September 17, 2018 Illinois Baptist

Rainer will step down

Four SBC entities now in search of new leadership

Nashville, Tenn. | LifeWay Christian Resources President and CEO Thom S. Rainer announced Aug. 27 his plans to retire in the coming year. To provide adequate time for the search process for the next president and CEO and for a smooth transition, Rainer said he will serve until a new president is named or through the end of August 2019, whichever comes first.

“The past 13 years have been some of the most blessed years of my life,” Rainer told LifeWay trustees at their

As Illinois turns 200 in 2018, IBSA is seeking to engage at least 200 churches in each of these challenges. Is your church one of them?

Read more about these challenges and register your church for one or more at IBSA.org/Pioneering, or contact IBSA’s John Carruthers at (217) 391-3110 or JohnCarruthers@IBSA.org.

BICENTENNIAL MOMENT

Happy 200th Birthday, Illinois!

Celebrating our state and Baptist work across two centuries

This is Illinois’ first capitol building at Kaskaskia in a photo taken just before the Mississippi River swallowed it up. The capital was located there in 1818-1819, then moved to Vandalia for 20 years, before landing in Springfield in 1839.

the cooperative program

Giving by IBSA churches as of 9/07/18 $4,122,233

Budget Goal: $4,361,539

Received to date in 2017: $4,088,451

2018 Goal: $6.3 Million

The Illinois Baptist staff

Editor - Eric Reed

Managing Editor - Meredith Flynn

Graphic Designer - Kris Kell

Contributing Editor - Lisa Misner

Multimedia Journalist - Andrew Woodrow

Administrative Assistant - Leah Honnen

The general telephone number for IBSA is (217) 786-2600. For questions about subscriptions, articles, or upcoming events, contact the Illinois Baptist at (217) 391-3119 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.

NATE ADAMS

What really counts

Big birthdays have a way of getting our attention, as they should. Sometimes they even alarm us. Can my parents, or grandparents, really be 80? Am I really 50? Is my church really a hundred? Time really does seem to fly, whether you’re having fun or not.

And so maybe it snuck up on you that our home state turns 200 this year. One verse from the Illinois state song reminds us, “Eighteen-eighteen saw your founding, Illinois, Illinois.” Don’t worry, though, there’s still time to buy a gift. While the official seal of Illinois bears the date August 26, 1818, that was when the first state constitution was ratified. It wasn’t until December 3 that the U.S. government formally made Illinois the 21st state of the union.

And while the Illinois bicentennial may be receiving less fanfare than the national one back in 1976, this big birthday should still be getting our attention. There were only about 35,000 people in Illinois in 1818, but today there are at least 8.2 million who do not claim to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. These two hundred years have brought a lot of people into our state mission field, and our Great Commission challenge as churches here is now bigger than ever. That’s why we are embracing the Illinois bicentennial in our theme for this year’s IBSA Annual Meeting, “Pioneering Spirit – 200 and Counting.” As we now count two hundred years of statehood, we are also asking “what should we be counting?” and “what should really count?” today, if we are to have the same pioneering spirit as our Baptist forebears.

Beginning with last year’s annual meeting, IBSA has been challenging Illinois Baptist churches and leaders to join together and “count to 200” in four strategic, missional ways:

First, we have identified 200 places or people groups in Illinois where a new church is desperately needed. We are inviting churches to adopt one or more of those 200 by praying for them, or partnering with resources or volunteers, or actually sponsoring the plant as the mother church.

Second, we are praying for at least 200 churches that will seek to become more frequently baptizing churches, by setting annual baptism goals and equipping their members to intentionally have gospel conversations and participate in evangelistic events and mission trips. We are praying for churches that will set their sights on baptizing at least once a month, or more than their previous 3-year average.

Third, we are praying for at least 200 churches that will commit a specific percentage of their annual budgets to Cooperative Program missions, and then seek to increase that percentage annually toward 10% or more.

And finally, we are praying for at least 200 churches that will commit to intentional leadership development processes—not only for the pastor and current leaders, but also for tomorrow’s pastors, church planters, and missionaries.

You can learn more about these commitments, and register your church’s pledge to them, by visiting pioneeringspirit.org, or by calling John Carruthers at (217) 391-3110. There are currently 166 churches that have registered a commitment, and we are hoping to celebrate 200, in more ways than one, when we gather at First Baptist Maryville for the IBSA Annual Meeting.

Of course, some churches are fulfilling one or more of these challenges already. But for the overwhelming majority of IBSA churches, these challenges will be a major stretch. In fact, as our Annual Meeting theme suggests, moving beyond our status quo into these types of commitments will take a true “pioneering spirit.” It’s the kind of spirit that brought Baptist pioneers to Illinois more than 200 years ago.

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

Our Great Commission challenge as churches here is bigger than ever.

FROM THE FRONT: FOUR SBC ENTITIES SEARCH FOR NEXT LEADERS

Continued from page 1

August 27-28 meeting. “I love LifeWay and the incredible men and women who serve the Lord with joy and hard work, while equipping the church for her mission of making disciples.”

With Rainer’s announcement, LifeWay joins the International Mission Board (IMB), Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and the SBC Executive Committee as Southern Baptist entities with presidential openings. IMB President David Platt asked his trustee board in February to begin looking for his replacement; after his tenure, Platt will continue to serve as teaching pastor at Maclean Bible Church in Virginia, a position he currently holds.

Southwestern Seminary trustees moved President Paige Patterson into an emeritus role and then terminated him in May, following months of controversy over statements he made about domestic violence and the physical appearance of women, and his alleged mishandling of sexual assault allegations while president of Southeastern Seminary. Former Executive Committee President Frank Page resigned in March, citing a “personal failing.”

Rainer’s retirement announcement was made amid more hopeful circumstances, with the outgoing president, 63, telling trustees he made the decision to retire with the firm conviction it was time for his departure.

“It is time to pass the baton of leadership to a new generation,” Rainer said. “The next president will lead an organization poised for a great future. Though it will come with challenges, I have never been more excited about the future of LifeWay.”

Rainer became the ninth president of the Southern Baptist entity in Feb. 2006. During his tenure, LifeWay saw five consecutive years of growth in ongoing curriculum after nearly 30 years of decline. Helping fuel the growth is group Bible study The Gospel Project, which engages more than 1.5 million weekly users.

He also oversaw the sale of LifeWay’s former campus and relocation to a new site in downtown Nashville, and the expansion of LifeWay’s worldwide reach through LifeWay Global, which last year distributed resources to 164 of the world’s 195 countries, reaching more than 4 million people.

As for future plans, Rainer said he strongly desires to dedicate the next phase of his life to making a contribution to the revitalization of churches. He said he is planning to begin a nonprofit organization called Revitalize Network to help churches grow healthier.

He also plans to maximize his time with family in retirement. “I love my family and am looking forward to having more flexibility to spend time with them,” he said. Rainer and his wife, Nellie Jo, have three sons and daughters-in-law and 10 grandchildren.

As LifeWay begins its search for its next president, committees for the other three entities are already in the search process. Two Illinois Baptists are included on the committees: Adron Robinson, pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Country Club Hills, is vice chairman of the Executive Committee search team, while Denise Ewing of First Baptist Church, Winthrop Harbor, is serving on Southwestern Seminary’s presidential search committee.

– From Baptist Press reports

‘Social justice’ statement spurs debate

A statement opposing the “social justice” movement in the church earned more than 7,000 signatures online within a week of its posting. The statement, whose lead signatory is author and theologian John MacArthur, affirms that “lectures on social issues” in the church and “activism aimed at reshaping the wider culture” “tend to become distractions that inevitably lead to departures from the gospel.”

