Artists get framed at church page 3
Nate Adams: When church leadership is a family business page 4
Hope at the ranch pages 6-7
Why cancer doesn't scare me page 11
Swish! page 8
from the SBC Annual Meeting in Houston, at www.ib2news.org
By Lisa Sergent
Peoria | The television show “Dirty Jobs” comes to mind when Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers talk about their assignments in flood-affected communities Mud, mold and more coat the furniture, floors and walls of flooded homes The mud-out teams remove it all as they strip walls down to the studs, power wash and sanitize homes for thankful homeowners
Mud-out teams have been busy in the Peoria area and in Marseilles since the Illinois River flooded homes last month
“We’ve been received real well,” shared Jim Weickersheimmer, an IBSA Disaster Relief executive team member who coordinated the Peoria call-out “When people find out they don’t have to pay for getting their homes cleaned, they’re really happy ”
While chainsaw teams can complete as many as 10 jobs in one day, one mud-out job can take four to five days “It’s a different mindset,” said Rex Alexander, IBSA Disaster Relief Coordinator “Mud-out teams must be very patient Disaster Relief people like to check off things from their lists Mud-out teams may have worked hard all day long and will have only just started on a house ”
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Peoria-area mud-out assessments began early this month Before work was complete May 20, three teams from Williamson Association, one from FBC Eldorado and another from Palestine Association were joined by four from Missouri and one from Ten-
nessee Together, the teams completed 22 jobs for homeowners Disaster Relief volunteers often have opportunities to pray with homeowners and neighbors and engage them in conversations about salvation A team from Williamson Association serving in the Peoria area led one homeowner to Christ “Way to go God I just was blessed to be there,” wrote Chaplain Jan Kragness on the IBSA Facebook page after a photo was posted of her with the homeowner she led to Christ
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“Why do y’all want to do this on my watch?” Fred Luter joked of the possible debate over Calvinism at the upcoming annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Houston, June 11-12
Luter enters the convention aware that the adjective “historic” will be applied to whatever happens there
As the convention’s first African American president, elected to his first one-year term last year in his native New Orleans, Luter arrives in Houston unopposed for a second term While nominations from the floor are possible, Continued on page 9
Springfield | It’s been nearly three-anda-half months since the Illinois Senate passed the “Religious Freedom and Marriage Equality Act,” which would legalize same-sex marriage in the state On February 14, Illinois seemed poised to become the tenth state to do so, but the bill is still awaiting a vote on the House floor, and three states have passed Illinois in the race to approve same-sex marriage
The bill’s sponsor, Rep Greg Harris (D-Chicago), told WLS-TV in Chicago that proponents of same-sex marriage are “very close” to passing the legislation According to a May 12 Chicago Tribune editorial, “Harris
Conservative political organizations may not been the only ones targeted by the Inl Revenue Service, Fox News reported earlier this month The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association was notified of their IRS audit not long after the organization ran ads supporting North Carolina’s marriage amendment The Biblical Recorder, the newspaper of the North Carolina Baptist State Convention, ran those same ads and also faced an audit The paper also had published an interview with Chick-fil-A’s Dan Cathy, in which he stated his pro-traditional marriage views
The IRS’s initial call to the newspaper “raised some red flags and made me wonder why we were being targeted for an audit when we have been around since 1833 and have never been audited before,” Editor Allan Blume told Fox News He said the timing may have been coincidental – but “it didn’t seem that way ”
The exodus of young people from the church isn’t an unfamiliar phenomenon to most Christia but sobering numbers released by Barna m shed new light on why they’re leaving T researcher found 59% of Christian Millenials (age 18-29) have, at some point, dropped out of church after attending regularly Half have been significantly frustrated by their faith, and 38% went through a time of significant spiritual doubt
A majority of pastors doubt the reality of global warming, but 63% also say their churches have implemented recycling programs, according to a ecent study by LifeWay Research The survey of 1,000 Protestant pastors found 54% disagreed that global warming is real and man made Still, 45% of pastors ay their church has taken tangible steps to duce its carbon footprint
The U S Department of Education has announced student financial aid forms will begin using the terms “Parent 1” and “Parent 2,” rather than “mother” and “father ” The new forms also will provide an option for applicants to describe their parents’ marital status as “unmarried and both parents living together.”
A school in South Carolina received an outpouring of support after facing ridicule for teaching Young Earth Creationism After a fourth-grade science quiz used by Blue Ridge Christian Academy was posted on an atheist page of the website Reddit, several comments were negative, The Christian Post reports Some made threats to teachers and administrators But the school, which is struggling financially and had considered closing, reaped unexpected benefits, said teacher Angie Dentler “Donations have been given ranging in amounts from $1 – $1,000 Encouraging notes and e-mails have poured in from around world ”
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The mud-out teams were preceded by an IBSA Disaster Relief feeding unit which arrived April 22 to help feed volunteers and families pushed out of their homes by rising flood waters The team of 20-25 volunteers prepared nearly 12,000 meals before they were able to stand down on May 6 A portable kitchen from Fox Valley Association supplemented the operation
A team from Three Rivers Association began mud-out response in Marseilles April 25 Parkview Baptist Church opened its doors to house and feed volunteers Teams from Greater Wabash Association, Sullivan Southern and FBC Galatia joined the response, and were relieved by two teams from Kentucky and one from Tennessee after serving for a week A team from the Metro East Association is also serving. Ken Cummins, another IBSA Disaster Relief executive team member, spent a month in Marseilles coordinating the relief effort He expects volunteers to have completed mud-out work on 70 homes before the teams finish their work before the end of May Cummins worked with Pastor John Patterson of Parkview Baptist Church The church, with a resident membership of 143, fed and supported 25-35 volunteers a week for a month through God’s providence
“The Lord has really provided through His people and even outside means,” said Patterson Local civic groups such as the Rotary Club, IBSA and private individuals have made donations to the relief effort Illinois Disaster Relief volunteers were housed in “every nook and cranny” of the church, Patterson joked “We moved all the furniture out of the Sunday School classrooms for them and even had people in my office ” The fellowship hall, sanctuary, sound area and library were also used for bed space
The church has used the community’s
negative situation for the positive “We’ve had a great opportunity to minister to people,” Patterson said “This is my first disaster and you do what God calls you to do and He stretches you into it God has given us a great opportunity to minister and to witness to people – young and old “We just want to do it to the honor and glory of Jesus Christ and just pray His kingdom will increase ”
To donate to Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief, go to www IBSA org and click on “Donate” in the upper right corner
Springfield | Nearly 50 leaders from three associations in northwestern Illinois traveled to Springfield this month for a connection event with IBSA staff John Mattingly, IBSA’s zone consultant and church planting director in the northwest, promoted the event in the associations he works closely with: Quad Cities, Sinnissippi and North Central
“It exceeded our expectations,” he said “We were thinking 20 to 30, and when we had nearly 50 people, it just really got exciting ” Mattingly knows the region well;
he was raised in the Quad Cities area and pastored there for 25 years before serving as director of missions in Sinnissippi Association
The connection event was designed to bridge some of the distance between the northwest corner of the state and Springfield, and to introduce leaders from the region to IBSA ministries and opportunities The group heard from each of IBSA’s associate executive directors, had Q&A time with Executive Director Nate Adams, and took a tour of the building
Chicago | Pastors and church leaders from Oklahoma, Tennessee and Wisconsin visited all sides of the city last month on a CTV (“Catch the Vision”) tour Church planters on Chicago’s west, north and south sides met with the group to share their vision for taking the Gospel to a city where millions of people don’t know Christ
The group was in town to investigate partnership opportunities through Send North America: Chicago, an initiative spearheaded by the North American Mission Board, IBSA and Illinois Baptist churches Over the next several years, partners from inside and outside Illinois will come alongside Chicago planters with prayer support, mission teams, leaders, and financial resources
“The sheer magnitude of Chicagoland and the overwhelming lostness of the people living there will require many of God’s people to pray for and engage this city with the Gospel,” said Van Kicklighter, IBSA’s associate executive director for church planting
For more about future vision trips, call (217) 720-4722 or e-mail ChrisWright@IBSA org
Decatur | Tabernacle Baptist’s foyer was transformed into an art museum this month for “The Gallery Experience,” the church’s inaugural event designed to reach out to their city’s arts community
“This is as much about the person as it is about the painting,” said Chris Vieth, the church’s minister of music Vieth wanted a way, first of all, to glorify God The gallery was also designed to highlight artists that are members of the church, and to build relationships with local artists through which the Gospel could be shared
Five artists, including two Tabernacle church members, agreed to show several pieces at the church for three weeks Their choices of subject matter ranged from family portraits to war, from nature scenes to Jesus’ life.
