Christian men and women use pornography more today than in 2016 when Barna Research spotlighted the involvement among pastors and congregants. A new study showing a significant increase is also calling the church to be a place of healing for those affected by the pervasive phenomenon.
This time around, Barna teamed with Pure Desire Ministries and its partners in presenting “Beyond the Porn Phenomenon: Equipping the Church for a New Conversation About Pornography, Betrayal Trauma and Healing.” The report tracks and defines the problem, calls on the church to offer a healing balm and offers practical guidance to that end.
“The average Christian is not experiencing freedom in this area; 75% of Christian men and 40% of Christian women report that they are viewing pornography at least occasionally,” wrote Pure Desire Ministries Executive Director Nick Stumbo, a former pastor who overcame porn use more than a decade ago. “The numbers for today’s youngest adults are even worse.
“But what may be more troubling is that well over half
Total giving by IBSA churches as of 9/30/24 $4,054,451
2024 Budget Goal to date: $4,389,684
2024 Goal: $6 Million
give local
The North American Mission Board receives 22.79% of Cooperative Program giving by Southern Baptist churches. With this, NAMB funds church plants, helps administer Send Relief in cooperation with the International Mission Board. And more recently has expanded compassion ministries to include ministry centers in large cities.
Impact global
On the west side of Chicago, Send Relief’s ministry center was established in 2021 to meet the growing spiritual needs of this metropolis. The ministry center staff, in partnership with Chicago West Bible Church and other SBC churches, are focused on strengthening families and the community with the gospel.
The Illinois Baptist staff
Editor - Eric Reed
Graphic Designer - Kris Kell
Contributing Editor - Lisa Misner
Comm. Coordinator - Nic Cook
Graphics Assistant - Makayla Proctor
Team Leader - Ben Jones
The general telephone number for IBSA is (217) 786-2600. For questions about subscriptions, articles, or upcoming events, contact the Illinois Baptist at (217) 391-3127 or IllinoisBaptist@IBSA.org
The Illinois Baptist is seeking news from IBSA churches. E-mail us at IllinoisBaptist@IBSA.org to tell us about special events and new ministry staff.
POSTMASTER: The Illinois Baptist is owned and published every month by the Illinois Baptist State Association, 3085 Stevenson Drive, Springfield, Illinois 62703-4440. Subscriptions are free to Illinois Baptists. Subscribe online at IBSA.org.
NATE ADAMS
Books of Reports
When messengers from our IBSA churches gather for the 2024 Annual Meeting at Ashburn Baptist Church in Orland Park November 12-13, they will receive something we call a Book of Reports. In addition to a program for the meeting itself, it will provide numerous documents that overview the cooperative work and ministries of our network over the past year. Proposed budgets will also communicate plans for the coming year. And nominations will be presented for dozens of leaders and representatives from all over the state to continue the network’s cooperative work.
You might be surprised at the amount of time and preparation it takes to gather and report clearly and responsibly on all the shared ministries of our churches. But it’s important.
In fact, the book of Acts is in many ways a book of reports on the actionpacked adventure of the earliest churches. What if Doctor Luke hadn’t traveled with the early apostles, and recorded the outcomes of meetings like the Jerusalem Council of Acts 15, and gathered credible reports from churches and leaders all over the Mediterranean region? Think how different and limited our understanding of God’s mission and the advance of the gospel would be!
If New Testament writers such as Luke, Paul, Peter, and John hadn’t written letters, many of them designed to be shared among multiple churches, how would those early churches have been encouraged, and instructed in sound doctrine, and coordinated in shared ministries? How would we know, not only what happened then, but what should be happening in our churches now?
Of course, an annual book of reports is only one tool our diverse churches have today to stay connected, accountable, and cooperative. Our award-winning newspaper, the Illinois Baptist, still arrives monthly in church and member mailboxes, a very visible reminder and report of our work together. The weekly IBSA Now e-newsletter, and the IBSA.org website, and multiple social media channels can keep us connected on a weekly or even daily basis.
But as the New Testament’s “books of reports” remind us, the value of communication among churches is not just a current, disposable benefit. The next time you visit the IBSA Building in Springfield, give me an opportunity to take you through the historical library and archives maintained there by our staff and faithful volunteers. In addition to various electronic archives, you can look back into Illinois Baptist history through the carefully preserved pages of century-old Illinois Baptist newspapers, photographs, and local associational reports that even predate IBSA.
The story continues that we might say it started with Acts.
Recently I found such a newspaper clipping in a trunk from my grandma’s house. On a yellowed clipping from the 1970’s was a picture of my dad with sideburns down to his mouth, my college roommate’s dad who was then a pastor and IBSA President, and an IBSA staff member whose daughter-inlaw now serves on our IBSA Board. Those three men have all gone home to be with the Lord during the time I’ve served at IBSA. But all three have inspired me to continue the important work of helping churches cooperate to advance the gospel faster and better than any church could do by itself.
So let’s keep gathering when we can, whether as a local association like the ten meetings I’m attending personally this year, or the annual meeting in Orland Park. Let’s digest and understand the annual reports of our work together that will someday become the history our grandkids will look to for guidance and inspiration. And let’s stay engaged in the monthly papers and daily posts that help capture the faithful, cooperative mission work of all our churches. Doctor Luke would have wanted it that way.
Nate Adams is executive director of the Illinois Baptist State Association. Respond at IllinoisBaptist@IBSA.org.
Streator church fire
Food pantry and fellowship hall gutted
A building that doubles as food pantry and fellowship hall for New Beginnings Baptist Church in Streator suffered major damage from a fire in the early morning hours of Oct. 11. Five area fire departments responded to the blaze believed to have started about 1:30 a.m.
It took about three hours to extinguish the fire in the building that sits roughly 50 yards across the parking lot from the church. Deacon Chair Mike Blakemore said the food pantry serves about 200 people weekly. “That’s going to be a big loss for our community,” he shared. “People are heartbroken as they hear about it.” The pantry included a 10x16 foot refrigerator/freezer that church members had recently saved up funds to purchase.
“God’s got a plan,” said Blakemore. He described the last year as having been rough. “We’ve had two men who are pillars of our church die.” The church is also in a leadership transition, after their former pastor, Mike Young, had recently accepted a new ministry position as pastor of The Ridge Church in Carbondale.
Young agrees that this is “a huge loss to the community. But God’s got this, and it will be OK…. Our prayer is that it unites the church and the community even more,” he said.
“We’re strong,” said Blakemore who asked Illinois Baptists to remember the congregation in prayer. “Pray for unity and that God be glorified through this. That’s our hope.”
Streator’s population is estimated at 12,500, and the church has a significant outreach ministry in this small town straddling the border of LaSalle and Livingston counties. David Peterman is serving as interim pastor.
The state fire marshal and ATF are investigating the fire as suspicious.
New
IBSA churches
Multiple churches have expressed their desire to unite with the Illinois Baptist State Association. Their leaders have completed paperwork to become “cooperating churches” and have provided information to the IBSA Credentials Committee on their congregation, including their adherence to the Baptist Faith and Message, planned financial support for Cooperative Program, and evidence of democratic processes in the selection of church leaders.
