November 14, 2016 Illinois Baptist

politics 2016

Two Americas

Election demonstrates deep divides and challenges ahead for the church

CONVENTIONAL WISDOM

Snapshots from the world of Illinois Baptists

“In a post-religious, scientifically-driven culture, these high levels of belief in the miraculous may come as a surprise to many. But being sick personally, or having someone you love face a serious illness, is one of the most vulnerable and devastating experiences of a person’s life. It’s a moment that drives many—even those who do not believe in God—to their knees in desperation.”

– Roxanne Stone, Barna Group

Most people believe in healing

Can people be physically healed supernaturally by God?

A smaller percentage – 27% – of Americans say they have experienced a physical healing that could only be explained as miraculous. Still, a majority of people have prayed for someone to be physically healed by God:

the cooperative program

Giving by IBSA churches as of 11/04/16

$5,009,028

Budget Goal: $5,330,769

Received to date in 2015: $5,094,201

2016 Goal: $6.3 Million

The Illinois Baptist staff

Editor - Eric Reed

Graphic Designer - Kris Kell

Contributing Editor - Lisa Sergent

Editorial Contributor - Meredith Flynn

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NATE ADAMS

Go Church Go!

First let me say I how much I appreciate my many friends who are St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago White Sox fans, even those who seemed to suddenly become Cleveland Indians fans just prior to the 2016 World Series. I try not to be an annoying or gloating Cubs fan, though some might say that simply writing about the Cubs here makes me so. But it’s not really the now-world-champion Cubs team or organization that I want to draw on for inspiration with these thoughts. Rather, it’s the persevering, always hopeful, and now victorious Cubs fans. Though I grew up a Cardinals fan like many in southern Illinois, five things have always drawn me to Cubs fans, and made me one of them.

Worldwide – The WGN cable network is probably most responsible for giving the Cubs a more than regional fan base. When wearing a Cubs logo, I have found other fans all around the country, and even around the world.

Wrigley – You just can’t deny the old world charm of the historic yet modernized stadium that the Cubs call their friendly confines. For true baseball fans, it’s one of the most inviting places in the world.

Waiters – As almost everyone now knows, Cubs fans had not seen a World Series championship since 1908. As the Series approached, numerous writers listed things that are more current than a Cubs championship, including the toaster and sliced bread itself. True, faithful Cubs fans are by definition those who patiently wait.

Winsome – While I’m sure we all know an abrasive Cubs fan or two, the overwhelming majority of Cubs fans I’ve known are friendly, hopeful, optimistic, and deeply loyal. Even though “lovable losers” is a label that’s practically become part of the official Cubs brand, you can’t get a rise out of a Cubs fan with that kind of insult. After all, until this year, what defense was there to that label? Cubs fans just smile, and winsomely recite their equally well-known mantra: “Wait ‘til next year.”

Winners – And finally, this year, we can add a new capital W that could only have been used in small case a few times over the past 108 years. This year, Cubs fans are winners. Their perseverance finally paid off. Next year has finally come. And in a demonstration of support and celebration that has now been labeled the largest gathering in American history, and seventh largest in world history, more than five million fans flooded the streets and parks of Chicago to relabel their lovable losers—beloved winners.

Those who wait eventually win.

Now, how do I rationalize writing about baseball here? Well, almost any time I am moved or inspired by something in secular culture, I find it’s because I see in that event a reflection of something larger in God’s Kingdom, or God’s character, or God’s people. In this case, I think I find Cubs fans so inspiring (admittedly, some Cubs players are not) because I see in them a faint reflection of the same qualities I see in faithful Christians, and churches.

Throughout much of the world, including our own nation and state, faithful Christians are not seen as current winners. But, at least when we’re at our best, we are seen as winsome people who are patiently waiting for our victorious Lord Jesus to return. We are seeking to take our love and loyalty and gospel message worldwide. And yet we seek to make each local gathering place as inviting and friendly as the confines of Wrigley Field.

There will be a day when the five million that gathered to celebrate in Chicago will be a pale comparison to the tribes, tongues, and nations that will gather at the feet of Jesus, to worship him forever. But for now, a longsuffering group known as Cubs fans have reminded me of a more important group of people whose patient, faithful, hopeful perseverance will eventually be rewarded by victory. Go Church Go.

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

James Smith: 1921-2016

Former IBSA exec leaves legacy of leadership

Memphis, Tenn. | James H. Smith, the former IBSA executive director who led the relocation of the Association’s office to its current location, died October 21 at the age of 95.

Smith led IBSA for 13 years, including the move from southern Illinois to Springfield in 1971. During the first year of his tenure as executive director, Cooperative Program gifts in Illinois reached the $1 million mark for the first time.

Smith became president of the Southern Baptist Brotherhood Commission in Memphis in 1979 and served there until his retirement in 1991. During his presidency, the mission agency, which later was folded into the North American Mission Board, developed World Changers, a hands-on missions experience that currently involves more than 20,000 participants every year.

“He was acknowledged by his staff as a leader who placed the role of the local church in the prominent position of providing manpower to reach the world for Christ,” said Jack Childs, former Brotherhood Commission vice president of support services.

Born in Alabama, Smith moved to Illinois as an 18-yearold attempting to enroll in Moody Bible Institute. The Chicago school wouldn’t admit him at first because of his age, lack of funds, and the fact that he had made a profession of faith less than a year before. Smith persisted, auditing classes and working as a janitor until he was accepted as a full-time student.

Smith was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Nona, and one son. He is survived by three children; 16 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.

– With info from Baptist Press

Ed Handkins dies at 74

Apex, N.C. | Former IBSA church planting director Ed Handkins died in North Carolina on October 25. Handkins, who was born in Williamson County and grew up on a farm near Marion, spent his life pastoring churches, serving as a director of missions, and catalyzing new churches.

Handkins was saved, baptized, and later ordained at Center Baptist Church in Crab Orchard, Ill. He served 31 years as pastor of seven churches before going to work as director of missions for Quad Cities Area and Sinnissippi Baptist Associations. He later served as IBSA’s “Director of

Anglo New Work” and was appointed as a missionary by the North American Mission Board. Handkins retired in 2005 and moved to North Carolina, where he continued to pastor and facilitate church planting.

Sandy Barnard, who worked with Handkins at IBSA, remembered him as a “wonderful man” who “lived his life to the fullest and loved his family.”

Handkins is survived by his wife, Donna, and their children and grandchildren.

Wright on refugees

On a recent episode of “60 Minutes,” former Southern Baptist Convention President Bryant Wright urged Americans to exhibit a loving approach to the thousands of Syrian refugees coming into the U.S.

“The government has decided 10,000 Syrian refugees are coming. That’s not our decision,” said Wright, pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Ga. “Isn’t it better to reach out and love these folks than to give them the cold shoulder? Which approach do you think might cause a Muslim refugee to be more sympathetic to Islamic terrorism? Which approach? To me it’s a no-brainer.”

Hatmaker books pulled

LifeWay Christian Resources announced Oct. 27 they will no longer carry books and resources by popular author and speaker Jen Hatmaker, who gave an interview Oct. 25 in which she said LGBT relationships “can be holy.” In the interview with Religion News Service’s Jonathan Merritt, Hatmaker also affirmed same-sex marriage.

Hatmaker’s best-selling books include “7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess,” which was published by LifeWay’s B&H Publishing.

Zobrist gives thanks

The morning after the Chicago Cubs’ World Series championship, MVP (and Illinois native) Ben Zobrist took to Twitter to express thanks for the historic victory.