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr., who did not sign the statement, told Baptist Press that while he would have changed some of the wording, he agreed with many of its concerns. The statement “could be a helpful part” of an ongoing conversation among evangelicals about “the relative priority of social concerns,” Mohler said.

Kelley preaches on ‘the Baptist blues’

Chuck Kelley didn’t use the terminology “social justice” in his convocation sermon Aug. 21, but the president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary seemed to touch on similar concerns as those expressed in a statement signed by thousands of Christians. Kelley’s sermon referenced declining churches, leaders resigning over moral failures, and the SBC’s engagement of the #metoo crisis as symptoms of what he termed “the Baptist blues.”

KELLEY

Speaking on #metoo, Kelley said it became a dominant conversation in the SBC, “leading to the biggest mess the SBC has seen in a very long time: the internal controversy at Southwestern Seminary.” Kelley’s brother-inlaw, former Southwestern President Paige Patterson, was terminated from the seminary over controversial comments and alleged mishandling of sexual assault allegations.

Kelley later told Baptist Press the sermon wasn’t an attack on anyone, but an attempt to foster unity by getting “conversation on the table.” – Baptist Press

RELOCATED – LifeWay Christian Resources President Thom Rainer, who has announced his intention to retire next year, led the organization’s move to a new facility in downtown Nashville.

Board honors Barnard on planned retirement

Also elects new officers and approves 2019 budget

Springfield

|

The Sept. 11 meeting of the IBSA Board of Directors wasn’t an average board meeting. The usual business took place—budgets were discussed, and new officers were voted in. But something else happened: Sandy Barnard, executive administrative assistant, was honored for serving IBSA and its churches for 33 years.

Barnard, who will retire in January 2019, works closely with the Board, organizing meetings for its committees and the full board, coordinating between officers and members, and many other tasks. This was her final meeting with the full Board, which does not meet again until March 2019. She was given time to address the members and honored with a luncheon after the meeting.

Barnard joked about the things she won’t miss about the job, then got choked up. “People—that’s what I’ll miss most,” said Barnard. “I feel like I know you because you attend these meetings. I enjoy knowing your favorite topic to talk about. For most of us it is family…I’ll miss you. I thank God that I’ve gotten to know you.”

Barnard spoke about the changes she’s seen across more than three decades. “I started here in 1985 with Rick Heironimus in Church Training. I’ve been here in times of service for six executive directors and two interims.” She concluded she didn’t want to have to “train” another one.

Barnard will also be recognized for her years of service at the IBSA Annual Meeting in November.

• Pastor Evangelism Network includes 30 pastors in all 10 zones.

• The IBSA finances and budget are strong despite flat income.

In other business matters, the board voted to:

• Elect a new slate of officers. They are Robert Dickerson, chairman; Roger Marshall, vice chairman; and Jeanette Cloyd, secretary.

Executive Director report

IBSA Executive Director Nate Adams presented his report to the Board, updating them on the progress of the Pioneering Spirit Challenge, an emphasis on church planting, evangelism, missions giving, and leadership development that was unveiled at last year’s Annual Meeting.

“The Pioneering Spirit Challenge is not just a fad, it’s not just a campaign; it’s a way of us saying, ‘Churches please engage with us,’” Adams said. The initiative focuses on Illinois’ bicentennial and the pioneering spirit of the state’s early settlers. It asks today’s churches to evoke that spirit by going new places, engaging new people, making new sacrifices, and developing new leaders. To date, 166 churches have accepted one or more of the four challenges. The theme will be renewed at the 2018 IBSA Annual Meeting.

Adams also noted:

• The launch in June of the new mobile friendly IBSA.org website and Resource Center.

• The Evangelical Press Association (EPA) again named the Illinois Baptist the number one Christian newspaper.

• “Everyone Hears,” a new relational evangelistic outreach method, is in eight churches in seven locations, with at least one church plant as a result.

• Approve an overspend in the Church Cooperation Team of $31,000. It included a fee to the building manager for bringing in an extra tenant, a change in when a premium is due to Brotherhood Mutual Insurance, and an unexpected repair to the air conditioning system.

• Reduce the BFI (Baptist Foundation of Illinois) 2019 subsidy to $18,000 due to the Foundation’s increased income.

• Recommend the 2019 IBSA budget be sent to messengers for a vote at the 2018 IBSA Annual Meeting. The 2019 budget of $8,589,150 is a decrease of $109,756 from 2018. The CP ratio is unchanged from the previous year with 56.5% remaining in Illinois and 43.5% sent to the SBC Executive Committee for the Cooperative Program.

STANDING

FLOWERS FOR THE LADY – IBSA Executive Director Nate Adams stands with Sandy Barnard and her husband, Mike. The Board held a luncheon in her honor following its September 12 meeting.

THANK YOU – Exiting Board members were given plaques featuring Illinois bicentennial stamps from the U.S. Postal Service to thank them for their service:

(L-R) Rodney Groff, Kirk Rowe, Mark Davis (Chairman), and George Goeddy. Not pictured: Cliff Easter (Vice Chair) and Vickie Munton.

Affiliating with IBSA

The following churches have applied for affiliation with the Illinois Baptist State Association. They will be presented for a vote at the 2018 IBSA Annual Meeting November 7-8.

Collinsville Community Church

First, Orion Garden of Peace, Park Forest Grace, Metropolis Harvest Bible Chapel, DeKalb Iglesia Bautista El Calvario, Elgin

New Light Evangelical, Chicago

New Zion, Rockford

Real Church, Chicago

Redemption Hour Ministries, Romeoville

Vietnamese Grace, Rockford

O. – The IBSA Board of Directors gives Sandy Barnard, executive administrative assistant, a standing ovation honoring her for 33 years of service. Barnard retires in January 2019.

November 7-8

Annual Meeting set

Inspired by Illinois’ bicentennial

Disaster Relief

Midwest teams ready for Florence

Leaders meet while ‘monster storm’ aims at Carolinas

Chatham | While hurricane Florence churned in the Atlantic, choosing a target on the east coast of the United States, more than 80 Southern Baptist Disaster Relief leaders from the Midwest were meeting in Illinois.

Sam Porter, national director of Disaster Relief, reported on preparations being made ahead of the hurricane’s projected landfall. It was estimated at the time that displaced people in the wake of Florence would require 75,000 meals per day for 40 days.

In addition to providing work teams to assist overwhelmed homeowners with flood recovery, Illinois has a shower unit and a laundry unit to give them a means to clean up. But for Southern Baptists, the best opportunity crisis brings is spiritual openness.

“Chaplaincy is not just about evangelism,” said Larry Randolf, a leader from Ohio. “It’s about counseling, comforting, and using the gifts that God has given us.” Chaplains are onsite to share the gospel and offer resources on suicide and depression.

Maryville | The Illinois territory became a state in 1818. Now 200 years old, the bicentennial of statehood serves to inspire IBSA’s 2018 Annual Meeting. With the theme “200 & Counting,” the meeting will focus on the Pioneering Spirit commitments made by IBSA churches since the emphasis was unveiled at the 2017 meeting.

The yearly gathering, scheduled for November 7-8, will be hosted by First Baptist Church of Maryville. Tom Hufty, pastor of the host church, will bring the annual sermon, and IBSA President Adron Robinson, pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church in the Chicago suburb of Country Club Hills, will bring the president’s address.

Worship will be led by Sixteen Cities, a professional musical group comprised mostly of Southern Baptist worship pastors and leaders. And a special appearance by Abraham Lincoln is expected, in the person of Fritz Klein, well known in the Springfield area for his remarkable interpretation of the sixteenth president.