Vieth worked with Helen Hamilton, a long-time painter who has contributed works of art to Tabernacle over the years Hamilton contacted possible contributors and helped arrange the final selections.
The gallery opened April 28 and was available for viewing before and after church services. It was also open to the community on Wednesday afternoons, and at a special event one Saturday
“The Gallery Experience” is the first in a list of ideas the church might try in the future Vieth said they’ve discussed planning exhibits around a central theme, or that “highlight different levels of accomplishment, to encourage artists to keep up or improve ”
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needs 60 votes, and we’re told he’s a mere three to five short, with plenty of fence-sitters ”
But not everyone believes Harris is so close to having enough votes to pass the bill Other news reports indicated the bill could be as many as 12 votes short of the 60 it needs In a May 15 e-mail to supporters of traditional marriage, Bob Vanden Bosch, executive director of Concerned Christian Ministries, wrote, “ We sat down tonight and conferred with all lobbyists who are working on the Bill Our conclusion – in spite of all the hype, the other side has not picked up votes in the last two weeks!”
The delay is likely due in part to the efforts of religious leaders and conservative groups The Illinois Family Institute (IFI) organized rallies earlier this month outside the offices of representatives in northern Illinois, including Reps Sivana Tabares (D-Chicago) and Anthony DeLuca (D-Chicago Heights)
A coalition of Chicago-area African American pastors used automated ‘robocalls’ voiced by James Meeks, a megachurch pastor and former state senator He tells voters, “In my view, same-sex marriage should not be the law of the state of Illinois ”
Their calls are being countered by an African-American group that supports same-sex marriage
Governor Pat Quinn (D) has gone on record expressing his impatience with the House’s failure to vote on the bill “It’s time to vote,” the governor
said May 9 “Illinois passing marriage equality into law, I think, sends a great signal to the people of our state and the people of America ”
The passage of same-sex marriage bills in Delaware, Minnesota, and Rhode Island have caused supporters in Illinois to increase pressure on state representatives to pass the bill If the House fails to call the bill for a floor vote before the General Assembly’s session ends May 31, Speaker Mike Madigan is expected to keep the bill alive on the House calendar The bill would have until January 2015, when the 98th General Assembly comes to an end, to come up for a vote
Nationally, the U S Supreme Court is expected to announce it ruling on the constitutionality of California’s Proposition 8 and the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) next month The court heard arguments on both cases in March
Meanwhile, the Illinois Senate is also considering HB 2675, the Sex Education Bill, which has already been passed by the House The bill would replace the state’s abstinencebased model of sex-ed with curriculum that would also emphasize contraception and awareness of sexually transmitted diseases
IFI said in a release on its website that if the bill is signed into law, it would subject young children to “graphic sexual information which most parents would find highly objectionable and inappropriate.”
When our family went out for a celebration dinner recently, it was with a larger than normal group In addition to my wife, Beth, and me and our three sons, we were accompanied by two grandmothers, two girlfriends, and one new daughter-inlaw
That made our party large enough for a reservation and special table at the local Olive Garden restaurant And as the host led our tribe of 10 to its table, he asked, “So what are we celebrating tonight?”
We informed him that our middle son Noah had just graduated from college Our host responded with congratulations, and another question, this time directed at the guest of honor: “So what was your major, son, and what comes next?”
Noah didn’t hesitate to tell the friendly man that he was a Christian Ministry major at Judson University, and that he would begin June 1 as the Youth and Associate Pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Elgin
Our host’s final question took m prise “And do I take it that you’re the family business?”
I looked again, more closely th our host to see if I knew him, or i he knew someone in our family, bu ther was the case I guess he ju noted the pride in my smile when Noah told him what he would be doing
That didn’t stop my mom from
the news
Pray for the requests below and pass them along to your pastor or prayer leader to use as a guide for weekly prayer meeting, Sunday School classes or fellowship groups:
– Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief, page 2
– Ministering to at-risk children, page 7
Prayer prompts are provided by Phil Miglioratti, IBSA’s prayer consultant Contact him at phil@missionamerica org
The ILLINOIS BAPTIST Staff
For questions about subscript ons articles or upcoming events, contact the Illinois Baptist at (217) 391-3110 or IllinoisBaptist@IBSA.org.