The churches will be presented for affirmation by messengers at the IBSA Annual Meeting November 12-13. They are
• CityLine Bible Church, Niles
• College Avenue Baptist Church, Normal
• Garden City Church, Chicago
• Lai Christian Church, East Moline
• Manchester Baptist Church
• Ministerios Yahweh, Decatur
• Redeemer Reformed Baptist Church, Ashley
• Redeemer Community Church, Minonk
• Redemption City Church, Rockford
• The Lively Stone Missionary Baptist Church, Chicago
• The River Christian Assembly (The River Church), Cahokia Heights
Binkley
to moderate
Springfield | Michael Nave has resigned as president of the Illinois Baptist State Association (IBSA) following his departure from Cornerstone Church in Marion where he served as lead pastor since 2007. Nave left Cornerstone in October and is starting a new ministry. Nave was completing his second one-year term as the elected IBSA president and had served two years prior to that as vice president. The IBSA Annual meeting is chaired by the president, who is a member of an IBSA church. Nave’s withdrawal means the meeting will be chaired by Carlton Binkley, the former vice president who now assumes the role of president.
The IBSA Annual Meeting will be held at Ashburn Baptist Church in Orland Park November 12-13, 2024. twitter.com/illinoisBaptist
IBSA ANNUAL MEETING
NAVE
BINKLEY
the briefing from the front: Culture Watch
Population declines
Illinois lost nearly 300,000 residents in 2023, according to new state-by-state migration data from the U.S. Census Bureau released in October. The top five most popular destinations were: Indiana (29,426), Florida (27,109), Wisconsin (26,943), Texas (24,181), and California (21,982). Census figures show the state’s overall population has declined by more than 260,000 residents since the beginning of the decade.
WGN-TV
3-in-5 Illinois teachers consider quitting
A study conducted by the Illinois Education Association (IEA) over found 59% of teachers, professors, and support staff have considered walking away from the classroom. The top three reasons they cited for their feelings were not earning enough money, lack of respect for the profession, and increasing workload.
“This data should set off massive alarm bells for parents, students and community members. We are in a dire situation with teacher and support staff shortages,” IEA President Al Llorens said. “We know districts cannot attract and retain enough talented adults to work with our students.”
The Center Square
SMU sues to leave church
The Texas Supreme Court will hear arguments in January whether Southern Methodist University can cut ties with a regional body of the United Methodist Church over theological differences. After delegates to the 2019 General Conference of the United Methodist Church voted to reaffirm “The Traditional Plan” rules on marriage and ordination, SMU’s Board of Trustees voted that they, and not the regional United Methodist conference, were the “the ultimate authority for the university.” This is the third court case involving SMU’s denominational ties, coming at the same time that the conference abandoned the traditional marriage agreement and caused thousands of churches to break away for more conservative groups.
Christian Post
Continued from page 1
of Christians who use porn say they are comfortable with their porn use,” he said.
In the general population, porn use has increased 6 percentage points among U.S. adults overall in the past eight years, rising to 61%, Barna reported, with use increasing to 44% among women from a 2016 mark of 39%.
For Christians, 54% reported viewing porn in the latest study, compared to 68% of non-Christians, a disparity of 14 percentage points that narrows when considering frequency, Barna reported. Nearly a quarter of practicing Christians, 22%, view porn at least weekly, compared to 31% of non-Christians.
New work for local churches
But most churches are not addressing the problem, respondents said. Only 10% of Christians and churched adults said their churches offer programs to help those struggling with porn use and addiction, but 58% of respondents want their church to do so.
Despite the low percentage of churches addressing the problem, 75% of pastors said they are individually ministering to those struggling with porn, and 51% of those seeking help are married men, pastors said.
Among pastors themselves, 18% cite porn use as a current personal struggle, and 67% have a history of porn use. Most of them, 86%, believe porn use is common among Christian pastors, study authors wrote.
When churches do address the issue of pornography, they often overlook the full problem, said Sam Black, an expert in pornography recovery with Covenant Eyes. Churches often don’t see past the spiritual harm, he said in a roundtable discussion included in the report.
“Churches often miss the physical healing that is necessary. They miss that spouses need healing from their partner’s betrayal. And they often completely miss that women watch porn,” Black said. “Leaders often fail at providing people with an understanding of how pornography can be damaging.
“Most churches fail to recognize that pornography undermines every ministry of the local church,” Black said.
While churches offer children’s ministry, host marriage seminars, date nights and weekend retreats, inappropriate content is available as never before, Black said, and porn is cited as a contributing factor in many divorces.
But Christian respondents disagree on whether porn use is problematic, researchers found. Most Christians, 62%, said a person can regularly view pornography and live a sexually healthy life. While research shows a correlation between porn use and poor mental health and well-being outcomes, researchers were slow to confirm a causal relationship.
“This data doesn’t tell us if porn use leads to lower well-being scores, or if people with lower well-being scores are more likely to use porn,” researchers wrote. “Further research is needed to explore potential cause-and-effect relationships. If porn consumption contributes to diminished well-being, it’s concerning; conversely, if lower well-being prompts individuals to turn to porn, that’s also un-
desirable.”
Porn use is more common among younger generations including Christians, researchers found. Among practicing Christians ages 18-38, more than half (53%) have sent a nude image of themselves via text, email, social media or app. Usually, they send nude images to their boyfriend or girlfriend (87%) or a friend (24%), and 89% of the time it was a nude image of themselves.
Most youth leaders (89%) say they wish parents would teach teenagers about sexual health and behaviors, but most youth leaders (69%) believe teens are learning such things from friends or social media.
Black hopes the church will provide a safe place for honesty, vulnerability, and grace in community.
“The Church is God’s plan A. It is within the Church where God seeks to restore those who have become ensnared. God isn’t embarrassed, fearful, or ignorant of our sin,” Black said in the report. “Today, the local church has choices. It can largely ignore the problems of pornography because they are too unseemly. It can chastise, rebuke and cast out, which will send more people into hiding.”
Instead, the report calls on pastors and Christian leaders to intentionally cultivate vibrant faith communities that empower individuals to live with sexual integrity, confront the challenges of the digital age and experience the fullness of God’s design for sexuality.
They also urge prioritizing the equipping of congregations with a comprehensive understanding of the complexities surrounding porn. With the data in mind, this could look like biblical teaching and support groups, but also partnering with counselors and other medical professionals for a combined approach to reconciling (or preventing) the damages of porn use.
Barna and Pure Desire surveyed 2,976 adults online with an oversample of Christians, 462 Protestant sention pastors, and 205 youth pastors in October 2023 through mid January 2024.
The findings are based on an online survey of 2,976 U.S. adults, with an oversample of Christians, conducted Oct. 20-30, 2023; a survey of 462 U.S. senior Protestant pastors conducted Sept. 27Oct. 9, 2023, and a survey of 205 U.S. Christian youth leaders conducted Nov. 16, 2023-Jan. 16, 2024.
More information and resources are available at PureDesire.org.
—Diana
Chandler, Baptist Press
news makers
Scott Foshie, ERLC Board Chair
Illinois’s own Scott Foshie was elected board chair of the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission in September. He was tapped after the previous chair, Kevin Smith, resigned. Smith had tried to dismiss ERLC President and CEO Brent Leatherwood. Smith had operated without board approval, and a clarifying announcement to that effect was issued the next day.
Foshie, well known to Illinois Baptists as genial, affable, and upbeat, steps in after a particularly bumpy period in the ERLC’s history that came at
Q: Think back to when you were pastor in Steeleville and were first asked to serve as an ERLC trustee. How has your understanding of its work changed?
A: As I joined the board in 2018, I knew that the ERLC had played important roles in helping churches navigate culture and representing Baptists in the area of public policy. I also knew that many Illinois leaders had concerns about the ERLC’s posture, perception, and direction. Since that time, I have witnessed a lot of transition.
