sign up for the weekly eConnection at www IBSA org/Communications

Recovery team shores up hope

‘Forgotten’ Filipinos welcome Illinois workers and their message

By Meredith Flynn

G i b i t n g i l I s l a n d , P h i l i p p i n e s | Father Abraham had many sons Many sons had Father Abraham

On a remote island in the Pacific, school children march in place to a familiar song Grouped around a flagpole, they sing and spin along with their leader, a man wearing a bright yellow T-shirt

It’s the morning exercise routine at Gibitngil Integrated School, and the final day in the Philippines for a group of Illinois volunteers The team of six Disaster Relief leaders spent a week here to help repair the school, damaged during last fall’s typhoon

With so much destruction in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan, this tiny island likely isn’t high on the government’s lengthy to-do list But Baptist Global Response saw a need they

Floyd to run for SBC’s top post

Nashville, Tenn. | Pastor Ronnie Floyd will be nominated to succeed Fred Luter as president of the Southern Baptist Convention at this summer ’s annual meeting in Baltimore.

R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, announced via an open letter that he will recommend Floyd, pastor of Cross Church in northwest Arkansas It’s the first nomination to be announced

could meet here, and have mobilized a string of volunteer teams from the U S to fix roofs, construct a classroom building almost from scratch, and reinstate the school’s rainwater collection system

“We were told that for this little island, it might take the government two to three years just to get there to start the work,” said Rex Alexander, IBSA’s Disaster Relief coordinator “We were working in what would be considered a forgotten area ”

Now, the island and some of its 4,000 residents are well documented on Facebook They smile brightly in photographs alongside the American volunteers They sing in cell phone videos Gibitngil Island isn’t forgotten anymore

During their week in the Philippines, the Illinois volunteers stayed in Medellin on the much larger island of

SEAWORTHY – Illinois volunteers took a daily 20-minute boat ride from Cebu Island to Gibitngil The team had opportunities to minister to teachers and work with kids, including daily music sessions led by veteran teacher Don Kragness

Cebu They took a 20-minute boat ride to work every morning “Just enough to be fun,” Alexander said Once they arrived at Gibitngil’s shore, they got off the boat and waded to the beach, carrying the supplies they would need for the day Volunteer teams have been working at the school here since December under the direction of Baptist Global Response

Continued on page 3

BRIEFING the

Students protest ex-lesbian’s story

When Wheaton College students held demonstration before a chapel presentat by Dr. Rosaria Champagne Butterfie they said they were protecting the legit imacy of all stories, and not just that of the former lesbian who credits her faith in Christ with transforming her life

The protest on the campus of one of America’s foremost Christian colleges represents a “generational shift,” blogged Boyce College professor Denny Burk.

“The children of evangelicals are not nearly as committed to a biblical sexual ethic as their parents have been If there are students at Wheaton who are confused about these things, you can be sure that there are students in evangelical youth groups across the country who are as well ”

Parents jailed for son’s death

A Philadelphia couple was sentenced to at least three years in prison after their son died from a treatable condition, Christity Today online reports Herbert and herine Schaible, who believe in faith ng, had already lost their son, Kent, to ial pneumonia in 2009 His younger brother, Brandon, died last year with the same ailment “You’ve killed two of your children,” Judge Benjamin Lerner told the Schaibles “ Not God Not your church Not religious devotion You ”

‘Snake Salvation’ pastor dies

Jamie Coots, reality

TV star and pastor of a Pentecostal church in Kentucky, died last month after refusing treatment for a snakebite Coots’ show “Snake Salvation” on National Geographic Channel chronicles him and his church, whose practices include snake handling A spokesperson for the network told CNN that the risks Coots took “were always worth it to him and his congregants as a means to demonstrate their unwavering faith ”

Americans grapple with violence

The majority of American adults believe there is a connection between violent behavior and violent entertainment, according to a new Barna study The esearcher found 57% of all adults and 69% of practicing Christians) say violent action is connected to playing violent videogames The percentages are slightly lower for movies (51% and 67%) and song lyrics (47% and 61%) Barna cited Americans’ struggle with violence as a major faith and culture trend for 2014

Worship, hockey: ‘Only in Canada’

The Olympic gold medal hockey game was broadcast on a Sunday morning in Canada But t didn’t stop one church in Nova Scotia from cheering on the home team, The Christian Post reported Bedford United Church streamed the game, a 3-0 victory for Canada in its sanctuary, causing one Twitter user t post: “That’s an ‘only in Canada’ moment!”

Fate of marriage likely rests in courts

Legal same-sex marriage, civil unions or domestic partnerships

Appeal on recent court action will decide whether same-sex marriages from other states must be recognized

State law or constitution defines marriage as being between a man and a woman

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho | Some observers say 2015 is likely to be the year when the U S Supreme Court rules on the consitutionality of several lower court judgments requiring states to recognize samesex marriage, possibly requiring all states to honor gay marriages performed outside their borders That projection comes because of the spate of recent court rulings in states where same-sex marriages are not legal or recognized

“This is moving very, very fast, and in some unexpected ways,” said Russell Moore, president of the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission Speaking to a meeting of Baptist state leaders and newspaper editors, Moore said he expected movement on the marriage issue, but he “didn’t expect it to be in Utah, Okla-

homa, and Kentucky ”

Add to that list Virginia, where on February 19 a lower court judge acted much as an Oklahoma counterpart, declaring that state’s refusal to honor same-sex marriages performed in other states is unconstitutional, then issued a stay on that judgment until a higher court takes up the matter – probably the U S Supreme Court Moore told the editors because of the speed of recent court actions, it’s important for Christians to be involved in the judicial debate early in the process

Asked about his advice for pastors and denominational leaders, Moore said, “We need to equip our people to deal with same-sex marriage And not just in the blue states, but in places like Mississippi and Alabama ”

Sharing the Gospel with kids

Conferences answers parents’ questions

Springfield | How do you effectively share the Gospel with children? When children ask about salvation do they have to talk to their pastor, or can their parents lead them to Christ?

Three Children’s Evangelism Conferences will answer those questions this month

“We want to help children’s workers consistently and clearly communicate the Gospel,” said Tim Sadler, IBSA’s director of evangelism and discipleship “We also want to equip parents to be the primary disciple-makers in sharing the Gospel with their children ”

He recounted how once while serving as a pastor, a church member phoned him and said, “My son wants to be saved Can you talk to him?”

