September 4, 2017 Illinois Baptist

The relief effort following Hurricane Harvey will last for months, Texas Disaster Relief leaders are advising the teams preparing to come. “We’re telling folks realistically until Thanksgiving. That’s a conservative estimate,” said Gordon Knight, head of chaplains for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. And that’s just for the necessities such as food service and child care. Beyond that, mud-out and clean-up could continue for months, or even years, as it did after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and Superstorm Sandy on the New Jersey coast. With more than a fourth of Texas affected, this is expected to be the longest and most costly recovery effort in U.S. history.

CONVENTIONAL WISDOM

Snapshots from the world of Illinois Baptists

“To some Americans, saying you’re a sinner is a way of admitting you are not perfect….it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re evil or should be punished for your sin. That’s something the church should pay attention to.”

– Scott McConnell, LifeWay Research

Owning up to sin

Which of the following best describes you?

NATE ADAMS

Eclipses to avoid

Afew days ago, I was among the millions from Illinois and around the world that ventured down into the zone of “totality” for the solar eclipse that crossed America for the first time in decades. It was truly an amazing sight, as we were able to remove our protective cardboard glasses and for over two minutes look directly at the moon aligned perfectly in front of the sun. What an amazing and orderly universe our God has created.

I am a sinner, and I work on being less of one.

Sin does not exist. I am not a sinner.

I am a sinner, and I am fine with that. I prefer not to say.

28%

I am a sinner, and I depend on Jesus Christ to overcome sin. 34 28810 15+5+34%

– LifeWay Research, Aug. 2017

the cooperative program

Giving by IBSA churches as of 8/25/17 $3,817,071

Budget Goal: $4,119,231

Received to date in 2016: $3,861,116

2017 Goal: $6.3 Million

The Illinois Baptist staff

Editor - Eric Reed

Graphic Designer - Kris Kell

Contributing Editor - Lisa Misner Sergent

Editorial Contributor - Meredith Flynn

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

For weeks and days ahead of time, and then at least a few hours afterwards, our conversations were filled with new vocabulary for talking about the eclipse, words like totality, corona, umbra, and annular. I guess it was then I realized that I frequently use the word eclipse already, not so much as a noun, but as a verb.

To “eclipse” something means to obscure it from view, or to prevent something from being seen clearly, at least for a while. So, for example, a minor disappointment can eclipse an otherwise wonderful day. A mistake in someone’s behavior can eclipse an otherwise outstanding character. A poorly chosen word or tone can eclipse the intended meaning of a statement.

I think that’s why I find myself using the word eclipse as a verb with some frequency. I will say, “Let’s not let that one error eclipse the otherwise fine job he is doing.” Or, “Don’t allow that one rare exception to eclipse the larger trend here.” Or, “You’re letting that one point eclipse the larger picture.”

In our relationships, and in church life, there are eclipses that are especially important to avoid. By that I mean times when something relatively small is allowed to obscure or overshadow something much bigger or more important. And yet, those eclipses happen all too often.

For example, several years ago, a pastor (who is no longer pastoring) wrote me to say that he had led their church to discontinue their Cooperative Program giving because he felt snubbed by one of our staff members at an event. He would not return my calls or e-mails trying to reconcile the matter. And of course, the staff member had no memory of the event and no intent to offend. Yet as a result, a small misunderstanding and a lingering grudge were allowed to eclipse thousands of dollars in missions giving.

Another time a man told me he left his last church because of something the pastor said in the pulpit. It wasn’t a disagreement about doctrine or even biblical interpretation. He was simply irritated at their difference of opinion. And he allowed that irritation to eclipse the years and years of commitment his family had to that church.

From time to time I will hear a pastor or church leader talk about a contentious church member who used to have a role or prominence or even ministry in the church. When asked to do that role differently, or to do something else, they allowed their personal preference in ministry to eclipse what was best for the church. Sometimes that kind of discontent is allowed to grow to the point that it eclipses the overall health and unity of the church.

As awestruck as I am at the wonder of the recent solar eclipse, I’m really glad it didn’t last that long. It’s a reminder to me that relatively small things like the moon are not intended to obscure large and vital things like the sun, at least not for long. And relatively small offenses, mistakes, and disagreements should not be allowed to obscure the far more important fellowship and mission of the church. Let’s either avoid those eclipses entirely, or allow them to pass very, very quickly.

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

Not so rare or “once in a lifetime,” these little events have lasting impact.

Schedule, theme announced

Springfield | Illinois’ upcoming bicentennial will inspire the 2017 IBSA Annual Meeting, celebrating the pioneer spirit so needed in a state where the vast majority of people do not know Christ.

“Illinois is not just our home, it is a mission field, and its bicentennial is an important opportunity to emphasize how many people here still need to hear the gospel, and how many communities here still need a Baptist church,” said IBSA Executive Director Nate Adams

“There are actually four IBSA churches still active today that were already in existence when Illinois became a state in 1818. We

Simmons, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Benton, will bring the convention sermon.

The meeting will be structured to focus largely on the mission field in Illinois, Adams said. “We will be inviting churches to accept certain missional challenges during the upcoming bicentennial year of 2018, and celebrating those commitments and their progress at the 2018 annual meeting.”

Prior to the Annual Meeting, Gaines also will speak at the IBSA Pastors’ Conference, Nov. 7-8 at Tabernacle. Joining Gaines are Ed Stetzer, executive director of Wheaton College’s Billy Graham Center for Evangelism; Curtis Gilbert, pastor of The Journey Metro East in Belleville; and Joe Valenti, associate pastor of youth and missions at Cuyahoga Valley Church near Cleveland, Ohio. Joe Miller, worship leader at Grace Baptist Church in Granite City, will lead worship during the conference.

Gaines, McKissic, panel talk race and SBC

Following race-related protests in Charlottesville, Va., Southern Baptist Convention President Steve Gaines joined a panel of nine, including Dwight McKissic at the church he pastors, Cornerstone Baptist in Arlington, Texas. The August 20 discussion called “A Kingdom conversation on race and the alt-right” followed a time of worship and corporate prayer.

During the discussion McKissic said evangelicals should challenge political leaders who support same-sex marriage and abortion, and they should also stand strongly against vitriolic rhetoric, violence, and hatred. Gaines renounced racial and political hatred, saying it has no place in a Christian’s life.

believe that pushing back the vast lostness in Illinois today will require the same kind of courageous, creative, entrepreneurial spirit that it took to establish those first Baptist churches on the prairie 200 years ago.”

The meeting, scheduled for Nov. 8-9 at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Decatur, will feature Southern Baptist Convention President Steve Gaines and music from worship artists This Hope Sammy

Ministers’ wives will meet for their annual luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 8, at Tabernacle. The theme, “The Gift of Togetherness,” is based on Hebrews 10:24: “Let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works.” Tickets are $20; checks made out to IBSA Ministers’ Wives may be sent to Terry Kenney, 212 W. 10th St., Beardstown, IL 62618.

More information about the IBSA Annual Meeting and other meetings scheduled in Decatur will be posted soon at IBSA.org. Look for a special section in the October 16 issue of the Illinois Baptist.

After the event McKissic told Baptist Press, “I thought it was important for us to experience joint worship and by doing so we made a statement to our God, the world, and ourselves.” McKissic is the pastor who first proposed a resolution addressing “alt-right racism” at the SBC Annual Meeting in Phoenix in June.

Floyd to head 2018 National Day of Prayer

Ronnie Floyd has been appointed president of the National Day of Prayer Task Force.

