November 2, 2015 Illinois Baptist

Marion | When messengers gather for the 109th Annual Meeting of the Illinois Baptist State Association, they will be asked to consider revisions to the constitution and an amended 2016 budget, as well as commitments on behalf of their own congregation to help bring more people to faith in Christ.

“Build Your Kingdom Here,” inspired by a popular Christian song, is the theme for the meeting. It focuses on five commitments local churches can make, with the goal of increasing professions of faith and baptisms.

NATE ADAMS

CONVENTIONAL WISDOM

Snapshots from the world of Illinois Baptists

“Younger Christians are recognizing the implications for their future—what perhaps once felt like something that would only affect clergy and Christian leaders, now feels like it could have a bearing on life for ordinary citizens.”

– Dave Kinnaman, Barna Group, on endangered religious freedoms

culture: Religious liberty at risk

41% of American adults say religious freedom in the U.S. has grown worse in the past 10 years, up from 33% in 2012.

CHURCH: Christians feeling the pressure

Barna asked practicing Christians if they are very concerned about religious freedoms becoming more restricted in the next five years. Percentage answering yes:

the cooperative program

Gving by IBSA churches as of 10/23/15 $4,815,208

Budget Goal: $5,169,231

Recieved to date in 2014: $4,876,235

2015 Goal: $6.2 Million

The Illinois Baptist staff

Editor - Eric Reed

Contributing Editor - Lisa Sergent

Graphic Designer - Kris Kell

Editorial Contributor - Meredith Flynn

Administrative Assistant - Andrea Hammond

Intern - Morgan Jackson

For questions about subscriptions, articles, or upcoming events, contact the Illinois Baptist at (217) 391-3110 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 three weeks by the Illinois Baptist State Association, 3085 Stevenson Drive, Springfield, Illinois 62703-4440. Subscriptions are free to Illinois Baptists. Subscribe online at IBSA.org

Cubs and Cardinals

As I visit churches from one end of the state to the other, I’ve learned that there is one question that can divide a congregation into camps faster than any question of theology or worship style or even politics. “Are you all Cardinals fans or Cubs fans?”

Now I owe a nod of respect to White Sox fans too. But while the Cubs and the Sox are constant cross-town rivals, the competitive focus this year has definitely been the division race between the Cardinals, the Cubs, and yes, the Pirates, as these NL Central teams ended the regular season with the three best records in baseball. And once the Cubs dispensed with the Pirates in their onegame, wildcard playoff, the stage was set for something that, unbelievably, had never happened before, a Cardinals/Cubs playoff series.

Who was I cheering for? Well, I’m one of those unusual guys that likes both teams. During my baseball-card-collecting boyhood years in Southern Illinois, Cardinal stars like Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, and Orlando Cepeda were my heroes. When we later moved to the northwest suburbs of Chicago, WGN drew me in to the wonderful Wrigley world of Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, and Harry Caray. We have two great National League teams to cheer for here in Illinois!

But when it came to the historic 2015 Division Series, I had to pull for the Cubs. You see, the Cardinals win a lot. Over the past twenty years, the Cards have only missed the postseason seven times. The Cubs have only made it to the postseason four times. The Cubs haven’t been in a World Series since 1945, and haven’t won it since 1908. That’s the longest championship drought of any North American professional sports team. IBSA was a year old when the Cubs last won the World Series.

Call them “lovable losers” if you must, but I simply call the Cubs perennial underdogs, that I believe one day will win. While I enjoy the Cardinals’ success, there’s this part of me that identifies strongly with the underdog Cubbies.

You see, as a Christian in today’s culture, and even as a Baptist in Illinois, I often feel like an underdog. I often feel that my message, the Gospel, and my life’s values, anchored in the Bible, are not “winning” in the culture these days, no matter how hard I try or how deeply I believe. I often feel like I’m playing on a team for whom winning is always postponed into the future.

Now let me hasten to say that feeling that way doesn’t discourage me, really. And it doesn’t ever truly threaten my commitment to God, to His Kingdom, to the fulfillment of the Great Commission, and yes, to the Baptist family.

It doesn’t matter if the world or the culture considers me a winner. But every now and then, when a worship service is especially powerful, or a mission trip is especially helpful, or I see someone respond to the Gospel and enter eternity—I realize that we are winning. And I remember that being true to the team, the Kingdom, that ultimately wins is so much more important than any measure of temporal success.

I guess that’s why I enjoyed seeing the Cubs win a postseason series, even over the Cardinals, and even though they were dismissed by the Mets in four straight games shortly thereafter. It gave me just a taste of the victory that has always been promised for “next year.” And it encouraged me to keep playing hard and staying faithful to teams that sometimes get labeled lovable losers, but that one day will be truly and eternally victorious.

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

...as a Christian in today’s culture, I often feel like an underdog.

Continued from page 1

The Annual Meeting will be held at First Baptist Church of Marion, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, along with three other IBSA churches. There are currently 132 churches in the association founded in 1865 or earlier.

The meeting starts at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11 and concludes on Thursday, Nov. 12 at noon. It will be preceded by the IBSA Pastors’ Conference, starting at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 10.

Consider the commitments

In the Wednesday evening session, messengers will hear uplifting reports from Illinois churches that experienced the salvation of lost people through evangelistic prayer strategies, effective witness training, outreach events, a renewed focus on Vacation Bible School, and new small groups and classes.

With Lego-style blocks as a visual device, messengers will be encouraged to consider which of these ministries would likely result in additional salvations in their communities. By pinpointing “Here!” on their own mission field, worship attenders may join a corporate prayer asking God to do a new kingdom work starting in the place they call home.

Official actions

Several items will require action by messengers. A constitutional revision introduced at the 2014 Annual Meeting will require a second vote. The change allows Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services to have its own bylaws, in compliance with Il-

linois law for non-profit organizations.

A revised 2016 budget will be presented, necessitated by changes in insurance provided by NAMB for some IBSA employees.

“It’s unusual to need to consider a revision to the proposed IBSA Budget after the Board has approved it in September,” IBSA Executive Director Nate Adams said, “but in this case IBSA didn’t receive notice until September 24 that NAMB will no longer provide health insurance for jointly funded missionaries, starting in 2016.”

