September 1, 2020 Illinois Baptist

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Illinois Baptist

COVID-19 CASES INCREASE Limits return

Churches adapt fall plans

Illinois | Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced renewed restrictions in August for two regions due to a surge in cases of COVID-19. The Metro East region and Kankakee and Will Counties had three consecutive days of a testing positivity rate at or above 8%, triggering a return to stricter gathering limits and other mitigations.

Under the new restrictions, gatherings are limited to 25 people or 25% of overall room capacity, whichever is lower. The rest of the state is currently operating under guidelines for Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois reopening plan, which allows gatherings of up to 50 people.

At a press conference Aug. 17 in East St. Louis, Pritzker made no specific statements about churches. In late May, he relaxed restrictions on church gatherings and introduced

Church prays for suspect after blaze

Unusual season still had its special moments

Mission Illinois Offering & Week of Prayer

September 13-20, 2020

During our COVID-19 season, IBDR workers have delivered cleaning supplies and protective equipment across the state. And much of IBSA’s ministry has turned toward helping churches effectively face into new challenges. Illinois missions focuses on what’s needed now, as well as ministry for the future, such as church planting near the University of Chicago.

Read more inside. P. 8-9

NATE ADAMS Asking isn’t easy But it’s very important P. 2 CHURCH LEADERS Fall ministry challenge Pandemic’s long term impact P. 11
SIMMONS Bring ‘one’ to Christ Table Talk P. 14
SAMMY
Nonprofit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Peoria, Illinois Permit No. 325 News journal of the Illinois Baptist State Association SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 Vol. 114 No. 11 IllinoisBaptist.org IB
Summer reflections
P. 7 Related: A reset for small groups P. 12 Arson news
P. 3
BCHFS auction online P. 5 P. 3 Picture state missions and you might see Sharon Carty, an Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer assisting flood victims at a pop-up ministry center in Granite City.

CONVENTIONAL WISDOM

Snapshots from the world of Illinois Baptists

COPING STRATEGIES: Pew Research asked American adults what they do to cope with the global pandemic.

– Pew Research, Aug. 2020

CHURCH NEEDED HERE

Location: Archer Heights

Focus: Latino residents

Characteristics: Archer Heights is one of Chicago’s 77 official community areas and home to a population that is 75% Latino.

Prayer needs: Pray God will use a Southern Baptist church in Chicago to start a bilingual church in Archer Heights.

– IBSA Church Planting Team

Giving by IBSA churches as of 08/21/20

$3,466,896

Budget Goal: $3,984,615

Received to date in 2019: $3,603,190

2020 Goal: $6.3 Million

The Illinois Baptist staff

Editor - Eric Reed

Managing Editor - Meredith Flynn

Graphic Designer - Kris Kell

Contributing Editor - Lisa Misner

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 month by the Illinois Baptist State Association, 3085 Stevenson Drive, Springfield, Illinois 627034440. Subscriptions are free to Illinois Baptists. Subscribe online at IBSA.org.

Asking

One class I needed to take in college as part of my Communication Arts major was simply called Salesmanship. I learned a lot, mostly because the class was taught by an experienced sales executive who had retired from a large Chicago agency.

During one class, after what I thought had been one of my more persuasive presentations, that veteran professor just started shaking his head at me. “Not good?” I asked, looking for sympathy.

“Not bad. And yet worthless,” he replied. “You presented the product and its benefits just fine. But you never asked me for action.”

Asking is something that Jesus urged us to do, boldly. His half-brother James wrote under the Holy Spirit’s inspiration that we should ask for wisdom, ask in faith, and that we often don’t have simply because we don’t ask, or ask for the wrong reasons. Paul reminded the Ephesians, and us, that God can do immeasurably more than we ask.

Still, sometimes we’re hesitant to ask outright. Maybe it’s because we’re proud, or think it makes us look weak or needy. Maybe we don’t want to risk annoyance or presumption. Maybe we simply want to prove we can get what we need on our own.

And so with those reminders, and on behalf of all that is state missions in Illinois, it’s time for me to ask: Would you give a generous gift to the Mission Illinois Offering this year?

You can give through your church when it receives that special offering, usually in September. Or if your church doesn’t have a focus on state missions, you can give online at IBSA.org.

Will your church give to reach our Illinois mission field?

Usually I accompany that ask with stories of the churches that are being planted in Illinois, or the college campuses that are receiving ministry, or the evangelistic training, camps, and events that are taking place, or the missionaries and staff that are serving throughout the state.

All those things are true this year too. In fact, those missionaries and staff have been busier than ever this year, adapting to the special needs of churches during the pandemic and creating dozens of new webinars, online town halls, and virtual resources. By mid-year, our IBSA staff had directly engaged as many churches as we did all the previous year. And now as churches resume meeting, we are pivoting again to requests for church revitalization, pastor search assistance, and a host of new training and consultation needs.

But this year those things are happening under some special financial pressures. Some churches are struggling or facing uncertainties due to the pandemic, and this has affected Cooperative Program giving. Maintaining our two IBSA camps this summer while being unable to host guests has been expensive. And outside funding that was previously provided by LifeWay has been discontinued as that national partner adjusts to economic conditions.

Together, these and other factors add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. This year more than perhaps any other, it will be up to Illinois Baptists to fund their own state missions efforts.

So, on behalf of our missionaries and staff, and on behalf of the Illinois mission field that we share as Illinois Baptists, I’m asking. First, I’m asking the Lord, because he has always faithfully provided for our needs, and I know he will do so again. And then I’m asking churches to give their people an opportunity to give to state missions by receiving the Mission Illinois Offering this fall. And yes, I’m asking for the generosity of every Illinois Baptist who believes that this Land of Lincoln is a mission field, and that our network of churches has a responsibility to deliver the gospel here. Thanks for letting me ask.

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

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Watch TV or movies Phone/videoconference with friends, family Exercise Pray Read scripture Meditate Spend time outdoors Yoga 89% 84% 70% 64% 55% 29% 26% 8%

From the front: RESTRICTIONS RENEWED

Continued from page 1

guidance for houses of worship from the Illinois Department of Public Health. The guidance encouraged churches to follow current gathering limits, but also recommended capacity limits when they cannot be followed.

Many IBSA churches are holding multiple smaller services to allow for social distancing, and streaming services online for worshipers at home.

Calvary Baptist Church in Alton returned to inperson worship in mid-June with five services per weekend. The church had planned to relaunch Sunday school classes in September, but paused their plan after local schools decided on remote learning to start the semester. “Given our successful experience with worship services over these last few weeks, we felt it was better to continue to focus on those,” said Pastor Andre Dobson.

The church is ramping up in-person offerings for students, as well as families with preschoolers and children. “We are adding some personal, focused ministry activities that allow us to control physical distancing,” Dobson said. Calvary will also take its Awana program for kids online this fall.

At Winstanley Baptist Church in Fairview Heights, Pastor Timothy Gibson and his congregation haven’t yet gone back to indoor services, but plan to in September. The church has been holding outdoor worship, which will continue as the weather permits. His understanding is that the mitigations and metrics don’t apply to indoor worship at churches, Gibson said. “Even so, we will ensure that our worship offerings are safe for our people.”

Chicagoland was the state’s hot spot for the first months of the pandemic, but as cases increase in other regions, some downstate churches have been affected. Among reports from IBSA churches, one southern Illinois church reported members tested positive after attending a revival. A congregation in central Illinois saw several cases believed to be spread at a lunch gathering.

In Chicagoland, IBSA zone consultants polled pastors in early August about their churches’ reopening plans. Of those who responded, 42% had not resumed in-person gatherings. Of the churches that had done so, many had adapted their services, including meeting outdoors or drive-in style.

Recent numbers from Barna Research show 52% of churches are open for normal use, with precautions. The number of pastors who are waiting to restart in-person worship until 2021 has risen to 12%.

Pastor

Dow | With the church building still smoldering in the background, Pastor David Brown’s congregation met for worship in the parking lot. Five days after his church lost a significant portion of its building to arson, Brown preached on how God uses fire to refine and restore.

