• /
    • Archives /
  • November 30, 1999

Archives For November 30, 1999

Illinois Baptist State Association

Photo Gallery: IBSA Pastors’ Conference and Annual Meeting

Meredith Flynn —  November 13, 2013

Chuck Kelley concluded the Pastors’ Conference Wednesday with a challenge about leading the next generation, followed by the first day of the IBSA Annual Meeting. The schedule of business and budgets and reports was interspersed with worship led by LifeWay’s Mike Harland and Gospel trio Sons of the Father. Wednesday evening’s worship service highlighted church planting, including a charge by NAMB’s Gary Frost to be bold for the sake of the Gospel.

Carmen Halsey, Tammie Emerson, and Andrea Cruse at the annual Ministers' Wives' Conference.

IBSA’s Carmen Halsey joined Tammie Emerson and Andrea Cruse, both from Living Faith Baptist in Sherman, at the annual Ministers’ Wives’ Conference.

DeAndre Williams from Eternity Baptist in Centralia reads along with Dr. Chuck Kelley during the final message of the IBSA Pastors' Conference.

DeAndre Williams from Eternity Baptist in Centralia reads along with Dr. Chuck Kelley during the final message of the IBSA Pastors’ Conference.

Outgoing Pastors' Conference president Chad Ozee (left) laughs with new president Michael Allen (right) and newly elected treasurer David Sutton.

Outgoing Pastors’ Conference president Chad Ozee (left) laughs with new president Michael Allen (right) and newly elected treasurer David Sutton.

East St. Louis church planter Barnicio Cureton prays during the opening session of the Annual Meeting.

East St. Louis church planter Barnicio Cureton prays during the opening session of the Annual Meeting.

Messengers approve the 2014 IBSA budget.

Messengers conduct the meeting’s first official vote.

Jonathan Peters, finishing his second year as IBSA President, preached on Jonah to end the Tuesday afternoon session.

Jonathan Peters, finishing his second year as IBSA President, preached on Jonah to end the Wednesday afternoon session.

IBSA Executive Director Nate Adams presenting the board's report.

IBSA Executive Director Nate Adams presenting the board’s report.

Les, Chris and Brent Snyder, or Sons of the Father, opened the Wednesday evening session with a worship concert.

Les, Chris and Brent Snyder, or Sons of the Father, opened the Wednesday evening session with a worship concert.

Churches affiliating with IBSA are presented to messengers.

Churches affiliating with IBSA are presented to messengers.

Gene Crume, president of Judson University, shared about a partnership between IBSA and the school that will bring students to the campus this summer for a "Go Week" focused on missions.

Gene Crume, president of Judson University, shared about a partnership between IBSA and the school that will bring Illinois students to the campus this summer for a “Go Week” focused on missions.

IBSA's Van Kicklighter (left) interviewed Alton church planter Steven Helfrich during the worship service focused on Mission Illinois: Churches Together Advancing the Gospel.

IBSA’s Van Kicklighter (left) interviewed Alton church planter Steven Helfrich during the worship service focused on Mission Illinois: Churches Together Advancing the Gospel.

Boldness manifests itself in confidence for a believer in Christ, Gary Frost said. But, "don't confuse confidence with arrogance," added the North American Mission Board's Midwest vice president.

Boldness manifests itself in confidence for a believer in Christ, Gary Frost said. But, “don’t confuse confidence with arrogance,” added the North American Mission Board’s Midwest vice president.

Meeting attenders committed to pray for church planters, partner with them in their work, or explore planting opportunities themselves.

Meeting attenders committed to pray for church planters, partner with them in their work, or explore planting opportunities themselves.

After the session, messengers visited with Illinois church planters at a dessert reception. (Pie was served in the lobby, but attenders had to visit a church planter in order to get a fork.)

After the session, messengers visited with Illinois church planters at a dessert reception. (Pie was served in the lobby, but attenders had to visit a church planter in order to get a fork.)

In IBSA Annual Meeting, IBSA Pastors' Conference and Annual Meeting , , , ,
permalink

What makes a perfect minister’s wife?