The proposed 2016 budget, as it appears in the Book of Reports, will be replaced by an updated version at the meeting, in an effort to make the revision and vote clearer.

“This decision [about NAMB-provided insurance] and its ramifications have a significant impact on multiple lines of the budget that was approved by the IBSA Board on September 15,” Adams said. “I’m sure both the Board and the messengers will understand and take the necessary actions to help us absorb this latest challenge and change.”

Eating, Meeting

The IBSA Annual Meeting will be augmented by gatherings of IBSA Pastors, Ministers’ Wives, Associational Directors of Missions, Church Planters, and Young Leaders. The Pastors’ Conference includes a Tailgate Dinner on Tuesday evening ($5 per person at the door). The Wednesday evening session of the Annual Meeting concludes with a Fall Festival sweets reception. The schedules are posted at IBSA.org/IBSA2015.

culture

‘Trans’ student barred from locker room

A month after a rural school allowed a female student to use the boys’ locker room, a suburban Chicago district defied federal civil rights officials and refused transgender students use of locker rooms for changing and showering. Township High School District 211 in Palatine allows transgender students to use restrooms in accordance with their chosen gender identity, because there are private stalls. But the district will continue barring opposite-sex students from communal locker rooms to “protect the privacy of all students.”

Coach can’t pray

Bremerton (Wash.) High School football coach Joe Kennedy has been told he’ll be fired if he continues to pray from the 50-yard line before each game. Superintendent Aaron Leavell forbade him from “bowing his head, taking a knee or doing anything that might remotely be construed as religious.” The district would provide a place to pray that is “not observable to students or the public.” Coach Kennedy said he will continue to pray.

Is no nudes bad news?

Playboy magazine’s announcement that it will no longer print completely nude photos of women shows how degraded our culture has become, said Southern Seminary president Al Mohler. “Playboy has outlived its ability to transgress and to push the moral boundaries,” Mohler wrote. “Pornography is such a pervasive part of modern society that Playboy is now a commercial victim of the very moral revolution it symbolized and promoted for decades.”

– The Washington Post, Fox News, AlbertMohler.com

WORD CLOUD – The popular song “Build Your Kingdom Here” by the Christian group Rend Collective inspired the 2015 Annual Meeting theme and this “word cloud” of phrases from the song’s chorus. The artwork was designed for IBSA by Abby Walker of Jacksonville.

15 states answer Carolina floods

Illinois DR teams to aid clean-up

Charleston, S.C. | Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) volunteers from 15 states responded to flooding in South Carolina in October, and several teams from Illinois are poised to join them this month.

“I am so thankful for the volunteers from many states who are willing to provide the help needed in the recovery process for those affected by the flooding,” said Mickey Caison, North American Mission Board interim executive director for Disaster Relief. “Leaders in the communities affected have expressed their deep appreciation of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief’s ministry and volunteers who are so compassionate. Discussions have begun with community leaders about the need for rebuilding of homes in the flooded communities.”

The flooding, which has been called a “1,000-year” event, destroyed dams in the state and resulted in at least 19 deaths, according to news reports.

Three Disaster Relief teams from Illinois are set to join the response in November, with the first group scheduled to depart for South Carolina Nov. 7. The volunteers will work primarily on mudout projects, removing waterlogged property from flooded homes and working to clean up the damaged structures.

During the initial response, Southern Baptist volunteers engaged in ministry in four areas of the state, assessing 493 homes for recovery, mudout or rebuild. They completed 577 homeowner assistance tasks, which included everything from minor cleanup to more extensive projects. And they prepared nearly 70,000 meals.

In preliminary reporting, SBDR volunteers and chaplains made at least 348 Gospel presentations, and 35 individuals responded with professions of faith.

Throughout the response, college students have been using fall breaks and weekends to serve. “God continues to use His people’s love, and their willingness to share that love, in such real and practical ways,” Caison said. “We are hearing many testimonies of homeowners accepting Christ as a result of the witness of volunteers.

“We continue to discover needs in many communities in South Carolina. As the water has receded, and roads are opening up, SBDR volunteers now have access to many homes in small rural communities. Please continue to pray for the SBDR leaders, volunteers and those affected in South Carolina.”

– Staff report and Baptist Press

Fertile ground in Illinois

New church plants double in 2015

Springfield | Illinois Baptist church planters started 20 new congregations in 2015, an increase of 10 from last year’s number.

“We are very grateful to the Lord for the increased harvest of new churches this year,” said Van Kicklighter, associate executive director for IBSA’s Church Planting team. “At the same time, we feel the burden of knowing that 20 new church plants doesn’t begin to impact the huge number of people in Illinois who need to hear the gospel message.”

In October, Kicklighter and his team welcomed a group of potential church planters for an assessment event that will help determine their next steps in the planting process. Edgar Rodriguez, a candidate from Illinois, said the state’s diversity draws would-be planters.

“Not just in Chicago, but in [all of] Illinois...Individuals are coming in from all over the world, so I think it’s good ground for the gospel and leaders from various places in the world to be trained up and eventually be sent out.”

Thomas Clark wants to plant a new church in Chicago. “This is a place where souls are needing to be saved,” he said, noting that Christ’s blood can have an impact there. “There’s a lot of blood being shed in Chicago, but with the right blood, we can make a difference.”

New churches are needed outside Chicagoland too. Tim Swigart and his wife are Midwest natives and self-described “farm kids.” They’re exploring planting possibilities in Northwest Illinois, the state’s most unchurched region.

“The motif of ‘planting’ is an apt one in understanding why some years produce a large harvest of new churches and other years a smaller harvest,” Kicklighter said. “As in the parable of the sower, some seed falls on good soil while other seed falls on hard and rocky soil.

“We are seeking to increase the number of people and churches who are sowing in the mission fields of Illinois and the amount of gospel seed that is sown.”

Bryan Coble and his wife, Marci, are two potential “sowers” from Missouri. At the assessment event, Bryan said planters are drawn to Illinois not just to plant churches, but to “make disciples that will plant churches themselves.”

Local churches are key to more church plants, Kicklighter said. IBSA’s Church Planting team has implemented a pray-partner-plant strategy to engage more congregations in the planting process.