Floyd, who will continue to serve as pastor of Cross Church in northwest Arkansas, wrote in a blog post announcing his latest ministry assignment, “In this desperate and urgent hour when turmoil and division is evident in America and security threats are being made against America, it is imperative that we do all we can right now to mobilize unified public prayer for America.”

Floyd will oversee mobilization of individuals, churches, denominations, and organizations to participate in ongoing prayer for America, culminating in the annual National Day of Prayer on the first Thursday in May. Floyd is the immediate past president of the SBC.

– Baptist Press

GAINES SIMMONS STETZER GILBERT VALENTI

McKISSIC

From the front: hurricane harvey

Continued from page 1

Even as the rains from Harvey continued to inundate the Texas Gulf Coast, Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief teams (IBDR) were packing to travel to the flooded region around Houston. Two child care teams were the first to leave on Aug. 30. They were to be stationed at shelters, to attend children while their parents stood in lines to meet with insurance companies and government agencies.

“People need help with the basics, just to get started putting their lives back together,” said Dwayne Doyle, state Disaster Relief director for IBSA.

The mobile kitchen from Living Faith Baptist Church in Sherman and food service crews were expected to be called out next, Doyle said. Beyond that, a very long line of chainsaw teams and mud-out volunteers. And, of course, chaplains with every team.

Illinois has 1,600 volunteers and 37 teams across the state. But more people are expected to offer assistance for the Texas relief effort. Training is required for all Disaster Relief volunteers. IBDR is offering training in several mini-sessions in order to mobilize more teams. The first training event was held Aug. 31 in Springfield. Training is planned for Sept. 5 at First Baptist Church of Litchfield, and Sept. 7 at Woodland Baptist Church in Peoria. Doyle expects to organize additional sessions in southern Illinois and Chicagoland later in September.

Harvest moon

Churches ‘plant gospel seeds’ during eclipse

Carbondale | As eclipse-watchers turned their eyes to the skies Monday, Aug. 21, much of the attention in Illinois was focused on the southern part of the state, where several communities were in the eclipse’s “path of totality.” In Carbondale, just north of the point of longest duration for the total eclipse, churches worked together to share the gospel with thousands of people who traveled to the region for the event.

“As we see this amazing event today that God has made, let’s point people to see the Son who paid for our sin so that we can have eternal life!” Pastor Scott Foshie posted on Facebook. Foshie, pastor of Steeleville Baptist Church and an IBSA zone consultant in southern Illinois, helped facilitate an areawide evangelistic effort to hand out 50,000 eclipse-themed gospel tracts.

The churches of Nine Mile Baptist Association, working in partnership with IBSA, had the tracts printed and mobilized volunteers to get them into the hands of eclipse-viewers in a multi-day outreach effort. The tract was designed to serve as a souvenir of the eclipse experience. “This is going to be the easiest thing you’ve ever passed out in your life,” Lakeland Baptist Church Pastor Phil Nelson said in a video promoting the outreach.

“They’re coming to see this eclipse, but God wants them to meet his son Jesus…I can’t think of an easier way to tell somebody about Jesus,” Foshie said. “All you’ve got to do is smile, walk up to them, and say, ‘Would you like to have this souvenir? God bless you.’ I mean, it’s that simple, and then we’ve planted a gospel seed.”

Ken Wilson was in the Goreville area passing out tracts in the hours before the eclipse. The IBSA church planting catalyst encountered people from multiple states including California, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, and places as far away as Australia, Europe, and Japan.

Wilson was working with volunteers from the church plant, Southern Illinois Country Church. One of the volunteers giving tracts out at a local gas station encountered a woman from Kansas who asked for more copies of the tract to give to her friends and hand out where she was staying.

For teams from Lake County planning to deploy soon, it’s payment on a debt of gratitude. Texas Baptist Men sent a string of crews to assist home owners north of Chicago after floods in the spring. They have three projects to finish there before heading to Houston.

“It’s hard work, but the work isn’t the important part,” DR chaplain Ric Worshill told a Chicago newspaper. “The important part is the love that we bring to people in their time of need. That’s what it’s all about.” Worshill is organizing the relief response from Lake County.

“Thank goodness we have sister conventions that respond,” Knight said of the teams coming to the aid of Texas.

Donations of money are most needed at this time. Doyle said the cost for transporting a mobile kitchen or shower unit from Illinois to Texas is $1,000. And transporting a crew of volunteers costs $250. Visit IBSA.org/DR to give. All gifts are tax deductible and all of the offering goes to Disaster Relief. Visit the same web page to learn more about upcoming training sessions for new DR volunteers. Or contact DwayneDoyle@ibsa.org.

– IB staff, with additional reporting by Baptist Press.

In addition to the tracts, pray-ers planned to be at four points in Carbondale—Lakeland Church, Murdale Baptist Church, FBC Elkville, and the Baptist Student Center at Southern Illinois University. The volunteers, standing next to six-foot crosses, prayed for cars as they entered the city. It was estimated around 90,000 people would be in Carbondale for the eclipse.

Wilson was distributing tracts at a campground when he gave a tract to a young Asian woman. They talked and she prayed to receive Christ as her Savior. He saw her again later, taking pictures of the tract. “I asked what she was doing,” he said. “She told me, ‘This tract changed my life. I’m taking pictures of both sides and sharing it on Facebook. I want to share it with all my Facebook friends.’”

Volunteers in Carbondale (left) carry boxes of eclipse-themed evangelistic tracts used for ministry in southern Illinois. The tract (above) was part of a multi-day outreach to tens of thousands who traveled to the region for the total solar eclipse in August.

WILSON

TRAVELING MERCIES – Child Care teams departed Illinois for Dallas on Aug. 30, where they will tend children at a shelter for flood victims.

IN FOCUS

Christ-Centered Parenting

Dynamic families

Raising gospel-minded children is a big challenge, but a worthy one.

BY MEREDITH FLYNN

The word “family” conjures up feelings of warmth, sentimentality, peace, and tranquility—the kinds of things we put on Christmas cards, said Russell Moore, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.

Often, though, our families aren’t really like that. We’re not lying, Moore said, but there are so many things we leave unsaid. Those things—the challenges of parenting, the hard conversations, the fears that children won’t turn out like we want them to—were at the heart of the ERLC’s conference on “Christ-Centered Parenting in a Complex World.”

The podium at the Aug. 24-26 meeting was filled by family experts, church leaders, storytellers, and even a U.S. Senator (Ben Sasse of Nebraska). But the audience looked a lot like real parents. Strollers lined the walls of the auditorium as parents and children listened together. One speaker in a breakout for moms tweeted that it was highly appropriate to hear several crying babies in the session.

Over three days at Nashville’s Opryland Hotel, conference speakers drew on their experiences ministering and equipping families—and raising their own—to guide parents toward a gospel-centered view of the family. Along the way, they touched on some specific issues of our day—gender identity, racial division, sexuality, pornography, and the overwhelming influence of technology.

They also called Christian parents to an ideal that grows more and more radical as the culture around them changes. “Those who grow to know and serve God with everything they have do not blend in,” said author and speaker Jen Wilkin. “The goal

of a Christian parent is to prepare their child to live in a world that is not their home.”

At the meeting, several characteristics of gospel-centered families emerged. Three of those are overviewed in this issue of the Illinois Baptist and will be discussed in more detail in an upcoming series on parenting:

(1) Gospel-centered families are willing to be counter-cultural;

(2) They’re built in the context of a community of Christ-followers, the local church; and

(3) They’re based on the principle that children can be actively engaged right now in the mission of Christ.