treating him like an old friend “Well, I would never have thought to describe it that way, but you’re right His grandfather, my husband, was in ministry for years And this is my son Nate, and he’s in ministry So yes, I guess Noah is the third generation of ministers in this family, and that’s sort of like going into the family business ”
“I thought maybe that was the case,” our host replied with a smile, and then excused himself to leave us in the hands of our server
That brief encounter left me thinking about what it means for someone to enter “the family business” of church ministry here in Illinois My son and I certainly aren’t the first. From time to time I meet sons, grandkids, even great-grandkids of ministers here in Illinois who are now serving as pastors or other leaders in IBSA churches
“Maybe you know my dad,” they often say Or sometimes, “I don’t know if you knew my grandather or not He’s gone to be with the Lord
now, but he served churches here in Illinois for years ”
When I meet multiple-generation Illinois Baptists like that, I usually find I’m in a church that is being blessed with a deeply committed leader, one who serves out of spiritual motivation, but also with a deep sense of family heritage Their eyes twinkle with the idea that their dad or their granddad would be proud of their church leadership They are building on the foundation of his life’s service And they are often raising their own children with the hope that they will lead well in the church some day too
Not every pastor ’s child chooses to go into ministry, any more than every farmer ’s child or every coal miner ’s child or every teacher ’s child chooses to follow in their parent’s footsteps God leads us individually in our life callings, and the world needs devoted Christians in all walks of life But there is something unique and meaningful, something to be uniquely celebrated, when church leadership becomes the multi-generational pattern of a family’s life
Our server at Olive Garden that night didn’t know our family personally But somehow he sensed that what we were celebrating that night was Christian, and church-related, and multi-generational, lasting, and special And every time it happens here in Illinois, we should all celebrate
Nate Adams is executive director of the Illinois Baptist State Association Respond to his column at IllinoisBaptist@IBSA org
Legalization of same-sex marriage in Illinois has become a “wait and see” situation for people on both sides of the issue What appeared to be speedy passage through General Assembly has stalled, as proponents of the legislation tr votes to get fin proval in the S House Whate the outcome in battle over this p ticular bill, it is i portant to note changing the tra definition of ma g not been swift, easy or unanimous
Watching the February 14 passage of the bill from the Senate gallery, where supporters of same-sex marriage outnumbered defenders of traditional marriage, it seemed likely that the House would pass the measure as quickly as the Senate had But in the weeks and months since, objection from the grassroots has grown up and grown strong
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Southern Baptists, evangelical Christians, and Catholics have been especially vocal Pastors and denominational leaders led the opposition to the same-sex marriage bill SB 10, officially titled the “Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act” by its authors Rep Greg Harris, the main sponsor of the bill and the Illinois House’s first openly homosexual member, has stated he will not call the bill for a vote until he is certain he has the 60 votes needed for it to pass
The House Executive Committee sent the bill to the House floor in
March, but with the May 31 end of session deadline quickly approaching, there has still been no vote
If proponents of the legislation were counting on public opinion to give it a final push through the House, they are kely disappointed by the effects of ests by Christians Some lls have shown public opinn shifting nationally, and in linois recent surveys show n even divide in public supt for gay marriage But conive voices also are being eard, and conservative legislators are nding strong backing in their defense of traditional marriage Lawmakers who are holding out for “one-man/one-woman” are being subjected to strong lobbying from the other side, including automated phone calls and personal visits In the meantime, demonstrations for traditional marriage continue on the Capitol steps and in the public square, such as Chicago’s Logan Square and in downtown Alton
And it continues to be a waiting game, as supporters of traditional marriage hope to hold off a vote on SB 10 until the 98th General Assembly ends Round one ends next week, but with a procedural move, a second round could continue until January 2015
Unless there is House action in the next week or so, the question becomes, Will supporters of traditional marriage remain fervent in their efforts?
“ T h e r e a l i t y i s t h a t a l o t o f o u r c u l t u r a l elite, in the media and academia, in Hollywood, have embraced a totally new conc e p t i o n o f m a r r i a g e , a n d t h e y ’ r e u s i n g their positions to try to make this new conception the norm and try to make people believe it’s inevitable ”
– Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage, USAToday com
“We need to let the world know that Illinois accepts all people regardless of who they love ”
– Former Chicago Bear Brendon Ayanbedejo, in a robocall supporting same-sex marriage
“I’ve gotten like 70 phone calls, e-mails, l e t t e r s , i n s u p p o r t o f , a n d o v e r 3,000 against I’m in a pretty, really, conservative district, and I share those values ”
– Rep Wayne Rosenthal (D - Litchfield), www FoxIllinois com
“I’ve been going at it hard for six years, I need to focus on my family, and obviously I had lost the support of the state Central Committee because of my position on gay marriage.”
– Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady, on his May 7 resignation, CNN
“ W e b e l i e v e w e a r e s t a n d i n g u p f o r t h e b e s t i n t e r e s t s o f f a m i l i e s i n t h i s s t a t e
Once gay marriage goes forward all religious freedoms shall then be assaulted and attacked and begin to be shut down ”
– Pastor Richard Giovannetti, Standing in the Word Ministries (Morris, Ill ), CBS Chicago
hen church leadership the multi-generational pattern of a family’s life, it is something to be uniquely celebrated.
Itravel a lot and spend a lot of time in different churches Sadly, many times I do not feel welcome as a guest when I visit. The Bible is replete with admonitions of hospitality and servanthood I just wish our church members understood that the servant-like spirit should also be manifest when we gather to worship
Guests are often uncomfortable, if not intimidated, when they visit a church We are to be gracious and sacrificial servants to them In response to this need for more guest-friendly church members, I have devised the 10 greatest needs, at least from my perspective I will reticently call them “commandments” and throw in a little King James English for effect
1 Thou shalt pray for people in the services whom you don’t recognize They are likely guests who feel uncomfortable and uncertain
2. Thou shalt smile. Guests feel welcome when they see smiling people (You can resume your somber expressions when you get home.)
3. Thou shalt not sit on the ends of the rows Move to the middle so guests don’t have to walk over you You’ll survive in your new precarious position
4 Thou shalt not fill up the back rows first. Move to the front so guests don’t have to walk in front of everyone if they get there late
5. Thou shalt have ushers to help seat the guests Ushers should have clearly marked badges or shirts so that the guests know who can help them.