“As bad as this is,” Brown told the Illinois Baptist, “we have the promise of God’s restoration, and eternity with him with something brand new.”

Dow Southern Baptist sustained heavy damage in a fire early July 29, losing the part of its building used for offices and Sunday school classes. The sanctuary was spared, but the church hasn’t yet gathered there for worship. After that first outdoor worship service, Dow is currently meeting on Sundays at a nearby church who offered to share their building.

A St. Louis man was charged Aug. 7 with arson and burglary in the crime. After the arrest of 21-year-old Deahvion Bishop, Brown posted on Facebook Live about the power of God’s forgiveness, and invited all those watching who haven’t yet accepted it to do so. He also asked for prayer for Bishop.

“The same love of Jesus that forgives us, is ready to forgive him,” Brown said, his voice breaking. “That’s my prayer.”

The Dow church is located about 50 miles north of St. Louis and part of Gateway Baptist Association. The congregation had returned to in-person services in June after

almost three months of meeting virtually. The COVID-19 pandemic also forced postponement of Dow’s 50th anniversary celebration originally scheduled for mid-May.

After the fire, Brown recounted the words of one young churchgoer surveying the damage: “Maybe God has something different for us to do.”

That’s the vision the pastor is encouraging his church toward in the days ahead. “The church is the people; it’s the congregation. It’s not the building,” Brown said.

“We’re going to rebuild the building, and then share Jesus.”

NEWS IBSA. org 3 September 01, 2020
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The Ticker
After fire, ‘We’re going to rebuild’
urges forgiveness for suspect charged in arson
WORSHIPING STILL – “We need one another,” Pastor David Brown told his church after arson destroyed part of the building. Dow Southern Baptist held outdoor worship five days after the fire. TIMOTHY GIBSON ANDRE DOBSON

Alternate logo bows

Nashville, Tenn. | Some familiar Southern Baptist properties have a new look. The SBC Executive Committee released new branding for the convention, Cooperative Program, Baptist Press, and SBC Life in August.

“The new logos and visual elements are true to who the SBC is as well as to what the original designers desired when they launched the classic logo in 1978,” said Jonathan Howe, vice president for communications at the SBC Executive Committee.

That Southern Baptist Convention logo with its globe, Bible, and cross remains the official and “classic logo” for the convention, but the new modern alternative features the same elements in a format suited to the current digital environment. Similarly, the new Cooperative Program logo features the letters “CP” set in an open circle to represent a global initiative, the creators said.

SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION

WMU trims staff

Birmingham, Ala. | Due to financial challenges compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) is offering a voluntary retirement plan for eligible employees. Over the past four years, WMU has cut 34% from its budget, the organization reported. But the pandemic has resulted in declining sales for missions curriculum, WMU’s main source of revenue.

Executive Director Sandy

Wisdom-Martin said after the offer closes Sept. 21, WMU will determine what budget deficit remains and how to proceed. “Even in the midst of these difficult days, we confess God as our sustainer and provider,” said Wisdom-Martin, who grew up as an Illinois Baptist and led WMU in the state. “This crisis has negatively affected our bottom line but it has positively amplified our mission.”

We have the meats!

New net launches first state chapter

Atlanta, Ga. | Southern Baptists in Georgia have launched the first state affiliate of the Conservative Baptist Network. The network, launched in February, has expressed concern about the direction of the Southern Baptist Convention, particularly how the SBC relates to social justice causes. In a press release about its founding, the group noted the controversial resolution adopted at the 2019 Southern Baptist Convention on critical race theory and intersectionality.

The Georgia chapter has been endorsed by Baptist leaders including Mike Stone, immediate past chairman of the SBC Executive Committee.

The national network was set to launch officially at the 2020 Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando. The group currently has events scheduled this fall in Tennessee and Georgia.

Historic appointment

Fort Worth, Texas | Medical missionary Rebekah Naylor has been named distinguished professor of missions in the Roy J. Fish School of Evangelism and Missions at Southwestern Seminary. She is the first woman ever to hold such a position at the seminary.

“Through her decades of service with our International Mission Board in medical missions, she has made tremendous contributions to the advancement of God’s Kingdom,” said Southwestern President Adam Greenway. “Our students are blessed beyond measure to have the opportunity to study with her, a Southwesterner of first rank.”

Naylor, whose father served as president of Southwestern, began her missionary service in India in 1973. She was sent as a surgeon by the Foreign Mission Board (now International Mission Board), and was instrumental in decades of growth at Bangalore Baptist Hospital. She also served as a strategy coordinator and church planter.

– Baptist Press, WMU, Conservative Baptist Network

Annual Meeting Nov. 4

6 churches seek affiliation

Decatur | The Illinois Baptist State Association’s Board of Directors voted in July to shorten the IBSA Annual Meeting to one day and relocate the Nov. 4 gathering to Tabernacle Baptist Church in Decatur. IBSA Executive Director Nate Adams acknowledged circumstances could change if climbing cases of COVID-19 result in the state reverting to an earlier phase of its reopening plan.

The meeting will be livestreamed from Tabernacle. Sammy Simmons, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Benton, will preside over the meeting and bring the IBSA President’s message. Jacob Gray, pastor of Ten Mile Baptist Church in McLeansboro, will preach the annual sermon. There will be no ancillary meetings or exhibit hall in conjunction with this year’s Annual Meeting, and the IBSA Pastors’ Conference has been postponed. One item of business currently scheduled to be considered at the meeting is approval of affiliation of churches with IBSA. The IBSA Credentials Committee has received applications from the following churches:

Beloved Community Church, Chicago

City of Joy Church, Pingree Grove

Gospel Life Bible Church, Genoa

Grace Missionary Baptist Church, Markham

New City Church, Urbana

New Hope, Pekin

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SANDY WISDOM-MARTIN REBEKAH NAYLOR FARM TO TABLE – The line of cars formed early Aug. 22 at Heights Community, an IBSA church in Collinsville, as motorists filed into the parking lot to receive free boxes of frozen meat—33,000 pounds of it. The giveaway was a Send St. Louis event, made possible by partnership between the Collinsville church, Red Hill Church in Edwardsville, the North American Mission Board, local businesses, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A similar event earlier in August was hosted by two Belleville congregations, August Gate and Redemption Community Church. The service opportunity was “amazing,” Heights Pastor David Seaton said in a live update posted online. “God’s doing this, and we get to be part of it.”

Just like Sotheby’s

Bidding goes online for BCHFS auction

Carmi | The annual Fall Festival hosted by Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services (BCHFS) was canceled due to COVID-19. But the organization dedicated to serving kids and their families is taking one key element of the festival online. Starting Sept. 9, would-be quilt buyers can bid on entries in this year’s auction.

“The quilters still wanted to give, and people that have traditionally won the quilts in the auction kept expressing, ‘We still want to do this,’” said John McCarty, director of development and marketing for BCHFS.

There are more than 40 quilts up for auction this year, he said. The items available include two wooden barn quilts, a selection of jewelry, and several bundles of antique quilt squares. McCarty noted one participant donated quilts her grandmother made more than 100 years ago.

At bchfs.com/event/quilt-auction, bidders can link to the online auction facilitated by Charity Auctions Today. McCarty said bidders who prefer not to enter online can contact BCHFS and ask the organization to enter a proxy bid for them. Bidding is scheduled to close the evening of Sept. 19.

GraceHaven to open next month

In October, BCHFS will launch its newest ministry—GraceHaven, a pregnancy resource center in Mt. Vernon. The facility, located less than a block from Angels’ Cove Maternity Center, will offer pregnancy testing and ultrasounds, as well as mentoring and resources for expectant parents.

As the building was under renovation last spring, BCHFS posted on Facebook about the mission of GraceHaven. “Our pregnancy resource clinic will not be an abortion clinic nor will it make referrals for abortion. It will be a safe place that believes in truth, compassion, and the importance of knowing all the facts before parents make a decision.”