I believe the ERLC is moving in a positive direction, even though there have been bumps in the road. My appreciation for the vitality of the ERLC’s work and its diligent team runs deep, as I witness them serve the Lord and Southern Baptists sacrificially in a complex, challenging task.
Q: How did your service as pastor help your service as an ERLC trustee?
A: I have tried to keep a pastoral perspective while on the board, working to ensure the ERLC operates from an anchor of biblical truth. I am also passionate about providing pastoral care to the staff as a trustee, and we emphasize praying for and encouraging our staff as a board.
Q: You helped lead changes in communication and transparency involving the
the end of Russell Moore’s tenure as the entity’s president.
And in June, there was a motion to abolish the ERLC. Supported by messengers upset by some previous ERLC positions. that vote in Indianapolis failed the required majority.
Foshie, who also leads the IBSA Health Team, asks Illinois Baptists for their prayerful support for the great challenges before the ERLC. And, in this interview, he approaches the task in his usual positive fashion.
leadership and trustees. What were they, and why were those changes needed?
A: My trustee service has bridged the Moore and Leatherwood eras at the ERLC. As the Moore era ended, I was an advocate for forward-facing improvements in the board’s relationship with its own Executive Committee and the staff.
As Brent began as acting president, he and chairperson Lori Bova were both deeply supportive of our efforts, opening communication among trustees and increasing meeting frequency, depth, and dialogue. I was part of a bylaws workgroup that spent a year seeking to discover and model best practices in how we govern and support the entity we’re entrusted to serve.
We adopted those changes in the fall of 2023 with the understanding that we would monitor their effectiveness with a desire for continual improvement. These bylaws and current trustee culture served us well in the recent leadership crisis, but we are mindful that we always need to be open to additional improvements.
Q: How would you characterize communication between the president, officers, and trustees today, compared to the time of Brent Leatherwood’s assumption of the Presidency?
A: Brent has opened up communica-
tion from day one as acting president. His improvements in communication and transparency during his year as acting president were one reason he was elected unanimously as president the following September. Brent continues to lead the ERLC team to keep an open line of communication with the board, and we will work to maintain that posture.
Q: Do you feel there is unified support on the ERLC Board that we should still have the ERLC, in light of the surprising number of messengers in Indy who voted to abolish the ERLC?
A: Yes. I believe the feeling of the board is that just because the ERLC needs revitalization (like every other Baptist entity and church), doesn’t mean we should “throw the baby out with the bathwater.”
Brent is not a perfect leader and the ERLC is not a perfect entity. But the board believes the ERLC is worth keeping and making better, and that Brent should continue to lead it. Brent has stated himself that he and the staff take seriously the number of messengers who voted to abolish the ERLC in Indy. That is one reason the board adopted its Statement of Affirmation and Encouragement at our Fall trustee meeting. We want to respond to the concerns people have and show that we are committed to representing Southern Baptists in a way that is worthy of their confidence.
I think many Southern Baptists’ concerns about the ERLC are based on information that is either dated or incorrect, and we encourage every Southern Baptist to look on ERLC. com’s FAQ page for the right information. I also welcome anyone to contact me or another trustee, along with a member of the ERLC staff, if you have concerns.
Q: Do you understand why some churches feel distant from the ERLC and its positions?
A: I understand that some churches feel the ERLC and its positions aren’t in line with theirs, and I hope I understand why. I think that, even though the ERLC is working
to exhibit a posture of speaking out of its service to the SBC’s churches, some churches still feel that the ERLC is exhibiting an overall posture of pointing its finger at the churches and speaking to them prophetically over things that are not consensus,
“I think we need the ERLC to be the uniquely Southern Baptist voice in the public square. That is a worthy use of a portion of our cooperative giving.”
biblical, Southern Baptist positions. I would ask those churches to reach out to us so we can show them why that’s not our posture today. Brent wants to lead the ERLC to speak to the public square on those positions about which Southern Baptists agree through the Baptist Faith and Message and past resolutions. When the ERLC engages, Brent is working to do so in close coordination with SBC churches, local associations, and state conventions. This may feel like a new posture to churches that have concerns, and as we continue to demonstrate it, I hope that it will alleviate concerns that the ERLC is trying to pull the SBC in undesired directions.
Q: What do you wish more people in SBC churches understood about the ERLC’s work?
A: I wish more people knew how much the ERLC does to promote the sanctity of human life. The ERLC played an important role in the Supreme Court’s recent Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade. The ERLC’s Psalm 139 Project provides an amazing vehicle for Southern Baptists to place ultrasound machines and provide training to pregnancy centers throughout America, including here
NEW TEAM — Foshie meets with the newly elected ERLC trustee Executive Committee members after their election at the September board meeting. Pictured (L to R) are Matthew Morgan (MS), Heather Sells (VA), Amy Pettway (FL), Mitch Kimbrell (VT), and Anthony Cox (AL).
Continued from page 5
in Illinois.
I wish that more Southern Baptists would take advantage of the ERLC’s great resources for churches, like its gender resource, God’s Good Design, and Light magazine. Every Illinois Baptist messenger will have these two resources provided to them at this year’s annual meeting, or you can request them by going to ERLC. com.
I also wish that Southern Baptists knew how hard-working and diligent their ERLC staff is. They are faithful servants, and they deserve our sincere encouragement and prayer.
Q: Some people want the ERLC to stay out of politics altogether, or to limit itself to pro-life issues. Is that possible or desirable?
A: I don’t think it will ever be possible for the ERLC to stay out of the political realm as long as public policy is part of its ministry assignment. I think the key to the ERLC’s success in the area of public policy is sticking to advocating for the post Conservative Resurgence consensus positions stated by Southern Baptists in the current Baptist Faith and Message and in our SBC-approved res-
olutions. I think we need the ERLC to be the uniquely Southern Baptist voice in the public square consulting with policymakers on these issues. That is a worthy use of a portion of our cooperative giving.
Q: Can the ERLC do its work without aligning with a political party, if one party’s platform is clearly more in line with SBC views?
A: When we engage the public square, the ERLC should do so in a way that advances a Biblical worldview as articulated by Southern Baptists without respect to political parties. When political parties demonstrate leadership that is in line with our positions they can be commended. When they don’t, that should be pointed out. If one political party ends up getting praised more than another, it should be because they’re advancing biblical principles that Southern Baptists support, not because the ERLC becomes subservient to any politician or party.
Q: Are there times when the ERLC must speak for Southern Baptists, but also to Southern Baptists, at the risk of alienating some Southern Baptists?
FBC Dallas will rebuild
First Baptist Church of Dallas will spend $95 million to rebuild its historic 1890 sanctuary that was almost consumed by fire in July. The building had been renovated in 2012 and was used for contemporary worship services. Plans are to take the restoration further with new meeting spaces underground and more stained glass. The exterior walls are about all that remain from the fabled facility where George W. Truett and W. A. Criswell preached for decades. The building sits at the corner of a multi-block property in downtown Dallas that includes the newest worship center, which seats 3,000. That project, which included doubling the family life center, cost $130 million. It was the most expensive Protestant building project to date.