“I felt very convicted that I had not prepared that dad enough to lead his son to Christ in their own home,” Sadler remembered He hopes the conferences will help take away fear and anxiety parents might have about leading their children to Christ

The most important thing, he

said is to “let God do what God wants to do We’ve got to be faithful in telling children about the Gospel ”

Children’s Evangelism Conferences are at FBC Herrin on March 11; the IBSA Building on March 18; and Broadview Missionary Baptist on March 25 Contact Tim Sadler at (217) 391-3131, TimSadler@IBSA org

And in the Midwest

Last month in Indiana, legislative maneuvering delayed a popular vote preserving traditional marriage until at least 2016

One Hoosier lawmaker pushing for the vote this year blamed “inactive churches” for failure to get it past the state legislature

Meanwhile, Moore said, it’s business owners who refuse services, more than churches, that are endangered by the gay marriage movement “A government that can pave over the conscience of that florist or photographer can pave over the conscience of anyone,” Moore warned

Without court intervention, same-sex marriages will begin in Illinois June 1

Floyd named

Continued from page 1

The letter alluded that Floyd’s capability as a unifier is particularly important as the convention navigates theological differences and waning cultural influence

“This is a crucial moment for Southern Baptists We face mounting challenges within our own nation, matched by great opportunities for the Gospel at home and around the world,” Mohler said

Floyd recently organized two national prayer gatherings for Southern Baptist ministers He led the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force in 2010, has served as chairman of the SBC Executive Committee, and was part of the Program and Structure Task Force in the mid1990s

The author of 10 books, Floyd served as general editor for the updated and enhanced version of LifeWay’s “Bible Studies for Life ” He has been married to Jeana for 37 years; the couple has two sons and six grandchildren – With reporting by Baptist Press

FOOD ART – Lisa Woodman of Emmanuel Baptist in Carlinville practices a sample hands-on project at IBSA’s VBS Clinic in Springfield The clinics are another opportunity to learn about engaging kids with the Gospel See page 11 for dates and locations

– Reported by Eric Reed

The BIG Pic ture Encouragement key reason for Philippines trip

Continued from page 1

(BGR) and Southern Baptist missionaries in the area BGR is a partner of the International Mission Board, offering immediate relief and long-term response after disasters

The Illinois volunteers worked mostly with Filipino nationals under contract with BGR for the school project, Alexander said And as they worked, they had the audience of several hundred kids, from kindergarten to 12th grade

“I expected school to be in session and I expected us to be able to communicate with kids, but I had no idea how much of a highlight that would be,” Alexander said

Don Kragness played a special role during the week The 35-year veteran music teacher went around from classroom to classroom, working with several grade levels on songs like “Jesus Loves Me” and “Jesus Loves the Little Children ” And “Father Abraham,” of course

“When I came into their class, they all stood at attention and said, ‘Good morning, Sir Don We’re glad that you’re here ’ In unison!” Kragness said, laughing at the memory

Gibitngil Island is largely Catholic, but some of the kids are involved in a house church on the island The freedom to talk about Jesus at school amazed the American volunteers

“ In our own country, here in Johnson City, Illinois, I could not speak Jesus in class,” Kragness said

“Over there, I had free reign The principal of the school is a believer, and there are religious quotations and scriptures posted on the walls and on the trees outside, and you can say anything you want to ”

Kids on the island may be familiar with Jesus, but many don’t know how to have a personal relationship with Him George Meese was sorting lumber one day when he noticed a little boy watching him from the doorway. “ The Holy Spirit just talked to me and told me I needed to talk to him,” said the pastor of New Hope Baptist in Robinson, Ill

Meese found out the boy’s name and age – 11 “I asked him if he knew Jesus, and he said yes, I believe in Jesus And I said, well, have you accepted Jesus in your heart?

“And he said, well, no one’s asked.”

They got down on their knees and the boy prayed to receive Christ, then and there

Worship by flashlight

Alexander estimates that the house was about twice the size of his office in Springfield But around 30 people crowded in for the Thursday evening meeting of Gibitngil’s house church, run mostly by older students from the school

Everything about the gathering would have been completely unacceptable to American Christians, Alexander said

“First of all, there’s no electricity, so everything had to be done by flashlight Instead of PowerPoint screens, the kids had handwritten songs and taped them on the walls ” They shone the flashlight on the walls to illuminate the songs and Scripture passages.

Light rain fell outside and in part of the house The room was crowded Students were in charge But Alexander had told the group beforehand, “We need to do everything we can to get to that little meeting ”

The students aren’t alone on their island in adhering to Christian principles, Alexander said, but their belief in Jesus as Savior sets them apart

“Part of what we do on a trip like this is to encourage Christians,”

Pray through the news

Pray

Alexander said “ When a group from the outside comes to their area and shows them God’s love personally, and sits down in their homes and worships with them, in the back of their minds, that helps a young person or adult say, ‘I’ve chosen correctly ’ It helps solidify decisions that they make ”

There will be opportunities for teams to serve in the Philippines for at least another year,

said, and previous Disaster Relief training isn’t required For more information, contact him at (217) 391-3134 or RexAlexander@IBSA org

Alexander

HOUSE CHURCH – Thirty or more people crowded into this small house for a worship service Thursday evening, run mostly by older students from Gibitngil School They taped song lyrics and an order of service to the wall, and used a flashlight so the worshipers could follow along

RAIN COLLECTORS – There is no natural fresh water source on Gibitngil Island, so the people collect rain water in giant barrels Here, Kurt Crail (left) and David Howard help build a concrete platform for one of the barrels Photos courtesy of the volunteer team

MVP – Missionary kid Ian, shown here with Mike Robertson, George Meese, and Don Kragness, joined the volunteers for the week Alexander said, “We would look at something heavy that we had to do, we would look at each other, and then everybody together would look at Ian ”

for teams serving in the Philippines, that the fruit of their ministry goes beyond physical rebuilding into community rebuilding and spiritual reformation

Pray for the house church on Gibitngil Island, that the students will grow strong in their faith and have influence in their families and at school