“This year the Lord has blessed our sowing and gave us an increased harvest,” Kicklighter said. “Some of this is a reflection of the work of our staff and some is the result of more praying, partnering, and planting churches.”

DIALOGUE AND DECISIONS – (Above) IBSA’s northwest church planting director, John Mattingly, talks with Edgar and Sonia Rodriguez, potential Chicago church planters. (Below) Tim Swigart, who wants to plant churches in NW IL, preaches to a number of IBSA representatives.

ON THEIR WAY – Illinois Disaster Relief volunteers will soon join teams from other states already providing assistance in South Carolina following massive flooding last month.

Are churches the answer?

Platt prioritizes partnerships with local congregations

Pastors split on Islam

Protestant pastors are increasingly polarized about Islam, with a growing share labeling the Muslim faith violent while a sharply rising minority calls it spiritually good, a new LifeWay Research study shows. Compared to five years ago, pastors are more likely to describe Islam in favorable terms. Fifty percent say Islam promotes charity, up from 33%. Significant numbers also describe Islam as spiritually good (32%, up from 19%) and tolerant (24%, up from 16%). A slim majority considers Islam dangerous (52%, up from 44%).

State Dept. probes persecution

In its annual report, the State Department cited the upsurge in persecution of religious adherents by non-government groups such as ISIS and Boko Haram as a major development in 2014.

In its report, the State Department said of the rise of persecution from non-government forces:

Richmond, Va. | In a live web conference October 27, International Mission Board President David Platt addressed the organization’s budget-related decision to reduce its personnel, and reiterated IMB’s desire to partner with Southern Baptist churches to send more missionaries to the field.

“When I stepped into this role a year ago,” Platt said, “be sure of this, I didn’t step into this role to see people come off the field [from] sharing the gospel. My whole goal in stepping into this role was to see thousands more…going to the field.

“But in order to get to that kind of future, we’ve got to get to a healthy place in the present.”

Platt briefly outlined the reasons for the personnel cuts: Last year, IMB spent $21 million more than they brought in; since 2010, the organization has spent $210 million more than people have given.

Through a voluntary retirement incentive for eligible employees and a second phase of “hand-raising” for those who aren’t eligible for retirement, Platt said, the organization will reduce its total personnel (including Richmond staff) by 600800.

But there will always be a cap on the number of people they can send as traditional, fully-funded missionaries.

That’s where the local church comes in.

Drawing on concepts he shared at last summer’s Southern Baptist Convention, Platt prioritized the local church as God’s primary agent to fulfill the Great Com-

mission. If churches can send individuals and families willing to leverage their jobs and lives for the gospel, the IMB can come alongside with support, training, and nearly two centuries of experience across the globe.

Platt said his agency wants to walk alongside churches as they think through how their congregation can count for “God’s global glory,” and how that impacts preaching, budgeting, and organizing within the church.

He drew the analogy of a three-legged stool, with one piece as the individual or family being sent out, and the IMB and their local church as the other two supports.

At several points during the conference, Platt showed his trademark intensity, especially when expressing his appreciation for missionaries serving now. After outlining the IMB’s current financial picture, he devoted the majority of the webcast to answering questions submitted by people watching online, ranging from how a small church can use its budget to support international missions, to why churches shouldn’t lose confidence in the IMB.

“I hope this whole discussion shows we want to prove responsible stewards of not just money, but the trust that’s been given to us,” Platt said.

“And we want to work zealously to be the best partner possible with churches who want to get the gospel to the nations, through our training, through our support, through what we’re doing in engagement around the world.”

“In the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, and throughout Asia, a range of non-state actors, including terrorist organiza tions, have set their sights on destroying religious diversity….In these regions, religious intolerance and hostility, often combined with political, economic and ethnic grievances, frequently led to violence. Governments stood by, either unwilling or unable to act in response to the resulting death, injuries and displacement.”

More orange jumpsuits

Three Assyrian Christians were executed by ISIS rebels in a video released Oct. 7. After the men were shot in the head and fell dead in the sand, three more prisoners in orange jumpsuits were brought onscreen. “Our fate is the same as these if you do not take proper procedure for our release,” one said. ISIS is demanding $50,000 each for nearly 200 villagers captured seven months ago. The executions occurred on Sept. 23, the day called a Muslim “Festival of Sacrifice.”

– LifeWay, Baptist Press, Voice of the Martyrs

MEDICAL MISSION – Cheryl Cannon (center), a nurse from First Baptist Church in Oxford, Mississippi, prays with a man in his home in Benito Juarez, Mexico. Cannon was one of several members of FBC who led medical clinics with IMB missionaries Jeff and Liesa Holeman, also from the Oxford church, to reach an unreached people group.

One solution: call a missionary

Editor’s note: In the wake of budget shortfalls that are bringing some missionaries home early, other agencies are taking action to help International Mission Board personnel. The North American Mission Board reduced its budget by $4 million in order to send that money to IMB, and two seminaries are set to offer campus housing to missionaries returning to the U.S. Doug Munton, pastor of FBC O’Fallon, says local churches can also help.

With the downsizing of the International Mission Board by up to 800 people, many longtime missionaries will be looking for ministry opportunities in the States. While they will be leaving the mission field (after some difficult and painful decisions), they still want to serve the cause of Christ in ministry.

Might Southern Baptist churches consider them when seeking a pastor or church staff member?

Here are three reasons why:

1. They are willing to do hard things. Sacrifice is not foreign to them. You won’t have to wonder if they are willing to do difficult tasks or take on difficult challenges. They have proven that they can work hard

for little thanks. That says a great deal about their work ethic and their character.

2. They know how to adapt and adjust to circumstances while remaining faithful to God’s Word. They can help your church understand the changing culture around them while staying faithful to what God teaches. They can help you walk through any necessary changes without losing focus on God’s unchanging Word.

3. They have demonstrated a willingness to put God first in their lives. You will feel confident that they are about God’s Kingdom and not their own. Their sacrifices suggest they consider the things of God greater than their own comfort or fame. That is a strong recommendation.

Returning missionaries will have some adjustments to make. They will be working through the pain of leaving a field they cared deeply about. Coming back to the States will bring some challenges. But they have faced challenges before.

If your church is seeking a pastor or other vocational ministry leader, why not consider a missionary who is returning from the field? The Lord may have made them available to us for such a time as this.