—Christian Post
Southwestern turnaround remarkable
When David Dockery assumed the presidency of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary two years ago, the venerable institution was in a hole. Following the severance agreement with President Adam Greenway over lavish spending and unpopular moves with faculty and academ-
A: There are times when pastors must preach on biblical issues that might be controversial in their church because it points out inconsistencies between what people say they believe and how they are living. If Southern Baptist leaders and laypeople are made uncomfortable by something the ERLC says and the ERLC is articulating sound, Biblical, Southern Baptist positions, it could be because their demonstrated behavior doesn’t match their stated Biblical convictions. When the ERLC (or any spiritual leader) knows that speaking to Southern Baptists might alienate some, we must be bathed in prayer, sure of Biblical truth, and do so with great love and a desire to win people, not arguments.
Q: Has your phone been ringing since you were elected trustee chair?
A: I have been humbled
AROUND THE SBC
ic programs, SWBTS had $1.7 million in cash reserves and a short-term debt of $4.2 million. Dockery reported to the trustees this year the seminary has over $12 million cash on hand and no short-term debt.
Chairman Jonathan Richard commended Dockery for “two years of commendable service.” (He) “led us to a place of financial stability that we had not dreamed was possible 24 months ago.”
The board recently reported that Greenway had agreed he would not sue the school over his departure.
—Christian Post
Hunt suit likely
A lawsuit filed by former NAMB Vice President Johnny appears headed to court after SBC Executive Committee representatives walked away from court-mandated mediation. Hunt is seeking more than $100 million for lost income and damage to his reputation. A report on sexual abuse claims within the SBC included a stunning accusation that Hunt forced himself on another pastor’s wife, then tried to cover it up. The EC has already spent $3 million on legal expenses in the case.
Annie, Lottie peak
by the affirmation, encouragement, and prayers of those who have called, texted, or e-mailed in recent days. I’ve also been able to answer questions, and I look forward to answering any additional questions anyone may have as we work to demonstrate leadership you can trust at the ERLC. We are blessed to serve you.
were record highs.
“How grateful I am that Southern Baptists of our generation are just as committed to the Great Commission as those who went before us,” said National WMU Executive Director Sandy Wisdom-Martin. “A hundred years from now, others will be able to celebrate lives transformed for the sake of the gospel because of our collective investment today.”
—Baptist
The Tennessean
Giving to the SBC’s two offerings named for iconic missions leaders reached all-time highs, when the books closed September 30. The Annie Armstrong Offering for North American Missions reached $74.7 million, while the Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions peaked at $206.8 million. Both
In addition to the elephant ears and street corn and deep fried everything, fairgoers in Mississippi found the best fair food of all: the Bread of Life. Volunteers from the Mississippi Baptist state convention set up a tent and shared Christ with more than 2,800 people. And 373 make professions of faith in Jesus! The state convention started the witnessing event in 2021. This year 195 volunteers witnessed at the state fair ministry. The number of gospel presentations has remained steady, but decisions have increased each year. Every new believer receives a tract and a booklet, and their contact info is given to a church in their town.
WISDOM-MARTIN
—Christian Post
Press
Real ‘fair food’
TRUSTEES — At the ERLC trustees meeting in Nashville, Tenn., newly elected trustee chair Scott Foshie talks with Matthew Grove who represents Tennessee. Grove is an Illinois native and former member of First Baptist Church of Fairview Heights, where his parents are still active members.
Rescue, then recovery MISSION
Baptists arrive in regions devastated by two hurricanes, bring hope with them.
BY LISA MISNER
They’ve seen so much.
Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers have been serving people displaced by Hurricane Helene. Some are living in their cars, others in their yards. A month after the hurricane hit, some are still waiting for broken water lines to be repaired so they may once again have fresh water running into their homes.
While the shocking devastation in North Carolina has received much of the media coverage, IBDR volunteers have been ministering in hard hit Augusta, Ga. The volunteers consist of mainly chainsaw but also shower/laundry, assessors, chaplains, feeding, and other team members from around Illinois. They’ve been serving in partnership with Georgia, Kansas/ Nebraska, Missouri, and Michigan/Wisconsin
Baptists with Fleming Baptist Church as their base.
Two hurricanes hit the region in just two weeks, leaving 256 dead and many thousands displaced. Southern Baptist Disaster Relief dispatched volunteers from 32 state conventions for a recovery project that could last for months.
“Helene is now the deadliest storm to make landfall on the U.S. mainland since Hurricane Katrina in 2005,” said Bryant Wright, president of Send Relief — Southern Baptists’ compassion and crisis response ministry. “The shocking nature of this storm has been how widespread it’s been. A storm that made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast left a scar stretching across the Southeast and brought catastrophe to Western North Carolina.”
P. 8
Wash, rinse, repeat
North Carolina Disaster Relief recently issued a plea to other states for volunteers to help run shower/ launder trailers. “We have worn ours out and they need a break,” it read. They have openings at sites in Boone, Hendersonville, Marion, Spindale, Spruce Pine, and Swannanoa throughout the entire month of November. No training, no worries. Volunteers will be trained onsite. If you can serve, contact IBDR State Coordinator Arnold Ramage at ibdrdirector@gmail.com or by phone at (618) 889-1938.
“Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are on the ground assisting hundreds of homeowners as they recover from this tragic storm [Hurricane Helene}, but so many people still need help,” said Wright. “This recovery is going to take a long time. The needs are so great.”
As of Oct. 28, Send Relief reported about its ministry to survivors of the two hurricanes, 203 have made professions of faith, 997,876 meals have been provided, 249,882 volunteer hours have been worked, and job requests have been completed.
Harold Howell, a member of Sims Missionary Baptist Church, served on a chainsaw team from Greater Wabash Association in October. He was with a group that saw a man named Phil accept Christ as his savior while working on a job at his storm damaged home.
“One of our team members started talking with him about the Lord,” said Howell. “The three of us locked arms around each other’s shoulders and [Phil] began to weep.”
Howell described how Mark Bradley, a member of Steeleville Baptist Church in Nine Mile Baptist Association, led Phil to Christ as all four embraced.
“When he came out of there, Phil had a completely different look on his face,” said Howell. “I bet he hugged me three or four times that day.”
At least 31 people were killed by Hurricane Helene in the greater Augusta area which received over a foot of rain and had maximum wind gusts measuring at 82 mph at Augusta Bush Field. However, local television stations noted their sensors went out during the storm and locally heavy tree damage confirms the area received 100+ mph wind gusts.
As a new believer, Howell told Phil the first thing he needed to do was share Christ with others. So, Phil started with the other disaster relief volunteers onsite. “Then he told a couple of his friends who were around the front of the house. One is pretty close [to accepting Christ],” said Howell.
More than 500 IBDR volunteers are partners with Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR), part of the SBC’s Send Relief compassion ministry. It is the third largest disaster relief organization, after the Red Cross and the Salvation Army.
Dan Boehmer and Joe Draper, members of Logan Street Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon in Salem South Baptist Association, served as assessors in Augusta in mid-October.
Draper said they shared Christ with one young man who he described as “really shy.” After sharing the plan of salvation with him, Draper asked, “Would you like to make a decision now? He said yes, we prayed the sinner’s prayer with him, and he accepted Christ.”
After talking with him about the meaning of
For more information about Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief, visit IBSA.org/dr. IBDR is a volunteer organization ministering with the Illinois Baptist State Association. Continued from page 7
baptism, Draper suggested he “attend a strong, Bible-believing church. We were really pleased that he made his decisions in our presence.”
Many of the volunteers’ churches sent gift cards of varying amounts with them to bless those they met while serving.