GraceHaven will also feature an onsite boutique designed to encourage soon-to-

be moms and dads. Parents earn points for going to doctor’s appointments, taking parenting classes, and other activities, and then can redeem the points for baby gear at the boutique.

The center will host an open house Sept. 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. RSVP by calling BCHFS at (618) 382-4164.

‘Stormy’ exit for Falwell

With a call to The Wall Street Journal late Aug. 24, Jerry Falwell, Jr., confirmed his resignation from Liberty University following several hours of conflicting media reports. The Liberty president had earlier denied reports of his resignation, while university trustees said he had agreed to step down but reversed his decision in an attempt to negotiate the terms of the exit.

Falwell released a statement Aug. 23 claiming his wife’s “inappropriate personal relationship” with a family friend had led to mental health issues. The next day, Reuters published allegations that Falwell condoned an affair between his wife, Becki, and a business partner of the family.

Falwell, who has served as president since 2007, was put on an indefinite leave of absence Aug. 7, after he posted a provocative photo of himself and a female Liberty employee.

Jerry Prevo, Liberty’s acting president, asked for prayer for the school “as we walk with the Lord through this stormy time of transition.”

Graham statue in progress

A statue of late evangelist Billy Graham will represent North Carolina in the U.S. Capitol’s Statuary Hall, replacing the likeness of a white supremacist former governor. A 2-foot replica of the new statue by sculptor Chas Fagan was approved by a state legislative committee in August. Fagan will now complete the life-size version of a 1960s-era Graham preaching with Bible in hand. The statue of Graham, expected in 2021, will replace one of Charles Aycock, infamous for helping to orchestrate violence against African Americans in the Wilmington massacre of 1898.

MacArthur defies ban

Pastor John MacArthur’s California church gathered this summer in defiance of a ban on indoor worship services, continuing a legal battle with Los Angeles County. On Aug. 25, Grace Community Church was granted a partial victory when a judge said the county can’t prohibit services until a hearing is held in early September. “It should shock the conscience of every Christian that churches are coming under assault from our own government simply for holding church,” MacArthur said after the ruling. “Church is essential.”

– The Wall Street Journal, Christianity Today, Thomas More Society Get breaking news in The Briefing online, posted every Tuesday at www.ib2news.org.

the briefing
IBSA. org 5 September 01, 2020
JERRY FALWELL JR. – Billy Graham Evangelistic Association – July 26 service from Vimeo MINISTRY GOES ON – (Top photo) Volunteers Janet Parks (left) and Joyce Lee display quilts to be auctioned online by Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services. BCHFS has also continued with its plans to launch a pregnancy resource center.

Disaster Relief volunteers aid churches after northern storm

Harvey | Severe summer storms swept across the Midwest in August, hitting Chicago with 100 mph winds and leaving downed trees and damaged property in their wake. The “derecho,” named for its straight-line winds, also left people in Iowa and Illinois without power for several days.

In Harvey, a south suburb of Chicago, Pastor Johnathan Johnson and Holy Bible Missionary Baptist Church partnered with their city to help clean up after the storm. Johnson also contacted Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief, who sent volunteers to clear damaged trees and share the gospel in the neighborhoods where they worked.

“The damage is pretty bad,” Johnson said, describing trees littering yards, and some limbs that fell on vehicles or homes. He estimated the Disaster Relief volunteers worked at more than 20 homes over two days in Harvey. The pastor, whose personal motto is “live to give,” said it was rewarding to see his church’s partnerships helping people in their community.

In nearby Park Forest, Pastor Christopher Castile worked alongside volunteers as they tackled similar damage to homes and yards.

Castile, who pastors Garden of Peace Ministries, said the damage in his community was severe, and some people were just getting power back more than a week after the storm.

“With the pandemic and with this, a lot of businesses are suffering as well,” he said. His church sustained a little damage to the building and to the parsonage, and had to cancel services after the storm because limbs were blocking the drive-

way. After work by his church members and aided by Disaster Relief volunteers, the church planned to meet again in their building the next Sunday, he said. Castile said he plans to gather other pastors in his area to get trained in Disaster Relief, so they can respond to future needs in their region.

Disaster Relief volunteers also worked in central and southern Illinois communities affected by summer storms. After teams served in Virden following a damaging storm there, the city sent a letter thanking them for their “willingness to help us in our time of need.”

In McLeansboro in August, Melissa Pryer of

Ten Mile Baptist Church wrote about the impact of “yellow shirts” in a Facebook post. “When disaster comes to your neighborhood, look for these crews in yellow shirts…Southern Baptist Disaster relief teams,” Pryer said. She noted how Southern Baptist cooperative giving fuels Disaster Relief efforts. “If you give to your local SBC church, you are a part of this great work.”

Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief has over 950 trained volunteers who serve as part of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Disaster Relief ministry, the third largest relief agency in the U.S. For more information, go to IBSA.org/dr.

OUR

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6 IBSA. org Illinois Baptist
ADFChurchAlliance.org/culture
Downstate communities also welcome ‘yellow shirts’
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ON THE SCENE – Disaster Relief teams responded across the state this summer, including in Waterloo (above left) and Harvey, where Pastor Johnathan Johnson (center) and his church partnered with their city to provide storm clean-up.

Navigating a strange summer

Honoring leaders

Churches mark ministry milestones

AQUATIC DISTANCING – Summer 2020 saw IBSA’s camp facilities in northern and southern Illinois closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Later, Streator and Lake Sallateeska opened up for smaller groups, including students from Whitelaw Avenue Baptist Church (pictured here and on page 1), who gathered at Lake Sallateeska for a retreat in late July. The camps both welcomed new managers this summer, and launched Instagram accounts. Find them at @lakesallateeskabaptistcamp and @streatorcamp.

Stirring the waters

Regathering churches celebrate new life in Christ

Two churches at opposite ends of the state were among the congregations who baptized new believers after returning to in-person worship gatherings.

Pastor Michael Nave’s church, Cornerstone in Marion (right), celebrated baptism July 12. And in Chicago, Pastor Thawng Sian Kam and Zomi Emmanuel Mission Church held a backyard baptism in an inflatable swimming pool. The pastor started Emmanuel in 2016 to reach members of his people group from Myanmar who are currently living in Chicago.

Lanny Faulkner retired from First Baptist Church in Atwood after 10 official years as pastor, and more serving the church part-time while he served as director of missions for Central Baptist Association. “Pastor Lanny has provided mature, inspiring, godly leadership to Atwood’s First Baptist Church for well over a decade,” said IBSA Executive Director Nate Adams, who presented a plaque of appreciation to Faulkner July 26.

Adams noted the church’s double-digit percentage increases in worship attendance and giving during Faulkner’s ministry, and that the pastor baptized more than 100 new believers at Atwood. The church presented Faulkner (right in photo above, with elder Bill Fleming) with a framed version of a statement Faulkner wrote to summarize the gospel. The pastor rehearsed the statement, seen above the platform, with his church every Sunday.

Panther Fork Baptist Church congratulated Pastor John Ashby and his wife, Nancy, for 25 years of service to the southern Illinois congregation. Ashby helped the Texico church celebrate its own historic anniversary in 2016, marking 150 years of ministry. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the church held drive-in worship services, and has continued to post worship gatherings and Bible studies for online viewers, after resuming in-person services.

Jill Finley is celebrating 20 years of ministry at Bethel Baptist Church in Troy. The director of women’s ministry began her service on the church’s administrative team, Pastor Tim Lewis said during a presentation honoring her. “All of us are enriched by your ministry among us,” he said.

Dorrisville Baptist Church’s official celebration of Pastor Dewayne Taylor’s 20th anniversary was postponed until later this year, but the church honored his ministry with a presentation July 19. His church posted on Facebook: “Thank you Pastor Dewayne and Judy Taylor for your heart for the Lord and his people!”