“Don’t want to go to sleep yet,” Zobrist tweeted at 6:24 a.m. “I’m still shocked. Thank you Lord for this special blessing. Thank you Cubs fans.”

Zobrist, an outspoken Christian, and his wife, recording artist Julianna, co-authored a 2014 book, “Double Play: Faith and Family First,” published by B&H.

– Baptist Press

The Morning After Reflections on election day

“We have a new president - @realDonaldTrump. May we all pray for him (1 Timothy 2:1-2), for our nation, & for humility in the days ahead.”

– Steve Gaines, pastor, Memphis, Tenn. and SBC president, @bellevuepastor

“Neither candidate was messiah and neither party is God’s chosen agent of change in this world—His Church is that agent of change. Neither party will deliver us from evil—only God will. Neither party can save us from a downward spiral, only God can. Neither party can offer true hope, only God can. There is no easier day and no easier year to see these truths than on this day of this year.”

“Conservative evangelicals are politically homeless—whether they know it or not. That is not the worst situation we could be in. Political power—or the illusion of it—has not always been good for us. Such influence has led us to conform our minds to that of the world about what matters, and who matters, in the long-run of history. We should, as missionary Jim Elliot put it a generation ago, own our ‘strangerhood.’”

– ERLC President

“I am not going to offer you advice or give admonitions today. Frankly, after all I have said in criticism of you it would be crass for me to give you advice. You do have my commitment that I will seek to fulfill my biblical responsibilities as a Christian, as a pastor, and as a man of God toward the duly elected president of the United States.”

– Iowa pastor and SBC Voices blogger Dave Miller, in an open letter to Donald Trump

“It’s time to love our neighbors, even those with the wrong political sign in their yard.”

– Ed Stetzer, executive director of the Billy Graham Center for Evangelism, in Religion News Service

From the front: NEXT STEPS FOR EVANGELICALS

Continued from page 1

White evangelicals, white Catholics, and Mormons all supported Republican Donald Trump according to exit polls, while black Protestants and Latino Catholics went for Democrat Hillary Clinton in the November 8 presidential election.

At 81%, the majority support for Trump by evangelicals was a surprise to some, after evangelical leaders split on the candidate. His conservative stance on moral and political issues traditionally important to bornagain believers was at odds with his irreligious lifestyle.

Russell Moore of the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission is one of the few Southern Baptists who spoke against Trump, based on the candidate’s behaviors. Moore consistently urged Southern Baptists to keep conservative politics from swamping biblical beliefs. And his view the day after the election? He tweeted congratulations and called for prayer.

“The most important lesson we should learn is that the church must stand against the way politics has become a religion, and religion has become politics,” Moore wrote on his blog. “We can hear this idolatrous pull even in the apocalyptic language used by many in this election—as we have seen in every election in recent years—that this election is our ‘last chance.’”

But Robert P. Jones, CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute, counters, “Trump’s line—‘Let’s make America great again’—and his last-minute saying—‘look folks, I’m your last chance’—was really powerful for white evangelicals who see their numbers in the general population slipping.

“White Christians are declining every year by a percentage point or more as a proportion of the population,” Jones told Religion News Service. “So when Trump says, ‘I’m your last chance, folks,’ there’s a real truth to that.”

Some analysts attribute Trump’s victory to a middle-class, middle-of-the-country rebuke of the Obama legacy and the liberal cultural shift during his administration, as exemplified by the legalization of same-sex marriage and the recent actions on transgender issues. Others say Clinton lost, in part,

Google Map of Electoral College Vote, as of 11/9/16

because she ignored evangelicals.

“We asked for the votes of evangelicals and the Clinton campaign didn’t,” said Michael Wear, who served as faith outreach director for President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign. “It’s a campaign, you ask for people’s votes. And Hillary asked for just about every vote except this group of voters,” he told World magazine.

More prayer, more power

Arkansas pastor Ronnie Floyd didn’t endorse Trump while he served as SBC President. But days after he was succeeded by Tennessee pastor Steve Gaines, Floyd was one of a handful of SBC leaders who attended Trump’s meeting with nearly 1,000 evangelicals. Now, Floyd advises prayer.

“Please prioritize praying for Trump…. (and) for Vice President-Elect Mike Pence,” Floyd wrote on his blog. “Pray for wisdom, future, security, protection, and leadership that will be extended to our nation. Pray for Trump as he selects members for his cabinet and begins the appointments of hundreds of people.”

The next move by evangelicals is to “stay in the game,” says Ed Stetzer of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College. Evangelicals who helped give Trump the office have a responsibility to help mold his presidency.

“There are many evangelicals who voted for Trump, and many evangelicals who advised him,” Stetzer wrote for Christianity Today. “It’s time to advise him now that immigrants are made in the image of God, women are not tools and toys, racial and religious prejudice must be confronted, and so much more.”

Stetzer noted the decided shift on the importance of a candidate’s character to evangelical voters who supported Trump. “The answer is not for us to change our views on character, it’s to help a flawed candidate become a President of character.

“Evangelicals elected Trump,” Stetzer said. “Now they need to call him to a better way.”

Read: “Restoring Fractured Evangelicalism” on page 14.

RED STATES/BLUE STATES – The popular vote in the Trump/Clinton election was almost evenly divided. But the electoral college map reveals division by regions, including traditional SBC strongholds in the South.

IN FOCUS

Colorful and multi-cultural Messengers celebrate the diversity of Illinois and the challenge of reaching across cultures

Broadview | The call was “Come to Chicago!” and messengers from across Illinois answered. The Illinois Baptist State Association’s 2016 Annual Meeting held at Broadview Missionary Baptist Church focused on reaching across cultures with the gospel, both in the business sessions November 2-3, and in the Pastors’ Conference that preceded it. The meeting was attended by 529 people, 341 messengers and 188 visitors.

“God’s people need to be visibly present in the culture,” IBSA President Kevin Carrothers urged. “Now is not the time to retreat. Now is not the time to disengage….(We must) leave the comfort of our own culture, leave the comfort of our own places to share Jesus Christ.”

Carrothers, pastor of Rochester First Baptist, cited the vision call to Paul from the Macedonians in Acts 16:9 as he opened the meeting. “You can call it the Chicago call, Cairo call, the Quad Cities call, even put

in the name of your own town. In Illinois more than 8 million people do not know Jesus Christ.”

The meeting focused on the cultural diversity of Illinois, and celebrated different languages and cultures that make up the body of Christ. Attenders at the Chicagoland gathering demonstrated the variety of peoples in the city, in our Baptist churches, and ultimately in God’s Kingdom.

“God will not be denied,” Jeff Iorg, president of Gateway Seminary of the SBC and guest speaker, told messengers. Iorg spoke of the challenges of cross cultural ministry from his experience on the West Coast. “He will have a church from every tribe, from every people….God will not be denied.” Iorg preached from the book of Acts, comparing the challenges met by first-century Christians with those believers face today.

More on pages 6-10

IN THIS SECTION

Preachers urge gospel advance Messengers increase CP giving Devore honored for 44 years

Vision tours show Chicagoland missions opportunities

Culture and the cross

BY MEREDITH FLYNN

Broadview | In a world of ever-increasing diversity, doing effective cross-cultural ministry is a daunting task. But maybe more daunting than it should be, said one seminary president at the 2016 IBSA Annual Meeting in Chicagoland.