With the meeting’s “200” focus, IBSA Executive Director Nate Adams pointed out that the state’s bicentennial will be celebrated, but the real emphasis is the IBSA churches that accepted the challenges in church planting, evangelism, missions giving, and leadership development over the past year. The courageous spirit of Illinois’ pioneers is alive on the spiritual frontier today.

Dinner is available for IBSA Annual Meeting attenders on Wednesday evening. Tickets are $12; to reserve a meal, go to IBSAannualmeeting.org.

IBSA’s Dwayne Doyle, Administrative state director for Disaster Relief, said units from all states east of the Rockies are on standby. “We’re asking trained Illinois volunteers to check their availability over the coming weeks. We hope to send hundreds of volunteers to assist with this response. Though we don’t know where we’ll be going today, we know we will be going.” Doyle advised checking the website for team callouts at IBSA.org/DR.

All eyes were on Florence even as DR leaders from the Midwest gathered Sept. 10-11. More than 80 state and team leaders attended the Region 2 meeting held at Chatham Baptist Church. Six of the nine Baptist conventions in the region were represented.

One focus of the meeting was how to do follow-up ministries with homeowners after Disaster Relief leaves the scene. “Don’t overpromise anything to a homeowner,” Harold Booze of the assessor team advised the group. “Nevertheless, give specifics on what you know so the homeowner knows what to expect, and what to rely on.” For many people, the days immediately after a storm are the most uncertain, and the time when they are looking for answers that may be a long time coming.

Dale Patterson, a chainsaw team leader from Ohio, discussed how to retain volunteers, and Wayne Lankey from Illinois discussed the managing role of the “blue hats,” the site leaders identified by the color of their baseball caps. And Carol Stewart emphasized the need for chaplains and more male volunteers in childcare. Illinois DR regularly sends child care teams to keep children while their parents wait in lines for FEMA assistance.

“God’s power can be seen though the face of disaster,” said Sam Kelley, Disaster Relief director in Ohio. “And each of us have the opportunity to share that—to share God’s love to those that need it.

The IBSA Pastors’ Conference Nov. 6-7 will feature messages from four preachers on “Blazing New Trails.” The theme is from Rev. 2:1-5, which urges the early church at Ephesus to persevere in their commitment to Christ.

Urban church planting specialist Darryl Gaddy and St. Louis pastor Noah Oldham will join IBSA pastors Matt Crain and Ted Max as Pastors’ Conference speakers. The conference will also feature breakout sessions on racial unity, engaging cultures, and church planting, among other topics.

The Pastors’ Conference begins at 1 p.m. Tuesday at FBC Maryville and concludes at noon Wednesday, prior to the start of the IBSA Annual Meeting. Dinner is available onsite Tuesday for $10. To reserve a ticket, go to IBSAannualmeeting.org.

And a special preview of all the festivities, with times and locations, will be included in the October 8 issue of the Illinois Baptist

“You all need to be aware that a hurricane is coming,” he said of Florence, “and you may be called to help. So, remember again, to share of God’s power.”

– Andrew Woodrow

Second ‘GRAND’ Sunday set for Nov. 4

Last Easter, a statewide baptism emphasis resulted in more than 650 baptisms across Illinois. IBSA churches are invited to participate in a second “One GRAND Sunday” this fall.

The numerical goal of One GRAND Sunday is 1,000 baptisms on a single day. But the emphasis also keeps the call to share the gospel at the forefront for church leaders and members.

“The great thing is that it sparked a

fresh passion for evangelism across the state,” said Pat Pajak, IBSA’s associate executive director for evangelism.

Pajak helps connect churches with resources for evangelism training. For more information about available resources or One GRAND Sunday, contact him at (217) 391-3129 or PatPajak@IBSA.org, or go to IBSA. org/Evangelism.

Pinterest.com

SCRUBBING BUBBLES – Wrapped in handmade scrubs, bath soaps from FBC Albion are prepared for people in need after the hurricane.

Chicago churches to ‘Explore God’ in 2019

Next January and February, Chicagoland churches will help people in their communities answer some of life’s biggest questions. “Explore God Chicago” is a city-wide, non-denominational emphasis on training Christians to have spiritual conversations and clearly explain the gospel. Phil Miglioratti, IBSA’s prayer ministries consultant, is co-chairman for the emphasis set for January and February of next year.

Explore God Chicago is an initiative of Explore God, a team of content creators developing evangelism resources for individuals, small groups, churches, and cities. Resources are available at ExploreGod.com.

Every church that participates in Explore God Chicago in 2019 is asked to plan a 7-week sermon series around the emphasis. They’re also invited to one of five free launch events in September and October, featuring evangelist and author Mark Mittelberg. More information about the launch events is available at ExploreGodChicago.eventbrite.com.

“Explore God Chicago is an excellent opportunity for churches to join together in inviting their multiple communities to engage both the gospel and the local church during a focused period of time,” said IBSA Executive Director Nate Adams. “The resources are high quality and the strategy is wonderfully simple. I would encourage every local church to consider how they can participate in this city-wide effort.”

Donoho to retire from BCHFS

Mt. Vernon | Carla Donoho, who has served 33 years with Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services (BCHFS), will retire this year from her position as director of operations. Donoho leads Angles’ Cove, BCHFS’ pregnancy and maternity care ministry in Mt. Vernon. At Angels’ Cove, she has helped hundreds of young women navigate the challenges of pregnancy and early motherhood.

“Just yesterday I was able to hold a newborn infant in my arms and it reminded me those days will be in the past,” Donoho said of her upcoming transition into retirement. “Having no sisters or daughters, God brought hundreds of young ladies in my life and I’m thankful I still have contact with many of them.”

Over the years, she has also seen the massive investment of individuals and churches into BCHFS ministries. “The growth of my faith is without a doubt the most significant change in my life while being with BCHFS,” Donoho said. “Seeing God’s people respond to needs without even knowing the needs has received the title ‘God winks’ in our office. God’s provision is amazing!”

BCHFS will honor Donoho at a retirement celebration Oct. 20 at Crescent Lake Farm in Mt. Vernon. For more information, contact Deb Nelson or Pam Adams at (618) 242-4944 or angelscove@bchfs.com.

After lawsuit, almost home

Chicago church nears building purchase after dispute with city

Chicago | Illinois Baptist pastor Nathan Carter will be part of a panel discussion on the rights of churches Sept. 25 in Chicago. The discussion will focus on the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), a law designed to protect churches dealing with land usage and zoning issues.

Carter and his church, Immanuel Baptist, are well-versed in RLUIPA and the challenges of finding meeting space in the city. In 2016, they started the process of purchasing the building where they’ve met for several years. The city blocked the sale because Immanuel didn’t have the number of dedicated parking spaces required by Chicago’s zoning ordinance.

Immanuel eventually filed suit, claiming the zoning ordinance is a violation of RLUIPA. Mauck & Baker, the law firm representing the church, says the zoning ordinance imposes stricter guidelines on churches. (Other establishments in the neighborhood are allowed to utilize street parking.)

Now, two years later, the church is close to finalizing the building purchase. To help settle the dispute with the city, Immanuel agreed to lease a parking lot about a half-mile from their building. It’s unlikely anyone will use the parking spaces when attending the church, Carter said, because Immanuel uses street parking. But leasing the lot allows the church to abide by Chicago’s zoning ordinance and move for-

ward with the purchase.

“We’re excited about this!” Carter said. “And praising God.” His church is ready to hit the ground running with renovations to the building as soon as the sale is finalized. But their legal journey isn’t over yet. The city filed a motion to dismiss the case late last year, and they’re still waiting on the judge to rule. Depending on the verdict, Immanuel could have an opportunity to prevail in court, meaning the city would be required to pay their legal fees and damages. The case could also have implications for other churches struggling with the zoning ordinance.