IBSA. org 7 September 01, 2020
JILL FINLEY JOHN ASHBY DEWAYNE TAYLOR

Mission Illinois Offering & Week of Prayer

New life on campus

Collegiate church celebrates first baptisms

n the shore of Lake Michigan on a Sunday in June, Jeff Bi compared his life to a car. When he was in the driver’s seat, said Bi, a student at the University of Chicago, the side mirrors were gone and the doors were off the hinges.

But giving the wheel to Jesus, he said, has made all the difference. Bi was baptized in the lake that day, one of two students who recently made the decision to follow Jesus at Gracepoint Chicago. The Hyde Park church is reaching out to the University of Chicago campus.

Pastor David Park and his family moved to the city last year from California to reach students who are like Park himself once was, looking for meaning at a pivotal time of life.

in 2007 as a student at the University of California. Gracepoint has sent planters across the country, ministering on and around college campuses. A second Chicagoland Gracepoint church is located in Evanston, home of Northwestern University.

“During my college years, I saw different planters go out and plant different churches in California,” Park said. And beyond. He started to ask, “Could I be a part of something like that in the future?”

When the Parks moved to Chicago, they didn’t relocate alone. The couple, who recently welcomed their second child, brought nine other leaders with them to help reach out to students at the University of Chicago. The volunteers are bivocational, working in jobs across the city. The campus fellowship they’ve started is called MakeNew.

“Over the years, God grew my heart for the need on the college campus,” said Park, who became a Christian as a college freshman more than a decade ago. It became important to him to be a missionary on campus with the goal of reaching students who didn’t know Christ. Now, in Chicago, Park and his team are working to mobilize a new generation of missionaries.

“They can be fishers of men for the rest of their lives if we can get them early on,” Park said. “If we can get them invested in Jesus now, I think that can have huge kingdom impact.”

On campus and online

Park and his wife, Catarina, were sent to Chicago by a Southern Baptist church in Berkeley, Ca., called Gracepoint. It was through that church’s ministry that Park met Jesus

The Gracepoint planters have connected with church planting strategists like Tim Bailey in Chicago, one of 32 “Send Cities” targeted by the North American Mission Board (NAMB) for church planting. As a NAMB-supported church planting catalyst, Bailey works with the IBSA church planting team to strategically reach Chicago’s neighborhoods and people groups with the gospel. IBSA’s church planting and mobilization strategies are aided by the annual Mission Illinois Offering (see page 9).

At Gracepoint, Bailey said, the planting model is much like a traditional church, with a handful of volunteer staff members sent to support the planter. And, he said, “They’re the sweetest people on the face of the earth.”

On campus, the team makes it their mission to meet students. They eat in the dining halls, gather on the quad, and play basketball in the campus gym. Everywhere they go, they befriend non-Christian students with the goal of inviting them into spiritual conversations. The MakeNew team also disciples Christian students on campus.

Collegiate ministry in a pandemic is particularly challenging because it’s difficult to meet new students

virtually, Park said. During the students’ time away from campus, the team focused on the 20 or so students they had built relationships with, gathering them online for Bible studies and an apologetics course. Students actually had more time to meet when they were away from campus, Park said, and the team tried to capitalize on that extra time.

The church also hosted a twoweek virtual mission trip to Thailand. Eight Chicago students met online several times a week with students in Thailand, a country that is less than 1% Christian. They talked about worldview and Christianity, encouraged Christian students in Thailand, and held a virtual gospel outreach on the last night, Park said.

Students returning to campus this month will start the year with

a mandatory 14-day quarantine, which the MakeNew team will obey as well, Park said. After that, they will resume their efforts to meet students. Their campus is home to many collegians who appear to have it all together. They’ve gained admission to an elite school, and their lives are going well. They may not see their need for Jesus, Park said, and that the life he wants for them is even better than the one they’re living now.

At Lake Michigan, Jeff Bi described the shift he made from being in control, to turning his life over to Jesus.

“Because of his love, I’ve come to realize that if I to try to drive this car alone, I will only continue to fall apart,” Bi said. “That is why I decided to surrender my life to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

The
If
Week of Prayer
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at missionillinois.org/prayer-guide. 8 O Watch the video at http://bit.ly/chicagogc.
CREATING FAMILY – David and Catarina Park welcomed their son, Lucas, in July. The couple, who also have a daughter, Emma, are planting a church to reach the University of Chicago in the city’s Hyde Park neighborhood.
Mission Illinois Offering supports state missions including evangelism, church planting, leadership development, church revitalization, and missions mobilization Many IBSA churches will collect the offering during September.
you are able to give at church, please do. If you can’t support the Mission Illinois Offering at your church right now, please give online at missionillinois.org. And join the
using
prayer guide available

Be a champion for

Illinois | His church’s shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic was hard on Pastor Autry Watkins. “I love everything that has to do with gathering as a church body,” said the pastor of Transformation Church in South Chicago Heights.

But like nearly every other pastor in the U.S. and across the world, Watkins halted inperson gatherings to help stop the spread of Coronavirus. He missed his church, he said, but the time away served as a valuable training ground for the pastor, aided by resources and connections provided by IBSA.

The 2020 Mission Illinois Offering & Week of Prayer is focused on the vital partnership between IBSA and Baptist churches in the state. These challenging times have reinforced the need for consultation, advocacy, and connection in a state where more than 8 million people do not know Christ.

The pivots required by the global pandemic have demonstrated the importance of the training and equipping work IBSA does every day—in “normal” times. The Mission Illinois Offering supports developing church leaders for evangelism, discipleship, and worship. And the offering makes possible additional missions and church planting, beyond the regular Cooperative Program channel.

Illinois Baptists give about $350,000 through MIO most years. As all churches and ministries face financial challenges because of COVID-19 limitations, IBSA needs more generous support to sustain missions and advance kingdom work.

The pandemic has tested our ability to adapt ministry in a crisis. MIO gives all our churches an opportunity to prove our commitment to the salvation and transformation of Illinois.

Pastors seek input for crisis ministry

As the global pandemic began to affect churches in Illinois, reliable information was hard to come by, said Pastor Don Hannel. With so many unknowns and the news changing daily, or hourly, First Baptist Church in Pleasant Hill needed resources they could trust.

IBSA’s Church Helps webinars, launched as most churches stopped meeting in-person, were a valuable resource for his church, Hannel said. “We were just grabbing hold of those, because we needed something with some stability.”

A Church Helps webpage became an online repository for resources on virtual worship, online giving, pastoring from a distance, and outreach opportunities. As the pandemic’s early weeks stretched into months, webinars and resources helped churches make their own pivots, from regular summer programming to socially distanced or virtual options.

Along with the webinars, IBSA also hosted online prayer gatherings and two virtual

town hall meetings to help churches with challenges relating to reopening and relaunching ministries. Denver Ayres, pastor of Logan Street Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon, said the resources helped his church navigate competing priorities in the reopening process.

“We’ve been trying to find the right time to come back and the right way to come back,” he said. “That’s where IBSA has been such a blessing.”

IBSA delivers information and care

Watkins said he benefited from partnership with IBSA even before COVID-19. The state association has provided him with resources to grow as a pastor, he said. Sometimes, those resources came in the form of conferences like the state and regional leadership summits hosted by the state association. Watkins said he can also rely on guidance from John Yi, an IBSA church planting catalyst in Chicagoland.

“He’s just someone who is always open and always available to help with resources,” Watkins said.

Yi and other church planting strategists serve across the state, as do IBSA zone consultants who stand ready to resource churches and local associations.

At Watkins’s church, the congregation is in transition mode as normal operations continue to be affected by the pandemic. They’ve always strived to be a Monday through Saturday church that gathers on Sunday for worship, the pastor said. The pandemic has pushed the church to evaluate its reliance on the Sunday morning gathering, and make adjustments for the future.

IBSA is there—ready to provide resources to help churches pivot toward more effective ministry.