Boemher’s church gave him Walmart gift cards to distribute at his discretion. While talking with a man in need he was able to give him a card to purchase not only his own groceries, but another to help some friends in a bad situation. There were others he met that needed help as well. “I gave a card to a woman who said she’d been wondering how she was going to buy diapers this week,” he said.
The damage in Augusta is so great teams are expected to be needed at least through Thanksgiving. If you are interested in serving, contact IBDR State Coordinator Arnold Ramage at ibdrdirector@ gmail.com or by phone at (618) 889-1938.
“It’s amazing to participate in something where you can see God working in so many different directions and you can really be a part of it,” Boemher said of his experience.
While the Cooperative Program supports the administrative costs of disaster relief, volunteers travel and serve at their own expense. To donate to help Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief assist survivors of Hurricane Helene, visit IBSA.org/about/donate. Checks may be made payable to Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief and sent to IBSA, 3085 Stevenson Drive, Springfield, IL 62703.
As of Oct. 30, Illinois Baptists have given nearly $11, 400 online to IBDR to assist Hurricane Helene survivors and they’ve donated around $16,700 by cash or check. Another $15,500 has been designated specifically for Hurricane Relief. The contributions total $43,600.
Farmland devastated by record flooding
A crop before and after Hurricane Helene’s floodwaters in Yancey County, N.C. Photo by David Davis
Yancy County, N.C. | The devastation from flooding during Hurricane Helene in North Carolina will have long-lasting effects on farms and homes, said a former Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer who is now a county extension agent in the Tar Heel state.
David Davis, who spent about 10 years in Kentucky before taking the extension agent job in his hometown of Yancey County in June 2020, said many in the county will be without power for another 10 to 14 months because of damage to roads, including some that are completely washed out.
Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief teams from Kaskaskia, Macoupin, and Williamson Baptist Associations arrived in Madison County, North Carolina in late October where they served as incident command, assessors, and chaplains. Madison County sits on the western border of Yancey County.
He said there is a way to restore the fields by bringing in fill dirt or topsoil from somewhere else and backfill with what they have left but it will take a lot of heavy equipment and “that’s an expensive process.”
Working with North Carolina’s Disaster Relief ministries, Davis has already distributed 76 generators and 50 propane heaters this week alone. It has been reported that 2,000 residential structures were destroyed in the storm and more than 700 homes damaged. “That doesn’t include the barns and businesses,” he said.
The flooding happened quickly, he said, after 32 ½ inches of rain fell on Mt. Mitchell. Fifteen inches came between 6:00 and 8:45 in the morning. “It’s a different kind of flooding than they experienced here,” Davis said.
“Before the storm, 60 to 65% of farmland was located near the river and creek bottom. This storm did not just impact named bodies of water, but streams became rivers… Cane Branch, which normally you can stop up by putting two feet in. It was up over a four-unit apartment building.”
MEET THE TEAM
GROWING Giving thanks is an act of faith
Arnold Ramage State Director Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief
Family deets: My wife, Paula, and I have lived in our home in Marion for more than 40 years. We have two adult children and three grandkids.
Work journey: I graduated from St. Louis College of Pharmacy with a fiveyear BS in pharmacy. After I retired, we became active in IBDR. I accepted the position of State Director in January 2023.
Faith journey: My siblings and I were DTC kids (drug-to-church). During Vacation Bible School, the moderator asked if we wanted to go to Hell. Of course, I didn’t want to go there, so I raised my hand during the invitation but did not accept Christ. During a church revival that fall, the preacher’s message hit home. After clinching the pew back for two or three nights, I accepted Christ as my Savior.
Memorable ministry: During a Quad City flood response, we almost didn’t do the last job because it was so small. It involved a young mother whose 17-year-old son was in jail possibly to be tried as an adult. She said no one had ever spoken to her about Christ. In her despair, she asked Christ into her life.
Fave verse: “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” (Matthew 25:40).
Fave Bible person: Noah (a flood survivor)
Hobbies: Woodworking and golf (but I’m not very good at either)
Social media: Facebook, for DR info
Quote: “A job worth doing is worth doing well.”
table talk
With Thanksgiving still a ways off, I’m having trouble making a list of the things to be thankful for. Perhaps I shouldn’t confess it, because God’s blessings are always plentiful, but my list seems anemic, a bit of candy confection rather than well-grounded thanks. Maybe that’s why for a couple of months I’ve been singing a line from Irving Berlin, “If you’re worried and you can’t sleep, try counting your blessings instead of sheep…”
For many years our Illinois Baptist communications team has produced a November essay in the way of Joan Beck. She was a Chicago Tribune columnist who for thirty years penned a beautiful Thanksgiving tribute in free verse to the big achievements and scientific discoveries of the year, with some personal blessings from her life. It was artfully punctuated by lines from famous hymns that revealed her faith, and always ended with the inspiring climax from Romans 8, “What shall separate us from the love of God…”
But this year, everything I want to put in our 2024 version hasn’t happened yet. The presidential election hasn’t happened yet. The transfer of power hasn’t happened yet. The end of war in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan hasn’t happened yet. The end of human trafficking and drug trafficking and gang violence hasn’t happened yet. The end of cancer and Covid hasn’t happened yet.
And even closer to home, the church hasn’t called a pastor yet, restoration after illness for many friends hasn’t happened yet, and the salvation of lost relatives hasn’t happened yet.
You get the idea.
promise of blessing seems for the moment a bit more candy cornucopia than the outpouring of God’s great provision. We still
Why does the holiday seem more a time for waiting than celebrating?
Beyond the usual gratitude for God’s provision and our general well-being (which should never be taken for granted), I want to pen the lovely lyrical list of big-ticket items. But as I write, most of them haven’t happened yet. That’s why Thanksgiving must be an act of faith.
Paul encouraged his churches to give thanks “in all things,” but giving thanks for the things still on our prayer list requires a different set of spiritual muscles. This exercise forces us to the look at the world with hope, even in times when the horizon is dark and hope is hard won. Hope is always tied to things we cannot yet see, as in Hebrews 11:1 where we are assured that the blessing is coming. Beyond that, the writer says we are fully convinced of the fulfillment of God’s promises; we hold the conviction God will provide.
Even as the Pilgrims survived a long winter on a few kernels of corn each day. Even as our own
Pastor Tim’s whiteboard was useful in Sunday School until he started chasing rabbits.
hold the conviction that God’s love endures forever. And willingly we wait.
Hope is tied to conviction, and faith is proven in waiting. Because the blessing is coming, with the usual nod to Joan Beck, we can say…
As we gather together to count the Lord’s blessings… 404 years after the first Thanksgiving Day… the list is long of things I want to be thankful for, that in my timebound existence simply haven’t happened yet. But…
Immortal, Invisible, God only wise… knows their fulfillment in his plan that brings healing and restoration and peace and salvation and all those blessings that “eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love him.”
O God our help in ages past, our hope for years to come… with outcomes and inventions and revelations sight unseen, we can still attest in our annual crescendo “that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Amen.
Eric Reed is IBSA media editor.
illinois voices
Biblical Civics 101
If you were as fortunate as I was, you may have had a teacher like Richard Stubblefield, my Mt. Vernon High School civics teacher. He made the class so enjoyable. He also did a fantastic job of speaking about the checks and balances of government. He inspired generations to take our civic duties seriously. (Big shout out to you, Mr. Stubblefield!)
I had his civics class back in the early seventies prior to becoming a Christian. I didn’t have a biblical understanding or Christian worldview to filter what I heard. Does the Bible have anything to say about a Christian’s political involvement? I found that it does.