The RLUIPA panel discussion is set for Sept. 25 at John Marshall Law School, Room 1200. Doors open at 6 p.m.; the event is 6:308 p.m. The discussion will include Carter and John Mauck of Mauck & Baker.

For more information, go to buildingfaith. eventbrite.com.

END IN SIGHT – Immanuel Baptist Church in Chicago is close to finalizing the purchase of the building they’ve met in for seven years. The church filed suit last year against the City of Chicago, claiming its zoning ordinance is unfair to churches.

DONOHO

INTERVENTION – Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission President Russell Moore prayed for pastor Nathan Carter and his Chicago congregation during the ERLC report at the 2017 Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix.

MISSION Learning to lead

Armed with resources, time, and friendship, IBSA zone consultants equip leaders across Illinois

BY MEREDITH FLYNN

Belleville | In a season meant for gratitude, Jason Vinson didn’t feel much. It was Thanksgiving when years of discouragement over his church led the pastor to the point he now calls rock bottom.

“Lord, this is not what I signed up for,” he prayed back then. “Please get somebody else. Can I have a way out? Would you please do something different, because this is killing me.”

For several years, Vinson and his church had faced internal challenges as they struggled to find effective ways to minister in their community. It was a lonely time, he said, a period when he questioned what God was doing, or whether he was working at all.

RHODES

Finally, in 2016, the church decided they needed a new start. They moved forward under a new name—Charis Baptist Fellowship—with Vinson still serving as pastor. He looked for partners to help his church, and found one in Larry Rhodes, an IBSA zone consultant in the Metro East region.

“We set a date to have lunch together, and heard the story of their church—the challenges they’ve been through, and how they met those challenges through prayer and fasting and consultation within their body,” Rhodes said.

“I was so excited to hear about how God was bringing healing and new life to that fellowship.”

RENEWED, REFOCUSED

With help from IBSA ministry specialists, Pastor Jason Vinson (pictured above with his children) and Charis Baptist Fellowship overcame challenges and are working to meet needs in their community of Collinsville.

To see more of their story, watch “IBSA was There” at missionillinois.org, part of the 2018 state missions story collection.

Connect the dots

MIO makes a difference

Alton | At Calvary Baptist Church, people are learning to share their faith in simple ways. Through those witnesses, people are coming to faith in Christ.

It’s what Pastor André Dobson calls “connecting the dots”—Christians learn to share their faith, those who hear the gospel and respond are saved, and God grows his church through the ministry of his people. At Calvary, evangelism training has played a key role. The church’s recent training process was led by Larry Rhodes, an IBSA zone consultant supported in part by giving to the Mission Illinois Offering.

Dobson wanted to help his people engage in evangelism, so he enlisted Rhodes to train them in the “3 Circles” strategy. Developed by Southern Baptist leaders, 3 Circles is a simple way to communicate the truths of the gospel within everyday conversations.

Rhodes led the training on a Sunday evening, and around 150 people showed up, Dobson said. Since then, the pastor has seen “aha moments” happening in his church—people who had been uncomfortable or inexperienced in sharing their faith now have the tools to do so readily.

It’s not too late to gather the offering. Visit missionIllinois.org for downloadable resources.

“People are coming to Christ because our people have been engaged to witness, simply because somebody took the time to say, ‘Here’s how you can do this,’” he said.

In April, Calvary baptized nine people on One GRAND Sunday, a statewide baptism emphasis that resulted in more than 650 baptisms. They’ve also been focused on small groups ministry, Dobson said, and have been able to start new groups this year, with more in the works.

One of Calvary’s leaders recently trained his group members in 3 Circles and then took the gospel—and a group of ready witnesses—to a local assisted living facility. They connected the dots, Dobson said.

“They were able to see, ‘This is what I need to do. Here’s how I can share the news that’s so important to me with others.’”

Continued from page 7

As a consultant in one of ten zones in Illinois, Rhodes connects resources and training with pastors, who in turn help their churches engage their communities with the gospel. In Vinson’s case, he first needed someone to listen.

The Mission Illinois Offering supports the ministry of zone consultants like Rhodes, who serves as a sounding board and resource for pastors and churches in Metro East St. Louis. Rhodes and his fellow consultants seek to serve on the front lines alongside churches that are seeking community transformation, through the power of the gospel.

“Just the fact that Larry really believed in us was incredible,” Vinson said. “He really believed that God had a good work here, that God wanted me to continue in the work here.”

The summer after their restart, Charis hosted two Bible clubs for children, using a kit provided by Rhodes through IBSA. They hosted the clubs in a local park and in a nearby trailer community with the help of visiting mission teams—partnerships Rhodes helped forge.

Charis has fostered the relationships built through the clubs in a new Sunday morning Bible study for children, and a bi-weekly family discipleship time where dads teach their children from God’s Word. Two years after God started something new in Belleville, he’s still on the move, Vinson said.

“There’s an excitement, a joy, and an expectation that God is at work in this place.”

Together in the trenches

Rhodes makes it a point to meet with each pastor in his zone, which includes the Gateway and Metro East Baptist Associations. (Local associations are networks of Baptist churches that often cooperate for ministry efforts like mission trips.) At those meetings, he wants to hear the pastor’s story, and help connect him with resources that can help the church in its big-picture mission.

For Calvary East St. Louis, that mission is to engage young people who have moved away from the church. “Our church started primarily with the concept of getting youth involved, getting them to know Christ, and keeping them involved and active in the process,” said Pastor Bermayne Jackson

Rhodes came alongside the young church with resources to fulfill their mission, including a Vacation Bible School (VBS) resource kit and an evangelism training resource called “3 Circles.” Calvary used both kits last summer, hosting VBS for kids and teaching “3 Circles” to their parents.

The value of their first VBS was to show the church they could do it, their pastor said, that even a small church can be very effective. “We can make an impact,” Jackson said. “We can change lives. And it doesn’t take a hundred, 200, or 300 people to do it.

“We’re a church that has 46 members on the books. Average attendance is 30 a Sunday. But we feel confident in the fact that we can go out and make changes in our community.”

Jackson is a bivocational pastor, spending his days working as a sales manager and his evenings and weekends at church. He’s surrounded by a great leadership team at Calvary, but acknowledges pastoring can be lonely. Friendship and encouragement from experienced leaders is a key factor in being able to stick with the mission.

“Personally, (I) get an increase in energy by knowing that you have a support system there,” Jackson said of relationships he’s built with Rhodes, others from IBSA, and leaders from his local network of churches, Metro East Association. “Sometimes (Larry) is talking, and he doesn’t know how much encouragement he’s giving to me.”

Rhodes knows how difficult it is for pastors to find time to meet with him, especially when so many are working at other jobs during the week, and balancing work, family, and church responsibilities. On top of all that, they want to see their communities transformed by the gospel.

“That’s why we’re here, to serve them, and resource them, and encourage them in ways that we can, to push back the lostness in our state, which is vast,” Rhodes said.

“It’s critically important that IBSA realizes the people ‘out in the trenches,’ as I like to say, are crucial to evangelism and to discipleship in the state of Illinois. We’re fighting an uphill battle all the way, but we’re still fighting, and we should.”

Here to help

André Dobson has pastored churches for 44 years. Still, he said, he needs people like Larry Rhodes to come alongside him and help him be better.

“He went out of his way to stop by the church to introduce himself and inform us about things happening with IBSA,” Dobson said. Rhodes also offered friendship. “It was really out of that relationship, knowing that here was someone that I could trust…that I asked him to begin to get involved in helping us as a church be able to minister in the way that we needed to.”

The long-time pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Alton is mindful of the DNA he’s building for the next generation of leaders at his church. He wants to establish strong, effective, meaningful practices in areas like worship, discipleship, and evangelism.