6. Thou shalt offer assistance to guests If someone looks like they don’t know where to go, then they probably don’t know where to go Get out of your comfort zone and ask them if you can help
7. Thou shalt not gather too long in your holy huddles Sure, it’s OK to talk to fellow members; but don’t stay there so long that you are not speaking to guests
8 Thou shalt offer your seats to guests That family of four can’t fit in the three vacant seats next to you Give it a try You might actually feel good about your efforts
9. Thou shalt not save seats. You might as well put a “Do Not Trespass” sign on the seats
10. Thou shalt greet someone you don’t know Yes, it’s risky They may actually be members you don’t know And you may get caught in a 45-second conversation You’ll be OK; I promise
Thom Rainer is president of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention This column first appeared at www BPNews net
Table Talk: Theology, ministry, and things that matter
Before the praise team leads us in another song, let’s take a moment to thank God that he is more concerned with our hearts than the quality of our voices
Times
ust over five years ago, my firstborn came into the world My wife, Alisha, and I thought we were doing something noble by naming him Simon, hoping that would set a Godward course for his life since it originates from a Hebrew phrase for “he has heard ” Ironically, Simon strives to understand every conversation going on around him and asks me, “What’d you say?” about a hundred times each day
Just 15 months later, our second came along. “Name him Jonas,” we said “It’s from the Hebrew for dove He’ll be a peaceful child ” Little did we know that in some contexts Jonas also means “destroyer,” making it more appropriate than ever The same child who can give the sweetest, voluntary snuggles, is also the most prone to fits of anger that leave broken toys and scarred furniture in his wake
Finally, there is 2-year-old Charlotte whose name we chose simply because we thought it was extremely cute So far, she’s lived up to that expectation The only problem is she has already learned to use it to her advantage
I share all this to demonstrate that I’m a father to real, live kids And though I’m enamored with them, they still suffer from the effects of the fall and, like me, are in need of the grace of God As a matter of fact, that is my charge as their dad – to teach them how we are all utterly dependent upon the grace of God
I wish there was a Bible verse that told me exactly how to respond when Simon asks me the same question 20 times in a row I wish Jesus had preached a sermon on how to discipline Jonas when he throws toys I wish God gave us step-by-step instructions on how to teach Charlotte not to be manipulative But He didn’t
He gave us something better the Gospel
Fatherhood is teaching me just how much better the Gospel is than the law Rather than loving us based on how well we love our children, God loves us exactly as He loves Jesus Rather than condemning us for the promises we break to our children, God keeps His promise to make us new Rather than judging us by how healthy we keep our children, God gave His only son on our behalf
I’m really glad that no one but God could see what was in my heart during the sleepless nights while Simon was an infant. We had prayed for this gift from God and welcomed him with tears in our hospital room Yet in my sinful, selfish moments, I viewed Simon like a curse just because he was on a different sleep schedule than me I found that the best way to soothe him was to pace through our Carbondale apartment singing hymns as lullabies That was God’s design He knew I’d need reminders in those moments of how He has loved me through the cross, so that the Gospel would again equip me to love my children at cost to myself
One of the most comforting implications of God’s sovereignty is that all circumstances in the lives of His children, even the bad ones, are means of grace by which He is revealing His goodness to us After all, as Romans 8:1 tells us, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” (ESV) So then, whatever God gives or withholds in our lives is meant to draw us closer to Him
One of those gifts in my life is fatherhood No experience has taught me more about my sinfulness and God’s goodness. I have seen how prone I am to selfish pride when I get something right I have seen how judgmental I am when I see another parent’s failures And yet, I’m secretly insecure because I often just don’t know if I’m getting one bit of fatherhood right
In those wee hours of the night in my early fatherhood, Simon’s favorite hymn seemed to be “Down at the Cross ” It’s fitting because few things drive me to Jesus like my failures as a father Because of His perfection, my Father accepts me as though I had never once been selfish or lost my temper So to those who are right there with me, the hymn has this to say: “Come to the fountain so rich and sweet, Cast thy poor soul at the Savior ’s feet; Plunge in today and be made complete.”
Chase Abner is IBSA’s collegiate evangelism strategist
per
small classes
Mt. Vernon | Jerry and Michelle Burwell don’t get very far into telling their story before their eyes fill with tears and their voices break The owners of Way of the Cross Ranch are overcome with emotion at how they see God using their 71 acres in Mt Vernon
“We’re nobody special, we really aren’t,” Jerry says as he watches a handful of horses and riders walk slowly around the outdoor arena in his backyard “Why we got to do this, I have no idea ”
The Burwells host an equestrian clinic every month with the help of an army of volunteers that operates more like a close-knit family They invite kids from Southern Thirty, a local adolescent emergency shelter, and from the Baptist Children’s Home in Carmi
Guests can fish in the pond, participate in craft time around a picnic table, or ride one of several horses donated for the day by the Burwells’ friends No one has to ride if they don’t want to But most eventually do
“Some of the inner city kids we get, they’ve never even been around horses before, so that’s fun,” Jason Billings says He points out David,* a young teen riding a chestnut horse around and around the arena, led by a ranch volunteer Every so often, David smiles and waves to the camera
As recreation director for Illinois’ Baptist Children’s Home, Billings has been bringing kids like David to the ranch for a few years But there’s something bigger at stake than introducing kids to horses: Over the past few years, four or five of the kids have accepted Christ at the ranch They attend church with Children’s Home staffers, Billings says, “but it’s nice to see someone from the outside actually cares, too ”
At the ranch’s first-ever clinic, some of the kids that came “had mohawks and they had blue hair and they had tattoos and they had piercings,” says Michelle, who goes by Mickey Her husband said, “They’re going to hate this cowboy stuff,” she remembers, laughing
But the freedom the kids had at the ranch – where nobody has to ride a horse if they don’t want to – was a new concept for them Mickey laughs again when she talks about how some of them exclaim, “This is the great outdoors!” when they first get to the ranch, only about 10 miles from where they live The Burwells are literally “loving their neighbors” through the clinics
Their passion to help kids started a long time ago, when their own kids were growing up Jerry says their house was often a haven for their kids’ friends who needed a place to stay And when Mickey, a physician’s assistant, started providing health care at Southern Thirty Adolescent Center in Mt Vernon, she became burdened for those kids too.
“She came home and she was just torn that she wanted to bring all of them home with her, and do something for these kids,” says Jerry, who works as an insurance adjuster “But we didn’t know what we could do ”
He and Mickey didn’t have much horse sense at that point either Jerry preferred drag racing cars to riding anything with four legs But horses were about to be everywhere for the Burwells
They started going on mission trips to Lynch, Ky , where they worked with North American Mission Board missionary Lonnie Riley. He runs several ministry and retreat centers and Jerry says, “We always ended up working with the horses ”
Each clinic includes at least two devotion times, and volunteers also talk one-on-one with kids about Jesus Since the Burwells started their ministry, 38 kids have accepted Christ
“I always tell them, ‘I don’t care if you know one end of the horse from the other when you leave, but you’ll know about Christ,’” Jerry says “That’s really all we care about ”
When the Burwells’ daughter, Amy, married into a cowboy family, the couple bought their first horses, mostly as a way to spend time with their kids In 2008, they went to Lynch to help host a week-long equestrian camp When they arrived with everything they would need to set up a temporary arena, Riley asked them how often they did this kind of thing at home
“And that was when the light came on,” Jerry says “[Riley] said, ‘You know God’s given you all this stuff, and you’re not using it ”
They went home and shared their vision – to use horse camps and clinics to help at-risk kids – with their church, Pleasant Grove Baptist in Iuka Within three weeks, Jerry said, they had the supplies they needed to run their first clinic And when those first 11 campers heard the Gospel at the ranch, three of them accepted Christ.