In his opening address, Moore said the unspoken challenges of parenting are part of the reason it can be so difficult. “…In our culture, parenting so often is about winning and displaying.” If something goes wrong in our family, he continued, we worry people are going to think something’s wrong with us. He quoted a friend who said he knew parenting would be humbling, but had no idea it would also be humiliating.

P. 6

Building blocks for healthy homes

The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission’s August conference on parenting featured big-picture, biblical counsel and smaller-scale, specific advice on how to tackle current issues in the context of the family.

Gospel-centered families, speakers said, will look different than everyone else, and will raise their children in the context of biblical community. They’ll also seek to engage their children in God’s mission.

– Photos of families and ERLC panel by Kelly Hunter, ERLC

The antidote to drowning in all the potential failures? A Christ-centered perspective, one that acknowledges parents are called to follow Christ’s example and take up a cross, Moore said.

“Parenting is a unique mixture of joy and terror, beauty and brokenness, happiness and disaster. Nothing is easier than loving your children, and nothing is harder than loving your children. We as Christians ought to be people who understand that dynamic.”

Alien children

It’s easy to blame kids for peer pressure— for exerting it on one another and for feeling it themselves. But it’s generally not children who fall victim to it, said Jen Wilkin. It’s parents who feel a strong pull to soothe their own memories of not fitting in by helping their kids fit in.

But Christian parents need to be looking instead for opportunities to help their children get comfortable with being different—even “alien” in our culture, Wilkin said. She gave five areas where Christian families and kids will look different, beginning with their activities.

“We have to be running these things through a different filter than other people,” she said. A filter that places a higher priority on the dynamic at home than allowing children to run themselves—and their parents—into the ground with an ever-increasing list of activities.

She read Deuteronomy 6:6-7: “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

The role of the church

At least two speakers in Nashville quoted a study that found children are more likely to stick to their faith after high school if they’ve been invested in by adults other than their parents. Christ-centered parenting can’t be done in a vacuum. It calls parents to rely on others in their faith community, Russell Moore said. Christians are to bear one another’s burdens, including in parenting, he said.

“The author of Deuteronomy seems to think that there will actually be times when we sit in our house—together,” Wilkin said. “Seems to think there will be times where we walk by the way together. When we lie down—together, and when we rise up—together.

“This passage assumes a natural rhythm of the home that is bringing the family together, versus spreading the family out.”

Jim Kerr is pastor of First Baptist Church in Fairview Heights. Wilkin’s talk on family activities resonated with him because he sees families in his church struggling to balance all the things they think they have to do. Churches can fall victim to the same kind of thinking, he said.

“The guilt of doing ministry sometimes overrides the benefit of the right amount of ministry and the right amount of time,” Kerr said. “Because we just wear ourselves out.” That’s why his church plans intentional seasons of break in certain activities and ministries, he said, “realizing that there’s so much going with our families and our children, we’re going to wear ourselves out from doing, while not really gaining the purposes we need.”

Wilkin talked about four other areas in which Christian families should be alien and strange: speech, possessions, entertainment, and friends. Look for more on counter-cultural families and how parents in Illinois are raising “alien” children in upcoming issues of the Illinois Baptist

“That is what is so dangerous about the church turning, in many cases, into silos filled with individual minivans full of families, coming to receive instruction and then to return home to their self-contained units.” Even more so in our rootless, hyper-mobile culture, Moore said, where children don’t see their extended families often and mothers and fathers fight feelings of isolation, parenting can be a lonely endeavor.

‘I feel like in my parenting I am drowning and I need help.’ That is what the church is for.”

If parenting in community means bearing one another’s burdens, it also involves having the courage to turn children loose to engage in God’s mission. In fact, that should be the goal of parenting, said North Carolina pastor J.D. Greear. Children are designed by God to be arrows, Greear said, referencing Psalm 127, not accessories.

Quoting family ministry expert Reggie Joiner, Greear said in our safety-obsessed culture, we forget the ultimate goal of parenting is to let go.

“The ultimate mission of the family is not to protect your children from all harm, but to mobilize them for the mission of God,” said Greear, pastor of The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham.

“We need each other, and we cannot be godly parents to our children if we are not brothers and sisters to each other.”

Moore recalled a woman who approached him after he preached at her church and leaned close to whisper a prayer request for her daughter, who was away at college and had decided she was an atheist. When Moore asked why she was whispering, she said, “I don’t want anybody to think, ‘There’s that lady with the atheist daughter.’”

Something’s terribly wrong with that picture, Moore said. “Here we are when every family in Scripture has prodigals, including God the Father. And we are scared to cry out to one another and say,

And as they go, they’re sure to look different, having been shaped in a community in which the goal of the family is to glorify God and, through their example, to bring others to a saving knowledge of Christ.

“As Christian parents, the most hopeful thing we can do is lift up our own eyes and train the eyes of our children to behold our Savior, alien and strange,” Wilkin said. “He is coming on the clouds, and when he comes, may he find the family of God, and your family and my family, desperately hoping and yearning to look like him.”

GREEAR KERR MOORE

FOR ALL AGES – Strollers and babies in laps were common at the ERLC’s conference Aug. 24-26, where families were encouraged toward a Christ-centered view of parenting.

“Parenting matters. The stakes are high. That’s why it’s hard.”

– Russell Moore, president, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission

For more from the ERLC’s National Conference on Christ-Centered Parenting in a Complex World, see upcoming issues of the Illinois Baptist, or go to ERLC.com to view conference sessions.

Talking with kids...about race

Parenting conference turns to serious discussions

Is it ever too early to talk about race with your children? Panelists at the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission’s conference on parenting said no, resoundingly.

“You should not wait,” said Rachel Metzger, an educator and mother of two. “Because waiting seems like a secret, or something you don’t want to talk about.” Metzger joined four other parents and church leaders for a panel discussion on how to raise children with a biblical view of racial unity.

Coming less than a month after deadly protests in Charlottesville, Va., the panelists addressed the topic at a time when America’s racial divides are glaringly apparent. But, “this is not just something that we need to be talking about because something in the culture happened,” said Trillia Newbell, director of community outreach for the ERLC.

“It’s something the church needs to be on top of, ahead of, because it is ultimately a biblical topic.”

Newbell is the author “God’s Very Good Idea,” a new children’s book about the diversity inherent in God’s creation. The book calls families to celebrate differences because they are, after all, God’s doing.

“That’s what’s missing in our culture—we don’t celebrate our differences; we politicize them,” Newbell said during the panel. “And we should celebrate. This is God’s good plan. It’s his idea.”

With kids, celebrating differences means acknowledging them. Newbell told the audience in Nashville that her son identified early on the difference between his mom’s skin color and his own. As her children have gotten older, open conversations about skin color have evolved into discussions about the realities of racism, division, and ethnic pride.

“It is heartbreaking, but it’s something that we have to be talking about,” Newbell said. “But even with that, we are sharing the full picture of the gospel that unites.”

The panelists shared several suggestions for fostering in children a biblically-based appreciation for racial diversity and unity:

1. Educate yourself. Dive into what the Bible says about the nations and the image of God, said Byron Day, pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Laurel, Md., and president of the National African American Fellowship of the Southern Baptist Convention. “You need to know for yourself first of all what it is that you believe, and why you believe it, so that you can better then explain it to them.” Day noted two helpful Scripture passages: Genesis 10 and Revelation 7.

2. Point to real-life examples. Adoption is such a part of the culture on his church staff, said Pastor Jason Paredes,

that if an outsider were to try to match parents with kids based on skin color, it would be impossible. In that environment, said the pastor of Fielder Church in Arlington, Texas, identity is based less on looks and more on family bonds, giving parents a real-life way to talk to their kids about God’s view of racial unity.