Armed with resources, zone consultants stand ready to help churches do more effective ministry in their communities. They also serve leaders like Dobson, who are deeply invested in seeing their congregations embrace the gospel and the call to share it. Because of their visibility and partnership with churches, zone consultants often serve as the faces of IBSA, Rhodes said.

“I don’t think this face ought to represent anything,” he said self-deprecatingly, “so I call it ‘boots on the ground.’ I think it’s a tremendous way to let our churches know that we’re here. That we’re here to help them. And we’re here because of them.”

Call to prayer

Please pray for IBSA’s zone consultants and the churches they serve. Pray for stronger churches across Illinois that can build up disciples and share Christ with lost people. Pray for the Mission Illinois Offering, that many more churches will support the annual collection for state missions, which helps fund the work of Larry Rhodes and IBSA’s other missionaries and ministry staff.

DOBSON

JACKSON

LEADING BY EXAMPLE – IBSA zone consultant Larry Rhodes draws from his years of experience as a worship leader and church staff member as he serves churches in Metro East St. Louis.

Harrisburg ministry makes room at the table

Churches combine efforts to meet needs, share Jesus in their community

BY ANDREW WOODROW

arrisburg is a tough place right now,” said Joe Thompson, an associate pastor at the southern Illinois town’s First Baptist Church. “We’re dealing with a lot of unemployment, food insecurity for children, and there’s just a lot of under-resourced people around us. And the churches are aware of that.”

Thompson’s rural community lies in one of the state’s poorest counties. There are limited resources and manpower to meet basic needs.

But that didn’t stop Thompson and his wife, Stacey, from trying.

In January 2017, the Thompsons launched a weekly community dinner at FBC Harrisburg. Since then, the couple has been overwhelmed by how quickly God has expanded the ministry, which they named His Table.

“When we asked God to show us if this is what he wanted us to do,” Joe said, “we had no idea he would answer so loudly.”

Meeting a major need

At 5 p.m. every Thursday, the doors open and diners of all ages start trickling into the fellowship hall at FBC Harrisburg. Young children find seats in the back corner. Older men and women, some who have brought babies along, sit at long tables. Volunteers bring them their food and, if time allows, stay to chat for a bit.

The His Table volunteers are a team of about 20 people, ranging in age from 14 to 92. They arrive mid-afternoon to prepare for the evening. One group makes sandwiches for the kids to last them until the end of the weekend, while another team packs meals to deliver to shut-ins who are unable to come to dinner.

When word initially spread about the dinner ministry, funds poured in from supporters and soon five other churches—Liberty, Saline, Dorrisville, Pankeyville, and McKinley Avenue—came alongside First Baptist to help. A restaurant and a local supermarket also committed to help with food provisions.

“One of our chief concerns about launching His Table was overestimating the need,” Thompson said. The worry was unfounded. At the first His Table dinner, the Thompsons served 10 meals.

Now, they see around 250 diners every week, and serve 350 meals.

“I’ve been coming since I first heard of this event,” one diner said. “My wife’s not here but this meal helps sustain us both for at least another night.” The man left that night carrying two more boxes of food to take to his bedridden wife.

“This sort of thing isn’t uncommon,” Thompson said. “These people are having to make decisions, ‘Do I pay this bill or do I eat this week?’ So to sit with people who have said their last meal was Thursday night and they’ve been waiting for Thursday night to come around again is heartbreaking.”

Thompson believes this is why the churches in the community are so eager to help.

“When you think about poverty, you don’t really think about it in your own community,” said Donnie Hughes, a volunteer from Pankeyville Baptist Church. “But it wasn’t until we saw what Joe was doing firsthand that awoke us to how great the need in our community was. And seeing children come into His Table by themselves with no parents really impacted us to get involved.”

More than a meal

“It’s not enough for people to leave here thinking ‘Boy, the spaghetti was good tonight,’” Thompson said. “If that’s all on their mind, then we’ve failed.”

His Table is meant to reflect God’s unforsaken love and compassion for his people, even amid their hardships. “Life’s pretty tough right now for these folks, but for us to be able to communicate redemptive truths to them is prayerfully and hopefully the impact we’re making,” Thompson said.

“For churches to understand the overall need, come together, and very selflessly understand that together we can pool our resources and manpower to meet the needs of the community—that is how the Church is effective.”

In time, he said, the team would like to start recovery programs and help provide jobs for people in the community. If those dreams come to fruition, the His Table team would have to find additional locations and resources. But Thompson isn’t worried.

“Ultimately,” he said, “we just want to be the Church sharing the love of Christ to the community. Just as much as Jesus did to his.”

See His Table volunteers from Harrisburg churches serve their community: vimeo.com/ibsa/histable

COMMUNITY OUTREACH – His Table volunteers from several local churches serve a free meal every Thursday to people in need. The ministry was founded by Joe and Stacey Thompson (right) of FBC Harrisburg.

October is Cooperative Program Month

New members and young Baptists need to know how our giving to Southern Baptist Missions works.

Considering the global gospel need, sending a small percentage of the local church’s weekly offering to SBC missions may seem like a drop in the bucket. But it’s much more!

Baptists in Illinois give about $6 million to Cooperative Program missions each year.

Where does it go?

43.5% goes to the national SBC for missions, church planting, and

56.5% is used in Illinois to grow churches, start new churches, and equip Baptists for missions, discipleship, and evangelism.

Here are the ministries CP supports:

56.5% IBSA

When your church gives a percentage of the weekly offering to missions through CP, the ripple effect is felt all over the world.

Share this information with your church. Download it in 8 x 11 and bulletin-size formats.

IBSA.org/CP

Pastor salaries not keeping pace

Survey notes declining benefits for church leaders, staff

Compensation for full-time Southern Baptist pastors and church staff has lagged behind the growth in the cost-of-living over the past two years. And health insurance coverage remains low, according to the 2018 SBC Church Compensation Study.

The biennial study is a joint project of state Baptist conventions, GuideStone Financial Resources, and LifeWay Christian Resources. Compensation and congregational data is collected anonymously from ministers and office/ custodial personnel of Southern Baptist churches and church-type missions.

According to the 2018 report, Southern Baptist churches spend an average of 51% of their budget on personnel expenses. That’s up from 47% in 2006. Compensation (salary plus housing) increased 3.8% for full-time Southern Baptist senior pastors over the last two years, 1.5% for full-time staff ministers, and 2.3% for full-time office personnel. However, the U.S. Department

of Labor’s Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) for the same two-year period increased 4.6%.

“After a period of very low inflation, the cost of living has moved closer to typical growth in consumer prices,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research. “Churches that are unable to reflect this in their wages will hurt their staff.”

Factors correlating with compensation for senior pastors include weekly church attendance, education level, and total years of experience. Larger churches tend to pay their pastors more, the study shows, and pastors with a bachelor’s degree earn an average of $5,681 more than similarly qualified pastors with no college education or an associate degree. Master’s and doctorate degrees correspond with compensation increases of $5,754 and $10,868, respectively, when compared to college graduates.

Years of experience also netted increased compensation, with pastors earning $358 more

for each additional year of experience in ministry. However, older pastors tend to make less. Each additional year of a pastor’s age compared to an otherwise similar individual is predictive of about $500 less in compensation.

Benefits declining

Overall, the growth in value of the entire pay package (salary, retirement, housing, and other benefits including insurance) for senior pastors was slightly under the pace of inflation. However, the growth in pay packages for full-time staff ministers and office personnel fell well below the pace of inflation.

“We have always endeavored to ensure churches take proper care of their staff,” said Greg Love, who provides leadership for the church retirement relationship team at GuideStone.