Nate Adams

Baptist faith matters

I’ve recently found myself in several different settings where I have been asked to help clarify what Baptists believe, and how those beliefs may be distinct or different from those of other groups Sometimes the question comes from Christians of another faith background Sometimes it’s from a non-Christian who wants to understand if his or her perception is accurate Occasionally, those from a different Baptist denomination simply want to understand why all Baptists aren’t alike

I have to admit, dialoguing with that latter group sometimes has made me wonder if we Baptists aren’t too quick to stand apart from one another, or to divide into different groups over relatively minor issues But in most cases, looking for the reasons that we stand apart as Baptists makes me glad that we do

Late last year, my more frequent conversations along these lines led me to set aside 18 weeks of our weekly chapel at the IBSA building, and to devote one week to each of the articles in The Baptist Faith & Message We only have 30-4 for chapel, which includes worship a So we did not do an in-depth study week, I asked the staff to look at a di ticle from The Baptist Faith & Messa ask with me, “What is distinct here? H Southern Baptists different from oth groups, even other conservative, Christian groups?”

Our staff agreed it was a helpful and enlightening exercise Often

we found ourselves saying, “Well, many Christians believe that, or certainly most conservative or evangelical Christians would say something similar to that ” But every week, on almost every doctrinal topic, we also found ourselves identifying distinct beliefs or practices that make our Baptist faith and message meaningfully unique

After the chapel series was over, I sat down with my notes and jotted my own personal summary of the Baptist beliefs that, to me, seem to differentiate Baptists from others This list will help me summarize our Baptist identity when I am asked to do so And, with great love and respect for my many Christian and evangelical friends from other denominations, these are the reasons I will always look for a Baptist church when I move to a new town, or when I choose to declare a doctrinal identity

My list didn’t simply include a high view of Scripture, or faith in Jesus as the only way to salvation, or a literal resurrection and second coming, because y Christians share those beliefs But it did ude things like believer ’s baptism, by imsion and symbolic It included local church nomy and congregational governance, comd with passionate, organized cooperation in

missions And it included belief in eternal security, biblical marriage, and personal responsibility for evangelism

This rich discussion of “What does it mean to be Baptist, and does it really matter?” has also contributed to the creation of a new feature, beginning in this issue of the Illinois Baptist You will find it on pages 9 and 10 This new “Baptist 101” section will help clarify and reinforce what it means today to be Baptist, not just doctrinally, but also in cooperative missions endeavors and practical church matters In fact, I hope it will help all of us who read the Illinois Baptist become more articulate proponents of Baptist, evangelical, Christian faith

Of course the autonomous nature of Baptist churches and people makes it impossible, even undesirable, to try and paint everyone with the same broad stroke Baptists are a diverse group! But while we are not uniform, we are strangely, almost miraculously, unified Our best understanding of the Bible has led us to stand, with humility and respect for others I trust, on core Baptist beliefs and practices If we believe these are important enough to protect and preserve for our children and grandchildren, then we must continue to understand them and articulate them for others. Across the centuries, and I believe now and into the future, Baptist faith matters

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

Ronnie Floyd is the first candidate to toss his hat in the ring for the next Southern Baptist Convention president Although, in keeping with tradition, Floyd’s nominator actually did the tossing: Southern Seminary President Al Mohler announced last month he will nominate Floyd for the convention’s top elected post at the annual meeting in Baltimore

No one else has allowed his name to be brought forth so far This unusual across-the-aisle nomination, and a potential single-candidate race, has several implications for Southern Baptists:

1. The Calvinism debate doesn’t have to result in a hostile takeover for either camp Mohler ’s wellknown and well-documented theological perspective is different from what is known of Floyd’s In an open letter announcing the nomination, the seminary president and leading Reformed thinker lauded Floyd as a unifier He specifically mentioned the theology talk that has dominated conversation over the past several years, pointing to Floyd as a leader who can move the SBC toward a common goal of reaching the world for Christ Mohler ’s nomination of Floyd is likely the kind of unifying event SBC Executive Committee Frank Page had in mind when he appointed an advisory committee to study how the two “sides” can work together

2. The generation gap may be narrowing Mohler has the ear of many young Baptists, as a seminary president and proponent of Reformed theology, whose adherents tend to

skew younger He is in the unique position of being able to steer 30-somethings toward active participation in Southern Baptist life, without being a 30-something himself His nomination of Floyd indicates he’s willing to guide young leaders away from a concentration on divisive issues and toward goals we can work on together.

3. With revival as the goal, Baptists are ready to rally around the Great Commission Current SBC President Fred Luter made revival and spiritual awakening his platform during his two years of leadership, aiming to stem the decline in baptisms “Fred Luter has led us so well as he has unified and inspired us,” Mohler wrote in his nomination letter “Our next president needs to unify and inspire us for our next steps together ”

Floyd chaired the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force, which presented a comprehensive strategy in 2010 to push funding to areas of the country (and world) that are less churched and often more urban More recently, he organized two prayer gatherings to guide pastors and leaders toward personal and corporate revival.

“Pastors believe the Great Commission can be fulfilled in their generation,” Floyd blogged after the prayer meeting in Atlanta If he’s elected in June, he’ll be charged with communicating that vision to a multigenerational, theologically diverse denomination

Christian leaders last month engaged in debate over an Arizona bill that would allow businesses to deny services to same-sex couples for religious reasons

Kirsten Powers and Jonathan Merritt, both Christians, wrote an article for The Daily Beast taking issue with Christians who want to refuse services like wedding photography or cake baking – because they adhere to a biblical definition of marriage Powers and Merritt said the logic behind the Arizona bill only works if Christian photographers or bakers or florists examine every wedding they provide services for to make sure that it meets biblical qualifications They also called into question advice given by Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, to a Christian photographer faced with filming a same-sex ceremony Moore responded in a post on his website: “ It’s of no harm to anyone else if Kirsten Powers and Jonathan Merritt (both of whom I love) think me to be a hypocrite

It’s fine for The Daily Beast to ridicule the sexual ethic of the historic Christian church, represented confessionally across the divide of Catholicism, Protestantism, and Orthodoxy It’s quite another thing for the state to coerce persons through fines and penalties and licenses to use their creative gifts to support weddings they believe to be sinful ”