“Crossing culture with the gospel is one of those things that I believe we over-complicate, to our detriment,” said Jeff Iorg. But it can be as simple as sharing a meal or giving an English lesson. Then, said Iorg, president of Gateway Seminary in southern California, watch as God opens up opportunities to share the gospel.

“Cross-Culture” was the theme of the meeting and the annual Wednesday night worship celebration, which featured Iorg and stories of Illinois Baptists reaching past their own cultural norms for the sake of the gospel.

Lindsay McDonald and her husband, John, shared how her recent mission trip to South Asia lit a fire in their church to cross cultures in their own community. After hearing how she crossed barriers of language and tradition and worldview in South Asia last spring, their church, First Baptist in Casey, is working to reach across the economic divides in their own community.

“We see that as a great need,” said John, who pastors the church, “so we’re trying to cross that cultural boundary.”

In the book of Acts, Iorg preached during the Wednesday evening session, it was through “everyday Christians” that God reinvigorated the spread of the gospel after it halted because of cultural biases and limitations. In Acts 11:20, he said, a group of anonymous men came to Antioch and crossed

culture for the sake of the gospel by preaching to the gentiles.

“Everyday Christians, anonymous evangelists, witnessing believers—these people are the reason the gospel first crossed culture,” Iorg said.

“If the gospel is going to cross culture here in Illinois, it will be because everyday believers decide to make it happen.”

‘Before Christ’ days

At the IBSA Pastors’ Conference prior to the Annual Meeting, four pastors preached on how to achieve racial and cultural reconciliation, but said

it begins with a reliance on the gospel—the same gospel that rescued the pastors in the audience.

“In your B.C. days, in other words, in your ‘before Christ’ days, what did it take to change you?” asked New Orleans pastor Fred Luter. Listing a variety of sins Christians are caught up in before Christ, Luter exclaimed the answer: “You heard the gospel of Jesus Christ! You were transformed by the power of the gospel…The same gospel can change our city and can change those knuckledheads in our streets!”

The pre-eminence of the gospel as transformative in individual lives, for communities, and for

MULTI-LINGUAL PRAISE – A worship team including (above, l-r) IBSA staff members Dwayne Doyle and Steve Hamrick and Pastor Tony Munoz of Effingham sang “How Great Is Our God” in five languages.

ANOTHER CHANCE – Pastor Kenyatta Smith (far left) fought Chicago traffic after his day job to get to the IBSA Annual Meeting to share his story of cross-cultural ministry. He also accepted a plaque on behalf of his congregation, Another Chance Baptist Church, which affiliated with IBSA this year.

FROM KENYA TO CHICAGO – Former IMB missionaries Kathy and Jeff Deasy, who recently returned to the U.S., presented the mission board’s report. Jeff is one of three former IMB staff now serving with IBSA.

Be it resolved

Messengers to the 110th Annual Meeting approved resolutions addressing…

Church revitalization

(We) encourage Illinois churches to address apathetic attitudes and cultural influences that may be hindering gospel ministry through pursuing a course of revitalization and renewal; and…. that Illinois pastors and staff take the necessary steps in discipling, maturing, and engaging their congregations in the Great Commission and Great Commandment.

Voting biblical values

“Every pastor is called to help his congregation think biblically about all aspects of life, including current cultural issues. The media, pop culture, and political pundits relentlessly bombard your people with messages untethered from a Christian worldview. But you have the privilege of both helping your congregation filter those messages and disciplining your congregation in the practical theology of Christian living at the intersection of faith and politics” (Christiana Holcomb, Alliance Defending Freedom).

Promoting reconciliation

Whereas the modern and current disunity between races has political, economic, and social ramifications; the differences between the current social climate and a biblical ideal displays a disparity of principles regarding morality and spirituality….(we are) encouraged to promote unity, harmony, and reconciliation with all races and nationalities as we are empowered by the blood of Jesus Christ in accordance with the principles set forth by the flawless and inspired Word of God.

‘Everyday Christians,’ compelled by love and mercy, can overcome gospel barriers

the world, formed the foundation of the Pastors’ Conference, held Nov. 1-2 at Broadview. “Crossroads: Our Pathway to Reconciliation” was the theme of the conference, for which Luter was joined by Florida pastor H.B. Charles and Illinois pastors Jonathan Peters and Scott Nichols.

“I believe God has called us together for such a time as this, even as we stand together in such a divided time,” said Pastor David Sutton of Bread of Life Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago, who also served as president and organizer of the event. Pointing out the dichotomies of Illinois’ geography and population, Sutton said, “We come from so many different groups and backgrounds, [but] even in our differences we can come together….I heard one preacher say we may not agree on everything, but that doesn’t mean we can’t walk together hand-in-hand.”

Nichols, pastor of Crossroads Community Church in Carol Stream, echoed Luter’s call to remember how God has brought every believer out of darkness into light. “Reconciliation is painful, hard work,” he said, but it’s our calling for “those in the grip of sin…because God’s done reconciliation in my life.”

“We should live and serve with the confidence, faith, and perseverance that no matter what is going on Jesus Christ will have the last word.”

Strangers and exiles

Crossing cultures with the gospel starts with embracing a certain civic duty, IBSA President Kevin Carrothers said, but he wasn’t talking about the one most people envision this time of year. “As Christians, we have a civic duty to pray because God commands it.”

Preaching from the book of Jeremiah during his president’s message Wednesday afternoon, Carrothers, pastor of Rochester First Baptist Church, reminded his listeners how God told the Israelites to pray for the prosperity of the city where they had been exiled (Jeremiah 29).

CARROTHERS

Peters picked up on that theme in his message from Genesis. Outlining the life of Joseph, sold into slavery by jealous brothers and met by injustice after injustice, he became a restorer of men precisely because he understood brokenness, Peters preached. “You cannot be a restorer of men unless you are first broken by the circumstances of sin,” Peters said. “If we want to be restored, we must experience a genuine brokenness at the crushing weight of sin.”

While politics was overshadowed by gospel in the preaching and in breakout sessions focused on cross-cultural ministry, the conference preachers did exhort their listeners to trust God, no matter the outcome of the coming election.

“I was tempted to label this sermon the unelected and unimpeachable king! His almighty Son has already been appointed King, and he is not up for re-election,” Charles said.

“God wants his people to pray for the city that pillaged and ravaged the holy city,” Carrothers preached.

“He wants his people to be the gospel light to the spiritually blind, and he wants us to thrive in clashing cultures and to thrive and grow where we have been planted. But it’s hard. It wasn’t going to be easy for the people of Jerusalem and God’s people there in Babylon. But God said, ‘I need you to take the long-term view of it.’”

What compels God’s people to do so, even amid great hardship and sacrifice, is the same love that compels God’s heart toward we who were once unbelievers, said Adron Robinson in the meeting’s closing message.

Preaching an annual sermon titled “Love on Display,” the pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Country Club Hills said real love takes initiative, just like God did with us.

“Sinners aren’t looking for a savior, just like you weren’t looking for a police officer when you were breaking laws,” Robinson said. Sinners are looking to sin, he added, and unless we go where they are to tell them the good news, they’ll stay in their sin. As we go, let us be compelled by how God demonstrated his own love, he preached.

“It’s the only thing that’s going to transform lives, is love.”

“Unless the beautiful and bloody gospel of Jesus Christ shocks the church back into coherency, there will not be the reconciliation of God to man or man to each other.”

“Just because they’re packing them in may not mean that church is faithful, it could be it’s because the pulpit is manned by an ecclesiastical ear-tickler who is preaching what the people want to hear rather than the word of God.”