Aiding IMB missionaries

“This extremely generous gift will go a long way in helping IMB get to a healthy financial place in the present so that we can move forward into a future marked by more missionaries sent, more disciples made and more churches planted among unreached peoples than ever before.”

– David Platt, IMB president, on NAMB’s $4 million gift to IMB

“There is no time limit on this offer and we stand ready to serve our Southern Baptist missionaries with dignity, respect, and honor as they move to the next stage of ministry.”

– Michael Spradlin, president, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary (Memphis, Tenn.), which is offering housing to returning missionaries.

“The fiscal challenge facing the IMB is a challenge for every Southern Baptist. Each of us must examine our lifestyles and ask if our giving to our churches and SBC ministries truly reflects Great Commission priorities.”

– Chuck Kelley, president, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary – BPNews.net

ILLINOIS VOICES

THE cooperative program • 3rd quarter report jan. 1 - sept. 30

This report includes contributions received by the Illinois Baptist State Association through the third quarter of 2015. For questions about this report, contact the IBSA Church Cooperation Team at (217) 391-3106, e-mail EmilyMonahan@IBSA.org or write to P.O. Box 19247, Springfield, IL 62794-9247.

A

Winning Proposal

Four years ago, SBC Executive Committee President Frank Page challenged churches to increase their giving through the Cooperative Program by one percentage point.

Granite City Faith, Highland Fieldon First, Fieldon Forest Homes First So., Cottage Hills Friendship, Hardin Genesis, Granite City Glen Carbon First, Glen Carbon

Grace, Granite City

Grace Fellowship, Livingston Granite City Second, Granite City

Greater St James, Alton

Heartland, Alton

Highland Southern, Highland Holiday Shores, Edwardsville

Iglesia Maranatha, Granite City

Life Tide, Granite City

Maryville First, Maryville

Meadowbrook First, Moro Metro, Edwardsville Mitchell First, Granite City Mosaic, Highland New Douglas, New Douglas New Hope, Worden New Life Christian Fellowship, Hamel New Life New Beginning, North Alton Southern, Alton Pleasant Ridge, Collinsville Pontoon, Granite City State Park, Collinsville Temple, Madison

The Resurrection, Granite City Unity, Granite City

Victory, Alton West 22nd Street, Granite City

Whitelaw Avenue, Wood River

The Bridge, Alton The Calling, Granite City

This

1% challenge

has proven successful.

Southern Baptists gave more than

$189 million

That’s 1.1 million million more than the goal, and 2.5 million more than the previous year.

announced this fall it will cut missionary personnel and staff by 600-800 people, citing budgetary shortfalls.

3,200

947 people groups. people groups still are not engaged with the gospel.

In Canada, it’s one per every 112,115.

Top 100 Illinois churches in Cooperative Program support through the third quarter of 2015

CP counts in Illinois

Maryville First, Maryville 89.43 West Gate, Trenton 87.82 Golf Road, Des Plaines 86.52 Grace Fellowship, Amboy 86.37 Bethlehem, Salem 85.44 Oblong First, Oblong 84.72 Louisville, Louisville 84.56 Nashville First, Nashville 82.82

Immanuel, Benton 81.68

Hoosier Prairie, Louisville 81.62

Carmi First, Carmi 81.33

Lighthouse Fellowship, Huntley 80.33

Wilmington, Patterson 79.22

Mascoutah First, 78.52

Beaucoup, Pinckneyville 78.11

Dorrisville, Harrisburg 76.99

Crossroads Community, Brighton 76.74

Washington First, Washington 76.43

Calvary, Alton 76.36

Saline Ridge Missionary, Harrisburg 76.31

Crosswinds Church, Plainfield 76.06

Western Oaks, Springfield 75.84

New Bethel, Ramsey 75.62

Calvary, Edwardsville 75.13

Lincoln Avenue, Jacksonville 74.00

Pontoon, Granite City 73.98

Samaria Missionary,

When your church gives through the Cooperative Program, goes toward national and international missions and ministry, while stays in Illinois.

43.25%

In June, more than volunteers served in six Illinois mission fields through Missions Spectacular, a one-day project facilitated by CP gifts.

Last year,

24,289

IBSA church members went somewhere on a mission trip, from Chicago to the Philippines. Many were trained and equipped at CP-supported events.

Illinois Baptists gave more than

$6.1 million through the Cooperative Program in 2014. So far, giving in 2015 is slightly behind the budget goal. The 2015 CP goal for Illinois is

BFI Bonds help build the church in Illinois. Rates range from 1.25 to 4.25% annually.

For availability and prospectus visit BaptistFoundationIL.org or call (217) 391-3116.

Baptist Foundation of Illinois | 3085 Stevenson Drive | Springfield, IL 62703

The arts are simply God’s gifts of creation, for our good and his glory. They are part of life that God has uniquely given us as human beings to give expression to our humanity—our joy, our pain, our praising God.

CONSTANTINE R. CAMPBELL | ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF NEW TESTAMENT

As a pianist, I learned to love the notes and to respect the composer’s intention, to be faithful and creative in my interpretation. Performing music requires creative fidelity that has rich parallels to biblical hermeneutics and theology.

KEVIN J. VANHOOZER | RESEARCH PROFESSOR OF BIBLICAL AND SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY

TEDS faculty members Kevin Vanhoozer and Con Campbell are gifted scholars and dedicated teachers who believe that the gospel provides for and promotes whole life flourishing. They are serious artists who bring their passions for music and drama to the classroom, to their understanding of theology, and to their mentoring relationships with students.

Does it really matter how Illinois Baptists invest their money ? We think so...

THE BIG PICTURE

IN FOCUS Authentic belief

Youth encounter call to genuine faith at expanded evangelism event

BY MORGAN JACKSON

Harrisburg | “I never really did much with religion,” said Austin Owen (right). “I went to church and never understood anything about it.” But things changed for Owen at IBSA’s Youth Encounter conference on October 11.

The 17-year-old was one of many students who made decisions to follow Christ or deepen their commitment to him.

He had never read the Bible before, Owen admitted. “But today I guess is a good day to start.”

Student ministry leaders say Millennials are looking for the kind of faith that transcends family history or tradition and leads to real life change.