God’s Word says, “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time” (1 Timothy 2:1-6 NLT).
There is a failure which we can readily observe among Christians in relation to politics. We generally fail to pray as we ought for our political leaders. If we’d all first talk to God about them, then certainly our political discourse would take on a different tenor.
More important in these verses, the focus is on
Christ Jesus and his work to provide salvation to all who would repent and believe the gospel. Legislation is good up unto a point, but God is the only One who can change a sinful human heart through Christ’s finished work on the Cross.
Even after election day, it will likely be political season for a while.
Participating in the process
The early Christians had to deal with the likes of Nero and other viciously cruel Roman rulers. And Daniel was a great Old Testament example of relating to the government as a believer. Paul wrote, “Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God” (Romans 13:1).
There is no excuse for disrespect. So even if your candidate doesn’t make it, don’t panic, because the Bible says God is in control.
Jesus did not come to establish a political kingdom but a heavenly kingdom. We live with one foot (or citizenship) on earth and the other in heaven. As Paul wrote, “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior” (Philippians 3:20).
Some argue that the church is both against
the world and for the world, a balancing act that should be reflected in our cultural engagement. Christians are called to be in the world but not of the world. It is indeed a balancing act - to be countercultural in a messed-up world.
Our biblical values should be reflected in how we vote and who we support in our political processes. There ought never to be a disconnect between our faith and practice. Jesus perfectly lived and demonstrated this in how he answered his accusers about the question of paying taxes. “Well, then,” he said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God” (Matthew 22:15-22 NLT). Jesus gives us the standard and reflects the balance. This is Biblical Civics 101!
The solution to the sin problem in our lives is not going to come in the form of an elephant or a donkey. The government is not the Savior. We can pray for our leaders and actively share the gospel. Whether we get our news from CNN or Fox, we’ll one day have to deal with the sin problem in life.
Jesus is the answer and that’s the best news. For Christians, our citizenship is in heaven and at the same time, we have an earthly citizenship. Our challenge is to participate in the process as salt and light, doing so with respect. It starts when we pray for our politicians and actively share the gospel.
Bob Burton is Associational Mission Strategist for Salem South Baptist Association.
EVENTS
November 12-13
Thrive ’24 IBSA Annual Meeting
Where: Ashburn Baptist Church, Orland Park
What: A condensed two-day schedule with breakouts, preaching, ministry gatherings, worship, and business sessions, in the easy-to-access southwest Chicago suburbs.
Cost: Free
Info: IBSAannualmeeting.org
Contact: BarbTroeger@IBSA.org
November 22-23
Youth Encounter
Where: Thelma Keller Convention Center, Effingham
What: A two-day youth evangelism weekend with Shane Pruitt, National Next Gen Director for NAMB.
What: Southern Baptists collect an annual international mission offering to honor the late missionary to China, Lottie Moon. 100% of your gifts enable gospel transformation around the world.
Info: LottieMoon.com
January 21-22
Illinois Leadership Summit
Where: IBSA Building, Springfield
When:1 p.m. Tuesday-Noon Wednesday
What: An opportunity for you to connect with other leaders, share experiences, and hear from leaders who specialize in preparing churches for the future. Featured speakers include Daniel Yang, Kelly Kannwischers, Paul Cooper, and Tyler Sterchi.
see the IBSA calendar for more events. www.ibsa.org/calendar/
with the lord
Bruce Williams, 86, died August 19 at his home in Anna. He was married to Louise Heisner for 62 years until her death in 2019.
Williams served in the U.S. Army, obtaining a rank of Staff Sergeant. He retired from Nestle Purina in 2014. Williams earned a degree in engineering from Washington University and used it to design to factories and churches around the world.
A member of the Anna Heights Baptist Church, he built more than 30 wheelchair ramps, earned his Blue Hat for Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief, worked with Royal Ambassadors, and IBSA and SBC camps. The couple cared for 53 foster children and were host parents to SIU-E and SIU-C international students for 50 years.
Survivors include 13 children and 83 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
WELCOME
Thomas Worsham is the new pastor of Pleasant Ridge in Collinsville. A native of Louisiana, he served throughout his home state, and in Texas, Tennessee, and Missouri. Worsham is a graduate of Southwestern Seminary. He previously served as a Baptist Campus Minister with the Louisiana Baptist Convention, an Adjunct Professor and Student Minister. Worsham and his wife, Kara, have two sons.
Michael Hamrick began his service as pastor of First Baptist Church of Morton in August. Previously he served eight years in ministry in Georgia and California, with experience in family ministry and as a senior pastor. Hamrick is married to Allie. They have two sons.
Carol Jean Stuckey Fulkerson, 86, died September 9. Born in East St. Louis and raised in Dupo, she was an active member of BSU at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, where she graduated with a degree in early childhood education.
Carol was a faithful pastor’s wife to William (Bill) Fulkerson, ministering at Lakeland in Carbondale, Bethel in Danville, and Westview in Belleville. The Fulkersons were appointed Home Missionaries serving the inner city of Louisville, Ky., and later in Atlanta, Ga.
She is survived by her husband of 65 years and their two sons. Burial was in Snellville, Georgia.
NeTworkiNg
Send NetworkiNg items to IllinoisBaptist@IBSA.org
Tallula Baptist Church, a small but loving congregation seeks a bi-vocational pastor. Please send resumes or recommendations to Search Committee, Tallula Baptist Church, 308 N. Ewing, Tallula IL 62688.
Summerville Missionary Baptist Church is seeking a pastor. The church is located at 1114 Fairfield Road in Mt. Vernon. Applicants should contact Ed Merriman at 618-315-9633 or Edmerriman9999@gmail.com.
Search more church openings at IBSA.org/pastor-search or scan this code.
BRIGHTER DAY
Miss Rabbit’s big break
The cartoon “Peppa Pig” is a delightful watch for many reasons, but chief among them is the character of Miss Rabbit. When Peppa and her friends hop on a bus, Miss Rabbit is the driver. She sells produce at the grocery store and runs the school carnival. She owns a shop, runs a recycling plant, and flies a helicopter.
In every seven-minute episode, she fills a different, vital role. If you need someone to do something, Miss Rabbit is there.
Many of our churches benefit from the service of Miss (and Mr.) Rabbits. They’re up for anything and everything. Sanctuary need vacuuming? They’re already looking for an outlet. Does someone need a meal? They’ll create the sign-up page. Students want to restart the puppet ministry? They’ll find YouTube videos of old shows.
These tireless servants deserve our thanks, and this month dedicated to gratitude gives us a perfect opportunity to do so. But even beyond
a thank-you, there are ways to encourage Mr. and Miss Rabbits that can help them keep on keeping on in a life of fruitful service. Here are two ideas:
1. Offer a respite.
It may not be obvious that someone needs a break from a particular ministry or role, but we all know what it feels like to trudge through the motions without anyone noticing you could use a rest. Instead of looking for someone who seems tired, assume the servants in your life could be in a season where they need respite, and just ask.
If their energy is indeed flagging, your willingness to help will be a lifeline. If things are going fine, they’ll be encouraged by your kindness and care.
2. Make them a mentor.
Every Miss Rabbit needs a Miss Rabbit in training. The hard workers in your church have much to share. Why not encourage them to mentor the less-experienced volunteers who could benefit from their wisdom?
My own church leaders are very good at this; they encourage ministry leaders to be actively identifying who can take on more responsi-
bility. This strategy results in renewed energy for current leaders, and new confidence for up-and-comers.