“They are an organization that seeks to help pastors,” Watkins said.

missionillinois.org Order prayer guides, offering envelopes, posters, and DVDs at MIO@IBSA.org Download additional materials, including online memes and clip art, videos, and mission studies at
missions. Please encourage your church to participate. It’s time to pray for state missions. missionillinois.org Mission Illinois Offering & Week of Prayer September 13-20, 2020 100% 75% 50% 25% Our church’s goal: In 2020 $ the world stopped, kept working. Illinois Baptists but missionillinois.org It’s what we need In times like these. State missions: In times Illinois Baptists to meet like these, the need Community transformation rise Ministry innovation Our church’s goal Mission Illinois Offering & Week of Prayer September 13-20, 2020 September 13-20 • missionillinois.org Show your congregation how Illinois Baptists to meet the rise Illinois Baptist State Association Mission Illinois Offering & Week of Prayer September 13-20, 2020 Community transformation Ministry innovation new missions challenges Prayer guides for use on Illinois missions and prayer guides IBSA and our partner to the challenges of 2020 with ministry transformation, church revitalization These videos show some supported by Mission Illinois Offerings.the work took on new urgency and new focus. Title video At least 8-million people in Illinois don’t know Jesus as their Savior, but with equipping for ministry, IBSA churches report from the IBSA missionaries andPlease post this promotion video on our The pandemic isn’t over. Neither is the challenge. to support state missions. 2020 is the year that the world stopped for time. our association of churches pushed forward with vital work continued, because Illinois Baptists were equipped. Our churches continued ministry, because together we pushed forward with innovations and new technologies. Illinois Baptist State Association 3085 Stevenson Drive Springfield, Illinois 62703 MissionIllinois.org Full length (4:57) Short version (2:03) September 13-20, 2020 Mission Illinois Offering & Week of Prayer Posters DVDs Envelopes State missions turns to pandemic Necessary ‘pivot’ is focus of missions giving and prayer week AUTRY WATKINS SHIFT IN STRATEGY – Starting Point Community Church and Pastor Jonathan de la O started a community food giveaway amid heightened need during the pandemic. DON HANNEL DENVER AYRES Illinois Baptist State Association 3085 Stevenson Drive • Springfield, IL 62703 9
state

Springfield | In the next 20 years, $30 trillion will be passed down from one generation to the next. This “Great Wealth Transfer” will be the largest such inheritance in human history.

That’s good news, except for the fact that people aren’t great at estate planning, said Reina Gabai of FreeWill, a provider of free online estate planning tools and a new partner of the Illinois Baptist State Association. “So, a lot of those funds are not going to be going where they can really make the greatest impact,” Gabai said.

Only 29% of U.S. adults have an up-to-date will, she said, and only 7% of those wills include a charitable bequest. That’s why IBSA, the Baptist Foundation of Illinois, and Illinois Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services have partnered with FreeWill to help church members prepare for the future, and plan to benefit God’s kingdom with the assets they have now.

At a specially created link, IBSA.org/ freewill, Illinois Baptists can explore the estate planning process and link to FreeWill. com to create their own simple will, including charitable giving. They can also create power of attorney documents. Once the process is finished, users can download and print the documents and have them signed by witnesses.

“One of the ways we express our discipleship is being good stewards,” said Doug Morrow, executive director of the Baptist Foundation of Illinois. Morrow travels the state, helping pastors communicate the importance of Christian stewardship to their congregations.

The Foundation is also involved in helping church members create their estate plans, but Morrow acknowledged there are thousands of Illinois Baptists they aren’t able to work with personally. That’s where FreeWill comes in, providing a quick, easy way for people to start the process.

During an IBSA-sponsored webinar about FreeWill’s services, Morrow encouraged pastors with two reasons to promote Christian estate planning in their churches: it helps people care for their families, and allows them to leave a legacy of generosity that makes an impact on kingdom causes.

Giving beyond ourselves

It had been a few years since Jon and Rhadonda Sedgwick (above right) had created a will. When the Quad Cities couple received an e-mail from Morrow last year about FreeWill’s services, they got online to update their documents. “We looked into it, and it was a very simple process,” said Jon, who pastors New Hope Baptist Church in Coal Valley. “And free,” he added.

The couple had heard stories about grown children left to answer questions their parents hadn’t answered through a will. They didn’t want their three grown children to be left in the same spot, Rhadonda said. Plus, the FreeWill process allowed them to benefit IBSA causes through their estate plans, or, as Jon called it, “leaving the gospel in our state.”

The Sedgwicks hope that example will speak volumes to their children. Anyone would love to inherit money, Rhadonda said, but their estate planning process showed them the value of giving outside of themselves.

“It’s bigger than just our little family.”

Pastor Paul Cooper and his wife, Amy, had long talked about the need to create a will.

“It just seemed like, ‘Oh, that’s just a big thing, and I don’t know how to do it, and I don’t want to go through it,’” said the pastor of Marshall Baptist Church. After hearing about FreeWill through IBSA about a year ago, the Coopers used the online service to complete their will. Now, the pastor encourages church members to do the same.

“As a pastor, you do so many funerals and you see the good and the bad. You see folks that are set up and you see folks that are not, in knowing what to do,” Cooper said. “You love your people and you want them to know how to organize their things and have them set up.”

It is, after all, the largest act of stewardship they will ever take, Morrow said. By encouraging people to think now about estate planning, church leaders encourage their people’s God-given propensity for generosity. The process at FreeWill.com provides charitable giving options to registered organizations. For example, if a church registers with FreeWill, its name will appear in a drop-down menu of giving options when people go to prepare their will.

“Being generous is woven into the DNA of being a Christ-follower,” Morrow said. “This is the opportunity for us to encourage and facilitate and give a platform for generosity, both with our families that God called us to love and care for and encourage, and with kingdom causes.”

10 IBSA. org Illinois Baptist
Care for the ones you love most Your will is your life’s greatest financial gift. Visit the online section especially for Illinois Baptists. Create your own will there. Or our experts at Baptist Foundation of Illinois can help in person, online, or by phone, (217) 391-3102. IBSA.org/freewill You can bless your family, bless your church, and bless future generations with simple planning now. Whether you have a little or a lot, a few thoughtful actions today will increase your lasting impact. Learn more at IBSA’s webinar. https://bit.ly/freewillwebinar MAKE A WILL
Planning for the future Partnership aids Illinois Baptists in estate preparation
PAUL COOPER

IN FOCUS

Karen Hughes’s book title comes to mind right now: “Ten Minutes from Normal.” It was born of an Amtrak conductor’s announcement on her ride from St. Louis to Chicago. In actuality, we may be ten weeks or ten months away, but we’re all hoping to reach “normal” soon—or something reminiscent of it.

In church life, experts are giving us widely differing opinions of the impact of closing and reopening on the future of the church. Our best efforts at synthesizing their advice produces conflicting guidance. Even so, here is a summary of some intersections in their prognostications.

1. Don’t expect to go back to normal.

Many church members want their experience in worship and Bible study to be what it used to be very soon. When we consider the surge of COVID-19 cases in some downstate locations and the uncertainty surrounding the reopening of schools, it seems unlikely that our churches can fully resume their usual schedules and behaviors this year. Some Illinois churches have reopened, only to find they had to close again. Some have not opened at all.

2. Normal is a long way off.

We must get used to this reality that still includes smaller services and Zoom classes. The problem caused by a variety of standards and multiple approaches to the school year is that it creates similar expectations at church. Leaders can’t simply allow groups to do whatever they wish. Church leadership this fall still requires a cohesive, planned response.

3. People want to come back to normal.

Some experts say we’ve lost people forever, because their church-going habits have been broken. And they are making dire predictions about the church’s future in 2025 based on that belief. While pundits are downcast, Pew Research is upbeat, even hopeful. The desire for normalcy will be reborn in us all, when normalcy seems possible. If that is true, it takes a little pressure off the choices we make in September.

4. Before you go back to normal.

Let’s consider what we have truly learned about ministry during the pandemic, and what we want to keep afterward. Businesses are using COVID-19 as a reason to take long-contemplated actions. Crisis time is the motivation, permission, or excuse to pull the trigger. Framed positively, crisis lessons are the opportunity for a “hard reset,” as Ken Braddy puts it. In some ways, going back to normal after the hardlearned lessons of spring and summer would be regression. Let’s not lose the gains we’ve made, if we’re sure they are gains.