– H.B. Charles, Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Fla.

“Do not think the answer to reconciliation is to ignore the past. Will you and I deal with that thing that is unspoken in our church? It doesn’t get better if you ignore it.”

– Scott Nichols, Crossroads Community Church, Carol Stream, wearing shades to show changes in perspective

“God’s had no problem with getting dogs barking and cats meowing since ancient times. We’re the only ones that consistently don’t do what God’s created us to do. What should we do? Put ourselves in the Master’s hands.”

– Fred Luter, Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, New Orleans, using a handkerchief to talk about God holding the world in his hand

– Jonathan Peters, First Baptist Church, Columbia

ROBINSON

WELCOME – Representatives from seven of ten new churches received certificates after messengers approved their affiliation with the state association.

IBSA reports solid year for missions and leadership

Welcomes new churches and church plants in 2016

BY LISA SERGENT

Messengers voted to increase the state’s Cooperative Program giving to national causes, met missionaries coming off the international field who joined the state staff, and welcomed new churches to the Association in the business sessions of the 2016 IBSA Annual Meeting.

Messengers approved the 2017 IBSA budget of $8.5 million, with projected Cooperative Program giving of $6.3 million. That included a quarterpoint increase in giving to missions through the national Southern Baptist Convention. Starting in January, 56.5% of CP giving in Illinois will provide for ministry, missions, and church planting within the state, while 43.5% will go to the SBC Executive Committee for distribution to national and international missions. Illinois is the eleventh-highest in percentage giving among 42 state conventions.

IBSA Board President Bob Dyer noted this was the first adjustment in the CP ratio in eight years, and reflected a multi-level approach to missions involving state, national, and international partners.

In his report, Executive Director Nate Adams provided updates on the four focuses of IBSA: developing church leaders, inspiring cooperation among churches, stimulating church health and growth, and catalyzing evangelistic church planting and missions.

Adams shared that in 2016, “We have 257 pastors engaged in personal leadership development, and this year 27 regional cohorts have been facilitated by IBSA staff or one of our part-time zone consultants.”

As part of the Association’s efforts to inspire cooperation, Adams noted this year IBSA staff have been “in communication with all IBSA churches, and in personal contact or consultation with 87% of churches.”

In regards to church health and growth Adams said, “Almost 5,500 leaders from 609 churches

have received training in areas that promote church health and growth.” After last year’s emphasis on the evangelistic building block of Vacation Bible School, participation in VBS training increased by 35%. Further outcomes of the “Build Your Kingdom Here” emphasis, which advocated five evangelistic commitments by IBSA churches in 2016, are expected on the next comprehensive report of Annual Church Profiles early next year.

The Association also anticipates 16 new churches to be planted in Illinois in 2016. Missions was celebrated in Adams’ report in ways both new and familiar. “For the fourth year in a row Illinois Baptists have sent more than 24,000 volunteers to one or more of their Acts 1:8 mission fields,” he shared.

A new dimension was added to IBSA missions involvement with three returning International Mission Board missionaries joining the IBSA staff: Jeff Deasy, associate executive director of the Church Cooperation Team, was a career missionary, along with his wife, Kathy, in Kenya. Dwayne Doyle, director of men’s ministry and missions, served most recently in Greece; and Mike Young, camp manager of Streator Baptist Camp, served in the Czech Republic. All three joined the IBSA staff in 2016.

Looking ahead

The 2019 Annual Meeting will be November 6-7 at Cornerstone in Marion, following action by the messengers. The 2017 meeting will take place

Seeing and believing in Chicagoland

Church planters share stories of their work and how God is moving

Guests at the IBSA Annual Meeting and Pastors’ Conference were invited to join several “vision tours” to different Chicagoland neighborhoods and communities, where they met church planters in various stages of the planting process.

On a tour of the city’s North Side, participants prayed for Edgar and Sonia Rodriguez and Bryan Coble (second, third, and fourth from left in photo at right). The Rodriguezes launched New City Fellowship last year in Humboldt Park, and Coble and his wife, Marci, moved to Chicago in the spring to plant a new church in Irving Park.

Back at Broadview Missionary Baptist Church, IBSA’s Church Planting Team facilitated a “virtual vision tour” to detail the need for new churches all across the state. (See photos on page 9.)

“I noticed that one of the counties very close to us, a county that I visit, doesn’t even have a Southern Baptist church in it,” said Jeremy Byrd, pastor of Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church in Jacksonville. On the virtual vision tour, he spent time looking at a map of the distribution of Baptist churches in Illinois.

“We would love to see a plant go in there,” Byrd said. “We’d love to partner with somebody to do that.”

RE-ELECTED – All four IBSA officers were re-elected to serve a second one-year term. (Seated, l-r) Vice-President Adron Robinson, pastor, Hillcrest Baptist in Country Club Hills; President Kevin Carrothers, pastor, Rochester First Baptist. (Standing l-r) Assistant Recording Secretary Teresa Ebert, member, Temple Baptist in Canton; Recording Secretary Patty Hulskotter, member, Living Faith Baptist in Sherman.

November 8-9 at Tabernacle Baptist in Decatur, and the 2018 meeting is November 7-8 at First Baptist, Maryville.

Sammy Simmons, pastor of Immanuel Baptist in Benton, will bring the Annual Sermon in 2017 and Tom Hufty, pastor of First Baptist, Maryville, will serve as the alternate.

The Credentials Committee presented 10 churches for affiliation with IBSA, which were admitted without objection. They are Another Chance, Chicago; Grace Community, Yorkville; Greater Morning View, Chicago; Iglesia Alfa y Omega, Aurora; Iglesia Dios con Nosotros, Chicago; Metropolitan, Gary, Ind.; Perfecting Faith Ministry, Swansea; Revelation Road, Buncombe; Second Baptist, Wheaton; and Strong Tower, Flora.

The Resolutions and Christian Life Committee presented five resolutions, all of which were approved. The resolutions encouraged Illinois Baptists to vote biblical values; promoted unity, harmony, and reconciliation through Jesus Christ among all nations; showed appreciation to Broadview Missionary Baptist for hosting the Annual Meeting; honored Doug Devore on his retirement from Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services; and called for the revitalization and renewal of churches in North America.

A time of special recognition took place to honor the memory of IBSA staff who passed away in 2016. Those honored were:

• Jim Smith served as executive director from 1967-1979,

• Betty Walker, IBSA’s longest serving staff member at 42 years, held various leadership roles from 1947-1989,

• Keith Stanford led the church development department from 1986-1997, and

• Ed Handkins directed church planting efforts from 1996-2005.

Not just numbers

Foundation, Children’s Home report stories behind budgets

The Baptist Foundation of Illinois (BFI) deals in numbers. Lots of numbers. In his report to messengers, BFI Executive Director Doug Morrow went a different direction. “I don’t want to spend a lot of time on the numbers,” Morrow said. “I want to spend some time allowing you to hear and see from two churches and pastors and what they’re doing.”

Tony Banks, pastor of Agape Bible Fellowship in Park Forest shared what the Foundation has done for his church. Through the BFI Loan and Bond Program Banks said, “God has given us twice the building we thought we could get at half what we thought it would cost. We’ve been amazed. Illinois Baptists have invested in the kingdom of God, not just investing in a building, but investing in people.”

Morrow introduced Pastor Nathan Brown of Real Church in Chicago. “There are tons of features our Baptist Foundation has that our churches do not know,” Brown shared. He told messengers and attendees how three families in his church have written wills and health directives with the Foundation’s assistance, and more families are scheduling their own appointments.