Usually held right after Christmas in Springfield, organizers changed the format to one day in three locations. “We were hoping to make it more accessible to more of our churches,” said Barb Troeger, ministry coordinator on IBSA’s Church Resources team, and that more unchurched kids would attend as a result.

The north site in suburban Chicago, the central site in Decatur, and the southern site in Mt. Vernon saw a combined attendance of 1,519, up from 961 people in 2014. The southern site sold out a week before the

Continued on page 12

PHOTO (above): Teens worship at Logan Street Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon, one of three sites for Youth Encounter, IBSA’s student evangelism conference.

Comedy team 321 Improv (left) entertains the crowd with an on-the-spot skit.

New locations draw new crowds to Youth Encounter

Continued from page 11

event—in part due to well-known evangelist David Nasser being the scheduled speaker.

The northern site featured Christian hip-hop artists FLAME and V.Rose. And the central location hosted bands Seventh Time Down, The Neverclaim, and Manic Drive, as well as Passion Painter Ministries artist Andy Raines. Sierra Jones (pictured below) said, “I just really like how the art dude is making all the paintings as people talk. It’s really cool!”

Leaders at each venue tailored the events to their audiences, but the focus was the same in each place: helping students develop an intimate belief in Christ, so that they might know they’ve been chosen and that the creator of the universe loves them.

“That type of belief changes your heart and life,” said evangelist Clayton King, lead speaker in Decatur at Tabernacle Baptist Church.

Many salvation decisions were made across the state—107 alone in Decatur. In Mt. Vernon, Owen responded with a firm, “Yes, I did,” when asked if he made a commitment to Jesus that night.

No more ‘playing church’

Changing the structure of Youth Encounter was admittedly a risk. But “ultimately, we hope people are led to the Lord,” said Daymont VanPelt, coordinator of the northern location at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Country Club Hills. That’s the main goal—students accepting Christ and taking a different direction in life.

Which is perhaps one of the toughest issues to address, said John Howard, student pastor at First Baptist Church in O’Fallon and IBSA’s student ministry consultant. How do we reach youth? How do we effectively present the gospel to teenagers?

“The most significant spiritual hunger I’m seeing among students is for an authentic faith experience,” Howard said. “That is, many have quit riding

the coattails of their parents’ religious experience and are seeking an authentic faith of their own.”

In Decatur, Clayton King summed up the main message leaders at all three locations were trying to communicate. He didn’t pose the question, “Do you believe in God?” but rather, “How do you believe in God?”

In youth ministry, leaders know it is crucial that students not have an inherited belief—putting their faith in something simply because their family does. Their relationship with God also cannot be intellectual, having biblical knowledge in their head that never touches their heart.

One student who attended the south location said it stood out to him when Nasser talked about “just playing church.” Admitting to struggling with that himself at times, John Wittenborn, prior to the final session, said that if he made a decision for Christ he wanted to make sure it was a real one.

In the trenches

The post-Christian culture we live in often fuels teens’ spiritual crises. Even students who have grown up in the church are susceptible to societyprompted doubt.

“Leaders should walk through the trenches of these uncertain times with students, both counseling toward and modeling an authentic faith walk,” Howard said.

An especially timely example is the debate on homosexuality. Howard said one student in his youth group, a leader for others, has begun to question whether Christians have it right regarding their stance on the issue. His question then snowballed and soon he was perplexed about everything he once believed in, “to the point of questioning the existence of Jesus,” Howard said.

Although saved at the age of eight, about two years ago “I felt like I wasn’t living for God. I was just kind of living for myself and playing the role [of a Christian].”

This spiritual crisis is not yet over for this student, he added, and although there are still many questions to wade through, “there have been strides made in the right direction.”

“Events like IBSA’s Youth Encounter seek to gather students from across our state in the name of Jesus Christ,” Howard said. “Despite our many differences, one thing many different people from [all] different places can converge on is our great God... Students engage in a relaxed atmosphere where they will hear great music, be led in genuine worship, and hear the true and relevant gospel of Jesus Christ proclaimed, explained, and applied.

“Much time, effort, resources, and prayer are poured into creating an avenue through which God can save souls, rebuild hearts, mature disciples, and call servants to serve him with their lives.”

And what about the temporary “spiritual high” that often results from big events? Howard said all the time, but especially after an event like Youth Encounter, be intentional about setting aside time to invest in “doing life” alongside students. Large scale, evangelistic endeavors can be the tool through which the Holy Spirit works, but remember that ultimately, “Only God can save a life and transform a heart.”

“My hope is that next year we would be able to have even more people. There are so many teenagers in Chicago that need Jesus.”

Jarvis Carter, 17 Love Fellowship Baptist Church, Romeoville

ALTAR CALL – Ron Gray of The Connection Community Church in Chicago leads in prayer students who made a commitment to Jesus.

“The thing I liked best about Youth Encounter was the worship... I also liked how the artists used their talents to communicate the gospel—through art, music, and preaching. It all seemed to mesh together.”

–

– Matty Hawkins, McKinley Avenue Baptist Church, Harrisburg

– Erin Willis, 15 Love Fellowship Baptist Church, Romeoville

Are we Protestants? Does it matter?

BY ERIC REED

“Do Southern Baptists consider themselves Protestants?” I was asked recently. The question seemed innocuous.

“Why do you ask?” I said.

“Well, in my former church, we were taught that Baptists aren’t Protestants. That we weren’t part of the groups that withdrew from the Catholic Church. You can’t really protest what you weren’t part of to begin with.”

Interesting point.

Normally I wouldn’t spend much time pondering how Baptists emerged on the scene, because I would find it outweighed by the question: How does that matter now? But here on the 498th anniversary of the Reformation, and peering over the cultural and moral precipice of the 21st century, I find the question is deep—and important.

In my friend’s church background, the teaching is that there always existed on a sort of parallel track to the Catholic Church a string of truly New Testament churches that were faithful to the biblical doctrines of salvation, believer’s baptism, and local church autonomy. They don’t identify themselves with Martin Luther, the agitated priest who on All Hallows Eve in 1517 started a movement—and a schism—with a hammer and nail as he posted his complaints on the door of his church building. Nor do they fully identify with Calvin, Knox, and Zwingli, Luther’s contemporaries. These Reformers nailed down faith by grace alone, but ultimately they kept the practice of infant baptism and a hierarchical church polity.