Mixed signals

Church leaders weigh conflicting guidance on how to coach ministry this fall.

Tailgate season will be different this fall across the Upper Midwest. The Big Ten’s decision to postpone its college football season means empty stadiums will be devoid even of fans gathering in the parking lots. In the South and elsewhere, teams plan to play, albeit to smaller crowds in socially distanced arenas.

This is a season of mixed signals, when teams are challenged to weigh the data available in the moment and make highpressure decisions. Those decisions vary, depending on the team’s goals and how leaders try to get them there.

The same is true of church leadership teams, who have made constant pivots to deal with surges of COVID-19 in their communities. Add to that the uncertainty of what “normal” is now, and if churches will ever get back there (see column at left), and leaders can easily feel this game of inches has them, and their churches, moving in the wrong direction.

In this season of flux, though, some trends are emerging that point to how successful ministry teams can manage the ebb and flow

of church life in the COVID era. Ministry leaders are advising churches to:

1. Create new goal lines, since they’ve moved anyway.

2. Put all options on the table for groups relaunching this fall.

3. Invest in upstart ministries that may not have even existed six months ago. It’s a new season, and in many places, a whole new ballgame.

Who moved my goalpost?

Pew Research released the encouraging news in August that 89% of people who attended church at least monthly in person prior to the pandemic say they expect to go back to church as often or more so, once the COVID-19 outbreak is over. Currently, though, many churches are seeing lower attendance numbers. Smaller crowds will be an adjustment for leadership teams looking to rev up momentum for the fall.

Then, there’s the sobering reality that some previous churchgoers may not come back.

Continued on page 12

IBSA. org 11 September 01, 2020
reporter’s
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notebook 4 views of ‘normal’

Continued from page 11

“At least 20% of those who attended before the pandemic will not return to church,” Thom Rainer predicted on his Church Answers blog. Some, he said, will attend online, but most won’t attend at all.

Strange times may mean new metrics by which to measure growth and effectiveness—and a renewed commitment to the fundamental ministries of a church. In O’Fallon, Ill., Doug Munton’s church is meeting in two worship services on Sunday morning, utilizing every other row of seating and some mask-only sections. With the gathering limits and physical distancing in place, the church isn’t quite back to half of their previous worship attendance, Munton said. The pastor of First Baptist Church said his team sees challenges and opportunities in the season ahead.

“I don’t know what things will look like for us in the days ahead, but I do know we want to focus on evangelism more than ever,” Munton said. “We want to do a better job of evangelism training and of reaching people who don’t know Christ as savior.”

Those goals are in line with what Rainer sees as a coming wave of churches focused on conversion growth—people coming to Christ—rather than the transfer growth that happens when churchgoers move from one congregation to another.

“Church leaders are becoming increasingly convicted that they must lead their churches to reach those who are not believers in Christ,” Rainer said. “Church members are reflecting that same conviction and commitment.”

Huddle up—from a distance

During a recent IBSA webinar on jumpstarting groups this fall, Sunday school expert Ken Braddy shared from first-hand experience as a minister of education at a church in Tennessee. (He also manages adult Sunday school and discipleship training for LifeWay Christian Resources.) At his church, Braddy said, leaders prepared for a return to Sunday school by leaving classroom chairs in place, but putting paper signs on the ones they didn’t want anyone to use.

The first thing people did on entering the classroom was to move those signs. The lesson, Braddy said: move the chairs.

That’s just one consideration church leaders will make as they bring groups back to campus this fall. The good news is that most groups can come back, Braddy said, with precautionary measures in place. They key is to look at all the options available for small groups, and to let those groups be as nimble as they’re designed to be.

Small groups can spread out in larger spaces in the church building, or they can meet there on a different day of the week, Braddy said. And if a group isn’t yet ready to return to the church campus, don’t forget the option to meet in a home or a backyard. A home-based small group is a great opportunity to share Jesus with the neighbors.

Churches with a strong groups ministry have been better able to weather the COVID storm, Braddy said.

Is Sunday school primed for a comeback?

Or don’t call it a comeback. Rather, let’s talk about the opportunity Sunday school has for a “hard reset,” said LifeWay’s Ken Braddy

“In computer terms, a hard reset restores a device (phone, tablet, laptop) to its original factory settings,” Braddy wrote recently for Facts & Trends. The COVID-19 pandemic could give Sunday school an opportunity for a needed reset—a chance to get back to its roots in evangelism, outreach, teaching, training, and multiplication. A return to Sunday school after months away is an opportunity for classes to get back to the real reasons they exist.

There are potential obstacles, including the need to reclaim class members who haven’t gathered together in months. To regathering groups, Braddy offered this advice: smaller may be better. Smaller groups are nimble, he noted, and discipleship in that context mirrors Jesus’ relationship with his disciples. He offered these keys to unlocking Sunday school’s reset potential in the coming months: Focus on training. With technology, it’s less expensive and more accessible than ever, Braddy said. The last few months have shown training can become a consistent part of a church’s discipleship process.

Play the long game

When Arthur Southern Baptist Church shut down in-person services in March, they had a virtual option already in place. The church had been streaming services for several years, but the increased focus on remote worship gave Pastor Doug Davis a new opportunity to look at the church’s online product. They made some changes, and built connections with online worshipers.

Davis told the Illinois Baptist last spring he had no idea God was going to use the lockdown time to expand his presence in the hearts of people who weren’t attending church in a physical building. Fast forward to August, and Davis’s church has continued to see their online viewership expand, especially during Bible studies recorded for Wednesday and Sunday evenings.

Those studies had 10-20 participants at the church building before the pandemic. Now, the church is averaging 75-80 on Sunday nights, and more than 100 devices logging into the Wednesday study (which likely represents many more actual viewers).

“I was blessed and surprised to find out there was a hunger for people to study the word, and that in small part, we would get to help with that,” Davis said.

Church growth expert Carey Nieuwhof encouraged churches to embrace the opportunity to invest in their online presence. Nieuwhof wrote recently about characteristics of churches he predicts will decline in the next five years. One of their traits, according to him: online ministry is seen as an afterthought or a lesser ministry.

“You can see online church as an obstacle or an opportunity,” he said. “Since everyone you want to reach is online, though, that makes it a pretty big opportunity.”

Meeting in-person will always play a role in the church, he said, “but wise churches will realize there is much opportunity beyond that.”

IBSA’s Church Helps webpage, launched to help churches navigate the pandemic, includes links to a long list of resources on virtual worship and discipleship. Those and other resources related to the current season may be accessed at IBSA.org/ church-helps.

Consider care groups. Some large groups and classes are subdivided into smaller “care groups” of a few individuals or couples. In a separate blog post, Braddy wrote that these groups within a group are the best tool for caring, connecting, and keeping people during COVID-19.

Back to basics. “The focus on outreach, assimilation, and evangelism could return to the forefront of why churches have a Sunday School in the first place,” Braddy said. “If the church misses this opportunity to do a hard reset, it will miss the chance for a course correction in its largest and most important ministry.”

12 IBSA. org Illinois Baptist
KEN BRADDY
Do empty seats now forecast a failure to return later?
THOM RAINER DOUG MUNTON DOUG DAVIS CAREY NIEUWHOF
– FactsandTrends.net, KenBraddy.com
– Meredith Flynn

RESOURCE

The harvest is coming

The weariness of pandemic ministry will not go unrewarded

I am COVID weary. I guess we all are. I am weary of the fears and the news and statistics and the disruptions and the politics and the economics and the complaints and arguments. I am weary of hearing about sickness and death and dying.

In the midst of this weariness, I have by calling and vocation been tasked with helping people, specifically church leaders, to develop an adequate faith response to this crisis. I have been in Christian ministry for 41 years, and this is the most difficult period of time to minister to people I have ever experienced. In some ways, I think the church is thriving in spite of the stresses we face. But it is a difficult time to walk in faith and help others explore the grace and mercies of God.