“A church can maximize its limited resources by implementing a sound, structured compensation plan and not a lump-sum payment. This enables the church to provide salaries and suitable benefits for workers and their families, including life and health coverage,” Love said. GuideStone provides many resources for churches seeking to establish, restructure or evaluate pay and benefit packages for ministers and other staff. The free resources can be found at GuideStone.org/CompensationPlanning.

The 2018 study found half of churches participating in the survey provide some amount of medical coverage for full-time senior pastors, the same as two years ago and down from 60% in 2014.

The 2018 online survey was open from February 1 to July 6, 2018. Data from 6,894 full-time SBC respondents is available at lifeway.com/compensationsurvey.

– From Baptist Press

Prayer planned for pastors in October

Some church members looking at the calendar saw Groundhog Day coming up and asked themselves, “If a groundhog can have its own day, shouldn’t our pastors?” So they started Pastor Appreciation Day in 1992. Since then, the day has grown to an entire month of celebration—not in February, but in October.

While churches may recognize their pastors in many different ways, the thing many pastors say they would appreciate is simply to pray for them.

During the month of October, the IBSA staff will lift up nearly 1,000 pastors and congregations in prayer, both individually and as a group. Pastors are welcome to share specific prayer requests at https://bit.ly/2PBcR9U, or by calling IBSA Church Relationships Manager John Carruthers at (217) 391-3110.

Based on recent interviews with IBSA pastors, here are five ways churches can support their pastor(s) in prayer.

1. Pray for wisdom. These men are confronted everyday with many decisions and they desire clarity from the Lord. Pray for God to supply them with his wisdom.

Proverbs 3:5-6

2. Pray for protection. Temptations and attacks come from many different angles and are continuous. Pray for God to protect the pastor from the enemy. I Peter 5:8

3. Pray for his family. Isolation, attacks, and bullying are very common for a pastor’s family to deal with. Pray protection around his family to avoid the fiery snares. Proverbs 12:22

4. Pray for financial pressures. Many pastors are underpaid and some live below the poverty level. They continue to serve joyfully through financial stress. Pray for God to provide not only basic needs but additional resources to provide for times of celebration and comfort. Philippians 4:19

5. Pray for gospel opportunities. Being a pastor can open up gospel conversations, or sometimes it can shut them down. Pray for the pastor to have friendships with unbelievers, and to have opportunity to share the gospel this week. Psalm 105:1

John Carruthers is IBSA’s Church Relationships Manager

culture watch

Watchdog group warns Trump’s evangelical advisors

A church-state watchdog group claims President Donald Trump’s meetings with evangelical leaders are illegal because they happen outside the full view of the public.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State sent a letter to White House officials claiming, “It is clear that the President’s Evangelical Advisory Board is doing substantive work with the Trump administration behind closed doors—without any sunlight for the public to understand how and why decisions are being made.”

The letter was also sent to Johnnie Moore, a former vice president at Liberty University who serves as the spokesperson for a group of evangelical advisors who worked with the President during his candidacy. Moore told The Washington Post that a faith advisory board does not exist for the current administration; rather it’s “slang language that has carried over from the campaign.”

Several Southern Baptists were included on the Trump campaign’s evangelical advisory board, including prominent pastors, two former SBC presidents, and a college president.

– The Washington Post, Religion News Service

Greear walks the line

One day after he attended a dinner for evangelical leaders at the White house, J.D. Greear tweeted a 136-word statement explaining why he was there. The statement noted that “witness in the public square requires some presence in it,” but reiterated Greear’s commitment to “decoupling the church from partisan politics.”

Some responders lauded Greear for his presence at the White House, others wondered how a leader who has seemed to distance himself from the current administration could attend the dinner. At least one Twitter user labeled Greear’s White House appearance “a betrayal.”

One responder encouraged Greear to forge his own path with a “you do you, man.”

The problem is that the current political climate makes it exceedingly difficult for anyone—especially someone serving as the face of a 16-million-member denomination—to just do the things that come naturally. These are loaded times, with every move and word the subject of close scrutiny, and, in many cases, cynicism from all sides.

It’s in this setting that Greear is attempting to walk a new road as SBC President. His stated commitment to disentangling the SBC from partisanship finds him in a different position from many of his predecessors. Former SBC Presidents Jack Graham and Ronnie Floyd have served on Trump’s informal

Bring your missions teams and church leadership to Missions Expo, an opportunity to develop a missions strategy for your church and explore short-term mission trips.

$10 registration fee includes lunch and resources

September 28-29, 2018

IBSA Building, Springfield

IBSA.org/Expo

November 4, 2018

IBSA churches baptized 657 people last spring on the first One GRAND Sunday. Will your church be part of the next challenge? Go to IBSA.org/Evangelism for more information and to register your church.

team of evangelical advisors and were at the White House dinner. Other Southern Baptist dinner guests, including FBC Dallas Pastor Robert Jeffress and Liberty University President Jerry Falwell, Jr., have been vocal supporters of Trump since his candidacy.

Greear described the struggle between competing values in a recent PBS interview.

“You’ve got to be present in the public square and you’ve got to be there to influence while you can,” he said. “You also can’t be co-opted by an administration.”

The vision is clear. It’s the “how” that seems daunting. As SBC President, Greear isn’t responsible for the political views of churches, or church members. He is, however, tasked with stewarding the SBC’s presence in the public square, and the way in which the denomination shines gospel-influenced light on the issues.

In the midst of the difficulty, here’s good news: That Greear is more public in his engagement of these issues than his predecessors presents an opportunity for Southern Baptists themselves to have important conversations about engagement in the public square, political involvement, and how the gospel transforms it all.

In this environment, we’ll see if Greear can be Greear.

– Meredith Flynn

Oct. 5 – Connection Community Church (Chicago – south)

Oct. 6 – Starting Point Community Church (Chicago – north)

Oct. 7 – Tabernacle Baptist Church (Decatur)

Oct. 7 – Marion Civic Center (Marion)

Nov. 11 – First Baptist Church of O’Fallon (Metro East)

Bring your youth group to IBSA’s annual evangelism event. Choose from 5 locations, all offering great music with Christian artists and the top speakers for teens in the country. This is a great opportunity to invite students who don’t know Jesus. Meet him at Youth Encounter 2018!

IBSA.org/YE2018

GREEAR

Three key words for success in ministry

I was pretty unruly the last weeks leading up to my retirement. In dealing with the loose ends and trying to find an acceptable closure to over 26 years of ministry, I was stressed and disagreeable at times. I was getting into trouble by saying some harsh things to family and friends and finding myself needing to ask for forgiveness. How often do we need to ask, “Please forgive me”?

Over the years, I have had to “walk back” several comments that were hurtful. Sometimes I tried unsuccessfully to make excuses about what I had meant, but when something mean comes out of the mouth, something mean must be in the heart. No amount of excuse-making will work toward healing in these situations. Rather, it’s time to admit wrongdoing and ask for forgiveness. You would think that as time goes on, a maturing Christian should be growing past some of these careless words and actions, but it seems that the devil never gives up working to trip us up!

While patience may be one of the more important of virtues required in a long-term ministry, asking for and offering forgiveness is a close second and surely related. By the grace of God, I have been able to re-constitute my relationship with some fellow church members over the years. Misunderstandings, differences of opinion, and handling (or mishandling) expectations often disrupt our relationships, but patient forgiveness helps us to reform and experience even stronger bonds with those individuals who may have become adversarial toward us at times.

I had an “old salt” come out the auditorium doors one Sunday morning early in my ministry. I had been his pastor for a good three years by this time. As I reached out to shake his hand, he bluntly declared, “Preacher, I was against calling you when you came, but I’m for you now!” I thought later how that would qualify him as a “late adopter!”