Voices

7 problems with activity-driven churches

Many churches are busy, probably too busy Church calendars fill quickly with a myriad of programs and activities While no individual activity may be problematic, the presence of so many options can be An activity-driven church is a congregation whose corporate view is that busier equals better More activities, from this perspective, mean a healthier church The reality is that churches who base their health on their busyness already have several problems Allow me to elaborate on seven of those challenges:

1 Activity is not biblical purpose Certainly some activities can move a congregation toward fulfilling her biblical purposes But busyness per se should not be a goal of a healthy congregation

2. Busyness can take us away from connecting with other believers and non-believers. It is sadly ironic that local churches are often a primary reason we do not connect on a regular basis with people in our community and in the world We are too busy “doing church ”

3 An activity-driven church often is not strategic in its ministries. Leaders do not think about what is best; they often just think about what is next on the activity list

4. A congregation that is too busy can hurt families Sadly, some church members are so busy with their churches that they neglect their fami-

lies Our churches should be about strengthening families, not pulling them apart

5. An activity-driven church often has no presence in the community Christians should be Christ’s presence in the communities their churches serve Some Christians are just too busy doing church activities to have an incarnational presence in the community

6. Activity-driven churches tend to have “siloed” ministries So the student ministry plans activities that conflict with the children’s ministries that conflict with the senior adult ministries, and so on Instead of all the ministries and activities working together for a strategic purpose, they tend to work only for their particular areas.

7. Churches that focus on activities tend to practice poor stewardship Many of the activities are not necessary Some are redundant Others are sacred cows Ministry effectiveness can often be enhanced with less instead of more

Many of our churches have traded effectiveness for busyness Good use of the resources God has given us demands that we rethink all we are asking our members to do in our churches We really need more simple churches Now that’s a novel concept

This article was originally published at ThomRainer com on Feb 12, 2014 Thom S Rainer is president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources Find him on Twitter @ThomRainer and at Facebook com/Thom S Rainer

Table Talk: Theology, ministry, and things that matter

“Church loyalty is important to me

Whenever I get the urge to attend church, I always come here ”

πA slice of life

LifeWay Research asked Protestant pastors: How would you describe society’s culture war?

59%

19%

Christians are losing the culture war

11%

Don’t know Christians have lost the culture war

10% 1% Christians are winning the culture war

Christians have won the culture war

Having conversations with young people

We need to learn how to talk with young people

I must have entered some stage of fogey-dom if I feel the need to make this topic a course of personal study

But I do We all do

The millennial generation is making important adult life decisions now: marriage, family, and faith So many of them have eschewed the church, but they are the generation who will turn the tide and secure the future of our denomination, if it is to happen

But how will we bring them into the kingdom, and into the church? More specifically, how will we bring them into Southern Baptist life?

Some fresh insight on this comes from an unexpected source, a Catholic professor who studies and teaches about contemporary religions. Patricia O’Connell Killen was a conference speaker at the February meeting of Baptist newspaper editors Many of her observations of the American religious landscape were good summations of things we’ve already heard:

• 1 in 5 U S adults claims “none” as their religious preference, with people under age 30 leading the exodus.

• Fewer than 50% of U S adults claim to be Protestant, making Protestantism the minority religion for the first time in our national history

• The resulting “open” religious environment means people are very willing to experience without the pressures of cultural and family expectations; the choices are up to individuals as never before

But when the professor spoke of the students in her classroom, most around age 20, I heard something I think we all need to hear Here’s my interpolation:

Today’s young adults aren’t all looking for churches that are always adapting to the latest cultural trend They don’t want a lot of the so-called “relevance” their parents sought They want something in their faith and in their experience of church that is solid, unchanging, immutable. Why? Things that change too much are untrustworthy, her students have said, and they want something they can trust (One of Dr Killen’s observations is especially pointed: “What is tradition for children who have ne-

gotiated three-to-five sets of parents since the age of two?”)

The professor contends that this emerging generation struggles to make decisions The millennials had more options than any generation before them (Which of 100 channels do you want to watch on TV, baby? Which video game do you want to play? What do you want to wear today, princess? Which toy do you want in your Happy Meal?)

The parents let the kids make the choices And the kids – by chat, text, and tweet – consulted their friends An entire generation with nothing but options was always testing the winds to see how their crowd was leaning

That produced a lot of indecisive people who are always changing and, ironically, are suspicious of change

The application to church life is counter-intuitive to me I thought a generation of choice-addicts would want churches that offer lots of choices. But the professor says, not so The church or denomination that is always changing for the sake of relevance doesn’t meet their needs, but instead feeds their deepest fears: There’s nothing I can really hold on to

We who have preached against “tradition” in previous generations will bless a future generation if we point out the value of some biblically sound traditions For Southern Baptists to have meaningful conversations with young people today, we must focus on the unchanging aspects of our theology and missiology: We are people of the Book, we preach salvation in Jesus Christ and there is salvation in no other, and everyone needs the opportunity to hear that Gospel

This is not an excuse for our churches to get stuck in the old ways. Methods may change, because methods wear out and need to be replaced And styles may change to fit communication needs and technologies

But worship is more than singing nothing but ditties written last Thursday, discipleship grows in relationships that endure for years, and faith is based on the unchanging God, “…the same yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8)

In today’s conversations, our starting point may not be what’s new, but what’s not

Eric Reed is IBSA’s associate executive director, communications

Thom Rainer

Eric Reed

– LifeWay Research survey of 1,007 Protestant pastors, Sept 2013

Into Africa

Five stories of going where the Gospel hasn’t

G u i n e a | “What took you so long to come back?”

The question came from someone Ron Philpot had never met before But the man, a spiritual leader in his village, had met people like Philpot before

“That affirmed to us the need to be there,” said the pastor of Northcrest Calvary Baptist Church in the Quad Cities At 64, Philpot was labeled the “omum” (old man) of the group by the Guineans, who showed him respect because of his age His American teammates also called him by the title occasionally, he said

He had practiced telling a specific set of Bible stories leading up to his trip, even weaving them into his church’s Christmas program But standing on a bridge with his interpreter, Philpot had an unexpected opportunity to improvise Looking down below at people swimming and fishing in the water, the interpreter asked him to tell a story about Jesus and Peter to passers-by on the bridge

“I was caught off guard, but I said, ‘Why not?’ Philpot told how Jesus encouraged Peter to let down the nets, resulting in a windfall catch of fish.