Methodists technically didn’t “protest” the Catholic Church. They withdrew from the Anglican Church, which was formed by Henry VIII because the Pope refused him permission to divorce and remarry—and remarry—and remarry. About 200 years later, Anglican priest John Wesley got saved and unintentionally started another movement. Not really a protest.

But in our day, the denominations that cite these Reformers as their antecedents are called Protestants. Mainline Protestants in America are Lutheran (of various types), Presbyterian (mostly PCUSA), United Church of Christ, Episcopalian (ECUS), United

Methodist, American Baptist, and a couple of others.

We Southern Baptists never considered ourselves Mainline. But are we Protestants?

The reason this is important today was underscored at the symposium on “SBC in the 21st Century” hosted by Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in September. All the presenters—mostly seminary presidents and leading SBC thinkers and pastors—referenced the current cultural decline and the need for Southern Baptists to take biblical stands against it.

David Dockery, former president of Union University and now head of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in metro Chicago, masterfully explained the shifts in Southern Baptists’ relationship to the prevailing culture.

He recited the SBC’s history as a series of six generations starting with its founding in 1845, each delineated by the death of some significant SBC figure. The period from 1950 to 1980 was one of expansion and accommodation, as the SBC grew dramatically and surpassed the Methodists to become the largest “Protestant” denomination in the U.S. The period was marked by movement toward the mainline, as downhome Southern Baptists moved up in the world. For a while, it was cool to be Baptist.

Dockery described how our cultural accommodation resulted in theological drift, identity crisis, and the Conservative Resurgence, intended to stop liberalization of the denomination. From that time, the SBC and society-at-large began moving in opposite directions. Here, 35 years later, we find ourselves on the fringe again, decrying moral decay and building battlements to preserve what remains of our religious liberty. Perhaps my friend is right. Out here on the edge, we are not served well by the label “Protestant.” As applied to people and churches today, Protestant has lost its theological meaning. By it we are lumped in with those who have surrendered their doctrinal standards for the sake of cultural acceptance.

Perhaps we should consider ourselves simply “Baptist.”

Eric Reed is editor of the Illinois Baptist.

fresh ideas

Outreach to women: 7 planning tips

Are you planning a women’s event at your church—a retreat, luncheon, conference, mission project, or weekly ministry? Try these tips to create exciting, God-honoring pizzazz: Generate buzz. Give the event a great title or theme. Do excellent promotion, using social media, quality graphics, e-mail, website, and your church’s exterior sign.

Prior to the event, assign your friendliest ladies to worship exit doors to personally give a printed invitation to each woman. Even better, give them two invitations, so they can bring a friend.

Recruit a planning team, including new people of varying ages, to handle major assignments like program, décor, publicity, tickets, or table hostesses. After an initial meeting, each one recruits her own separate, large crew to accomplish a specific assignment with excellence.

Create the unexpected. Strive for, “Oh, you’ve got to see this!” Brainstorm your theme to make one thing very memorable: a gorgeous entry, a surprise guest, unique décor, or an amazing dessert.

Make a private, minute-by-minute schedule for leaders, assuring the event begins and ends precisely on time. Most announcements are printed in the program to avoid drag. Although flow is meticulously planned and implemented, the mood is relaxed, with plenty of fellowship before and afterward.

Be purposeful. Plan every detail to glorify God and make Him known. The focus isn’t on entertaining current members or cheering planners or performers, but on Him. Convince church members to joyfully bring many, many unchurched friends.

Build friendships. Train every church member to act as a hostess, and to befriend newcomers. Assure that every guest leaves with several new friends. God will use those friendships to introduce her to His grace because your members are radically intentional. Plan ahead so ladies leave with something memorable in their hands. A separate creative team could craft handmade bookmarks or keepsakes to fit the theme.

Add pizzazz and joy to your upcoming event. Ladies outside your church are waiting to be invited. They’re dying to know your Savior.

© 2015 Diana Davis is an author, columnist and minister’s wife.

Following the evangelism conference, Pastor Doug adapted a more aggressive missional posture.

REFORMER #1 – October 31 was Reformation Day, 498 years after Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses to the Wittenburg Church door.

With the lord

in THE ZONE

Meet: Dale Davenport Zone Consultant

Zone: 1 (Chicago Metro Baptist Association). Dale is working in Zone 1 alongside fellow consultant Steven Glover.

Michael Barnes, senior pastor of Meadow Heights Baptist Church in Collinsville, died October 7 in his home. He earned a Masters of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and he loved teaching and preaching God’s Word. He was also an active member and secretary of the Collinsville Area Ministerial Alliance, and a member and prayer group leader of the Metro East Baptist Association.

Barnes is survived by his wife, Michelle Lynn, and his daughter, Hannah.

Birthplace: McLeansboro, Ill.

Family: He and his wife, Sharon, have been married 45 years. They have three sons who live in Chicago: Phillip, Andrew, who is married to Michelle, and Marcus.

Years in Illinois: Dale is a native of Illinois.

Places you’ve served here: Tabernacle Baptist, Decatur, as youth and education minister and senior associate pastor; Second Baptist, Marion, as music and youth minister; Hillcrest Baptist, Country Club Hills, as pastor; IBSA as director of education.

What makes your zone unique?

Chicagoland is like the world. People of all races and backgrounds are here. We as Christians must break down the barriers of the world and live like Christ. The challenge as believers is to be obedient to the Lord.

Favorite restaurants in your zone?

Psiteria Greek, Nookies, Cozy Corner Diner

IBSA zone consultants work with directors of missions and churches across the state. www.IBSA.org/zone

NeTworkiNg

Central City Baptist Church in Centralia is searching for a pastor. Please be in prayer for our church. For more information, see the IBSA Church Openings at www.IBSA.org. Send resumes to resumes@ centralcitybaptistchurch.org.

Mitch Barnes

Mitch Barnes, 56, died October 15 in Nashville, Tenn., following a yearlong battle with cancer. Barnes was a graduate of Judson University and served 25 years as worship pastor of Brainard Avenue Baptist Church in the Chicago suburb of Countryside, before relocating to Nashville a couple of years ago. His wife, Rose, two children, and their families survive him.