In other business:

• BFI tied a previous record awarding $76,750 to 37 students in 2016.

• The Foundation’s first Christian Service Grant was awarded to Faith Tabernacle Baptist Church in Chicago.

• Messengers approved the 2017 budget of $1,411,918.50 and Board of Trustees officers Ted Zimmerman, president; David Howard, vice president; and Jenny Cox, secretary.

Devore gives final BCHFS report

Twenty-one IBSA Annual Meetings have come and gone since Doug Devore became Executive Director of the Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services (BCHFS). It’s been nearly 44 years since he joined the BCHFS staff.

This, the 110th Annual Meeting of IBSA, was Devore’s last to give his agency’s report as executive director. He will retire from the role in January 2017.

Continued on page 10

IN SERVICE OF LIFE – BCHFS Executive Director Doug Devore was honored ahead of his retirement in January after 44 years of ministry to children. IBSA President Kevin Carrothers cited Devore for “exceptional leadership and faithful service.”

IBSA’s Second-Generation Church Planting Catalyst John Yi (left) talks with a group of church planters in one of the rooms tourists visited to learn more about specific needs and partnership opportunities in church planting across the state.

Thwang Sian Kam started Zomi Emmanuel Mission Church in January to reach members of his people group, the Zomi, from Myanmar who are currently living in Chicagoland. A refugee fleeing religious persecution in Myanmar (formerly Burma), Kam lived in a Malaysian refugee camp before coming to the U.S.

Janice Schmerl and Linda Lash from Crossroads Community Church in Port Barrington discuss which of Chicago’s neighborhoods they have called home. Chicago has 77 distinct neighborhoods, and some of its suburbs rank among the state’s largest cities.

Stepping to the podium at Broadview Missionary Baptist, Devore told messengers and visitors about the 98-year-old organization’s key values. “We believe and value that God ordained the family as the foundation of society,” he said. “We believe marriage is between one man and one woman. We believe life begins at the moment of conception. We believe that there no such thing as a life not worthy to be lived. We believe that there’s saving power in the cross.

“As a result of these shared values, success looks the same to all of us. We can celebrate together when families are restored. It’s about people making a difference in the life of others in the name of Jesus.”

The last year has been a good one for BCHFS, Devore said. “We provided care for 1,303 children and adults through Baptist Children’s Home in Carmi; Angels’ Cove maternity center in Mt. Vernon; adoptive homes across the state; outpatient counseling offices in 11 cities; Safe Families for Children services in Christian homes; Cove Connection parenting services in Mt. Vernon; and orphan care in Uganda. Children were placed in safe, caring environments; families were treated with dignity and respect; professional counseling was provided for children and adults; expectant mothers were given medical care and the chance to choose life for their children; children were clothed, fed, and educated; and the gift of salvation was shared with everyone in care.”

In addition, there were nine professions of faith—three in residential care, four in

maternity care, and two in the Safe Families for Children program. “Not only does Jesus change that person, but he changes families for generations,” Devore noted.

He was joined on the platform by several members of the BCHFS staff who shared stories of lives changed by BCHFS. The last one to speak was incoming Executive Director Denny Hydrick. “I’m excited about the years to come and the unknown numbers who will come into our paths. We will remain steadfast, will remain immovable in the work of the Lord.”

Later in the meeting, IBSA President Kevin Carrothers recognized the executive directors of all three of IBSA’s agencies for their tenure. Doug Morrow, Baptist Foundation of Illinois, has served five years and Nate Adams, Illinois Baptist State Association, has served 10. In presenting Devore with a proclamation for serving 44 years, Carrothers shared, “When he began as executive director the average number of children served was 120. Now it’s 1,300 children and adults. That’s 18,000 people. Almost $5 million (was) raised through Mother’s Day Offering since he took over. There have been 230 professions of faith.”

In other BCHFS business, messengers approved:

• The 2017 budget of $3,231,334 and capital improvements including renovations to Garrison and Verhines Cottages.

• Board of Trustees officers Eric Bramlet, chair; Jerry Allen, vice chair; and Jana Searles, secretary.

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Bivo pastor honored

“The difference between a bivocational pastor and a full-time pastor is very little—we’re both longwinded, amen?”

Bruce Sasse drew laughs with that comment and several others as he accepted the 2016 award as Bivocational Pastor of the Year. Sasse serves Columbus Baptist Church in Keyesport.

The church was down to 15 attenders when he was called. Now it’s up to 60 most weeks, and they’re building a new sanctuary.

Sasse was nominated by Joe Lawson (far right in photo), director of missions for Louisville and Rehoboth Associations. “He has a love of God, he shares his faith freely, he’s the community pastor,” Lawson said, describing Sasse’s role in Keyesport. In addition to pastoring, he worked as manager of a plastics plant in Vandalia.

Sasse accepted the award with his wife, Cheri. It was presented by IBSA Executive Director Nate Adams.

MISSION

Editor’s Note: When a group of women from Illinois returned from a mission trip to the other side of the world, they tried not to tell the name of the country where they served. They spoke of that part of the world in general terms. We might have wondered why they were so careful about it, if we had not heard of attacks on native Christians in that decidedly non-Christian nation. In the very cities they had visited. Our friends were protecting their friends, sisters in Christ, in an unfriendly part of the world.

What we have learned most recently is that these Illinois women were right to be concerned—and that in similar ways, much of the world is unfriendly. Unfriendly to the gospel.

Our Lisa Sergent recently returned from a meeting with members of the International Mission Board’s new communications team. Stationed in cities across the globe, they are responsible for telling the stories of Southern Baptist missionaries who are telling people about Jesus.

In a world unfriendly to the gospel, how they tell the story has changed—of necessity. This is the first of three reports.

Taking the risk

GREAT, EMPTY EDIFICES – Lisa Sergent (photo above) stands in front of the entrance to Westminster Abbey in London. Behind her a line of tourists and a few worshippers gather for the Sunday evening service. (Next page) Open six days a week for visitors with an admission charge of nearly $30 per adult, the Abbey relies “almost entirely on paying visitors and tourists” for its

Serving

Christ

has always been

dangerous. He said it would be. Now, even telling the stories of missionaries puts them in danger.

BY LISA SERGENT

London | We can’t tell you their names. We can’t tell you where they live. We can’t really even tell you where they work. They are missionaries.

Times have changed. We all know social and cultural values have recently experienced massive upheavals in western nations. Religion has played a major role in these changes. Missions work is no longer

tolerated in places it once was. Working to fulfill the Great Commission can no longer be done so openly.

Coinciding with these cultural shifts are changes within the Southern Baptist Convention’s largest missions sending agency. The International Mission Board (IMB) is adapting the way it does missions. When IMB President David Platt stepped into the

Continued on page 12

SHADOW AND LIGHT – This photo (upper right) from IMB’s Instagram account shows their new communication strategy: show the missions concept, but protect the identity of the missionary. Posted with the photo is a brief message from the missionary: “Pray for God to provide me with a teammate willing to work in rough, remote places so we can reach the mountain shepherd people.”

income, says the sign out front.

Lost in London

When you travel you have to make allowances for some of the local customs. In New Orleans, prepare for Cajun cooking, and in coastal southern California, enjoy the more relaxed pace of life. In foreign countries the differences can be even more pronounced. But if you’re traveling to another English-speaking country, it can’t be that different, right?

Wrong.

A week in the southwest of England shined a spotlight on some of those differences. I learned what it means to “spend a penny” and pack a flannel. Here are just a few from my list.