The ministry has come a long way since those early days of rented lights and portable gate panels Way of the Cross, an official non-profit organization, has stables, a permanent outdoor arena, and plans to expand This summer, the ranch will host its first official mission team, a group they met while
serving in Kentucky The team will build an open-air pavilion so that future campers can have a shaded area for devotions and meals
Eventually, the Burwells hope to build cabins that can house kids for a week-long camp, or even permanently “But God will have to supply all of that,” Jerry says. “And I believe He will ”
They’ve seen that principle at work again and again since opening the ranch: They pray, and God provides
“God has blessed us And we just do things as God allows us to,” Mickey says She tells the story of when they needed $100 to fill in the arena floor with sand “ Our neighbor pulls up in the driveway and he said, ‘We want to donate to your ministry Here’s some money ’
“I didn’t look at it I walked into the house, and it was a hundred dollars
“We’re just amazed at how He’s always providing.”
As she looks up at the gathering clouds over the arena, Mickey confidently says there will be no rain today Not on this Saturday when dozens of riders and volunteers have gathered at the ranch She is a self-confessed “type A personality ”
“I am a boss, I get things done
And this has been one of my life lessons, learning how to just wait on God ”
In 2009, the Burwells had a dedication service at the ranch “Of course, it’s kind of crazy, because everything is God’s anyways,” Mickey says “But we dedicated this entire 71 acres to Him ”
And He has never disappointed, she says As Jerry puts it, “We just let God be God, because He’s really good at it ”
Standing in front of the kids seated at picnic tables, Mike Ilbery holds up a rusty bucket with a large hole in the side “This bucket was created for a purpose,” says Ilbery, one of Jerry’s oldest friends and a regular volunteer at the ranch
“You were created for a purpose,” he tells the kids sitting under the late afternoon sky At the ranch, the devotion times have a decidedly western feel Buckets, ropes, even snake bite stories are used as examples to share what it
The rusty bucket isn’t good for much, Ilbery says. It’s corroded and corrupted, just like our lives are rendered purposeless by sin But God made a way for our redemption through Christ Ilbery asks for a volunteer to recite John 3:16 Jack*, who has been talking with some of the volunteers this afternoon about Jesus, raises his hand and asks if he should say it loud enough for everyone to hear After he does, the crowd claps and a few call out, “Awesome ”
Ilbery leads the kids in prayer, and asks those who want to know more about a relationship with Christ to talk with him for a few minutes on the porch By the end of the day, two kids have accepted Christ
When kids first come here, a lot of them hesitate to get involved, says Stan Rollinson, who volunteers at the ranch with his wife, Kay, and their horse, Spin But as they get more comfortable, they start smiling And while some of them might cringe at the thought of sitting through a devotion, most of them take it all in, Rollinson says “Some, it’s worked, and some, it’s still working on ”
The Burwells want Way of the Cross Ranch to be a place dedicated to God’s work – for the long haul “We’re trying to set it up where after Mickey and I are gone, this will continue,” Jerry says “We feel that this is just the tip of the iceberg here ”
*Names changed
– Give thanks for people who make sacrifices to minister the love of Christ to at-risk kids, and pray God will continue to provide what they need when they need it
– Pray for a specific group of kids or a neighborhood near you Ask God to show you how you can take the Gospel there, or partner with an existing ministry that may need your help or expertise
Charles Allen celebrated in April his 20th anniversary as pastor of Elm Street Baptist in Murphysboro Allen and his wife, Sharon, have three children and six grandchildren
Pastor Willie Randolph of New Light Evangelical Baptist Church in Sauk Village died May 6 at the age of 54 Randolph was involved in bivocational ministry for many years, and became pastor of New Light in 2000 He is survived by his wife, Angenette; 8 daughters; and 7 grandchildren
Former Illinois Baptist pastor H. Ralph Gill died May 5 at the age of 86 Gill served churches in Harrisburg, Metropolis and Salem in the early and mid-1960s He was married to his wife, Jean, for 64 years and had three children and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren
Swansea Baptist is seeking a parttime music director to lead congregational singing and direct the choir Contact the church at (618) 235-4000 or nhodge@wisperhome com
Pleasant Hill Baptist in Roodhouse is seeking a pastor Send resumes to: Pastor Search Team, 122 State Route 106 S, Roodhouse, IL, 62082, or email Dorothy Cox at jacox@irtc net
Japanese Mission Church in Arlington Heights needs a volunteer team to help install a baptistery Carpenters, plumbers, and muscle needed Contact Pastor Yugo Kobari at (847) 718-1960 or the Kaskaskia Baptist Association at (618) 432-7133
FBC West Frankfort is seeking help to make repairs to the church baptistery If you have knowledge or experience in that area, contact Tim Blackburn at (618) 364-7767
Adventureland Puppet Ministry, an outreach of Suburban Baptist, Granite City, is available to churches for services, Sunday School, children’s events, Vacation Bible School, and more Visit them at www Face book com/adventurelandpuppets
G l e n E l l y n | Jesus once told a handful of fishermen to leave their nets, using an analogy they understood to call them to a higher purpose A church in Chicago’s west suburbs is trying a similar method to make disciples, only they use a different kind of net
This net swishes every Wednesday night at Glenbard South High School, where 50-60 teens gather for a mentoring program hosted by Peoples Community Church in Glen Ellyn The main event is basketball, but the lessons run deeper, said Pastor James Shannon
“We take their basketball skills and the things they understand, and relate those thing to life That’s meeting them where they are,” said Shannon, who heads up the program with the help of volunteer mentors from his church
Peoples Church was first burdened for school kids in their community a few years ago, when they noticed many of the African American and Hispanic students were struggling with academic and behavioral issues. Shannon remembers delivering lunch to his middle school-aged son, and observing an administrator disciplining a misbehaving student The pastor later pulled the student aside for some quick counsel
“You get you a belt, you turn your hat around, and you come back here looking like you are somebody,” Shannon told the baggy pants-wearing young man “I talked to him like I was his dad And that’s what these young kids need ”
Many of the kids in the mentoring program are growing up in single-parent homes They also may not have had many African American or Hispanic teachers in their suburban schools That’s why Shannon recruited young, professional African Americans from his church to serve as mentors Every Wednesday, they go to Glenbard South’s field house, where
they let the kids play basketball and then divide them into boys’ and girls’ groups for mentoring
One recent conversation turned to what makes a winning team When the kids answered “defense and team chemistry,” Shannon asked them how those things apply to life in general What things do we need to avoid?
Why is teamwork important?
The mentoring program also hosts a three-on-three basketball fellowship At the most recent tournament this spring, 15 teams vied for the title There is an entry fee of $10 per player, but Shannon and his church were able to gather enough sponsors that most of the kids didn’t have to pay They each received a T-shirt proclaiming the event’s theme: Jump Shots Not Gun Shots.