“It was not one of the stories they asked us to bring, but it worked ”

Like Peter, Philpot and his fellow volunteers had to have faith that their stories have a purpose, even if they didn’t see immediate results He says

the purpose of his trip was to begin to engage a people group so that he and others can go back to share again with the Guineans “Maybe one day the stories we tell will be the stories they tell to their people.”

Only a move of God

The Baga Manduri people in Guinea are less than 10,000, with no written language The interpreter traveling with Kevin Carrothers, Ron Philpot and Bob Elmore spoke several languages, but none that would be well understood by the Baga Manduri

“How are we going to communicate?” Carrothers remembers wondering But in each of the three villages they visited, God provided someone who spoke another language their interpreter did know The Americans told Bible stories in English, which were translated into Pular, and then interpreted again into the heart language of the people listening

The chief of one village gave the group a unique opening “I’m an old man,” he said “It’s about time for me to step aside ”

Carrothers said, “I know a story about an old man God had promised him descendants, but he didn’t have any children ”

As the chief listened along with the village imam and an elder, Carrothers told the story of Abraham and Isaac And he pointed them to Christ: Just as God provided a ram instead of requiring Abraham to sacrifice his son, He also provided a Lamb, Jesus, to pay our price

“I finished the story, and they said thank you, and they all got up and

left,” Carrothers remembers He thought he had offended them “I knew it could be a lightning rod story ” What if they got run out of the village?

But they came back, carrying a bowl of oranges as thanks for the story Before leaving the village, the Americans prayed that the people would have water during the current dry season The chief, emotional, offered to give them money The group’s guide said he’d never seen that before

In Guinea, Carrothers said, only God can advance the Gospel On previous international trips, he worked with local leaders and churches that had a plan for reaching their community “But that’s not the case in Guinea, because there is no local church, no local believers it can only be a move of God ”

“The only thing we had was the Word - the Word that had been written on our heart.”

RICE AND SAUCE – The name of the meal the volunteers ate most often is self-explanatory Rice covered in a sauce made with dried fish, served in a communal dish The villagers ate with their hands but provided utensils for the Americans Above: Ron Philpot, second from right, with Bob Elmore, interpreter Lamine, and Kevin Carrothers.

– Pastor Kevin Carrothers Rochester FBC

Do you know Carol?

Mark Emerson had spent several hours on a boat looking for the Mbotini people group It was getting late, and the group would eventually have to turn around But Emerson had a good reason to find the Mbotini

They were Carol Stewart’s people

Before his trip Emerson talked to Stewart, a member of Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church in Jacksonville, about the people group she and her church adopted several years ago Stewart had visited Africa’s west coast But still, it was surprising how many times Emerson heard the question:

“Do you know Carol?”

From two missionaries and a local pastor, on the other side of the world

“This Illinois Baptist is known in Guinea because she went there in representation of her church,” Emerson said

He’s hoping others will follow her example The International Mission Board is calling congregations to be “engaging churches” who will adopt an unreached, unengaged people group (UUPG) and send small teams several times a year

Reaching unreached people groups will require a long-term investment

“This was my first mission trip I’d ever participated in that we didn’t win anyone to the Lord,” Emerson said of his time in Guinea Referencing William Carey, he said, “We forget

that these hall of fame missionaries of the past spent years before they saw anyone come to the Lord ”

When he joined IBSA’s missions team, Emerson said he had a goal to get as many Illinois Baptists to the mission field as possible Now, “I’m thinking we need to get the Gospel where it’s not ”

FORERUNNERS – International Mission Board workers had already researched the people groups Mark Emerson (left) and Harold Booze (right) would encounter

Friends in high places

When you ask Harold Booze what he’s still thinking about several weeks after getting home, he tells the story of a village chief

Guinean villages may have several layers of governance, including a chief, elders, and a religious leader, or imam The particular chief was part of the Bijola, some of the friendliest and most hospitable people he had ever run across, said Booze, who was making his fifth trip to Africa

“The chief was very open to us from the beginning He definitely is a person of peace ”

He graciously hosted the American visitors, even to the point of getting into trouble with his boss, the district chief, Booze said Their host had decided to accompany the Americans as they told Bible stories one day. But he had been ordered to investigate a possible elephant sighting in another village

When the district chief showed up to find out why he hadn’t followed orders, the village chief could have been thrown in jail, Booze said The group’s interpreter helped to sort things out, and apologies were accepted

“I just have to believe that the Lord is working in his spirit,” Booze said of the chief “He really put himself on the line for us ”

One day, Bob Elmore’s group told Bible stories in the shade of a marketplace hut It wasn’t market day, but a group of men stopped to hear, asking why the Americans were there

“We came to share God’s Word ”

One man seemed especially interested in the stories. Elmore still remembers him because the man wore pink pants He accompanied the group to their next two villages, riding in the front seat of their all-terrain vehicle

Elmore, IBSA’s short-term mission coordinator, had noticed the phenomenon in other places they’d been: “At each village, there seemed to be one

person that paid a bit more attention to the stories than the others ”

The man in the pink pants could be a “man of peace,” Elmore said, someone who could be a first convert in this unreached, unengaged people group The concept is an ancient one: In Luke 10, Jesus told the 70 disciples he sent out, “Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household ’ If a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you ”

Sharing the Gospel here is precarious There are many things you can’t say on a first meeting, like “Jesus is

in Guinea This family dressed up to have their picture taken

the Son of God ” Any talk of the Trinity likely would alienate their listeners, who believe in one God But the people’s appreciation for stories opened doors for the Illinois volunteers They didn’t encounter any hostility, Elmore said And the villagers, who practice folk Islam, found common ground with the Americans when they told stories about God They didn’t even seem to mind hearing stories about Jesus

But with the barriers between Christianity and Islam, can the storying method really work in Guinea among these people? Elmore said yes, but the burden is on engaging churches to be committed to the process

“Otherwise, it’s not gonna get done Truly, the workers are few ”

And those who go must remember that God’s Word is the most valuable thing they can share “You must take it slow,” Elmore said of engaging people groups with the Gospel “Be real and consistent in sharing God’s Word

“You can’t promise anything you can’t do, and can’t start anything that can’t be continued when you’re gone ”

The chief is what we in contemporary church culture would consider a seeker, Booze said The group told around a dozen Bible stories, and the chief heard most of them “I don’t think he would have done the things he did if he were not curious and interested ”

But what will capture his heart?