1. A crosswalk isn’t a crosswalk. It’s a Zebra crossing (not zee-bra, it’s pronounced with a short “e” sound). Other types of pedestrian crossings are Pelican, Puffin, Toucan, and Pegasus (for horses and their riders.) Google them for fun.

2. Can I get ice with that? It’s true, most beverages are served lukewarm in England, except tea, which is hot of course. If you ask for ice to go with your Coke, you will get four cubes and a lemon.

3. One word—scones. My fellow Americans, we have been lied to by bakery cafés (you know who you are). Scones are not hard, triangle-shaped baked goods. They are soft and biscuit-like and so delicious topped with jam and clotted cream (bad name, great taste).

Continued from page 11

role in 2014 he soon discovered the agency was facing a budget overspend of more than $200 million. Personnel costs would have to be greatly reduced with action being taken quickly. With a major and largely voluntary staff reduction in 2015, going from nearly 5,000 missionaries and staff to 3,800, IMB expects have a balanced budget in 2017.

The changes included cutting most of the communications team serving in Richmond, and replacing them with a small team of young communication specialists stationed at points all around the world. With them comes new strategies for engaging Southern Baptists with missionaries that take into account the risky business of gospel witness.

Not your mother’s mission magazine

You may have noticed the stories about IMB missionaries have changed. Remember Commission magazine, with its glossy photos and National Geographic style? Today’s mission stories are not written in a long, detailed format anymore. We don’t often see photographs of missionaries’ faces. The name of the countries where they serve may not be reported. There is a good reason for this. A very good reason.

Almost a dozen state Baptist convention newspaper editors met with members of the Board’s media network in London recently. The chief topic was security concerns.

“There’s spiritual warfare on the front lines,” a member of the media team shared. “A battle is going on against the spread of the gospel.”

Tell the old, old story—differently

If you visit the International Mission Board’s website, IMB.org, you can read its mission statement, “Our mission is evangelizing, discipling, and planting reproducing churches among all peoples in fulfillment of the Great Commission.”

In today’s world, technological advance has produced security issues, so can the missions stories be told to the people back home in the pews? It’s becoming more and more challenging. Things aren’t as simple as when Lottie Moon would write about her work in China and send the letter to Annie Armstrong to be copied (and recopied) by hand or typewriter, and distributed across the United States.

For years the National Woman’s Missionary Union’s prayer calendar in Missions Mosaic magazine has contained a birthday prayer calendar for missionaries. It listed their names and the countries where they served. In recent years, fewer real names or locations can be shared. Quite often a pseudonym will be used along with a region of the world, “South Asia,” for instance. While the IMB remains committed to telling the story back home, they are having to become more and more creative in doing so. Lengthy articles are now less common and story vignettes are better vehicles not only due to safety concerns, but also for ever shrinking attention spans.

4. Empty churches. Sorry folks, this one isn’t funny. England is filled with lovely old churches, but sadly, most have become tourist attractions. People line up for tours of Westminster Abby and St. Paul’s Cathedral and for the services, however most of those attending the services are tourists too.

The church grounds are beautifully landscaped and popular with the locals. They are great spots for enjoying a picnic lunch in the middle of a hectic work day.

Of course, there are flourishing churches in England, but they are few and far between. England and the rest of western Europe culturally trend ahead of the U.S. by a couple of decades. Now it’s just few years. This isn’t a trend Christians in the U.S. should follow.

Lisa’s full list can be seen at IB2news.org or our new site, IllinoisBaptist.org.

For example, one missionary took all the necessary precautions. But when a photo that had been taken years earlier was found online it led to his undoing. Somehow a person in the country where the missionary was serving connected it with some other information online to learn the missionary’s true identity. It almost cost him his life. He walked, unsuspecting, into a meeting and found the atmosphere was charged with anger. People once friendly were now menacing as they kept him there for hours shouting, “Is this you? Did you say this?” When he was finally allowed to leave, he gathered his family and they fled the country. His identity had been compromised and it was no longer safe for them to continue to spread the gospel message in that country.

The missionary life can require living in countries where it’s dangerous to be a Christian. But it can also be risky living in “safe” countries among those same people groups that are hostile to Christians. There are parts of Africa and Asia that have always been high risk and high security for missionaries. With the increased mobilization of people, now it’s not just there, it’s everywhere.

In other cases, the country may feel it is already a Christian nation and therefore does not need to admit anyone into the country for the express purpose of doing mission work. In those places, missionaries enter as workers who are in the country to do charity work or other vocations.

This has caused the IMB to shift the way it creates the content of a story, looking more at the concept that describes the missions work. As a member of the media team said, “There are avenues of telling the story without focusing on people in specific locations. We’ve had to shift the way we’re doing content altogether.”

The use of social media including Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter is proving to be a good way for Southern Baptists to stay informed about missions. It connects with younger generations who need also to learn the importance of giving to missions through the Cooperative Program.

The IMB website has undergone a complete retooling and now sports a fresh look that supports this challenging new media world.

Another change is in the reporting on the safety of missionaries after breaking news events. Southern Baptists often express interest in how an event affects missions efforts in those areas. According to their website, “Due to security considerations for IMB personnel and the national believers with whom they work, we usually don’t discuss their locations. However, with any breaking news event, we are in contact with anyone who might be affected, due to travel or other reasons, to confirm their safety and security.”

A media team member summed it up: “The missionary life, missions sending, it’s always changing. There are always new security challenges necessitating a new way of telling their stories. Most of our missionaries, we can’t print their names.”

Lisa Misner Sergent will focus on London, a world city with many people groups, in her next report.

Week of Prayer is December 4-11

It was near midnight when IMB missionary Dr. Heidi Haun had finished up an abdominal surgery and returned home. Her baby, Karen Jane, and son, Trey, 10, had long been in bed under the watchful eye of her husband, William

The Hauns serve in Nalerigu, Ghana, and her patient was a woman who sells cabbages under a mango tree on market days in town. Heidi had planned to perform surgery earlier in the day, but the operation was delayed by an emergency cesarean section. Still, after surgery that night, Heidi said the woman reached out to grasp her hand and thank her.

“I think that’s the neatest thing about having patients that live here in town…it leads to opportunities for relationship and gospel sharing,” Heidi explained. “I look forward to the opportunity to share Christ with her—more than just a patient-doctor relationship.”

The Hauns are two of the thousands of Southern Baptist missionaries supported by the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, an annual offering established in 1888. After more than a century, Lottie Moon giving continues its steady growth, including its largest-ever offering last year—$165.8 million.

The goal for the 2016 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is $155 million. During the week of Dec. 4-11, many Southern Baptist churches will focus on international missions in a Week of Prayer highlighting eight missionaries and missionary families, including the Hauns in Ghana and Zack and Jennifer Dove (right), who serve in Norway.

Sharing the gospel isn’t a one-time deal for the Doves, who work as church planters. It’s an everyday part of their lives as they deepen relationships and bridge conversations toward gospel truths in Sandefjord, Norway.

“Zack will say often…We don’t need to let cultural norms be the filter,” Jennifer

explains. “We need to let the gospel be the filter and so just share a little bit and see where it lands and plant that seed.”

Though Norway has been a Christian nation for a thousand years, in recent decades spiritual life has withered and church buildings often stand empty. Only 2% of Norwegians regularly attend services—one of the lowest attendance figures in Europe. The Doves encourage existing believers and share with others who live without hope. Southern Baptists can join their work through prayer.