A couple of days ago I was reflecting on my weariness and the Lord whispered in my ear the ancient warning of the Apostle Paul: “and let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9 KJV). The weariness of the times can cause us to be weary, even as we make good faith responses to the situations of the day. Paul’s warning to “be not weary in well doing” is vital for our day.

When we get weary in well doing, we tend to ignore the word of God. Oh, we may still read it and understand what it says, and we may even try in general to

Starting in September

follow the guidelines it presents. But we do not internalize the word and allow it to saturate our souls and permeate our minds. We don’t find any joy in the lessons of the word of God. The actions of faith we take become perfunctory. They are just laborious tasks carried out with boredom, rather than acts of love performed with joy.

I am asking the Lord to help me not be weary in well doing. I do not want the weariness of COVID-19 to steal the beauty and happiness and satisfaction of serving the Lord Jesus. Paul’s warning comes with the promise that if we can avoid becoming weary in well doing, there will be a day of reaping. These are difficult days, but they may be some of the best days of the church. They may be days that lead to revival.

If we can learn to serve God faithfully, patiently, and constructively during these days, I believe we could see a great awakening in the church. We are all COVID weary. But “let us not be weary in well doing.”

Brent Cloyd is associational mission strategist for Greater Wabash Baptist Association.

M aking sharper leaders

IBSA online courses

IBSA’s Edge courses are designed to help leaders get sharper, right where they live and serve.

Fall 2020 courses launch Sept. 7. Choose from three: Leading Self

Introduction to Mobilization

Preaching at the Next Level

PLUS, IBSA is offering two courses for Illinois Baptist women through a partnership with Southwestern Seminary.

How to Teach the Bible • Aug. 18-Sept. 22

Overview of Old Testament 1 • Oct. 6-Nov. 10

Register at www.IBSA.org/ibsa-online-courses

crisis leadership then and now

“I realized that the deepest spiritual lessons are not learned by his letting us have our way in the end, but by his making us wait, bearing with us in love and patience until we are able to honestly to pray what he taught his disciples to pray: Thy will be done.”

“At this critical moment in history, the Lord needs men and women who know how to make wise choices, who are growing more mature day by day, and who can then commit their decision to the Lord and press on.”

meet the team

Family: Wife, Katie, and two cats, Penny and Lulu

Illinois experience: I had never been to Illinois before visiting Streator. Prior to that, my only experience was watching the Cardinals vs. Cubs on TV.

Favorite thing about church as a kid: Watching my parents worship and seeing how much they loved the Lord

Favorite thing about church now: The community, and the way Christians can put aside differences to work together and love one another

Favorite sports team: Oklahoma City Thunder

Favorite movie: The Lord of the Rings trilogy

Favorite book: The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

Favorite Old Testament prophet: Elijah

Favorite Scripture: Romans 5:8 is my favorite verse, but my favorite book is Acts.

IBSA. org 13 September 01, 2020
Jacob Kimbrough Manager, Streator Baptist Camp

The Learning curve

One with a Shepherd

Mary Somerville

Written for ministry wives, by a woman with more than 35 years of experience as a pastor’s wife. A few of the topics I’ve read so far: Keeping Family First, Not Adding to Your Husband’s Load, Resting One Day in Seven, and Coping with Loneliness.

Women & Work womenwork.net

This is an organization helping women who are believers to be all that God has called them to be, in whatever workplace they are in. Great resources and a great community of people.

How Churches Became Cruise Ships

Skye Jethani

Using the metaphor of the change in sea travel from ocean liners to cruise ships, this book describes the changes we’ve seen in the church that seem more focused on the journey than the ultimate destination.

When Helping Hurts

Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert

Should I provide relief, rehabilitation, or development? Really helping people is hard. This book helped me truly understand poverty and have a better framework for missions and relief work.

The day this ‘one’ came to Jesus

Justin was sitting in the hospital waiting room while his 8-year-old daughter was having open heart surgery. That was two-and-a-half years ago, when I first talked with him about spiritual things. And that’s when he became the “one” I was praying for.

Not long after that. Justin met me for breakfast at a local restaurant. His son who was five at the time was with him. The boy was a bundle of energy, dad was kind of nervous, and our conversation about his faith didn’t go very far. But I decided I would keep praying.

Justin’s wife, Cassie, teaches school with my wife, Michelle. She’s active in our church’s Sunday school ministry, and she’s praying for her husband. I joined that prayer effort as part of my commitment to “Who’s Your One?” The prayer evangelism initiative developed at Summit Church in Durham, N.C., was introduced to Southern Baptists by Pastor J. D. Greear after he was elected SBC President in 2018. The initiative urges every Southern Baptist to select one lost person to pray for and to engage them with the gospel.

I have encouraged our congregation at Immanuel Baptist Church in Benton to pray for lost people consistently. We have previously prayed for our TOP 5 (five individuals who need a relationship with Jesus), looking at family, co-workers, and people who live nearby who may not

know Jesus as Savior. While some may desire to pray for more than one, any number is better than zero, which is the commitment too many people have made.

So, that’s how Justin became the “one” who’s salvation I focused on. I began looking for opportunities to connect with him, an all-American guy, hunter, dedicated family man, and lost. I invited him to special events at church, to Christmas service or Friend Day. Two years later, I was still praying for his salvation.

Cassie told us in January of this year that Karrigan needed another open-heart surgery. Doctors didn’t give her much hope. “Go home and hug your daughter,” they said. “She will probably not make it through surgery.”

But she did. God moved in an amazing way. The doctors were astonished, and Justin’s heart was softened.

Before the operation, I visited with Karrigan and the family at

their home. I shared the Evangicube with Karrigan, who was 10 years old by now. She prayed to receive Christ. Later, Justin said, “I like those pictures in that box.” It was clear that here’s a guy who loves his daughter, who’s hurting, and who needs Jesus. I knew God was working.

After surgery, we met again. This time, I shared a simple gospel presentation on the fingers of one hand that I have used on mission trips in Africa. I showed him how sin separates us from God, and how Jesus died to save us so we can be with God. At the end, I showed we are either ok with God, with a thumbs up, or we are not ok with God, with a thumbs down. Justin realized he wasn’t ok with God.

“I believe there’s a God,” he said to me, “but I never asked him to save me.” With tears coming down his cheeks, Justin asked Jesus to become his Savior. God uses a simple gospel to impact people more than we give him credit for. And God has chosen us to be the vessels for sharing his gospel. If we don’t share, then we miss the joy of seeing God at work.

In July, Justin and Karrigan were baptized. There wasn’t a dry eye in church as Cassie publicly thanked God for healing her precious daughter and saving both her daughter and her husband. It was a joint effort with a loving God, a praying wife, and a pastor looking for opportunities to share the gospel. But what a blessing when that “one” you’re praying for comes to faith in Christ.

“But how am I supposed to elbow you when you doze off?”

Sammy Simmons is pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Benton, Illinois. He is serving as president of IBSA.

14 IBSA. org Illinois Baptist table talk
– Vaughn Sanders, pastor, First Baptist Church, Bolingbrook – Carrie Jones, teacher and former Illinois student/ missions leader – Jeanette Cloyd, ministry leader, Greater Wabash Baptist Association – Ben Jones, leadership development director, IBSA

Climbing the walls the counselor

QOur family has been stuck at home for most of the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ve enjoyed the extra time together, but lately I’ve noticed our nerves are fraying. Lots of bickering and rolled eyes, and not just from the children. Any ideas for teaching our kids how to be gracious and forgiving toward each other, while reminding our adult selves to do the same?

AHopefully I can bring some context to your problems at home. As parents it is understandable you feel claustrophobic, needing space and freedom, while battling the guilt that comes from wishing you could just run away from home, if only for an hour. We’re facing new questions, like will the kids go back to school? And should they? Meanwhile, the world outside our homes seems darkened by a massive cloud of grief.