3. Lay a biblical foundation. Pastor Afshin Ziafat recalled seeing an interview with a white nationalist in the aftermath of protesting in Charlottesville. The man’s angst, Ziafat remembered, seemed ultimately to be about protecting himself.

LGBTQ service bill signed into law

Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner signed Senate Bill 1670, the LGBTQ Public Service Bill, into law last month. The law, which will take effect Jan. 1, 2018, was an initiative of Equality Illinois, a lobbying organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, and queer Illinoisans. Their goal is to get more gay representation on state panels.

According to a press release from Equality Illinois, it allows “individuals who apply to serve on boards and commissions under the authority of the Governor’s Office to voluntarily self-identify as LGBTQ.” Individuals may do so under existing law, however the new law allows the data to be included in annual reports to the General Assembly along with that of gender, disability status, and ethnicity. The information will then be reported to the public.

Rauner signals abortion support

The root of racism is the sin of self, said Ziafat, pastor of Providence Church in Frisco, Texas. “With our children, I want to teach them that all are made in God’s image, but I also want to make sure I’m teaching them that life isn’t about you. Philippians 2 is what I want to teach them: Count others more significant than yourselves; put the interest of others before yourself.”

4. Invite people in. Get to know your neighbors, Newbell advised. Ask God to give you eyes to see color and culture, and invite the people around you into your family’s life.

Ziafat said mission trips have motivated his church members to get to know the people around them. “As we’ve gone on mission trips and our people have gone to other cultures and come back home, I’ve seen them have a heart to now want to go meet my Indian neighbor who I’ve never even talked to, because I just got back from India. I think that’s been a huge thing for us too.”

5. Start now. Newbell acknowledged some listeners probably feel the guilt of not having had these kinds of conversations with their kids. “It’s never too late to talk about the glory of God and Imago Dei. If you’re listening and thinking, ‘Well, I didn’t do that,’ start today.”

– Meredith Flynn

The Illinois General Assembly passed HB40, which provides tax-payer funding for abortions, in the spring session. Since then it’s been waiting on the governor’s desk.

At one time the governor indicated he would veto HB40. The Chicago Sun-Times reported April 14, “Gov. Rauner is committed to protecting women’s reproductive rights under current Illinois law. However, recognizing the sharp divisions of opinion of taxpayer funding of abortion, he does not support HB40,” a Rauner spokesperson said.

Now, the Illinois Review is reporting the governor may allow the bill to become law. While at the State Fair in Springfield on Governor’s Day, Rauner was asked by reporters what he intends to do with HB40. Though he did not respond directly, the website reported, “Governor Rauner did tell reporters that he ‘strongly supports women’s reproductive rights, and that he always has and always will.’”

The bill removes the provision from the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 which banned state funds paying for abortions through state employees’ group insurance policies. It also amends the Illinois Public Aid Code providing abortions to Medicaid recipients. In addition, it amends the Illinois Abortion Law of 1975, which regulated state abortion law in conformance with the legal standards with decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court.

– Illinois Policy, Equality Illinois, Illinois Review Get

PRECIOUS IN HIS SIGHT – Steven Harris (left) moderates a panel including the ERLC’s Trillia Newbell and Texas pastor Jason Paredes on how to help children view diversity like God does. Photo by Kelly Hunter

First-time VBS

Free kits initiate new outreach

East St. Louis | Pastor BJ Jackson and his church have talked for the past couple of years about the need to do a Vacation Bible School in their community. But until this year, Calvary AD Church in East St. Louis didn’t have the resources. A kit provided by IBSA gave his church an open door, Jackson said.

“When the opportunity presented itself, we kind of looked at it as, ‘There’s no reason we can’t this year.’”

IBSA zone consultants helped identify churches who hadn’t done VBS in a few years—or ever—to receive the resource kits. Calvary hosted its first VBS in partnership with another local congregation, and averaged more than 30 participants every night. VBS is a good fit for his community, Jackson said, because it generates excitement. Along with the children’s class, they also offered a track for adults.

Back to Brazil

152 accept Christ as medical mission team returns to Rio

In nearby Belleville, Charis Baptist Fellowship held a week of Bible club with help from the IBSA resources. A volunteer mission team from Kansas came to help church members host a backyard Bible club in a trailer community two miles from the church. Pastor Jason Vinson said his church had initially been denied permission to minister at the trailer park.

“We prayed asking the Lord to give us favor with the owner and literally two days later, we got permission to meet there,” Vinson said. Between 10 and 15 people attended most days, he said, and the last day featured a showing of the children’s version of the “Jesus” film. They didn’t see professions of faith during the week, Vinson said, but were encouraged by gospel conversations they had and the good relationship they’re forming with the community’s management.

The Backyard Bible Club kits are made possible by IBSA churches’ faithful giving through the Cooperative Program and the Mission Illinois Offering. Next summer, IBSA will again provide kits to churches who haven’t done VBS in a few years, said Associate Executive Director Mark Emerson. For more information, call (217) 391-3124 or e-mail TammyButler@IBSA.org.

Steeleville | Kathy Van Ness’s voice breaks when she remembers the line of people waiting to be seen at a makeshift medical clinic in Rio de Janeiro. The registered nurse went to Brazil for the third consecutive summer—a result of long-term relationships her pastor, Scott Foshie, has established in the country.

“I had been praying for years to go on a medical mission trip, but nothing just felt right,” Van Ness said, describing the time before her first trip to Rio. “When I heard him announce [the opportunity] from the pulpit, I thought, ‘This is it. This is it.’”

Van Ness joined three others from her church this summer to work with medical professionals and volunteers from seven fellow churches. The team, representing Illinois, Indiana, and Tennessee, partnered with a local church in Rio who hosted the clinic. To start their ministry week, volunteers hosted a “Children’s Day” celebration, inviting the community to the church for games and food to kick off the clinic.

On day one, patients lined up for two blocks to see a doctor or a dentist, and to visit the eye clinic or pharmacy.

“It kind of broke my heart,” Van Ness said of the line. Over the week, she worked as a triage nurse, taking patients’ vital signs and sending them where they needed to go. She also shared the gospel and asked how she could pray for them. Many mentioned their families, and the financial difficulties common in the area, where many workers receive vouchers instead of paychecks.

One woman Van Ness prayed with had been working for a year and a half without a paycheck, receiving a weekly basket of food instead. “She said, ‘I can’t support my family like this,’” Van Ness remembered. “That’s

the kind of hardship these people are going through.”

Altogether, workers in the clinic served 300 medical patients, helped 1,272 people at the pharmacy, extracted 336 teeth, and checked 285 sets of eyes. Throughout the week, 152 people accepted Christ as Savior.

While in Brazil, the volunteers were encouraged by the members of the local church they partnered with, Van Ness said. They were the bulk of the workforce at the clinic, arriving early to organize the line and preparing meals for the volunteers throughout the week.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a church pull together and work so well together,” she said. “God has definitely had his hand in this.”

FOSHIE

PARTNERS IN THE GOSPEL – Kathy Van Ness (middle) prays with members of a Brazilian church before her mission team starts a day of medical ministry in Rio de Janeiro. Van Ness and three others from Steeleville Baptist Church partnered with the church in Rio and volunteers from Indiana and Tennessee for a week of ministry, which included a Children’s Day celebration (photo at top).

MINISTRY OPPORTUNITY – Calvary AD Church (top) and Charis Baptist Fellowship (photo above) were among the churches that started new summer outreaches to families this year.