“Just knowing that people are praying is such an awesome thing, and then just knowing that people are giving to the Lottie Moon [Christmas Offering], that’s such an encouragement.”

For more on this year’s Offering and Week of Prayer, go to IMB.org/lottiemoon-christmas-offering.

– IMB.org

“You have…heard about this hope in the message of truth, the gospel that has come to you. It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has among you since the day you heard it…

Making the gospel resound around the world is the theme of the 2016 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Promotional packets have been mailed to churches and resources also are available at IMB.org/lottie-moon-christmas-offering, including:

Videos about the missionaries featured in this year’s Week of Prayer, including the Harrell family (below). They serve in Mozambique, where they’ve encountered a long history of witchcraft practices and a culture of fear. But they’ve also experienced God’s power in astonishing ways.

Ideas for promoting the offering, and a sermon by International Mission Board President David Platt.

Resources for teaching children and students about international missions.

Links to order additional printed resources, including Lottie Moon Offering posters and bookmarks.

The story of Lottie Moon, who gave all she had as a missions pioneer in China.

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

FAMILY CALLING – Trey Haun, 10 (right), lives with his parents in Ghana, where they serve as missionaries with the International Mission Board. Trey’s mom, Heidi, is a physician (photo below) and his dad, William, works in media.

(Colossians 1:5-6, HCSB)

Pat’s Playbook

Consider a new class

QWe have a woman whose husband won’t go to Bible study with her. She’s too young for the “Ladies’ Class” and says she feels out of place with the couples. I asked her to lead a class for younger women, but she refused. Do you have any recommendations?

Restoring fractured evangelicalism table talk

Christians (especially Millennials), and notable differences among spokesmen for Baptist causes, and distance between leaders and pews.

devotion -

PAT PAJAK

AAs a pastor, I always tried to teach a mixed Bible study class in the auditorium. It was open to men and women 18 and older, and gave firsttime guests a class to visit. Through the years, I discovered that people who didn’t normally attend Sunday school would attend the class simply because the pastor was the teacher. I also found that with careful observation of my students’ attendance, understanding, questions, and Bible knowledge, I had a rich pool of future teachers and leaders.

In the case you describe, consider a home visit. If the pastor, as her Sunday school teacher, and his wife visit the woman and her husband, he will see their interest in her spiritual growth and may start attending with her.

QTwo men in the church, both contractors, did our remodeling work. Now we’ve learned it’s not up to code. Does that part in the Bible about not taking a brother to court apply, when the brother refuses to fix (or even admit) his mistakes?

AI’m sure this is the answer you don’t want to hear, but yes, it applies! The rest of that text asks, “Isn’t there a spiritually wise person in your congregation that can hear the matter and suggest a way to solve the problem without taking a brother to law?”

Perhaps a compromise can be reached where the church agrees to pay half and the contractors each pay one-quarter of the necessary repairs to have it corrected and meet code. This should have been their responsibility from the start, so they are getting out at a much reduced rate.

Be aware that there may be some hard feelings, so be gentle in your approach. But insist as church members that they make it right, simply because it’s the right thing to do.

Pat Pajak leads IBSA’s Church Consulting Team. He has led churches of all sizes across Illinois. Send your questions for Pat to Illinois Baptist@ IBSA.org.

Inwardly I chuckled when church historian Mark Noll said, “Evangelicalism is a fractious beast.” I was interviewing him for a documentary on the role Billy Graham played in the development of the evangelical movement when he founded Christianity Today magazine in 1956. As described by Noll, at the time a Wheaton College professor, evangelicals had no driving force other than their love for Jesus and desire to share him with the world.

In post-war mid-century America, the number of evangelicals, including Southern Baptists, was growing rapidly, but they were a people “about many things” as Jesus described Martha, with impact on society disproportionately weak compared to their numbers. They had no recognized thinktank to coalesce and articulate their conservative, biblical views and no central voice to bring those views to bear on culture, the courts, and behavior of the masses. No one was really paying attention to evangelicals as a political or cultural phenomenon. Graham remedied that by bringing top Christian thinkers together in his magazine, brought unity around a few ideals such that evangelicals over the next twenty years became a movement, and through a popular medium of the day he gave them a megaphone to broadcast their beliefs.

We could use another Billy Graham today.

Evangelicals today are fractured. The 2016 election cycle has divided us. While 4 out of 5 white evangelicals (the SBC’s predominant constituency) voted

for Trump, that fact should not be read as evangelical unity. Believers who may have voted for Trump did so for a variety of reasons. Some were wholeheartedly behind the candidate; some were choosing “the lesser of two evils.” Some were motivated by religious liberty issues, or the future of the U.S. Supreme Court, or pro-life concerns. No single issue or theology can be said to have brought together the 81% of self-identified white evangelicals who voted for Trump. And there’s the other 19% who didn’t. And African Americans, Asians, and Hispanic believers who pollsters don’t measure as “evangelicals” and often lump them in with other Protestant groups or even Catholics.

We are divided. The divides are between white and black, urban and rural, high levels of education and lesser. And in Southern Baptist life, we have seen some divide between older and younger

For the first time in a generation, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission does not appear to have spoken for average Southern Baptists. Russell Moore and a few others were critical of Trump, especially on issues of character and behavior. On the other hand, a few leading megachurch pastors, including Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church of Dallas, stood with Trump. Others kept mum. SBC president Steve Gaines advised not making politics a church issue, so as not to offend people who need to the hear the gospel.

In this election, there were many reasons for speaking up— or not. Thus, in their analysis of the Republican win, pundits may report evangelicals a “silent majority,” but if that is the case, this majority was bound by many motivations.

The need of the hour is for evangelicals, Southern Baptists in particular, to process this awkward election theologically—not practically, politically, or emotionally—and identify the kingdomworthy reasons for future political involvement. What are the few things we will stand for—that will bring us together in the name of Jesus Christ?

Is it U.S. Supreme Court appointments that preserve religious liberty? Marriage, family, gender preservation?

Is it social justice and a biblical view of peace, poverty, and the sanctity of human life?

And what is the role of character and trustworthiness in supporting a candidate or, moving forward, working with a presidential administration? Which is mandatory for Christ-followers when choosing political allies: biblical political positions or biblical behavior?

(It appears nearly impossible to find both in a single person these days.)

In the 1950s, Graham drew Christians together around conservative, biblical theology, and eventually brought that to bear on politics and politicians—not the other way around. At 98 (his birthday was the day before the election), does Graham even recognize the movement he codified?

Eric Reed is editor of the Illinois Baptist.

After a destructive election cycle, it’s time to ask some basic questions.

“Poor pastor Tim... Now his critics are using his Alaskan vacation as an opportunity to call him cold and distant.”

EVENTS

December 4-11

Lottie Moon Christmas

Offering & Week of Prayer

See page 13 for info.

January 1-31

SBC Call to Prayer

January 12, 17

Tax Seminars

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

Where: Jan. 12: FBC Marion, 7-9 p.m.; Jan. 17: FBC Effingham, 7-9 p.m. Info: AlexisDumire@IBSA.org

January 22

Sanctity of Life Sunday

January 24-25

Illinois Leadership Summit

What: Training for ministry and outreach leaders. Ask your associational director of missions or moderator about an invitation to attend.

Where: IBSA Building, Springfield

Info: BarbTroeger@IBSA.org

Young, jobless, and scared

dave says

QI’m 23, and I lost a good job a few days ago due to layoffs. My wife has been a stay-at-home mom with our 10-month-old daughter, and we have very little in the way of savings. What can we do to keep our heads above water?