Imagine your former self (one year ago) hearing that more than 170,000 Americans would be dead from a brand-new viral pandemic; millions would be out of work, and our country would be as divided and contentious as ever. Imagine learning we could no longer hug our friends, attend a wedding, sit with a dying parent, or attend church. And while processing all the above information, realizing that many of the problems we had prior to the pandemic, remain.

So, cut yourself some slack. In the face of everything going on outside your front door, I would say you are doing pretty well.

We can tolerate a few eye rolls, and withstand a bit of bickering. You ask for ideas for teaching your kids how to be gracious and forgiving. This is a question you already know the answer to: model it. Be honest and apologize for your part of the problem.

I might also suggest a family Bible study on the meaning of the words grace and mercy. We use these two words interchangeably, but many of us have difficulty articulating the difference between them. Simply put, grace is God giving a blessing to those who don’t deserve it. Mercy is God withholding his wrath from those who do deserve it.

Knowing this difference will forever enhance your children’s understanding of Scripture, and it might just help them (and us) be less cynical and more accepting of those who suffer around us.

Mark McCormick is director of clinic operations for Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services. Send questions to IllinoisBaptist@ IBSA.org.

With the Lord

people

Welcome

Pastor James Ferrell of Herrin died May 22 at the age of 74. Ferrell, a bivocational pastor, served IBSA churches in Fisher, Glasgow, and LeRoy. He also worked as a grocery store manager. He retired in 2013 from First Baptist Church, LeRoy, the church where both he and his wife, Sue, had been saved years earlier. Ferrell is survived by his wife; three children; and a large extended family.

neTworking

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

Send NetworkiNg items to IllinoisBaptist@IBSA.org

Getting it done

Trevor Pasley is the new pastor of Ellis Mound Baptist Church. Originally from Wayne City, he was called to ministry in 2014. Pasley has served as a supply preacher in several churches, and as a youth minister in southern Indiana and at his home church, East Salem Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon. He and his wife, Emily, welcomed their first child in August.

Elm Street Baptist Church in Murphysboro seeks a part-time music minister. Qualified applicants should send a resumé to esbc1933@outlook.com or Elm Street Baptist Church, 1907 Elm St., Murphysboro, IL 62966.

North Benton Missionary Baptist Church seeks a bivocational, part-time pastor Send resumés to 623 Joplin St., Benton IL 62812, or Northbbaptist@gmail.com.

dave says

CLASSIFIED AD

Immanuel Baptist Church (SBC/MBC) is seeking a full-time pastor. Our mission field is located in the historic Mississippi River town of Hannibal, Mo. We are seeking a pastor who is a gifted expositor of God’s word who will be able to teach, disciple, and equip our church for future growth and outreach. He will agree with The Baptist Faith and Message (2000), and will lead our church on the strong foundations of biblical authority. Come grow with us! Information for the full application package is available at www.ibcministries.com.

Immanuel Baptist Church

3600 McMaster’s Avenue, Hannibal, MO 63401 • (573) 221-5119

QI’m single, and I’ll be a pilot in the military for the next 10 years. I’m also debt-free, have a fully funded emergency fund, and I’m saving 15% of my income for retirement. After my military days are over, I plan to work as a commercial pilot. I’ve done the math, and I have about $20,000 a year to give, have fun with, and build wealth. My question is about wealth building. When it comes to rental properties, I know you don’t like the idea of a long-distance landlord. Being in the military, there’s a good chance I’ll move around a bit. What should I do?

AFirst, thank you for your service to our country. And, wow! You’re in a tremendous position financially and careerwise. You’ve got a great future ahead of you as a pilot in the military and after, plus you’ve followed my plan item by item. You’ve got so many options, and you can make a difference in your community and in the lives around you right now by giving. When it comes to wealth building, I hope you’ve already taken advantage of the TSP, or Thrift Savings Plan, which is kind of the

military version of the 401(k). For wealth building beyond that, I’d get with a good investment pro—one with the heart of a teacher—and dive into some growth stock mutual funds. You could have a lot of money piled up just by the end of your military career. Who knows? You may even be able to buy a nice home with cash when you leave the service. Beyond that, you may be able to settle into some real estate and pay cash for those investments.

Congratulations on setting yourself up for a wonderful life—one where you can live and give like no one else!

IBSA. org 15 September 01, 2020
DAVE RAMSEY Financial advisor Dave Ramsey is a prolific author and radio host.

EVENTS

Pastor Plus

What: Webinars offering on-the-job training for new pastors, or a refresher for any leader in need of it

Upcoming sessions:

September 3: Funerals: The pastor’s perspective Register: IBSA.org/leadershipdevelopment

Edge Online Courses

What: Become a sharper leader right where you live and serve. Multi-week courses are instructor-led, fully online, and highly interactive.

When: The Fall 2020 term starts Sept. 7 and will offer three separate courses: Leading Self, Preaching at the Next Level, and Introduction to Mobilization. Register: IBSA.org/ibsa-online-courses

Leading to the Next Level

What: Webinars to equip leaders in all areas of influence—relationships, marketplace, and the local church

Upcoming sessions:

September 10: The heart of leadership Register: IBSA.org/leadershipdevelopment

September 12

Affinity Essentials Training

What: Entry-level training for new leaders in women’s, kids, and youth ministry

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

ReVision Revitalization

What: Webinar series designed to help pastors prepare to lead change and revitalization Upcoming sessions:

September 16: Preparation, process, and practice Register: IBSA.org/leadershipdevelopment

Church Helps Webinars

What: Guidance on current topics for church leaders When: Every third Thursday, 11 a.m. Register: IBSA.org/church-helps

October 24

Illinois Kids’ Ministry Resource Conference

What: Learn how to start a children’s ministry or make yours more effective, and get familiar with resources, including a sneak preview of 2021 VBS. Where: IBSA Building, Springfield Info: TammyButler@IBSA.org

NOVEMBER 4

IBSA Annual Meeting

September 13-20

missionillinois.org

THE NEW REALITY

Our long goodbye

Where: Tabernacle, Decatur See page 4 for more information.

NOVEMBER 6-7

AWSOM

What: Missions focused event for girls in grades 6-12

Almost 2 million Americans could be grieving a close family member lost to COVID-19 by the end of summer, according to models that suggest 190,000 virusrelated deaths in the U.S.

“There’s a narrative out there that COVID-19 affects mostly older adults,” said researcher Ashton Verdery, co-author of a new study on pandemic-related grief. “Our results highlight that these are not completely socially isolated people that no one cares about.”

The consequences of such vast bereavement in the nation could be far-reaching, researchers said, including:

• lower educational achievement

• disrupted marriages

• poorer physical and mental health

As churches help navigate the grief, new data from Barna found most pastors feel somewhat equipped to help with trauma, but only a small share feel “very” wellequipped. Some encouraging news: 88% of pastors say their churches are prepared to help people who have experienced the death of a loved one.

Some pastors are helping people navigate trauma while dealing with their own. In his article “3 Ministry Lessons from a Pastor’s Personal Trauma,” Baltimore pastor Dan Hyun explains how the devastating effect of two cancer diagnoses in his family has been compounded by the global pandemic, and led him to label 2020 “a long, nasty nightmare we’re hoping to wake from.”

Still, Hyun wrote for Facts & Trends, God is working through man’s limitations.

“My work as a pastor isn’t just about what I do; it’s who I am and who I know. It’s about presence even in the limitations many of us are experiencing in this current climate.

“In the same way, some of God’s most powerful work in me during this season has been the quiet power of his presence. Even if it doesn’t feel like fireworks, I’m learning to trust the reassuring presence of his still small voice.”

– CNN.com, Barna, Facts & Trends

16 IBSA. org Illinois Baptist
“They are integrally connected with their families, and their deaths will have a broad reach.”
– Ashton Verdery
Ministry innovation for uncertain times
Where: Tabernacle, Decatur; Springbrook, Plainfield Info: IBSA.org/awsom-conference Mission
Illinois Offering & Week of Prayer

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