It’s people going back on a regular basis, and not just for the chief His people are on the line, too, Booze said

“If the village chief would ever accept the Lord, that just opens the door so much wider for the other people in the village ”

And the harvest is plentiful

“We told Bible stories in four different villages, and every one of them asked us to come back,” Booze said “And in two cases, the person that asked us to come back and tell more stories was the imam ”

‘Truly, the workers are few’

FAMILY PORTRAIT – “They have to not just know you, but trust you,” Bob Elmore said of building relationships

LONG-HELD BELIEFS – Islam is very much a part of Guinean culture Children recite passages from the Qur’an, printed on these tablets, even though the people don’t speak or read Arabic

“There are not enough missionaries in Africa to reach all of these tribes.”

– Bob Elmore, Short-term mission coordinator, IBSA

– Compiled by Meredith Flynn, photos courtesy of team

PEOPLE & CHURCHES

In Memory

Rev. Sam White died Feb 14 at the age of 62 White served on IBSA staff as a campus minister, and later pastored churches in Makanda, Marion, Alto Pass and Creal Springs He is survived by his wife, Pamela; children Michael, Aimee and Laurel; four siblings; and one granddaughter

Ministry Positions

FBC Maryville is seeking a minister of worship and arts Qualified applicants should send a resume to Lora Fuller at lfuller@fbmaryville org

Logan Street Baptist Church in Mt Vernon is seeking a senior pastor For more information, contact Jim Hanger at (618) 204-6865, or send resumes or questions to the search committee at lsbcpastor search@yahoo com or 601 S 21st St , Mt Vernon, IL 62864

Send People & Churches news to MeredithFlynn@IBSA org

‘Freedom and joy’ even behind bars

Women explore prison ministry partnership

By Lisa Sergent

Pine Bluff, Ark | Seven Southern Baptist women from Illinois spent two days in an Arkansas prison last month, learning from inmates who have found true freedom in Christ

Even though many of them are serving life sentences

Carmen Halsey, IBSA’s missions involvement director, led the team in their work with the PAL program, a voluntary, faith-based program for women at McPherson prison Illinois women became familiar with PAL (short for Principles and Applications for Life), when former prisoner turned chaplain Stacey Smith spoke during last year ’s Women’s Missions Celebration

Chaplain Kenneth Dewitt, an Arkansas bi-vocational minister, created PAL after he saw a need for the female inmates to learn better decision-making skills using biblical truths And the numbers say the program is working: The recidivism (or return) rate of PAL inmates at the McPherson Unit is 5 04% after three years, and just 9 35% after seven years The rates are much better than in regular prison settings U S Bureau of Justice Statistics say 67 5% of in-

mates are rearrested for a felony or serious misdemeanor within three years, and 25 4% are resentenced to prison

“I have never seen such freedom and joy in Christian women than I saw in those inmates,” said mission team member Barb Troeger, who also serves as an IBSA ministry assistant At McPherson, PAL participants “have no resentment, no bitterness, no regrets, no blaming,” she said “They see their incarceration as all part of God’s plan, and rest in the peace of knowing that Christ is their Savior ”

Learning and practicing submission is a key factor in PAL The ministry participants, all inmates who applied and were accepted into the program, are required to follow a strict set of rules that go beyond the prison’s guidelines. If they break any of the rules, they are kicked out of the program

“The women really take responsibility for their actions,” Troeger said “They learn about falling under the submission and authority of Christ, the legal system, and authority figures such as the warden They’re willing to accept the consequences of their sin and believe God is putting them on the right path ”

Another key is scripture memorization When Bible verses sink in, God’s Word becomes the prism women look through as they make decisions

“It’s their poor choices that have gotten the women where they are [in

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

Calvary Baptist Church (SBC) in Clinton, Iowa, is seeking a full-time pastor. E-mail resumes to CalvaryBaptist PSC@gmail com

prison],” Halsey said “By teaching them to reason, they can make better choices and become a new creation in Christ ”

Halsey calls the visit a “vision trip” towards forming a partnership with the ministry. She hopes to take more teams to the Arkansas prison and introduce more women to the PAL concept of thinking She also would like to bring the program’s principles to inmates in Illinois prisons

She asks, “Pray with me for open doors to our women’s prisons in Illinois to allow Southern Baptist women to begin Bible studies with the inmates.” Illinois has three women’s prisons, two state and one federal Chaplain Dewitt will visit Illinois May 1-3 to lead the Bible study at the 2014 Women’s Missions Celebration in Marion For more information, visit www IBSA org/WomensMissions To learn more about PAL, visit www PrisontoPurpose com

Current BFI bonds

The Baptist Foundation of Illinois has one bond issue now open for individual or institutional investors:

• 2014C ($500,000):

Closes April 11, or when fully subscribed

BFI bonds are sold in $1,000 increments and support Illinois Baptist church capital improvement and/or construction loans Current BFI bonds have a 3% coupon paid semi-annually

For more information, go to www baptistfoundationil org

PURPOSEFUL – A volunteer team from Illinois spent time at Arkansas’ McPherson prison, meeting with inmates learning how to make decisions based on biblical truth