AI’m really sorry you’re going through this. I’ve been there, so I know this is a scary time for you. There are some short- and long-term goals to think about in a situation like this, but let’s look at the immediate future.

Go crazy about finding some kind of income. I don’t care if it’s delivering pizza during the week and working at the mall on weekends. Even if it doesn’t completely replace your previous income, it will give you some cash to pay bills and stay afloat. On your off days, and before and after work, you can line up and do interviews for a more stable, full-time job. You may even have to trade off babysitting duties with your wife so she can earn some money too.

This is doable if you two work hard, pull together, and focus. God bless you guys.

Accounting 101

QI’ve just started my own small business. As the owner and only employee, how do I determine my profits?

AHere’s a basic Accounting 101 definition for you, regardless of how many employees you have or how big your business may be. What you take in, minus expenses—in other words, your revenues minus your expenses—equal profit. Believe it or not, it really is that simple.

people

Celebrations

The congregation of Cross Keys Baptist Church is prayerfully looking for a bivocational senior pastor

We are poised to follow a godly and dynamic shepherd who understands and upholds 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9, and are accepting resumes through Dec. 1, 2016. Respond online at pastorsearch@ crosskeysbaptistchurch.org or send hard copies to us at 14255 New Halls Ferry Rd., Florissant, MO 63033.

NeTworkiNg

Find more information on ministry positions at IBSA.org/connect

Send NetworkiNg items to IllinoisBaptist@IBSA.org

While all this is going on, have a garage sale and sell anything you don’t need or want anymore. Just about anything that can be turned into income should be turned into income. In the process, prioritize your bills and other financial responsibilities. Take care of food first, then utilities, the mortgage or rent, then transportation. You guys don’t need to see the inside of a restaurant for a while unless you’re working there, and if things don’t get better by Christmas, any gifts you give should be handmade crafts.

Since you’re just starting out, I’d strongly advise you to set up a separate checking account for your business. That’s the only way to accurately tell exactly what’s going on within the business. When you co-mingle business money with grocery money and things like that in your personal account, you’ll never have an accurate picture of what’s really happening with your business.

Good luck!

Financial advisor Dave Ramsey is a prolific author and radio host.

John Baker and his wife, Cindy, recently were honored at the annual meeting of the Nine Mile Baptist Association. Baker will retire as director of missions at the end of the year. “Dr. Baker served our association for twelve years, with honor and dignity as an exemplary leader and loving shepherd,” said Executive Board member Debi Lewis. “He will be missed.”

Springfield Southern Baptist Church honored their pastor, Mike Keppler, on Nov. 6 for 25 years of service at the church. IBSA Executive Director Nate Adams and Capital City Baptist Association Director of Missions David Howard were on hand for the celebration of Pastor Keppler and his wife, Monique

Eternity Baptist Church in Centralia is seeking a pastor with strong leadership skills who will minister to the needs of our church and lead the church in outreach to the lost in our community. Send resumes by Dec. 1 to Pulpit Search Committee, Eternity Baptist Church, 500 West McCord St., Centralia, IL 62801, or e-mail resume@eternitybaptist.org. For further questions, call (618) 532-9596.

Salem South Baptist Association seeks a director of missions. Send resumes to Salem South Baptist Association, 904 Park Ave., P.O. Box 2458, Mt. Vernon, IL 62864, or e-mail salembaptist904@charter.net. Please send to the attention of Don Evans.

Mullen Baptist Church in rural Montrose is a small country church of dedicated people seeking a bivocational pastor to share God’s Word. Interested parties may send resumés to Mullen Baptist Church, 420 Co. Rd. 825 East, Jewett, IL 62436.

DAVE RAMSEY

i lead

The role of a mediator

We glorify God by demonstrating to others the grace he expressed toward us, in that while we were sinners, he sent his son to die for us (Romans 5:8). The passage encourages us to forgive others, and enables us to demonstrate to our foes the same forgiveness God granted us.

But when a church faces conflict, reconciliation often requires a mediator—faciliators that have been trained to help individuals in the church who are caught up in conflict. When is it best to invite a mediator to help?

When both parties acknowledge they are stuck and request help.

A mediator can help the parties break the deadlock and untangle conflict’s knot. He can listen to the parties as they identify the issues that are at the root of the conflict. Here are some characteristics of a helpful mediator:

• He recognizes the spiritual nature of the battle.

• He is a skilled listener and observer of non-verbal communication.

• He can work hard to prevent a root of bitterness from growing up in the lives of those involved.

• He can encourage their capacity to forgive, as Christ forgave us.

• He can help the parties realize this conflict does not define the other person’s identity in totality, and to see and affirm the good qualities and characteristics in each other.

• He will be able to clarify limits. Every person travels through conflict at a different pace. The mediator understands that some individuals will need more time and may even choose to harden his/her heart for a season.

• He recognizes that God measures faithfulness by your obedience (Romans 12:18); therefore, when people confess their contribution to the conflict, God asks “…as far as it depends on you, live at peace with all.”

• He can help the parties to resolve that they will never give up on a biblical solution.

A mediator is helpful in times of conflict because he will be able to explore solutions with the parties and lead them to a permanent resolution. However, it is important to remember this is a spiritual matter, and it may take time for God’s Spirit to soften hearts.

Sylvan Knobloch is IBSA’s director of church leadership.

Church needed here...

Location: Yorkville, Kendall County

Focus: Suburban, middle-class population

Characteristics: This community on the outer edge of suburban Chicago grew from 7,000 people in 2000, to 17,000 as of the of 2010 Census. In the mid-2000s, Kendall County was the fastest-growing county in the U.S. Prayer needs: Ask the Lord to lead a strong church planter to join in reaching this community with the gospel.

devotional

Harvest time

“Listen to what I’m telling you: Open your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ready for harvest.”

(John 4:35)

Recently I had a conversation with a churchattending but unconverted individual about the fields being ready for the harvest. We talked about farmers reaping the corn and beans in their fields. We noticed their big and powerful combines and how quickly they could harvest a field.

As we conversed, I pivoted with a question about Jesus’ statement on the fields being ripe unto harvest. What did Jesus mean? The immediate response went something like this, “Jesus was talking about people who were ready to follow him in faith and be baptized.” Such insight from a keen mind.

My next questions were “Are you ready to place your faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior? Are you ready to ask him to forgive you of your sins?” His response was silence! As I observed him, it was evident that an intense emotional and spiritual struggle was being waged at that moment. Simply knowing the facts is not sufficient. There is need to trust in Jesus for forgiveness and life, turning away from the sin of unbelief.

Lord, please lead this young man to receive the gift of salvation.

PRAYER PROMPT: Open our eyes, Lord, so that we may see the fields ready for harvest. Amen.

Kevin Carrothers serves as pastor of Rochester FBC and president of IBSA.

Pastors, join the IBSA Pastors’ Prayer Room on Facebook. E-mail oweaver7307@ gmail.com.

illinois religious landscape Sources for morality

46% 29% 12% 11% 2%

of adults in Illinois say their guide on right and wrong is common sense

religion

philosophy or reason

science

don’t know – Pew Research

Jan.

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Illinois Baptists gather in Springfield for this major leadership training event. Learn to make your church more effective in ministry and outreach.

Featured teacher: Mac Lake is a leadership expert specializing in church growth, personal development of leaders, and creation of the leadership pipeline. Learn more about Mac at maclakeonline.com.

SYLVAN KNOBLOCH

KEVIN CARROTHERS