Arnold Peterson

Arnold Peterson died September 24 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He received a Masters of Divinity from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1969, and a Doctorate of Ministry from the same school in 1983. Peterson served as lead pastor of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon from 1991-2004, following 18 years as an IMB missionary in South Korea. Before retiring to Texas in 2010, he pastored two churches in Nebraska and Iowa.

Peterson is survived by his wife, Barbara, and three sons.

Send NetworkiNg items to AndreaHammond@IBSA.org

State Park Baptist Church is seeking a bivocational pastor. Contact Tommy French at (618) 345-1961 for more information, or send resumes to State Park Baptist Church, 3220 Harvard Plaza, Collinsville, IL 62234.

Annie Hopson

Annie Hopson, former first lady of Broadview Missionary Baptist Church, died in early October. At Broadview, she served alongside her husband, Pastor Clarence Hopson, for 35 years. Mrs. Hopson gave her life to Christ at an early age and was known as a strong, faithful woman who made many sacrifices over the years for her family. Her obituary also noted that she displayed great courage in her career life—a true leader who stood up for honesty and fairness, “a virtuous woman in every season of her life.”

She is survived by her husband, five children, seven grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Charles Bryan

Charles Bryan, 71, of Centralia, died October 20. A native of Illinois, Bryan worked as a railroad machinist for 50 years and as a minister for 40, serving most recently at Richview Missionary Baptist Church.

He is survived by two children, nine grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Patricia Peetoom

Patricia Lou (Harris) Peetoom, 84, of Carlinville, died October 21. A native of Oklahoma, she married Victor Peetoom in 1950. The couple lived in Oklahoma and Kentucky before moving to Illinois, where he served churches in Bolingbrook, Alton and Charleston. They moved to Carlinville in 1990 where Victor served as director of missions for Macoupin Baptist Association.

Patricia Peetoom is survived by her husband, four children, seven grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.

people

Welcome

West Gate Baptist Church in Trenton welcomed David Clay September 1 as youth director. Pastor Clay has a Masters of Divinity in Christian Ministry and a Bachelor of Science in Economics. His primary focus will be students in grades 7-12.

Tracy Wayne Jaggers has joined Gateway Baptist Association as director of missions. Dr. Jaggers previously served as Church Development Associate for a Baptist association in Texas. He has degrees in music, religious education and theology, and has served as senior pastor, associate pastor, youth pastor, and education minister at churches in Texas, Mississippi, and Colorado. He is husband to wife Lorna, a father of five, and a proud grandfather.

Anniversaries

Metro Peoria Baptist Association celebrated its 50th anniversary October 4. “Ironically,” said Director of Missions Joe Gardner, “it was the exact day, Oct. 4, 1965, that the association was founded.” During the celebration, former DOM Gerald Steffy recounted the formation of the association, original churches were recognized and presented with a plaque, and those who attended the association’s very first annual meeting received an “I was there” ribbon. Music was led by Anita Delgado from Dayton Avenue Baptist, with special music from Park Avenue Baptist and a group called “The Songbirds.” IBSA Executive Director Nate Adams was the keynote speaker.

First Baptist Church of Albion is seeking a part-time/bivocational youth leader. The youth leader will lead students from grades 7-12 in a balanced ministry of discipleship and missions involvement. A nice parsonage is available as an option. For a job description or more details contact pastor Kirk Rowe at kirk.rowe@gmail.com

Chatham Baptist Church, Chatham, is seeking a fulltime minister of students and recreational outreach. Full job description and contact information are available at chathambaptist.org. Resumes should be sent to miltonbost@ comcast.net. Application deadline is December 2, 2015.

Zeigler First Baptist Church is seeking a part-time pastor. Resumes may be sent to Pastor Search Committee, First Baptist Church, 106 S. Pine St., Zeigler, IL 62999. E-mail resumes may be sent to Leuna Bagwell at fbzsecretary@mchsi.com.

Michael Barnes

dave says

Forcing little brother to grow up

QI’m having issues with my youngest brother. He’s 25, divorced and has two kids. He only wants to play dad when it’s convenient for him, and he’s very irresponsible with money as well. Our parents passed away a few years ago, and I worry about him. Any advice?

AOne of the bad things about these situations is watching people you love do stupid things to themselves and the people around them. I don’t know that there’s really a lot you can do without becoming the enemy to some degree. You can always try to hold him to a higher standard and refuse to tolerate immature behavior when you’re around him. You might even look for opportunities to use yourself as an example. Point out areas in your life where you made mistakes and how you fixed the problems. But to go out and directly intervene in his life, trying to force him to be a man, would be a tough thing.

You never know what might happen, and asking God for help is never a bad idea. Who knows? He might even start dating some strong, mature young woman who’ll jerk a knot in his tail and straighten him up!

Late fees

QOur family has an account at a movie rental store. I rented a movie the other day, and forgot to take it back on time. The late fees add up to $20. I’m in college and have a part-time job, so my parents think I should pay the late fees. They started the account, so shouldn’t they have to pay the fees?

EVENTS

November 4

Plant Chicago

What: Meeting to plan a strategy to start churches in the Chicago area

Where: Chicago Contact: DennisConner@IBSA.org

November 6-7

AWSOM Conference

What: AWSOM Conference for girls in grades 7-12. Where: IBSA Building, Springfield Contact: BarbTroeger@IBSA.org

November 10-11

IBSA Pastors’ Conference

What: Preaching and inspiration

Where: FBC Marion

Information: www.IBSA.org/PC2015

November 11

Minsters’ Wives

Luncheon

What: Training and encouragement for ministers’ wives

Where: FBC Marion

Contact: Judy Taylor, (618) 499-0069

November 13-14

Equipped

What: Leadership development for children’s missions leaders

Where: Lake Sallateeska Baptist Camp, Pinckneyville Register: www.IBSA.org/Kids

Contact: BarbTroeger@IBSA.org

DAVE RAMSEY

When I help people on my show, I have the benefit of them calling in and actually looking to me for help. These people actually care about what I think. I don’t just walk up to folks and say, “You know, what you’re doing there is really stupid. Let me fix you.” I think that’s kind of the situation you’re in right now. I would also begin to pray for him, and ask God to bring people into his life who will have a positive impact.