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s e n t o u s e y o u a n d m e . T h e r e ’s n g r e a t e r r e a s o n w h y w e s h o u l d d o i t h a n b e c a u s e H e h a s e n t r u s t e d t h i i n t o j a r s o f c l a y . ” C h o o s e 2 : I t ’s a s s i m p l e a s 123 T h e C h o o s e 2 g o a l i s f o r e v e r B a p t i s t i n I l l i n o i s t o … 1 C h o o s e t w o f r i e n d s , f a m i l m e m b e r s , n e i g h b o r s , o r c ow o r k e r s w h o d o n o t h a v e s a v i n g f a i t h i C h r i s t . 2 C o m m i t t o p r a y f o r t h e i r s a lv a t i o n t w i c e a d a y . 3 I n v i t e y o u r C h o o s e 2 f a m i l y a n d f r i e n d s t o a t l e a s t t w o e v e n t s a t y o u r c h u r c h t h i s y e a r S a d l e r e n c o u r a g e s p r a ye r s t o a s k t h e m s e l v e s h o w t h e y c a n f u rt h e r e n g a g e t h e p e o p l e t h e y ’ r e p r a y i n g f o r i n a r e l a t i o n s h i p t h a t w i l l l e a d t o G o s p e l c o n v e r s a t i o n s . A n d , “ D o n ’ t s t o p p r a y i n g , b ec a u s e G o d a l w a y s h e a r s , a n d y o u a n d I d o n ’ t k n o w G o d ’s t i m i n g ” M o r e t h a n 2 0 0 c h u r c h e s , s t a r t i n g i n I l l i n o i s , h a v e u s e d t h e C h o o s e 2 p r a y e r s t r a t e g y f o r e v a n g e l i s m A n d t h e e m p h a s i s h a s b e e n u s e d i n c h u r c h e s i n 1 2 s t a t e s a n d a d o p t e d b y f o u r s t a t e c o n v e n t i o n s . O u r s t a t e c o n v e n t i o n , t h e I l l i n o i s B a p t i s t S t a t e A s s o c i a t i o n , i s h e l pi n g t o a d v a n c e t h e G o s p e l w o r l dw i d e w i t h i n n o v a t i v e m i s s i o n s a n d c r e a t i v e e v a n g e l i s m p l a n s T o l e a r n m o r e v i s i t I B S A . o r g / C h o o s e 2 .

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–M e r e d i t h F l y n n T h e w h o l e w o r l d i s o u r m i s s i o n f i e l d A p r a y e r s t r a t e g y f o r s h a r i n g C h r i s

m i s s i o n i l l i n o i s P r a y f o r a n e w c h u r c h –F r o m t h e B S A C h u r c h P l a n t n g T e a m

L o c a t i o n : R o u n d L a k e B e a c h

T a r g e t : H s p a n c f a m l i e s a n d s n g l e s C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s : T h s s u b u r b a n a r e a h a s a p o p u l a t i o n o f

2 8 , 0 0 0 ; 5 2 % o f t h e p e o p l e h a v e a H i s p a n i c h e r t a g e .

P r a y e r N e e d s : F o r t h e p l a n t n g o f a G o s p e lc e n t e r e d , S p a n i s hl a n g u a g e c h u r c h

Your God is awesome Your church is wonderful Yet guests who visit your church don’t often return No true connection was made

A parking lot greeter in our church expressed that concern: “We’ve got to figure out how to actually connect every guest with another person Our flippant hellos or glad-you-came’s just aren’t adequate ”

Why not challenge every member of your church to use these seven tips to connect with guests:

1. Make a personal commitment to intentionally “connect” with one guest every Sunday Ask God to make you aware of visitors Be diligently alert – in the parking lot, foyer, nursery, hallway, worship service – to notice them If you accidentally welcome someone who isn’t a guest, no problem You’ve found a new friend

2. Once you’ve found a possible newcomer, pray for God’s guidance. Smile, greet the guest warmly, and introduce yourself Pay careful attention to his name Repeat it Write it down You will want to call him by name next Sunday when he returns

3. Chat casually and purposefully You may ask, “Is this your first

Don’t just greet. Connect!

time to worship here?” Ask nonintrusive questions such as, “Did you just move to town?” or “What brought you to church today?” Warning: Never ask, “Are you a native here?” That reeks of cliquism and warns the guest they aren’t welcome unless they’re from your town

6. Help the guest to connect with at least one other person at the church As you converse, think of someone who has a common interest, such as children’s ages, similar life stage, employment, neighborhood, hobbies or background Introduce them

7 Say these words before the guest departs: “We want you here!”

Junk mail isn’t the problem

Q: How can I get credit card companies to s t o p s e n d i n g u s p r e a p p r o v e d o f f e r s ? M y wife continues to sign up for these, and now we have $40,000 in credit card debt

4. As you chat, listen carefully to find things you have in common Most importantly, offer friendship Make a plan to get together this week For example, invite them to join you for lunch today, meet for coffee Monday, or be your guest at an upcoming church event

5. Give the guest your e-mail or phone number, and ask for their contact info Call them Tuesday to remind them of the kids’ Wednesday program or on Saturday to say, “I hope you come back again tomorrow I’ll save you a seat!”

Training Oppor tunities Training Oppor tunities

I listened as two young couples bemoaned their search for a church home Both had researched and visited multiple churches when they moved to a new city They’d been welcomed, but not connected One stated, “If just one person would invite us for coffee or show any true interest in us, we’d definitely join!” When we don’t bother to make true connections, we can exclude guests

Jesus said, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me ” As God brings guests to your church, will you intentionally connect with them? It will impact eternity

©Diana Davis is author of “Deacon Wives,” “Fresh Ideas,” and “Fresh Ideas for Women’s Ministry” (B&H Publishing) Visit her online at www dianadavis org

March 2-9: Annie Armstrong Easter Offering and Week of Prayer, www AnnieArmstrong com

AnaDeMelendez@gmail com for more information

March 29: VBS Clinic at Pleasant Hill, Mt Vernon Free training event for pastors, directors and leaders Starts at 8:15 a m , concludes at noon (217) 391-3124, CathyWaters@IBSA org

March 7-8: Ministers’ Wives’ Retreat at Vale Community Church, Bloomington Contact Alice Davis at alidavis@mchsi.com, (217) 649-1699.