MISSION Opening doors

MISSION ILLINOIS OFFERING & WEEK OF PRAYER

SEPTEMBER 10-17, 2017

Church planters’ strategy is meeting people by meeting their needs. But which needs?

BY ERIC REED

The strategy is simple. Lost people know lost people. They hang out with lost people. If you lead one lost person to faith in Christ, suddenly you have broken into a whole new circle of people who need Jesus. And the most effective witness to the gospel is someone whose life has been changed by salvation in Jesus Christ—especially if it’s happened recently.

That’s why the Illinois Baptist State Association continues to invest in church planting as an important and effective strategy for evangelism. There are lots of places in a state of 13 million people where there is little or no evangelical witness.

IBSA is identifying 200 places and peoples that need Jesus. With at least 8 million lost people living just next door, it won’t be hard to put those pins on the map.

For Bryan and Marci Coble, that pin landed in the Irving Park area of Chicago, far away and far different from her small hometown in Chatham. For Derrick and Ailee Taylor, that pin was right next door, in their own rural community of Staunton. Here are their stories.

Story #1: Far and away

Marci Coble was raised near Springfield under a strong Baptist influence. Her grandfather, Maurice Swinford, was on IBSA’s staff 15 years and served as executive director from 1988 to 1993. “He was always making sure I knew who Jesus is,” Marci says with a tear in her eye. She was a GA and Acteen, and worked one summer at Lake Sallateeska Baptist Camp.

Focus on new churches

The Mission Illinois Offering supports starting new churches where they are needed. Whether it’s in the inner city in Chicago, or a rural downstate community such as Staunton, new churches have proven an effective way to reach unchurched and lost people.

The goal of $475,000 will aid church planters with supplies and meeting space, and help those IBSA missionaries who strategize the starting of evangelistic churches.

Mission Illinois Offering & Week of Prayer is

But... it’s not too late Pray for state missions… and give

Any time is the right time to focus on state missions. Many churches will have a Week of Prayer and gather the Mission Illinois Offering during September 10-17, but any time this fall can work. Here are some options:

• Choose a different week. There are plenty of dates available before the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering begins.

• Combine with another offering. Lots of churches bring their mission offerings together: local, state, North American and International missions. October or November could be a great month for a four-week missions emphasis, one week for each mission field.

• Pray now, give later. Pass out the Prayer Guides, and pray in worship services in September. Then announce an offering in a way and time of your choosing.

• Budget for it. Some churches make MIO part of their regular budget, although we urge you to keep CP gifts as a percentage of your regular offering.

• Study Illinois. Even if you don’t do all the pieces of the Mission Illinois Offering & Week of Prayer, schedule a missions study. Or preach about it. Baptists in Illinois need to know about lostness in Illinois and our responsibility to share the gospel. MIO can inspire your congregation right here, right now.

Continued from page 9

“I was allotted a lot of opportunities and a lot of blessings that I probably wouldn’t have had without his influence and without being his granddaughter—even my call to missions.”

She is almost as emotional describing Chatham Baptist Church. “I grew up there, I was baptized there,” Marci says. “Bryan and I were married there. They shaped me and molded me and I’m blessed to call that my home.”

So when Marci’s husband, Bryan, suggested when he finished his seminary studies that they move to Portland, Ore., to plant a new church, Marci’s brows furrowed. She was willing to go wherever God led them—in fact, they visited the Pacific Northwest on a vision tour—but might God lead them to Chicago?

“Bryan had set up an appointment in Portland. And we received a note from my grandmother with an article from IBSA letting us know they need church planters in Illinois too.” Marci laughed. “And we were like, ‘Oh, that’s so sweet. I love Grandma.’” But the message stuck.

If you need additional MIO materials, visit missionillinois.org. Write to MIO@IBSA.org. Or call (217) 391-3119.

“I didn’t want to come to Chicago,” Bryan readily confesses. “I was raised 60 miles south of St. Louis and grew up a St. Louis Cardinals fan. When we started to pray about Chicago, God actually told me—this may sound crazy,” he says as an aside, “to get a Chicago Cubs hat and wear it for 30 days.”

Bryan shifts the Cubs hat on his head, as if he’s adjusting to the fit.

“My heart started to change,” the Missouri transplant says as a smile breaks out. “My love for this city and my burden for this city started to grow. We love this city so much. We love the people of this city so much,” he says.

A similar feeling started growing back in Chatham, Marci’s home church in suburban Springfield. The town of 11,000 is one-seventh the size of the Cobles’ new neighborhood. And for the church members there, Chicago has seemed like someone else’s responsibility.

“To be honest with you, Chicago has always seemed very distant to us,” says Pastor Milton Bost. But having a hometown girl serving as a missionary in the big city has changed things.

“I think Bryan and Marci are kind of pioneers for us,” Bost says.

Chatham has become heavily involved in the Cobles’ planting work 200 miles away. “Folks from Chatham came up to help us do this,” Bryan says on a rainy Saturday morning in April. A children’s playground in the center of their neighborhood is also the epicenter of their planting work. “(We) hand out flyers, hand out cookies, talk to people, build relationships.” The park is covered in people wearing green T-shirts declaring their love for the area.

“We want the community to know that we love them, we’re here to invest in them first and foremost,” Marci says.

The couple moved their two boys there last year— in time for the Cubs’ World Series win. They began surveying the city and seeking God’s direction. In the spring the Cobles bought a small condo in a

pre-war three-floor building, and started meeting the neighbors—Hispanics, Anglos, and some Asian people. Their goal is to launch a Bible study, then a church, in the recreation building at the park.

“Chicago is a world city. It has high influence not just within the state of Illinois, but in the world,” Bryan says. “We need to be able to reach these people with the gospel. We do it in love, so that they will hopefully come to know Christ and be changed by the gospel. And the world with them.”

Story #2: Right here, right now

Derrick and Ailee Taylor didn’t have to move across the state to their mission field. Their surrender was a different kind, a surrender of the heart and a willingness to trust. “I lost sleep over it,” Derrick says. “I wrestled with it.”

The police officer in Staunton, Ill., (population 5,000) calls himself “a regular joe.” Definitely not a pastor.

“I was telling God, ‘Hey, if you bring the pastor, I’ll help plant it.’”

No pastor came. Instead, God sent Derrick a message. The messenger was IBSA’s Eddie Pullen.

“He just looked me straight in the eyes,” Derrick recalls. “He said, ‘Derrick, you’re it. No one else is coming. It’s you.’” Pullen is one of eight church planting catalysts who are presently equipping more than 80 church planters in the state. Their work is supported in part by the Mission Illinois Offering. Receiving Pullen’s message, Derrick got to work planting a church. Net Community Church launched in 2016, and in just under a year, 29 people have been baptized.

BRYAN COBLE

DERRICK TAYLOR AILEE TAYLOR

DEEP ROOTS – Standing outside their Chicago condo, Marci is holding a photo of her grandparents. Her grandfather, Maurice Swinford, led church development for IBSA and ultimately served as executive director.

“Our heart is for rural communities that cannot often sustain a new church plant,” says Derrick’s wife and ministry partner, Ailee. “We’re bivocational—that’s the key. Church planting is something that we’re very, very passionate about because these people need Jesus just as much as people (in large cities).”

That passion has been proven in Staunton as the Taylors and Net Community Church members have invested time in the local food bank. “The Helping Hands Center is a place where people can come and see Christ lived out,” Derrick says. Working with other churches and local firefighters, the Taylors led the relocation

and renovation of the center, which is now open two days a week, feeding hungry people in a town many miles from the usual compassion ministries.