Shannon sees that T-shirt around the community now; one lady stopped him in WalMart when he was wearing the shirt to ask about it because she had seen it around too Because the mentoring program meets in a secular setting, the Christian principles are taught subtly, Shannon said But his church is gaining influence in their community because of those Wednesday nights
Once your church puts that kind of footprint on the community, he said, people are going to wonder what else you’re doing
Young Scripture scholars from FBC Fairfield and FBC Mt Vernon joined others around Illinois this month in participating in a Bible Drill, which tests kids’ knowledge of a list of key passages and verses For materials or more information on how to develop Bible Drill at your church, contact Dale Davenport at (217) 7200939 or DaleDavenport@IBSA org
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Zone 3: Sylvan Knobloch, IBSA’s director of Church Health Development, is now serving as zone consultant for Three Rivers and East Central Associations
Zone 6: FBC Springfield’s Pastor Mike Henderson and others from the church recently spent a night in makeshift shelters to identify with their city’s homeless population “Box City” was part of the church’s ongoing “Be Real Show Love” emphasis, which also included revival services and free meals for the community
The Baptist Convention of New Mexico is seeking a full-time camp manager for its conference center in the Sacramento Mountains Send resumes to the convention at P O Box 94485, Albuquerque, NM 87199, or to jbunce@bcnm com
Collegiate ministers from around the state gathered this month at the IBSA Building for a retreat led by collegiate evangelism strategist Chase Abner. The group discussed relationship building, strategy development for campus ministries, and involving students in missions
At the time of Fred Luter ’s April visit to Springfield, he was already thinking about the upcoming convention This is part two of the Illinois Baptist’s conversation with Luter, as he looked beyond potential challenges of the annual meeting and shared some of the joys of his first year in office
Illinois Baptist: Have there been any surprises in your first term as SBC president?
F r e d L u t e r : I did not anticipate how busy I would be I talked to six former presidents before I decided to run for this position, just to check with them about how busy I would be, how often I would be gone from the church, what my obligations would be in this position And honestly they all lied to me, man (laughter) They told me what I wanted to hear
IB: Such as, You’ll be home every weekend
L u t e r : Yeah Exactly (chuckles) And travel has been the toughest part But it comes with the turf, and I’m learning
IB: What advice did they actually give you?
Luter: Be really careful what you say to media, because there are some hotbutton issues out there that can really cause havoc for our convention
IB: How has it been to be SBC spokesman on the news channels?
L u t e r : It’s scary First of all, I’m not used to it And there are times when you think the media is not being fair I did one interview with a cable news channel, about a 15-minute interview, but they only put what the host wanted on there. And I think that was unfortunate And so I learned
IB: That’s the nature of television, unfortunately L u t e r : Yeah, I’ve learned from that I’ve also learned to count on prayer when I’m facing the media.
IB: Such as Luter: I would not be where I am today if not for Elizabeth and her prayers. This is not just a phase she’s going through This has been her lifestyle through the years And she’s been more on her knees now than ever before She prays that when I have these interviews that God will guide me But not only her – she has a prayer team of women at the church And she’ll call up and ask them, “Pray for Fred about this interview or that ”
It’s good to know that there will be people across our church and across the nation who will be praying for me – and for the convention, particularly in June
IB: And prayer support for the convention is going to be critical?
Luter: No doubt about it We definitely need to bathe the convention in prayer and particularly bathe the [Calvinsim] discussion in prayer, because I’m concerned that it could be something that the enemy can use to turn us against each other
IB: You shared recently another extraordinary time of prayer – when you met Billy Graham What happened?
Luter: I was just amazed that he has an ordinary house. Man, you think somebody of his stature, somebody with his world renown would just have this amazing house, but it’s just a country house there in the mountains
IB: Like a log cabin?
L u t e r : Yes It was just an incredible moment, to sit down for 45 minutes at the kitchen table with the Dr Billy Graham We had to pinch ourselves He encouraged me to continue to represent God well in everything I do
IB: And he prayed with you?
L u t e r : That moment was kind of unreal Billy Graham was actually praying for me That was just amazing
IB: When you met with the IBSA pastors, y o u s h a r e d y o u r t e s t i m o n y i n c l u d i n g t h e c h a l l e n g e s y o u f a c e d a f t e r l o s i n g y o u r c h u r c h a n d h o m e t o H u r r i c a n e K a t r i n a What did you learn about God in Katrina?
L u t e r : That’s a very good question
The first thing I learned about God is that He don’t do what I say Because if He would have did what I said, it would have never happened Again, I was just so frustrated to see all of the destruction in the city that I loved and grew up in To see the levies break and see the immense flooding.
I saw that even in difficult times, God does not work out things like we
think he should But in the midst of it all, He’s still God
What Katrina did, Katrina made us all level – rich, poor, black, white – all of us went through this storm. And all of us needed help And I saw the hand of God in using people across this nation to help us to get our city, our churches, our lives back on track
IB: You described the down time and spiritual struggle you had Was it seeing people coming to help that lifted you up?
L u t e r : Without a doubt My pastor friends from across the country reached out And of course the prayers of my wife, Elizabeth And then God just telling me, Hey man, I’m not only God during good times, but I’m God during the bad times too
Psalm 44 says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them out of them all ”
We want to see God during the happy times, during laughter, but the times God reveals Himself most are when we’re crying and there’s tears Honestly that’s the time when we need him most And He comes through
Continued
no one has yet announced a candidacy for SBC president, and it is uncommon for a first-term president to be challenged at re-election time
Luter ’s desire is for broader ethnic representation on SBC boards and committees, reflecting a goal approved by convention messengers the year before his election This slate of trustees and candidates will be Luter ’s opportunity to bring lasting change to the historically predominately white denomination “I really think that our convention is ripe for people who have not been involved in the convention before to get involved,” Luter told the Illinois Baptist “If that could be my legacy – that more people, whether they’re Hispanics or Asian or African-Americans, that the convention from top to bottom would look like what heaven will look like – I would love that ”
While he eagerly awaits making that mark on the Convention, Luter is also
wary of the possibility of a divisive floor debate over Calvinist theology
“We’ve been having Calvinism in our convention for years,” Luter noted “Why is it suddenly an issue?