ATechnically, I’m sure your parents are responsible for the account. But think about this. You’re the one who rented the movie and forgot to take it back on time. If you have a job and access to money, I think you should be the one to make things right. Chalk this one up as a learning experience. If you’re grown up enough to be in college and have a job, then you’re grown up enough to start cleaning up your own messes. That’s the way life works. It doesn’t mean that your parents don’t love you. In fact, it means that they love you enough to teach you a valuable lesson in responsibility!

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

November 11-12

IBSA Annual Meeting

What: The 109th IBSA Annual Meeting will feature the annual sermon by Bob Dickerson, pastor, FBC Marion

Where: FBC Marion

Information: www.IBSA.org/IBSA2015

Contact: SandyBarnard@IBSA.org

November 29-December 6

Lottie Moon

Christmas Offering

What: Week of Prayer for International Missions, IMB missions studies, & offering Information: www.IMB.org

Worldview Conference

Biblical Training for Today’s Culture

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Village Church of Barrington | 1600 E. Main St., Barrington, IL 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM

Featuring

Dr. Wayne Grudem

Dr. Grudem is Research Professor of Theology and Biblical Studies at Phoenix Seminary in Arizona and taught at

What is the WAR on poverty?

Should Christians get involved in politics?

What is the biblical purpose of government?

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

First Baptist Church, Le Roy, seeks a bivocational pastor who supports the Cooperative Program and embraces The Baptist Faith & Message (2000). Send resumes to:

Pastor Search Committee, First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 21, Le Roy, IL 61752.

Salem Baptist Church, Florissant, Missouri, is seeking a bivocational/ full-time pastor, in agreement with Baptist Faith & Message (2000).

Preferred pastoral experience, some seminary. Contact Pastor Search Committee at Salem Baptist Church, 19715 Old Jamestown Road, Florissant, MO, 63034-1125 or e-mail georgetripp09@gmail.com.

Should judges and the courts hold the ultimate power in a nation? Does the Bible support some form of democracy?

What does the Bible teach about social ethics?

Does Scripture REQUIRE cultural engagement?

What is the free market system?

i lead

The “I” in leadership

Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of columns following IBSA’s leadership development process.

“Have you had your Sabbath this week?”

That question, posed by a mentor of mine, had a disappointing answer. At that point in my ministry, I was in the habit of not taking a day off. It was all too easy to schedule appointments on what was supposed to be a rest day.

Cultivating a good work ethic is important, of course, but my inability to take a day off probably came more from pride, self-righteousness, and a feeling that I was working harder than everyone else.

Church needed here...

Location: Galesburg/Monmouth

Reaching: Congolese peoples

Characteristics: There is a growing population of French-speaking African people relocating to this area. Many have a Christian background.

Prayer needs: Pray for bilingual laborers, men and women who can bridge the gap for us to begin Bible studies and, possibly, a new church.

inspirations

JOHN YI

I led others in my church and community to follow God’s Word—which includes explicit instruction to rest (see Exodus 20:8). But I failed in the area of self-leadership. Unfortunately, the first phase of leadership is often the easiest to overlook.

Fortunately for me, I had a mentor who could challenge me to take another look at a neglected part of my personal life. Your area of struggle may not be taking a Sabbath. Maybe it’s your physical health. Or a frayed relationship with someone in your family or church. Maybe you have trouble setting aside time for your own relationship with the Lord.

Whatever the difficulty, leading yourself well is crucial if you’re going to lead others.

It’s a paradox of sorts, because selfleadership actually isn’t a self-reliant activity. It requires a dependence on God and His Word, and an understanding of what he has called you to be and to do.

It’s far too easy for leaders to focus on making things look good for other people, and we may even choose a particular ministry to gain someone’s approval. But those who lead themselves well have a strong sense of how their leadership role fits into the larger picture of God’s purposes. And they’re willing to make the needed sacrifices to more closely mirror Christ’s model of servant leadership.

In my case, I found that being challenged to lead myself well helped me learn to lead others better in that particular area. If I notice someone saying “yes” too often to tasks, even though they’re good things, I need to help them evaluate a wiser course of action that will benefit them, their family, and ultimately, their ministry.

John Yi is IBSA’s 2nd Gen. Church Planting Catalyst, northeast region.

pinterest.com/illinoisBaptist

Cold Weather Outreach

Faith & Works

“. . . work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose” (Philippians 2:12c-13).

Coats cost a bundle.

It’s not just homeless people who need winter coats. Families with growing children could use some help with outerwear, and so could some of our elderly neighbors and church members. Collect new and gently used coats, new socks, and blankets in November. Make it part of your church’s Thanksgiving observance. Then distribute them in December at “New Coat Saturday.”

Spread the warmth of Christ’s love!

All-town Revival

Here’s a unique way to encourage spiritual awakening in your community. Invite local pastors to plan a sermon series together for the month of January. Plan a retreat to bring the pastors together. Choose a theme or a chapter of the Bible, then share your ideas for preaching. Study together and pray for each other’s churches. Then every pastor preaches in his own church.

Visit our Pinterest page for more ideas on outreach.

The Word of God reveals to us a mysterious divine-human partnership that is at work in and around us. The apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesian believers that we are “created in Christ Jesus for good works” (2:10). James declared that we are to be “doers of the word and not hearers only” (1:22). The biblical examples are obvious: Noah built the ark, then God closed the door. Moses held his rod over the Red Sea, then God parted the waters. Peter preached at Pentecost, then the Holy Spirit fell on the crowd.

In just a few days I look forward to seeing those of you who can attend the IBSA Annual Meeting. Our theme is Build Your Kingdom Here. We will hear from God’s Word, and we will pray for God to grow His kingdom throughout our state. We must then return to our places of service to be the hands and feet of God as we labor for Him.

This mysterious divine-human partnership is perhaps best illustrated by these words which have been attributed to various authors: “Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.”

PRAYER PROMPT: O God, help me to see you at work in the places where I serve. Let me not grow weary in doing good and miss the harvest that you are seeking to produce.

Odis Weaver is pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Plainfield and is currently serving as president of IBSA. Pastors are invited to join the online “IBSA Pastors’ Prayer Room” by e-mailing oweaver7307@gmail.com.