I wasn’t really aware of the man’s resistance to my leadership, but evidently, he was not fully on-board with it either. I was able to forgive that blunt remark, even forget about it and move on

with him in the following years of service together. Sometimes it is not so easy with others. I have been “dressed down” in auditorium confrontations, “roughed up” during church business meetings, and yes, there was also that unpleasant incident of “physical aggression” in my office long ago that left me asking myself what I had done to deserve such an angry reaction. These encounters take a lot of time, prayer, support from family and friends—and forgiveness—if there is to be healing.

When I read about Paul’s encounters, I think I had it easy. He suffered numerous angry reactions and many hardships throughout his ministry. He said to the Corinthian believers, “As servants of God, we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger…” (2 Corinthians 6:4-5). Paul never wanted to be a stumbling block or to have his service and

witness for Christ discredited by inappropriate responses. Neither should we!

Paul warns the Ephesians, “Watch the way you talk!” (4:29,32). Speaking in a “kind and forgiving” way should define us. Our speech should not be from a rancid, angry disposition, but rather, one that always expresses thoughtful consideration and patient preference of others.

One way we do this is to show kindness. We must learn to let go of things and forgive. In the Model Prayer, Jesus gives us the motivation: “And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us” (Matt. 6:11). We respond with forgiveness because we have been the recipients of God’s great forgiveness of our sins.

Have you discovered that an unforgiving spirit does more harm to us and our relationship with the Lord than it does to hurt others? My experience is that if we aren’t kind and don’t exercise forgiveness, we will be miserable in our spirit. God has taken me to the “woodshed” to discipline me more than a few times for grieving the Holy Spirit. I think it all comes down to this: It grieves God and breaks his heart when we have conflict in our relationships and use speech that does not build others up. The Holy Spirit is aggrieved by our harsh and unforgiving ways. When the Spirit isn’t happy, we’re not happy as a result.

Mike Keppler recently retired after 26 years as pastor of Springfield Southern Baptist Church.

Power to forgive

Read: Ephesians 4:30-32

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King once said, “We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.”

The practice of forgiveness is one of the most important disciplines of the Christian life. It is vital for the health of any relationship. But where do we find this power to forgive?

In Ephesians 4, the apostle Paul helps us to understand that all Christians have the power to forgive because of our new life in Christ. Since we have been adopted into the family of God and received the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, we now have God’s power residing in us.

But this power comes with new responsibilities. Although God sovereignly makes us new creatures, he also commands us in the strength of the Spirit to subdue, tame, and train our unredeemed flesh. When believers grieve the Holy Spirit, we are rebelling against God’s internal agent of righteousness.

The more we hold on to our hurts, anger, and bitterness, the more we become slaves to unforgiveness.

When we chose not to forgive, we harbor hate in our hearts, harm ourselves, and hinder our relationship with God. The old adage is true; holding on to unforgiveness is like you drinking poison, and hoping your enemy dies!

So Paul gives us a better model to follow, the example of Jesus: “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:31–32, ESV).

PRAYER PROMPT: Father, we thank you for the Holy Spirit, who has sealed us for the day of redemption. We thank you for Jesus Christ who forgave our sin and paid our penalty on the cross. Please help us to forgive one another as you have forgiven us.

Adron Robinson is pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Country Club Hills and president of the Illinois Baptist State Association.

ADRON ROBINSON

You might think it’s ‘I love you,’ but it’s not.

Peters marks 20th anniversary

people

With the Lord

Pastor Terry Pope died Sept. 8 at the age of 66. Pope, pastor of Sorento Southern Baptist Church, worked as a semitruck driver and gave his life to the Lord in retirement. He began serving as pastor at Sorento in 2013. He is survived by his wife, Glinda; four children; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

Welcome

Church baptizes seven

Passes halfway point for annual goal

First Baptist Church in Columbia celebrated 20 years of service from Pastor Jonathan Peters (above) during a special worship service Aug. 26. Peters, who also has served as president of IBSA, is a Chicago native who came to faith in Christ as a student at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

IBSA Executive Director Nate Adams presented Peters with a plaque and the congregation honored their pastor with a video. “He treats each and every day like it’s his first day,” the video said of Peters, “loving Jesus and loving the people of FBCC with all that he has.”

Carrier Mills | Pastor Ryan Beck and his church set a goal of 12 baptisms this year—10 more than they’ve ever had in a year, said the pastor of First Baptist Church in Carrier Mills.

After Aug. 19, they’re more than halfway there. The church celebrated seven baptisms during their Sunday morning worship service.

The surge in baptisms has resulted from an emphasis on relationships, Beck said,

and seizing opportunities like camps for kids and students. The church has also started a discipleship-focused Wednesday evening program called “GROW.”

Earlier this year, IBSA churches baptized more than 650 people during the statewide “One GRAND Sunday” emphasis (see page 5). For resources or to connect with IBSA’s evangelism team, go to IBSA.org/ Evangelism.

Chatham Baptist Church celebrates 50 years

Pankeyville Baptist Church in Harrisburg welcomed two new pastors in March when they called Donnie Hughes as pastor and Ernie Fowler as associate pastor. Hughes is serving in his first pastorate and was ordained by his church in April.

Fowler pastored Pankeyville from 1995 to 2008, and is returning to the church after pastoring FBC Muddy and New Burnside Baptist, both in Nashville, Ill.

CLASSIFIED AD

First Baptist Church Lake St. Louis, Mo., seeks a full-time senior pastor. Senior pastor experience is required. Please send resumes to pscfbclsl.org.

NeTworkiNg

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

Send NetworkiNg items to IllinoisBaptist@IBSA.org.

Stewart Street Baptist Church in Carmi seeks a bivocational pastor who is committed to preaching the word of God. Mail resumes to: Stewart Street Baptist Church, P.O. Box 158, Carmi, IL, 62821.

Faith Baptist Church in Marissa seeks a bivocational pastor Mail resumes to: 1225 Schoolview Dr., Marissa, IL 62257, or send to Pamela Welshans at pami_5@yahoo.com.

University Baptist Church in Charleston seeks a lead pastor Send resumes to: University Baptist Church, Attn: Pastor Search Committee, 2831 Whitetail Dr., Charleston, IL 62920, or to John Cabage at jvcabage@eiu.edu.

First Southern Baptist Church of Beardstown is seeking a fulltime pastor. Send resumes to: First Southern Baptist Church, Attn: Pastor Search Committee, 900 Grand Ave., Beardstown, IL 62618, or to Francis Wilson at klwilson@casscomm.com.

Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services is seeking a licensed mental health therapist to work on a contract basis at Pathways Counseling Center in Carmi. The candidate will be a Christian counselor with clinical experience working with individuals, groups, and families. BCHFS is also seeking a married couple to serve as relief houseparents in two boys’ cottages. Apply at BCHFS.com/employment.

NEW LIFE – Baptism candidates at FBC Carrier Mills Aug. 19 wore T-shirts referencing Romans 6:4: “Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life” (CSB).

THE FAMILY – Chatham Baptist Church commemorated its 50th anniversary Sept. 9 with a celebratory worship service. IBSA Executive Director Nate Adams presented Pastor Milton Bost with a plaque of recognition for the church, and former Chatham pastor Don Mayberry also addressed the congregation. Also part of the festivities was Baptist cartoonist Joe McKeever, who drew caricatures of many of those in attendance (with their permission), including IBSA’s Jeff Deasy and his wife, Kathy (left).