If you’re a Miss or Mr. Rabbit (and you know who are are), thank you. Your dedication and sacrifice create new avenues for your churches to share the love of God. Take a break when you need one. Your helicopter will be waiting.
Meredith Day Flynn is a wife and mother of two living in Springfield. She writes on the intersection of faith, family, and current culture.
MEREDITH FLYNN
This report includes contributions received by the Illinois Baptist State Association through the third quarter of 2024. For questions about this report, write to IBSA Operations Team, 3085 Stevenson Dr., Springfield, IL 62703, email JeffDeasy@IBSA.org, or call 217-391-3106.
Change that makes change
This church wants to pay for your laundry and talk with you about Jesus
(Editor’s note: The commitment to missions that sends missionaries worldwide is the same motivation that will propel a church’s members to cross the street to share the gospel. This is the story of a church that holds dear its 12% commitment of undesignated offerings to the SBC’s Cooperative Program, while simultaneously giving to advance the gospel on all the Acts 1:8 mission fields. Even in a place pronounced “monkey suds.”)
Jacksonville | A couple of times a month volunteers from Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church show up with bags of quarters at a laundromat in Jacksonville. They are ready to plug some quarters into the laundry machines of people washing their clothing. And, if people are receptive, they will talk about Jesus.
It’s a way of getting out of the church walls and into the community to share Christ. And it seems to be pretty effective.
Coordinator of the laundry ministry, Dennis Kelahan, said they have a couple of teams that go out different times of the month. They have found a receptive laundry facility named Monqui Suds (pronounced “monkey”) on a busy street not far from the church. The owners were open to the idea and give the teams free access to the facility.
On a random night when the volunteers come, they bring in some snacks, bottled water, a bag of quarters, and brochures explaining what they are offering. They hold the doors open as people bring in their laundry baskets. Then they offer to pay for their laundry and provide some snacks and water. Some are hesitant. Kelahan said they can kind of tell by their body language if they are resistant. He
said some are believers in Jesus, suggesting they make the offer to help someone else. Others are hesitant and just don’t want to get involved, fearful of what the conversation might be. And there are some who tentatively accept the offer. They are often surprised, Kelahan said.
“About fifty percent are not interested for various reasons,” he added. But the team just pivots to the next person coming through the door when that happens. He said they usually bring four people on the volunteer team per night.
With a bag of quarters they go to the washers with the customers, plug the quarters, and start the cycle. Along with water and snacks, they offer a Bible or a gospel tract. The team has a brochure in three languages explaining what they are doing. That comes in handy with some who do not speak English.
In this central Illinois town of about 17,000, the laundry ministry team has met a lot of Spanish and French-speaking immigrants from Latin America, Haiti, and the Congo. Volunteers have also interacted with people from Middle Eastern nations and from India. And because there is a state school for the deaf in Jacksonville, they run across deaf and hearing-impaired individuals and the printed brochure helps there.
Jennifer Smith, the missions team leader for Lincoln Avenue, began the ministry a few years ago. A pastor in the church had heard of this evangelistic approach and Smith took him up on the offer. She said, “We’ve had consistent volunteers and we are seeing results.”
Kelahan said they try to ask key questions about the spiritual journey of the laundry customers and they offer to help them become believers in Jesus. They get to pray with and listen to a lot of people as they visit.
He seems to enjoy the ministry and is enthusiastic about how easy it is to set up and then easily
engage people with gospel conversations when they accept their help. Even if they don’t let them pay for the laundry, they will accept snacks or water.
“We have a main goal to lead people to Christ and show the love of Jesus,” Kelahan commented. He was especially pleased at a couple of recent interactions. This summer, a group of Haitian immigrants began visiting the church as result of their interaction at the laundromat.
The team knows they have the full support of the Monqui Suds management. One evening they realized they were almost out of water bottles. The laundry attendant overheard them talking about this and she came out with a case of water bottles from the supply room.
The church funds the operation with “Quarter Drop” Sundays where they announce they will collect quarters for several Sundays and then have buckets to receive them in the church foyer. Some Sunday school classes also collect quarters.
Smith encouraged others to consider starting this simple, evangelistic approach in order to be missional and reach people for Jesus in a community. “It has infused a boost of enthusiasm in our church,” Smith said.
Richard Nations is Associational Mission Strategist for Sandy Creek Baptist Association.
Iglesia El Mesias, Summit
Iglesia Evangelica Filadelfia 0.00
Iglesia Misionera North Avenue 0.00
Iglesia Nazaret, Berwyn
Immanuel, Chicago 9,000.00
In the Upper Room Ministries 0.00
Jesus is the Life, Matteson
Karen, Wheaton
28.85 Korean Bethel, Schaumburg La Mision de Jesus, Summit 0.00
Love Fellowship, Romeoville 2,816.00 15.82 Metropolitan, Gary 150.00 6.00
Mt Pleasant, Pulaski 1,345.00 30.57 New Hope, Buncombe 2,176.17 18.13 Pleasant Ridge, Cobden 2,582.52 28.69 Reynoldsville, Jonesboro 382.00 11.94
S I Country, Makanda 1,000.00 37.04
Sandy Creek, Tamms 5,616.00 102.11
Shiloh, Villa Ridge 375.00 4.69
Tamms First, Tamms 2,290.00 30.53
Thebes First, Thebes 1,413.60 117.80
Ullin First, Ullin 17,367.00 85.98
United Missionary, Buncombe 6,462.32 35.31 Tamms Community, Tamms Water Valley Country, Cobden 0.00
SUBTOTAL 125,024.70 29.02
EAST CENTRAL
Bement, Bement 482.10 10.71
Bethel, Danville 2,324.60 14.26 Calvary, Monticello 32,379.31 181.91 Church of the Cross, Mahomet 0.00 Cornerstone, Savoy 13,203.00 185.96 Farmer City First, Farmer City 1,134.00 21.81 Gibson City First, Gibson City 4,514.70 100.33 Journey, Normal
Le Roy First, Le Roy 0.00 Pennsylvania Ave, Urbana 5,881.29 39.21 Salt, Normal 2,153.20 52.52 Temple, Champaign 247.04 7.06 Tolono First, Tolono 450.00 8.18 Weldon, Weldon 620.55 62.06 Cornerstone Korean, Savoy 700.00 100.00
Church of Cham-Bana 190.00 38.00
of Life Church, Urbana 2,052.48
Iglesia
Living Word Chapel, Wood Dale McHenry First, McHenry
Valley, Aurora
Sycamore, Sycamore
Oaks, Sleepy Hollow
Mendota
Victory Rock Fellowship, Marengo
Gospel Grace, Woodstock
FRANKLIN
Caldwell, Benton
Calvary, West Frankfort
Christopher First, Christopher
Cleburne, Mulkeytown
Ewing First, Ewing
Faith Missionary, Christopher
Freedom Msny., Mc Leansboro
Grace Fellowship, Benton
Immanuel, Benton
Ina Missionary, Ina
Jackson Grove, Benton
Macedonia
Hope Missionary, Benton
North Benton, Benton
Du Quoin, Du Quoin
First, Sesser