“We felt it would be an excellent way to reach the unchurched that are clearly living at times without hope,” Derrick says. “(God) has confirmed my call over and over again, when I see the addict set free, a marriage healed, people giving their life to Christ (and) being baptized.”

“We’ve been able to be a light to new people,” Ailee adds. “We just had to have faith. That’s all we needed.”

Watch videos related to this story at missionillinois.org. And use the daily devotions for prayer for state missions that were published in the Aug. 14 Illinois Baptist. Devotions are also on the website, and will be e-mailed daily to subscribers to IBSA’s e-Connection newsletter during the Week of Prayer Sept. 10-17.

STAY WHERE YOU ARE. SERVE WHERE YOU’VE BEEN CALLED. STUDY WITH WORLD-CLASS FACULTY AND A GLOBAL STUDENT BODY.

Training provided by Bruce Kugler, member of the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists. A training ministry of God’s Courtroom.

A prerequisite for personal growth, evangelism, mission trips, and church planting.

Video: A heart for the city

reporter’s notebook sound off

North Korea nuclear threat

Robert Jeffress, pastor of FBC Dallas

“When it comes to how we should deal with evildoers, the Bible, in the book of Romans, is very clear: God has endowed rulers full power to use whatever means necessary—including war—to stop evil. In the case of North Korea, God has given Trump authority to take out Kim Jong Un.”

– Quoted in The Washington Post (August 8)

Charlottesville protests

Russell Moore, ERLC President

“In a time like this, Christians might ask whether we should, in fact, be angry. Should we not instead just conclude that this is what a fallen world is like and pray for the final judgment to come? If you are feeling distressed and heated, you have reason to be. White supremacy makes Jesus angry…White supremacy exalts the creature over the Creator, and the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against it.”

– Op/ed in the Washington Post (August 14)

U.S. political unrest

Carey Nieuwhof, Canadian pastor

“This provides a huge opportunity for church leaders. Who better to provide meaning than the leaders called to share timeless truth in an era starved for meaning?

When the church simply reflects the social or moral values of an increasingly post-Christian culture, we echo the current emptiness; we don’t echo God.”

– From CareyNieuwhof.com (August 23)

Summer of love, summer of hate

As warm weather descended on San Francisco that year, so did the hippies, as many as 100,000 of them. The Haight-Ashbury District became ground zero for a festival that lasted for weeks: young people with flowers in their tresses singing and dancing and cavorting in public spaces, doing a little protesting of the Viet nam War, and smoking a lot of what their mothers wouldn’t approve.

They called it the ‘summer of love.’

Ironically, that summer in 1967 was also marked by fear and terror and rioting, as large sections of Detroit went up in flames just as Watts in Los Angeles had two years earlier. In Detroit, the violence that started after police raided an unlicensed bar ended with 2,000 buildings destroyed, more than 7,000 people arrested, over 1,000 injured, and 43 deaths. Free love on the West Coast, and unrestrained hate in the Midwest.

Here, 50 years later, we have witnessed another season of dichotomy, a tense summer of issues—and people—in conflict. The political tensions and threats of nuclear attack were topped by violent marches in Charlottesville that killed one young woman and revealed the breadth of a racial rift in America that few imagined existed.

As is 1967, the summer of 2017 was on some fronts a summer of hate. But from our vantage point, we can say, too, it was a summer of love.

There were stories in our pages that attested that: mission trips around the world where the love of Christ was shared. In downstate Cairo and Brazil and many other places, people received Christ as Savior. We saw children learn about Jesus at IBSA camps and Vacation Bible Schools every-

And to cap it all, the eclipse. Carbondale was epicenter this time as millions from Oregon to South Carolina looked upward, many seeming to search for something beyond themselves. A famed Chicago weatherman wept on air for the beauty of nature. More important, Baptists in southern Illinois shared Christ, and lost people came to faith.

When they look back on the summer of 2017 to give it a name, no one will look at the protests and nuclear threats and political martial arts and call it ‘the summer of love.’ But seeing the totality of our Christian outreach this season, and the genuine outpouring from God’s heart, maybe we will.

– Eric Reed

Tabernacle Baptist Church

Speaker: Brian Burgess

Band: Vertical Church

Comedy: 321 Improv

Marion Cultural and Civic Center

Speaker: Zane Black

Artist: Sixteen Cities

Illusionist: Harris III

Hillcrest Baptist Church

3-9 p.m.

all locations

Cost is $25 per person, includes dinner YE T-shirts on sale, $15 each $30 per person for non-IBSA churches

Speakers and artists to be announced IBSA.org/YE2017

Conversations

Recently I was blessed to join a group of individuals that had a heart to reach out to the inhabitants of Cairo, Illinois. This town on the southern tip of the state is a fraction of the size it once was, and is plagued by poverty, crime, and despair.

I was anxious to be part of the evangelism team. Speaking to others about Christ is my passion, especially in a street ministry setting. The analogy I use is that the army of God needs boots on the ground, and I enjoy the march.

As my friends and I drove through the overpass into Cairo, a darkness seemed to engulf us. I don’t think they noticed, or at least they didn’t mention it. It was the darkness of spiritual oppression, even in the light of day. We were all joyous about the possibility of new converts and changed lives, yet I clearly recognized the spiritual stronghold on this community.

We were sent out two-by-two, just as Jesus illustrated with the disciples. We were given a small tract called “Your Life (A New Beginning),” which could be used as a conversation starter. We were to inform the individual that this little booklet had valuable information on obtaining a good life, then ask them how their life was going.

On the first day I felt some trepidation about this task. I would vacillate between complete trust in the Spirit’s leadership, followed by strict attention to the tract. Although I knew the tract was simply a tool, I found myself concerned about whether I’d covered all the bases. I became more focused on my presentation than on the individual’s reaction or response.

A “cold call” is never an easy form of interaction, especially in witnessing. Having just a few minutes at the door, our purpose is to offer the A-B-C’s of salvation, and hope for follow-up and for growth to come later. Nevertheless, we sometimes fall into “Christianese”

while conveying the message. This often results in more confusion than clarification. And on that first day in Cairo, I found myself far too focused on checking the talking points in the tract.

As a group we had prayed numerous times, but in this wavering between trust in him and desire to complete the presentation, I knew the Lord was beckoning me to a new place of reliance on him.

I can honestly say I love to talk and I love people. I’ve often said my spiritual gift is beneath my nose and my spiritual calling is to “love people into the kingdom.” So the question is: what do I love to talk about? Answer: people coming to a real relationship with Christ.

For me, having a “gospel conversation” is a natural process, as natural as any other conversation, if the subject matter is about something or someone you love.

The word of God reminds us that we are equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:17), and we are always to be ready to give an answer to everyone for the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15). If we have been mandated to “go and tell” as the Great Commission emphasizes, are we to conclude that God would purposely make fulfillment of that call difficult? I believe not. His word cites in Deuteronomy 30:14 and Romans 10:8 that the word is very near us; it’s in our mouths, which means all we have to do is open our mouth. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and allow him to speak his truth through us as yielded vessels.

There in Cairo I asked the Lord to allow me to be natural, sensitive, and intentional, using the gift that he had given me, the gift of sharing, whether it be a through a booklet, a testimony, or conversation about the commonalities in our lives.

The next two days were significantly better because I released the idea that I had some sense of responsibility for the outcome of a person’s decision. With each day, I felt more liberated to have natural conversations. At one house, an individual of the Black Hebrew Israelite religion informed my partner and me that we made a good team. This was strictly due to how we presented the message in a natural, non-threatening manner. The man was willing to listen because we didn’t so much “present” the gospel; we simply talked about the Savior.