But it is And Luter is concerned about the outcome unless people with different perspectives on Reformed theology come to a position of mutual respect
“Now this Calvinism issue – if we don’t get together and get on the right page, it can split the convention,” Luter said to pastors meeting in Springfield in April
A report on the rise of Reformed theology is due at the Houston gathering from a task force assembled by Executive Committee President Frank Page. The group is made up of leaders from both sides of the discussion
“I’m hoping that [the report] will not bury the issue, because I don’t think we’ll ever bury it, but that we will at least put it to rest and say that ‘we
have agreed to disagree for the betterment of the kingdom of God,’” Luter said “That’s my hope and prayer We’ll see ”
As for discussion from the floor, Luter hopes to navigate the issue with grace and good advice “Depend on your parliamentarians!” he said with laughter, describing his strategy for chairing the June convention
“Hopefully things will work out –and I quote – Where the kingdom of God will win That would be my hope ”
Others hope the same thing, and are counting on Luter ’s winsome ways to carry the day
“He seems to be a unifier,” IBSA Board Chairman Duncan Locke said during Luter ’s Springfield visit “I think that his presidency will be about a unifying of all these autonomous churches to provide a greater witness both at home and abroad His greater message is for evangelism, and that is
our need, both here in our state and every state ”
Illinois will be represented on the platform in Houston on at least two occasions Adam Cruse, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Mt Carmel and Leon Thompson, deacon and education ministry leader from Broadview Missionary Baptist Church in metro Chicago will each lead prayer during the sessions
A complete schedule is available at www sbcannualmeeting net IB managing editor Meredith Flynn will report from Houston June 10-13 on our blog, www ib2news com
It’s the first thing you see as you drive into the church parking lot It’s a focal point as you enter the lobby
You may discover it near the water fountain, the clock, the exit, the foyer, or the mirror in the restroom What a concept: placing God’s Word in plain sight!
Here are some simple ways to intentionally use Scripture to enhance your church’s decor:
-Beautiful framed Scripture art can adorn hallways and other common areas. You’ll find many at your Christian bookstore
-Add an appropriate Scripture on a metal nameplate for each sculpture or piece of art in the church For example, use the words of Psalm 113:3 for a sunset landscape
-If you have spectacular Scripture banners in storage, consider hanging one high on a large foyer wall
-Matted acrylic frames can be hung low in a children’s area for interchanging kids’ original Scripture art
-Youth could paint an artsy rendition of their theme Scripture on a focal wall of their classroom.
-Purchase or make vinyl or stenciled lettering of a Scripture Large or small, these can make an enormous impact
Carefully select an appropriate
Scripture verse for each venue. For example, a framed Scripture could hang over a church’s water fountain, reading, “Whoever drinks of the water I give him will never thirst (John 4:14) ” Another church stenciled “Go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19)” above the main exit doors
Our small church purchased a vinyl-cutting machine, and I’m in awe of its uses – professional quality car window stickers, entry door lettering, banners, etc But it also can create beautiful vinyl wall Scripture, similar to those you can order online Now, a lovely metal wall sculpture of a tree is flanked by vinyl lettering from Psalm 92:12: “The righteous will flourish like a tree planted in the house of the Lord ”
The Bible challenges us in Deuteronomy 6 to “Tie them [His commandments] as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates ” Will you intentionally add Scripture to the decor of your church? Try it! You never know who might be reading
Diana Davis is author of “Fresh Ideas” (B&H Publishing) Visit her website, www keeponshining com
May 31-June 1: Rekindling the Call Retreat at Green Lake Baptist Camp in Green Lake, Wisconsin. (217) 391-3133, SylvanKnobloch@ IBSA org
une 1: BCHFS Central Illinois Golf Tournament at Edgewood Country Club, Auburn E-mail ensteward@bchfs com
June 8: Missions Spectacular in six locations; Bethalto, Litchfield, Machesney Park, McLeansboro, Metropolis, O’Fallon. Register at www IBSA org/Missions
June 11-12: SBC Annual Meeting, Houston, Texas
June 14-15: Father/Son Camps at Lake Sallateeska and Streator For all ages; cost is $50 per dad, free for sons. Register at www IBSA org/ Children
June 17-20: Co-ed Mission Camp at Lake Sallateeska, Pinckneyville For kids entering grades 3-6; $95 per camper Register at www IBSA org/Children
June 17-22 or 20-22: Illinois Changers at Lake Sallateeska, Pinckneyville; for teens entering grades 7-12. Register at www IBSA org/Student
June 25-29: Super Summer at Greenville College For students who have completed grades 7-12 Cost is $199 until June 3, $229 June 4-10 Register at www ilstudentz com; deadline is June 10
July 8-11: Summer Worship University at Hannibal-LaGrange University, Hannibal, Mo. For students who have completed grades 6-12; cost is $170, www IBSA org/Worship
July 22-26: Co-ed Mission Camp at Streator Baptist Camp For kids entering grades 3-12; $95 per camper Register at www IBSA org/Children
August 2-3: Children’s Music Camp at Lake Sallateeska, Pinckneyville For children who have completed grades 3-6; cost is $50 per camper, www IBSA org/Worship
August 17: IBSA Softball Tournament at Rotary Park in Decatur, including activities for children and families, www IBSA org/Evangelism
You know it’s not a great prognosis when your doctor schedules an oncology appointment for the very next day
My move to Chicago had necessitated a new doctor, who had seen me once, determined I was anemic, and said she wanted to run more tests
After those tests came her initial diagnosis – multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. The oncologist confirmed it and told me I probably had two years to live, but that we were going to fight this aggressively Then, he did a bone marrow biopsy right there in his office
And I decided I’d probably rather die from the cancer than experience that again
I don’t like pain Up to the moment of my diagnosis, I hadn’t really been fearful about my death, except that it might happen painfully.
As a pastor, I’ve spent hours in hospitals with sick people and their families, reminding them to trust the Scripture, trust the Lord After my doctor ’s announcement, I quickly realized that if that advice had been good enough for them, it had better be good enough for me
I really wasn’t ever scared of dying We’re all going to go some time, and I know where I’m going next I thought, if I get better, that’s great But if I don’t get better, it really gets better My wife, Sharon, was on the same page as me, but telling our sons and my mother was harder
My boys eventually got on board and helped me make a “bucket list” of things to do before I, well, kicked it And life went on I started 20 weeks of chemotherapy, with few side effects My doctor ’s aggressive treatment plan included a bone marrow transplant using my own stem
cells, which was successful, with a few more side effects Now, 55 pounds lighter and with my hair growing back, I look back on my cancer journey as one I probably wouldn’t have chosen, but I’m grateful for it
Because my heart and my eyes are open in a way they haven’t been before
Over the last year, the Lord put all of these people right in front of me who were struggling spiritually, or who didn’t have faith in Him And they would ask me questions “Why are you so cheerful? How can you stay so upbeat?” Their wondering gave me an opportunity to say, “It’s only the Lord Jesus in my life ”
Throughout the past year, I’ve realized that if my faith doesn’t separate me – in visible, obvious ways –from people who don’t know Jesus, then why would they need to know Him? If I can’t see His goodness and His care and His trustworthiness through cancer, how am I any different from anyone else? So many of us know about God’s providence in our heads, but it’s not rooted in our hearts. My illness showed me how strong God is when I don’t have any strength on my own
I’m compelled to share that with other people
This version of the potluck classic comes courtesy of Ann Kuczkowski in the “Heavenly Delights” cookbook, created to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Forsyth Baptist Church
Ingredients
1 can cream of mushroom soup
½ cup milk
1 tsp yellow mustard
1 bag (16 oz ) frozen broccoli florets, thawed
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
⅓ cup dry bread crumbs
2 tsp butter, melted
Stir soup, milk, mustard, broccoli and cheese together, and spread into 1½ quart casserole In a separate bowl, mix bread crumbs with butter; then, sprinkle over broccoli mixture Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until hot
Send us your recipes! Eat something delicious at a church potluck or picnic recently? E-mail the recipe or a brief description to Meredith Flynn@IBSA.org, and if you happen to snap a photo, we’ll take that too!