Shores, Edwardsville
Iglesia Maranatha, Collinsville
Maryville First, Maryville
Meadowbrook First, Moro
Metro Community, Edwardsville
Granite City
North Alton, Alton
Reformed, Granite City
Temple, Madison
Unity, Granite City
Victory, Alton West 22nd Street, Granite City
GOSHEN TRAIL
39.07
Samaria Missionary, Albion 11,686.00 76.38
Sims Missionary, Sims 2,083.40 26.04
Stewart Street, Carmi 2,378.10 28.31
Ten Post Oak, Keenes 1,112.00 16.60
Wayne City, Wayne City 16,420.34 77.45
SUBTOTAL 128,724.50 42.43
HEARTLAND
Chatham, Chatham 39,528.85 119.06
Delta, Springfield 18,772.00 276.06
Eastview, Springfield 13,500.00 53.15
Edinburg First, Edinburg 0.00
Greenview First, Greenview 1,895.60 34.47
Havana Southern, Havana 858.83 35.78
Kincaid, Kincaid 0.00
Living Faith, Sherman 13,086.51 34.71
Meadowbrook, Auburn 800.00 5.56
Mt Zion Southern, Kilbourne 3,049.00 26.06
New Horizons S. Baptist Church 132.24 22.04
New Lebanon, Kilbourne 405.64 5.88
New Life, Athens 500.00 8.20
New Life, Waverly 227.58 12.64
Pasfield Southern, Springfield 1,429.41 26.47
Petersburg First, Petersburg 11,465.00 80.74
Riverton First, Riverton 1,110.86 28.48
Roanoke, Springfield 250.00 19.23
Rochester First, Rochester 22,081.41 148.20
Sandridge New Hope, Petersburg 2,650.00 189.29
Southtower Community, Dawson 6,820.11 53.28
Springfield First, Springfield 0.00
Tallula, Tallula 700.00 46.67
Together on N. Grand, Springfield 23,045.17 49.88
Western Oaks, Springfield 28,102.00 216.17
Iglesia Principe de Paz, Springfield 0.00
SUBTOTAL 190,410.21 68.35
KASKASKIA
Bethel, Odin 2,156.59 11.85
Calvary, Effingham 1,369.70 22.45
Carlyle First, Carlyle 6,878.68 26.98
Central City, Centralia 7,806.00 185.86
Crossroads of Centralia, Centralia 1,850.00 8.15
Diamond Springs, Shattuc 1,545.00 128.75
Emmanuel, Salem 1,955.47 97.77
Eternity, Centralia 100.00 0.60
Fairman, Sandoval 298.14 16.56
Faith, Breese 1,295.00 143.89
Flora First Southern, Flora 6,139.86 40.39
Iglesia Latina, Effingham 0.00
Marshall Creek, Odin 1,594.00 33.91
Mulberry Grove First 7,381.76 65.91
New Hope, Effingham 2,250.00 3.50
Odin, Odin 1,349.30 16.87
Patoka First, Patoka 4,185.03 53.65
Pocahontas First, Pocahontas
Salem First, Salem 32,289.56 137.40
Sandoval, Sandoval 91.35 2.61
Wamac Missionary, Centralia 943.88 9.16
West Gate, Trenton 3,500.00 17.50
Wisetown, Greenville 8,667.00 144.45
Zion Hill, Centralia 4,212.00 39.74
Unity, Vandalia 28,648.84 39.90
SUBTOTAL 126,507.16 35.07
LAKE COUNTY
Crossroads Comm., Port Barrington 800.00 13.56
Family Bible International, Gurnee 240.00 6.00
Iglesia Gran Comision, Waukegan 2,031.67 48.37
Iglesia Renacer, North Chicago 300.00 16.67
Light and Grace, Waukegan 450.00 7.50
Lighthouse Church of Antioch 10.00
Meadowridge, Zion 10,297.00 130.34
Mundelein First, Mundelein 80.00 6.67
New Song Ministries, Zion 0.00
Pleasant Grove Msny., Waukegan 0.00
Sanctuary Messianic, Lindenhurst 225.00 6.43
The Gathering, Gurnee 1,127.00 93.92
Winthrop Harbor First 0.00
Iglesia El Camino, Round Lk Hts
Southwest, Chicago
SUBTOTAL 15,560.67 30.21
LOUISVILLE
Bloom Southern Missionary, Flora 2,284.26 50.76
Community Southern, Clay City 710.72 5.30
Farina First Southern, Farina 6,495.72 122.56
Iola Missionary, Iola 0.00
SUBTOTAL
Kewanee
Peoples Missionary, Rock Island 0.00
Trail of Hope Cowboy, Sherrard 0.00
SUBTOTAL 16,503.40 32.88
REHOBOTH
Altamont First, Altamont 14,800.55 128.70 Bayle City, Ramsey 79.16 0.55
“I will go down into the pit, if you will hold the ropes.”
William Carey, known as the father of the modern missions movement, spoke these words to his friend, Andre Fuller, before Carey set sail for India in 1793.
Carey had become convinced that the Great Commission was the obligation of all Christians, and that he was willing to personally lead the charge for his Baptist brethren.
But he understood that for him to descend with the gospel into the unknown, there must be a “rope” supporting him. And that the rope—the interwoven strands of finances and prayers—must be continually held by fellow believers back home. Someone needed to hold it, keeping that vital lifeline between the motherland and the mission field in place.
That fateful moment produced an explosion in world missions, and ultimately made its way into the identity of the early Baptist associations in America which would form the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) in 1845.
Yet the early Baptist zeal for taking the gospel to the unreached world was not matched by its method for “holding the rope.”
The SBC had created entities responsible for ministry training as well as missions at home and on the foreign field. But these entities still employed a societal method of funding, requiring the entity boards to hire agents who directly solicited giving by visiting churches.
By 1920, it was clear that this method was unsustainable. Larger churches received a regular stream of agents asking for pulpit time to solicit giving. Smaller churches rarely heard about the cooperative mission work, so many rarely took up offerings. Missions funding at the entities was erratic, and debts were mounting.
The realization that something needed to change spawned the Baptist 75 Million Campaign, the first convention-wide attempt to raise funds for missions and ministry in a unified manner. The fiveyear campaign exceeded its goal in pledges, and also saw 4,000 young Southern Baptists commit to full-time Christian service, but ultimately fell far short in funds actually received. Yet, the potential of a unified approach was clear.
Thus, in 1925, the Cooperative Program was born. Progress was slow at first, but as more churches committed to the belief that a unified effort was the most effective way to fund missions and ministry, the proof began to appear. By the mid-1940’s, Cooperative Program giving had wiped out the staggering $6.5 million debt of the convention entities, despite the Great Depression. By the early 1950’s, there was an 80% increase in Southern Baptist foreign missionaries serving on the field.
At home, increased missions giving led to the establishment of three new seminaries to train men and women for ministry, a church planting boom through the 1950’s averaging over 500 new churches each year, and continued evangelism training leading to baptisms skyrocketing to over 400,000 per year in the early 1970’s, including over 9,000 in Illinois.
Into the 1990’s and early 2000’s, the strong commitment to CP continued to fuel expansion of Baptist work into metropolitan areas and the American north, leading to continued growth in ethnic churches. And overseas, Southern Baptists and their missionary partners baptized over 500,000 people in a single year for the first time.
In 2021, Southern Baptists surpassed $20 billion given through the Cooperative Program since its founding in 1925. The spiritual conditions and destinies of countless lives have been directly changed by missionaries and churches, here in Illinois and around the world, because of the financial commitment of Southern Baptists to work together through CP.
As the Cooperative Program celebrates 100 years of fueling transformative missions and ministry, the time is right for a new generation to rally together and take hold of the rope. The pioneer missionaries and ministry laborers of the next century stand at the edge ready to go, but can only descend if they have the support.