Jacqueline Scott is a member of Dorrisville Baptist Church in Harrisburg. She also serves on the IBSA Board of Directors.

Time for celebration

In October, we mark 500 years since Martin Luther nailed his 95 complaints to the church house door. Now is the time to plan a special worship service, sermon series, prayer meeting, or Bible study on key theological aspects of the Reformation that shape our belief and practice today.

One Illinois church we know is planning a sermon series on the “solae” of the Reformation:

• Sola scriptura (Scripture alone)

• Sola fide (faith alone)

• Sola gratia (grace alone)

• Solus Christus (Christ alone)

• Soli Deo gloria (glory to God alone)

Luther’s bulletin board raid occurred on October 31, 1517, so the Sunday before that anniversary date (October 29, 2017) is a great date for a special worship service. Consider a single service built on the five solae. Sing Luther’s hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” And the new classic “In Christ Alone” is an excellent theological summary.

Bible Gateway recommends these Scriptures:

Romans 1:17

Ephesians 2:8

1 Peter 2:5

2 Timothy 3:16

Matthew 11:29-30

– From IBSA’s Resource magazine, Fall issue. Look for more ideas in the next issue of the Illinois Baptist, including a special section on the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

are easier than presentations

In Cairo, I saw the effect of simply talking with people about Jesus.

A little-known consequence of the Reformation was Luther’s influence on subsequent church door design.

Affiliating with IBSA

Churches that wish to apply for affiliation with the Illinois Baptist State Association must submit an application for membership by September 19. To request a packet that explains the application process, contact Sandy Barnard at (217) 391-3107 or e-mail SandyBarnard@IBSA.org.

The following churches have applied for affiliation with IBSA:

The Body of Christ, East St. Louis

Church at DuPage, Glen Ellyn

Cornerstone Church, Normal

Eternal Life Christian Church, Barrington

The Journey, Southern Illinois, Marion

The Journey, Metro East, Belleville

Nuevo Pacto, Countryside

Red Hill Church, Edwardsville

Resurrection Bible Chapel, Hampshire

Resurrection House

Northwest Indiana, Gary, IN

Somonauk Baptist, Somonauk

Source Church, Plainfield Tremont Baptist, Tremont

The IBSA Annual Meeting is November 8-9 at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Decatur. The churches affiliating with IBSA will be presented at the beginning of the Wednesday evening session.

Vale Church breaks ground on new location

people

Welcome

Jason Webb is the new senior pastor of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon. Webb has served at Pleasant Hill since 2005 as associate pastor of youth and families. A graduate of Southwest Baptist University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Webb also served as an International Mission Board Journeyman missionary to Uganda. He and his wife, Aimee, have three sons.

Kip Troeger is the new bivocational pastor of Riverton

Bloomington | Pastor Ted Max sees his church’s building as a tool for ministry. The old tool has gotten smaller as the congregation has grown, said the lead pastor of Vale Church in Bloomington. Vale currently holds two services on Saturday evening and two on Sunday morning to accommodate church-goers.

“We realized we needed a new tool in order to become more effective in reaching our community in Bloomington-

Normal and beyond,” he said. On July 3, Vale officially broke ground where their new church building will soon stand. “We couldn’t be more excited to see what God is going to do in the coming years,” Max said. “God’s hand has been on this project from the beginning and we are so humbled God has chosen Vale Church to be a vessel of his love, grace, and forgiveness.”

– Morgan Jackson

First Baptist Church. Troeger, who also serves as a chaplain in the Illinois National Guard, is married to Barb, a ministry coordinator on IBSA’s Church Resources team. The Troegers, who grew up in Wisconsin, have lived in Illinois for 13 years. They have one son, Jordan, and a daughter-in-law, Chelsea.

January Bible study

Pastors are invited to prepare for the 2018 January Bible Study at a retreat Oct. 2-3 at Lake Sallateeska Baptist Camp. Dr. F. Alan Tomlinson, professor of New Testament and Greek at Midwestern Seminary, will lead the study on the book of 1 Peter. Cost is $48 for meals and double occupancy room; $73 for meals and single occupancy room; or $23 for meal plan only. Write checks to: Chatham Baptist Church (Lake Sallateeska), and mail to 1500 East Walnut, Chatham, IL 62629. For more information, contact Milton Bost at (217) 341-3570.

NeTworkiNg

Find more information on ministry positions at IBSA.org/connect Send NetworkiNg items to IllinoisBaptist@IBSA.org

Royalton FBC seeks a full-time or bivocational pastor. Formal education is welcome, but not a necessity. The candidate must have the desire and ability to lead in personal Bible study, prayer, and evangelism, to build relationships within the church and community, and to lead mission work on multiple levels. Send resumes, including your calling and testimony, to P.O. Box 295, Royalton, IL 62983 or searchcommittee00@gmail.com. For more information, go to royaltonfbc.com.

FBC Marquette Heights seeks a bivocational pastor to provide leadership, vision, and growth to a small church in a bedroom community near Peoria. Send resumes to 410 LaSalle Blvd., Marquette Heights, IL 61554 or consolidation284@comcast.net.

Heartland Baptist Network, headquartered in Springfield, seeks a part-time bookkeeper to work 3-5 hours per week. Contact David Howard at (217) 529-3429 or e-mail david@heartlandbaptist.net.

Faith Baptist Church in Marissa seeks a bivocational pastor. Send resumes to 1225 School View Dr., Marissa, IL 62257 or pami_5@yahoo.com. Direct questions to Judy Milford at (618) 830-6437 or Pam Welshans at (618) 792-7917.

FAITHFUL MEMBERS – When Vale Church broke ground on their new location in July, Lee and Zena Eidson had the honor of digging the first hole. The couple has been ministering at Vale for 63 years.

COMING SOON – This digital rendering shows Vale Church’s new facility in Bloomingtom.

EVENTS

Illinois Changers

September 15-17 Streator Baptist Camp, Streator

September 22-24 Lake Sallateeska Baptist Camp, Pinckneyville

What: Students participate in short-term mission projects and vibrant worship experiences.

Register: IBSA.org/Students

September 16

Beth Moore Simulcast

What: Join thousands of women worldwide as Moore shares truth to guide your own journey of faith. Starts 8:30 a.m.; ends 3:15 p.m.

Where: IBSA Building Springfield

Cost: $10 per person, includes lunch. Register: IBSA.org/Women

September 16

BCHFS Fall Festival

What: All ages are invited to attend from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Admission, parking, food, and activities are free, with the exception of the quilt and silent auctions. Where: Residential Care Campus, Carmi Information: BCHFS.com

Celebrating 25

September 18-21

Ministers’ Wives Only Mission Trip

Help World Craft artisan women of Graffiti 2 Ministries move to their new location.

Cost: $350 plus airfare (est. $250-$400)

Where: New York City Register: IBSA.org/Women

September 20

Lunch and Learn Webinar Series

“Life by the Slice”

What: Viewing ordinary life moments from a different perspective can provide fuel for living forward in your life; 11:30 a.m. – noon.

Where: Your computer Register: IBSA.org/Women

September 30

Children’s Missions Celebration

What: Kids in grades 1-6 will enjoy learning how to have a missional lifestyle while studying missionaries and what they do in other parts of the world.