Or, send us your favorite recipes from your church cookbook
I’ve had more opportunities to share my faith in the past year than at any other time in my life Not just that God is good in difficult circumstances, which He is, but the whole Gospel My cancer made me a better evangelist, mostly because I started seeing opportunities everywhere, and knew I had nothing to lose by seizing every opportunity
One Sunday morning on the way to church, I stopped at a McDonald’s across the street The lady behind the register noticed I had my Bible with me, and she asked me if I really read it, and if it really helped me I told her I couldn’t live a day without it We finished our conversation, I went on to church, and it wasn’t until I was sitting in the service that I realized what I needed to do After the service, I walked back across the street and gave her my Bible She hesitated at first, saying that it was mine and she couldn’t take it, but I assured her that the Bible was hers now
There are people everywhere that need the hope we have I knew it before I was diagnosed with cancer, but I see it in even sharper focus now I gave away four or five Bibles in the space of two weeks
Now, I’m a few months into remission, something my doctor has admitted he thought we’d never see My sons have told me I can’t play the “cancer card” anymore. But I do go in for monthly blood work and chemo, and I still see the doctors and nurses who were so helpful to me I tell them they were like angels in my life And I use the time I have to tell them again why I’m so hopeful
Dale Davenport is IBSA’s education director and zone consultant in Chicagoland
1 Campfire, Rend Collective Experiment
2 Burning Lights, Chris Tomlin
3. Zion (Deluxe Edition), Hillsong United
4. All the People Said Amen, Matt Maher
5. Still Believe (Live), Kim Walker-Smith
6. Grace (Deluxe Edition – Live), Tasha Cobbs
7 How Mercy Looks From Here (Deluxe Edition), Amy Grant
8 A Messenger, Colton Dixon
9 The Struggle, Tenth Avenue North
10 Live, All Sons & Daughters (iTunes, May 2013)
What necessitates a necessity?
Q: C a n y o u p l e a s e d e f i n e “ n e c e s s i t i e s ” i n today’s world while trying to get out of debt and live on a budget?
A: Whether you’re talking about the world today or 50 years ago, necessities haven’t changed Necessities are still food, shelter, clothing, transportation and utilities We’re talking about needs versus wants The problem is that many people were never taught that there’s a difference between the two – a big difference
Most people have enough food to eat and a decent place to live Those are necessities I’m not talking about eating out or having a big, fancy house. Those are wants Most people also have enough clothes in the closet and a way to get around town They may not have designer clothes or a fancy foreign sports car, but again, those are wants, not needs Keeping the lights on and the house warm in winter and cool during the summer? Utilities are a need But no one needs a $300 super-deluxe cable television package
“Real needs are the same as they were 50 years ago.”
Now, there are some important wants I want you to have life insurance to protect your family I also want you to have a will and health insurance I want you to have some other nice things, too, like a better car or a nicer house There’s nothing wrong, at some point, with having a few toys or eating at a good restaurant once in a while But again, these things are wants, not needs
Believe it or not, very few Americans struggle with basic necessities Sure, there are hungry people and homeless people in America Those of us who have been financially blessed should want to help the less fortunate in ways that allow them to get back on their feet and start providing for themselves again But most folks in this country have nothing to whine about There’s nothing wrong with having a few wants, but you should define them correctly – and never, ever put them ahead of your needs!
For more financial advice from Dave Ramsey, go to www IBSA org
s of us are, acGeorge Barna people a list of Of the evand, less than a ded like Jesus and attitudes. nder (77%) ke Pharisees, ght like Pharees, or both. When Barna m e a s u r e d
not counting evangelicals only, the percentage demonstrating pharisaical tendencies was even higher (86%)
In all cases, older people, political conservatives, and men were most likely to side with the Pharisees
“Many Christians are more concerned with what they call unrighteousness than they are with self-righteousness,” concludes David Kinnaman, author of the study. “It’s a lot easier to point fingers at how the culture is immoral than it is to confront Christians in their comfortable spiritual patterns ”
Kinnaman says the takeaway for pastors and teachers is to take another look at what and how they communicate “Do
people somehow get the message that the ‘right action’ is more important than the ‘right attitude’? Do church leaders have a tendency to focus more on tangible results, like actions, because those are easier to see and measure than attitudes?”
Most affected by this perceived hypocrisy are young adults, those coming of age since the turn of the Millennium
“The responsibility of the Christian community is to challenge hypocrisy just as boldly as other kinds of sin,” the Barna report concludes
With info from Barna org
THE LANDSC APE 1.6 Billion Muslims in the World, but…
Only 0 2% of the world’s Muslims Nor th America That’s 3.5 million and only a tiny fraction of the worl adherents
Compare that to 19.8% in the Middle East and Nor th Africa (317 million) and 61.7% in the AsiaPacific region (985 million). Overall, 23% of the world’s population identify as Muslim
Weighing the costs and benefits of immigration is complex Immigrants often have valuable skills Their cultures enrich our national life The Christians among them can renew our churches with their fervent faith At the same time, large-scale immigration imposes burdens Taxpayers bear new expenses for education, social services, health care, and law enforcement Low-skill American workers find their wages depressed to some extent because of competition from immigrant labor Taking into account such complexities, some Christians are persuaded to argue for strengthened immigration enforcement first, rather than liberalizing immigration laws
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Missionaries: Bob and Virginia Travis
Planting: Asian Community Church of DuPage, Carol Stream
Focusing On: Asian peoples
Pray: For partner churches to help us financially, to hold us up in prayer and to help in ESL and tract distribution Pray also for the non-Christian Asians in our Bible Discovery Class
Alan F H Wisdom of the Institute on Religion and Democracy, ChristianityToday com (July 2010)
Location: Maryville, Madison County
Target: Families in recently developed subdivisions
Characteristics: Located 17 miles east of downtown St Louis, Maryville has a growing population of nearly 7,500, an increase of 61% from the 2000 census
Prayer Needs: This community needs eternal transformation that only comes by way of the Gospel and the working of the Holy Spirit
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From the IBSA Church Planting Team
Goal to date: $2,375,000
Received to date 5/17/13: $2,505,201
Received to date in 2012: $2,401,220