March 11, 18, 25: Children’s Evangelism Conference at FBC Herrin on March 11, IBSA Building on March 18, and Broadview Missionary on March 25 JennaNickelson@IBSA org, (217) 391-3127

March 15: Children’s Ministry Day in Chicago, Granite City, Carbondale, Mt Vernon, Springfield, Bourbonnais, Peoria, Decatur and Bridgeport Register online at www IBSA org/Children

March 27-29: Expository Preaching Retreat at Lake Sallateeska, Pinckneyville (217) 391-3131, TimSadler@IBSA org

March 28-29: Disaster Relief Training at Living Faith, Sherman Register by March 14: (217) 391-3137, LindaDarden@ IBSA org

March 29: Hispanic WMU training at Broadview Missionary; 8:30 a m to 3 p m Learn how to dig deep in Bible study, and how to implement Woman’s Missionary Union in your church E-mail

April 4-5: RA Congress at Lake Sallateeska, Pinckneyville; registration begins 5 p.m. Friday and Congress ends 2:30 p m Saturday Includes a walk/run for missions, RA Racers, turtle races, sail boat races, line gliders, bookstore, and more Cost is $25 per person (217) 391-3138, BarbTroeger@IBSA org

April 11-12: Disaster Relief Training at Streator Baptist Camp Courses offered: Chainsaw, Food Preparation, Mudout, Child Care, DR Chaplaincy, Assessment $30 for new trainees, $10 for renewals Register by March 28: (217) 391-3137, LindaDarden@IBSA org

A: Chances are you’ll never get credit card companies to stop sending stuff, but there a few things you can do that might help slow things down. Access your credit bureau report, and opt out of marketing offers You can also freeze your credit report, and send direct requests to the credit card companies to take you off their mailing lists

April 5: Chicagoland VBS Clinic at Broadview Missionary Training in English and Spanish for pastors, VBS directors, and leaders in preschool, children, music, crafts and missions Starts 8:15 a m , concludes at noon (217) 391-3124, CathyWaters@ IBSA org

April 10, 15, 24: Evangelistic Leaders’ Workshop at the IBSA Building on April 10; Anna Heights, Anna on April 15; Connection Community, Chicago on April 24 Evangelists share best practices, strategies and processes; learn from and network with other evangelism-hearted pastors (217) 391-3131, TimSadler@IBSA org

April 12: Day of Service. Go to www IBSA org/gps for more information, or call (217) 391-3131

April 12: Churches of Strength Conference at Belle Rive Missionary Free training in leadership development, Sunday School, evangelism, music & worship, student ministries, church renewal, prayer, WMU, and more Starts at 8 a m with continental breakfast; concludes at noon CathyWaters@IBSA org, (217) 391-3124

April 13: Cooperative Program Sunday. E-mail LisaSergent@ IBSA org or call (217) 391-3119 for resources

April 20: Easter Sunday

April 25-26: Youth Ministry Retreat at the IBSA Building, Springfield Led by John Howard, FBC O’Fallon, and Greg Braswell, Rochester FBC Register by April 18: TimSadler@IBSA org

I’ve been telling people not to use credit cards for 20 years and, believe it or not, even I get offers in the mail

The more mailing lists you get on, the more your mailbox will fill up with junk mail If you have magazine subscriptions and things like that, your contact information is circulating all over the place

The next thing I’m going to say may sound cruel, but I really don’t mean it that way You don’t have a junk mail problem You have a relationship problem You two are not on the same page about money

Either she doesn’t feel like you have enough money, and she’s resorting to credit cards for this reason, or she does this because she’s a spoiled brat who thinks she should always have what she wants when she wants it Her behavior is destroying your financial lives and driving a wedge between you

My advice would be to sit down and have a gentle, loving talk with her about all this Try to find out why she feels the need to have all these credit cards, and explain that you’re worried about what it’s doing to your marriage and your finances That may mean having to spend some time with a marriage counselor, but that’s okay, too

There’s no reason to be ashamed of something like that The truth is, most of us who have been married more than 20 minutes could use a little help in that area of our lives!

For more financial advice from Dave Ramsey, go to www IBSA org

A flippant “hello” or “glad you came” isn’t enough.

i n s pi r a t i o n s

@ the Crossroads

Trending: Jack of all trades

Multi-career path may lead to more purpose in our work

Today’s young adults expect to have several careers in the course of their lives

PRAYING DEEP

“Raking is easy, but all you get is leaves Digging s harder, but you may discover treasure ”

I was working at my desk when I heard that statement by John Piper It caused me to pause and consider the implications of those words as they relate to praying I confess there are too many times my prayer life is like raking leaves

I pray through my prayer list and move on to something else I feel better, but I haven’t sought a deeper walk with God that yields spiritual treasure Perhaps you also know what I’m talking about Ministry is hard, no matter where you serve or how ong you have served I want to see us become more effective at digging deep as we pray for each other, our church ministries, and the communities where God has placed us throughout Illinois I want to be ike Epaphras who was “always wrestling in prayer for you” (Col 4:12)

PRAY for a colleague in church ministry or a church leader you know who’s walking through some hard days

Odis Weaver, pastor of Friendship Baptist Church

n Plainfield, was elected president of IBSA in November He will host a Facebook page for pastors to share prayer concerns And look for a devotional here to encourage prayer for all church leaders

Children’s Ministry Day

At this stage, many can’t see holding the same job for more than three years

Of all U S adults

POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE

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are looking for ways to live a more meaningful life

56% want to make a difference in the world

75% have a sense of what God wants them to do with their lives

20% – Barna org

In the beginning God created us to work and now he calls us and directs us unambiguously to live out that part of our design This is not a burdensome command; it is an invitation to freedom

– Tim Keller, “Every Good Endeavor”

Chart Toppers

2014 concert tours

Gungor Chicago, March 19 www gungormusic com

Winter Jam 2014 w/Newsboys, Lecrae and more Hoffman Estates, March 29 www jamtour com

Switchfoot Chicago, April 2 www switchfoot com

Michael W. Smith St Louis, April 10-11 www michaelwsmith com

Crowder w/All Sons & Daughters Chicago, Oct 3 www crowdermusic com

Missionaries: Song-Jung and Son-Hui Kim

Planting:

Focusing On: First- and secondgeneration Koreans

Growth Stage: Reaching and contacting Hispanics in the community Pray: That we would share the Gospel with the lost and multiply ministries for the Kingdom of God

ients

s chicken breasts mushroom soup ken broth

Onion powder, garlic powder, or seasonings of your choice ½ stick butter (optional) 12 oz bag dry noodles

To prepare: Combine chicken, soup, broth, seasonings and butter (if using) in crock pot, and cook 3-4 hours on high or 6-7 hours on low Remove chicken and shred Return chicken to crock pot, and add noodles Cook on low for one more hour

Submitted by Lisa Sergent, IBSA’s director of communications