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

Upcoming Events!

illinoisfamily.org/ifi-events

September 30 | IFI Faith Forum with Ray Comfort

Medinah Baptist Church, Medinah, IL

We are pleased to have Ray Comfort for an event we have titled “Equipping the Saints: Abortion, Homosexuality, Atheism and YOU!” Ray is the Founder and CEO of Living Waters ministry and the best-selling author of more than 80 books, including “How to Know God Exists,” “The Defender’s Guide for Life’s Toughest Questions,” and “The Evidence Bible.” Ray may be best known for his award-winning documentary “180.”

October 5 | IFI Christian Heritage Forum with David Barton Decatur Conference Center, Decatur, IL

We are pleased to have David Barton headline this special event. He is a beloved Christian minister, conservative activist, and the Founder and President of WallBuilders, a national pro-family organization that presents America’s forgotten history and heroes, with an emphasis on our moral, religious and constitutional heritage.

October 27 | IFI Faith, Family & Freedom Banquet The Stonegate, Hoffman Estates, IL

This year we are excited to have Lt. Col Allen West keynote our annual fundraising event. During his 22-year career in the Army, he served in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, receiving many honors including a Bronze Star. In 2010, West was elected as a member of the 112th Congress representing Florida’s 22nd District. He is a Fox News contributor and author of “Guardian of the Republic.”

Turn this into a blessing!

QWe’re following your plan, and we’re in the middle of paying off all our debts except for the house. My wife just learned she’ll be losing her job at the end of the year. She’s a project manager for a software company in Seattle, and she will be receiving a severance package if she works until year’s end. We were curious as to how you think we should handle the next few months.

AI know you guys are scared right now, but from what you’ve told me this could be the kind of thing that turns into a blessing. First, she should already be looking for another job to start right after her current employment ends. That way, any severance pay will turn into a signing bonus of sorts.

I know there are always question marks and uncertainties when you’re job hunting, but this lady is a software project manager in Seattle, Washington. If she can’t find something in the next 4-5 months, there’s some other issue you’re not telling me about.

Time to leave

QMy brother-in-law moved in with us several months ago. He’s 32, and he doesn’t have a job or help around the house or help with bills. I think he needs to move out, but my wife is hesitant to say anything. She complains to me, but she knows her family will be upset if we do anything. How can we handle this?

AResponsible adults don’t behave like bums, and I don’t care what the rest of the family thinks. This issue is between you and your wife. You two are the only ones dealing with this.

You shouldn’t just kick the guy out, but you do need to formulate a plan that will allow him to get back on his feet. Have a gentle talk with him about the situation and his future. Let him know he must have a job within 30 days, and 30 days after that he has to move into his own place. Write it on the calendar. Make sure he understands why you’re doing this and the date he must move out.

Now, in the very unlikely event she doesn’t land another gig, you guys are going to have to put Baby Step 2 on hold for a while, and cut your spending down to the bare necessities until something does come along. But your lady has a super-employable skill set. If she gets out there and really looks for another job, I think you two are going to land on your feet and in even better shape than before! IBSA.org/Students

I know these things can be difficult, but sometimes you’ve got to take the bull by the horns. It’s all best for all of you in the long run.

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

amazing women serving our maker

DAVE RAMSEY

Pat’s Playbook

QWhen you’re having a conversation about the gospel, what do you say to lead people to make a commitment to Christ? Is there some phrase you use to bring them to a decision?

Church needed here...

Location: West Loop, Chicago

Focus: Millennial adults

Characteristics: The West Loop is one of the hottest commercial real estate markets in Chicago as restaurants and retailers flock to the rapidly growing population of young adults.

Prayer needs: Pray for a church planter who has the credibility and communication skills to reach and lead Millennials. Pray for young believers who are among the many Millennials moving to the neighborhood to evangelize their new neighbors and friends.

Hang in there!

PAT PAJAK

AWhen I have the privilege of sharing the gospel with anyone, I normally ask them, “Does this make sense to you?” If they respond positively, I then ask, “Would you like me to help you invite the Lord Jesus Christ to become your Savior?” And then I make sure they understand their need for forgiveness from sin, how that is provided by the grace of God, and the commitment they are about to make in turning their life over to his control.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to outreach. Every situation will be a little different. We must be sensitive to the person’s openness and responsiveness to the gospel as we are sharing the truth. Don’t shy away from asking them directly if they are willing and wanting to receive Christ as their Savior. If so, help them, but if not, keep the door open for a later opportunity. I Corinthians 3:6 reminds us that some plant, some water, but God gives the increase.

Staying on track

QDo you have a good model for staff meetings? We seem to get bogged down on lesser points, and never close the loop on important plans.

AHave a printed agenda to follow. Open with prayer and give everyone in the meeting a few minutes to share anything personal going on in their life. Know the subjects that you need to discuss or review, assign reports or follow-up items to specific people in the meeting, and expect them to be prepared. Set specific time limits and stay within those boundaries.

If an unexpected subject comes up, decide if it’s something that needs to be immediately discussed, or if it can wait until next week’s meeting (when more time can be used for discussion and decision-making). Start on time and stop on time. Staff meeting is not a time to preach. Handle business and come to conclusions on the matters you’re working on together.

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

Read: Nehemiah 8

Discouragement is a byproduct of our fallen nature. Everyone experiences discouragement to varying degrees. The circumstances and conditions of life often create despondency. Yet when the temptation to despair creeps in, how can one battle against it?

The life of Ezra serves as a reminder that patience, perseverance, and prayer are needed to endure.

Throughout his life, Ezra did not rely upon his priestly heritage to sustain and fortify him as he led the people of God. Instead, Ezra continually sought the law of the Lord with all his heart and practiced it in his life (Ezra 7:10). This commitment enabled Ezra to become a scribe and teacher of the law who patiently taught and prayed for God’s people to turn back to him.

Light the night

Children’s pastor Mark Jones of Oklahoma City took his church’s fall festival on the road. He asked several church families to host a mini-fest at their homes on Halloween night. As neighborhood children came by for trickor-treat, they found a party in progress. Each location featured a bounce house, pumpkin pie-eating contest, games, free “Light the Night” flashlights, and candy galore. With a “register to win” table, the church followed up with fun gifts and made contact with the kids’ parents. It proved to be a more effective outreach event than the usual “alternative” party at the church location.

Outreach coupons

You know how kids sometimes give coupons for free hugs or breakfast in bed, instead of buying a gift? Use that idea for outreach. For example, single moms need babysitting, clothing repair, yard work, and simple auto maintenance. Encourage a small group to make coupon booklets of personal services as a mission project. Give the booklets to people who need to know the church cares—in practical, tangible ways.

KEVIN CARROTHERS

After many years of teaching with little apparent impact, one day the people came to Ezra and asked him to teach them the word of God. So a platform with a podium was built so all could see. Ezra prayed to the Lord Almighty and taught the people with the help of others.

The people responded in worship and repentance (Nehemiah 8:6,9). What joy the old scribe surely experienced after years of faithfully laboring and ministering to God’s people. Finally, the people had heard and understood the word and responded appropriately.

PRAYER PROMPT: O Great Lord, help us to per severe in the ministry to which we have been called. Help us to understand and do what your word says. Amen!

Kevin Carrothers serves as director of missions for Salem South Baptist Association and is concluding his second one-year term as IBSA President.

Cocoa to go

Make your own outreach “food truck,” any vehicle supplied with hot drinks and treats. With a student group or Sunday school class, take it on the road to shoppers, first responders, or college campuses. Invite recipients to a special event at church.

These ideas are from the pages of IBSA’s Resource magazine. It’s chock full of outreach ideas, plans for worship, and encouragement for planning ahead. Get your free subscription at Communications@ IBSA.org, or read online at Resource.IBSA.org.

– IBSA Church Planting Team