September 18

iConnect: IBSA/Pastors

Meet-Up

What: Introduction to IBSA staff, ministries, training, and opportunities, for pastors and church staff members

Where: IBSA Building, Springfield

Info: LindaDarden@IBSA.org

September 20-21

Women’s Ministry Essentials

What: Discipleship-focused training for new local church women’s ministry leaders

Where: IBSA Building, Springfield Register: IBSA.org/WomensEvents

September 21-23

Illinois Changers

What: Hands-on mission projects for students in grades 6-12

Where: Lake Sallateeska and Streator Baptist Camps

Cost: $50 per person

Register: IBSA.org/il-changerprojects-2018

September 28-29

Missions Expo

What: Get resources for developing a missions strategy and planning short-term mission trips

Where: IBSA Building, Springfield

Cost: $10 per person Register: IBSA.org/Expo

October 1-13

Cooperative Program Month

Resources: IBSA.org/CP

Youth Encounter

Oct. 5: Connection Community Church, Chicago

Oct. 6: Starting Point Community Church, Chicago

Oct. 7: Marion Civic Center

Oct. 7: Tabernacle Baptist Church, Decatur

Nov. 11: First Baptist Church, O’Fallon

What: Evangelistic opportunity for students featuring compelling teaching and inspiring worship Register: IBSA.org/YE2018

October 8-9

Pastors’ Prayer Retreat

What: Retreat includes hours of personal prayer time; optional activities include corporate worship and prayer training

Where: Lake Sallateeska and Streator

Cost: Free for pastors and church staff; $30 all others

Register: IBSA.org/LeadershipEvents

October 11-12

Chaplaincy Training Course

What: Training in C.I.S.M. (Critical Incident Stress Management)

Where: IBSA Building, Springfield

Cost: $50 per person Register: IBSA.org/CISMTraining

October 16

Training Night

What: Quality, free training in a variety of areas, including women’s ministry, men’s ministry, worship, students, children, small groups, and social media

Where: FBC Marion, 6-9 p.m. Register: IBSA.org/TrainingNight

October 19-20

Disaster Relief Training

What: New volunteers are required to take Disaster Relief 101 on Friday evening and Saturday; chaplaincy class begins Friday at 1 p.m.; specialty classes offered Saturday. Where: Lake Sallateeska Baptist Camp Register by Oct. 5: IBSA.org/DR

October 23-24

Leading on Empty

What: Free retreat for pastors; preregistration required

Where: Lake Sallateeska Baptist Camp Register: IBSA.org/LeadershipEvents

October 27

Kids Ministry Resource Conference

What: Tips for starting a new ministry or making an existing kids’ ministry more effective; plus, a sneak peek at VBS 2019

Where: IBSA Building, Springfield Register: IBSA.org/Kids

November 2-3

AWSOM

What: Discipleship-focused weekend for girls in grades 7-12

Where: IBSA Building, Springfield

Cost: $20 for IBSA-affiliated churches; $25 all others Register: IBSA.org/AWSOM

November 6-7

IBSA Pastors’ Conference

Theme: Blazing New Trails, from Rev. 2:1-5

Where: First Baptist Church, Maryville Info: IBSAannualmeeting.org

November 7-8

IBSA Annual Meeting

Theme: Pioneering Spirit: 200 & Counting

Where: First Baptist Church, Maryville Info: IBSAannualmeeting.org

dave says

Paying off credit cards

How do you feel about taking money out of savings to pay off credit cards?

A Q

I’m okay with this under two conditions. One is that you cut up the credit cards, close the accounts, and never use those things again. The second is that you don’t wipe out your savings in the process. Leave something in there, so you’re covered in the event of an emergency. Then, rebuild your savings as fast as possible once the debt is out of your way.

You have to understand, too, that credit cards aren’t the problem. The credit card debt isn’t the problem, either. They are just symptoms of buying things you don’t need, with money you don’t have, in order to impress people.

Take a long look in the mirror, because the person who’s looking back at you is the problem. Overspending, disorganization, not earning enough… whatever label you want to slap on this situation, you are the reason for the problem. Once you understand and accept that, and you start living on a budget and staying away from debt, you’ll have taken your first real steps toward financial peace!

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

DAVE RAMSEY

Need life insurance? Q

I’m 35, single, and I have no dependents. Do I need a life insurance policy?

AIn your situation, if you have enough cash saved up to pay your final expenses—and you don’t have any debt—there’s no reason for you to carry a life insurance policy. No one will be harmed financially by your death, and no one would be deprived of the income that would be lost if something unexpected happened to you. Even if you have a mortgage on a home, the house will normally sell for enough to pay off the mortgage.

However, if you have debt, or if you don’t have some money stashed away in savings, you might want to consider an inexpensive term life insurance policy. At your age, if you’re healthy, you can get $100,000 worth of coverage for just $10 to $15 a month.

Remember, you don’t buy insurance to leave an inheritance. You buy life insurance to make sure there’s enough money to take care of your family and final expenses. You wouldn’t want your parents or someone else having to foot the bill!

Exegete the culture

Understanding the world where we live and serve

Church needed here...

Location: Alhambra

Focus: Neighborhood residents

Characteristics: While residents of Alhambra pride themselves on their smalltown values, they also enjoy the spillover of a thriving metropolitan region. Located 35 miles east of downtown St. Louis, residents are only a 20-minute drive from major sporting events, shopping centers, and entertainment.

Prayer needs: A new church plant in Alhambra would be best served by a bivocational planter who understands (or seeks to understand) rural life in a small town.

– IBSA Church Planting Team

CONVENTIONAL WISDOM

Snapshots from the world of Illinois Baptists

The giving connection

69% of American churchgoers say God wants them to prosper financially, and many believe how God blesses them is linked to how they give.

To receive material blessings from God, I have to do something for God.

Campus life

Illinois has

925,000

116 students enrolled in

colleges and universities.

Pat’s Playbook

Examine your reasons

QMy kids changed denominations. Now they want me to. But I say once a Baptist, always a Baptist. Should I stick to my guns?

AYou need to look at the beliefs of the other denomination. Make sure you are a Baptist because of the teachings, methodologies, and practices of the SBC, not just because you’ve always been a Baptist. Rejoice that your children have found a place to worship and serve, but you may have to tell them you are exactly where God wants you, and in that case, stay where you are.

The Bible on cremation

QWhat does the Bible say about cremation? My husband wants it, but I’m not sure.

Disagree

26% 4%

Agree 26

Not sure 70%

My church teaches that if I give more money to my church and charities, God will bless me in return.

AIn I Samuel 31:8-13, Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle and the Philistines used their bodies for target practice. The men of Jabesh-Gilead recovered their bodies, cremated them, and buried their ashes. While that was an extreme case, I don’t know of any reason a believer cannot be cremated. Many soldiers and sailors have been buried at sea or killed in an explosion, and God will have no problem resurrecting them and giving them an eternal body.

Recognizing God’s work

QHow can we recognize those moments when God is leading, and we as a church need to be courageous and do something that looks risky?

38% 5%

Disagree

Not sure 57%

Agree 38

“A number of high-profile evangelical leaders have condemned the prosperity gospel. But more than a few people in the pews have embraced it.”

– Scott McConnell, LifeWay Research

Of those, are international students who come to study in the U.S.

15%

30,000 The number of students, both full-time and part-time, rose about in the decade ending in 2015.

But the number of Millennial-age freshmen who leave Illinois for college continues to grow. Compounding the problem, many of them never come back.

– U.S Department of Education, free4u.com, ncbchicago.com

AWhen lives are being transformed, people are coming to Christ, marriages are being restored, and members are committing to new avenues of service, it’s a God thing—not a man thing. When it happens, the church will recognize it is the Holy Spirit at work, and people may be led outside their comfort zones to take the risk of a mission trip, a new church plant, sharing their faith with strangers, or increasing their giving without being manipulated to do so.

Pat Pajak is IBSA’s associate executive director for evangelism. Send questions for Pat to Illinois Baptist@IBSA.org.

PAT PAJAK