Meredith Flynn —  November 13, 2013

Ministers_WivesMINISTERS’ WIVES’ CONFERENCE | Christina Batchelor of Bethel Baptist in Princeton, Ill., celebrates a win for her table during the annual gathering of ministry spouses coinciding with the IBSA Pastors’ Conference. The ladies answered questions to determine which table had the most perfect pastors’ wives: Who wore a dress to church last Sunday? How many of you have ever directed your church’s Vacation Bible School? Who has sung a solo in the past year?

Busting stereotypes and being real proved to be the theme of the morning, as speaker Lynda Locke encouraged women to embrace who God has made them to be, and to celebrate how His grace has made an imprint on their lives. Locke, a pastor’s wife from Jacksonville, Ill., also talked about responding to hard times.

“Instead of acting like the world in fear in the middle of a crisis, I can respond with peace in Christ, knowing that every day in my life is part of His perfect plan for me.”

In IBSA Pastors' Conference and Annual Meeting , , ,
permalink

Do you really believe it?

Meredith Flynn —  November 13, 2013

IBSA ANNUAL MEETING | “Do you REALLY believe that God uses the preaching of the Gospel to save sinful men?” asked Jonathan Peters in his president’s message this afternoon on the prophet Jonah.

“To save sinners, to transform communities, to revive dead hearts and bring them back to life through the preaching of the Gospel? Jonah believed it—he just didn’t want to do it.”

Jonathan_Peters

In IBSA Annual Meeting , ,
permalink

IBSA Pastors’ Conference, Day 1: In photos

Meredith Flynn —  November 12, 2013

Day 1 of the conference has come to a close after seven sermons, two leadership panels, and a focused prayer time led by Illinois church planters. Check out these photos from the day, and come back tomorrow for more leadership-focused messages, and coverage of the IBSA Annual Meeting beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Chuck Kelley, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, said of leading through disaster, "Trouble for the people of God is always a thruway and not a dead end."

Chuck Kelley, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, said of leading through disaster, “Trouble for the people of God is always a thruway and not a dead end.”

"You don’t just do church up here, you do Christianity up here." Bobby Broyles, a church planting strategist from Oklahoma, thanked Baptists in Illinois for their support and faithfulness.

“You don’t just do church up here, you do Christianity up here.” Bobby Boyles, a church planting strategist from Oklahoma, thanked Baptists in Illinois for their support and faithfulness.

The worship team from Journey Church in Bourbonnais led Pastors' Conference attenders in old and new hymns.

The worship team from Journey Church in Bourbonnais led Pastors’ Conference attenders in old and new hymns.

LifeWay Research's Micah Fries preached on leading in the current cultural context. "For far too long we have been trying to position ourselves as counter to society, but have have not been counter to society by the way we live, but by the strange music we listen to and the odd T-shirts we wear."

LifeWay Research’s Micah Fries preached on leading in the current cultural context. “For far too long we have been trying to position ourselves as counter to society, but have have not been counter to society by the way we live, but by the strange music we listen to and the odd T-shirts we wear.”

"We began to realize we had missed a key component of spiritual formation, we could not realize in an hour or two at the church what God intended to done at home - discipleship." Tennessee pastor Jay Strother focused his message on leading a family.

“We began to realize we had missed a key component of spiritual formation, we could not realize in an hour or two at the church what God intended to done at home – discipleship.” Tennessee pastor Jay Strother focused his message on leading a family.

Eric Mason, Micah Fries, Tim Cotler and Chuck Kelley discussed what Mason called the biggest issue pressing in on our culture - fatherlessness.

Eric Mason, Micah Fries, Tim Cotler and Chuck Kelley discussed what Mason called the biggest issue pressing in on our culture – fatherlessness.

Jerry Cain, president emeritus of Judson University, shared how people made clear God's call on his life, and encouraged his listeners to do the same for other young leaders. "There are people in your church that have been called to leadership and they don’t know it yet. It’s your job to hear that call."

Jerry Cain, president emeritus of Judson University, shared how people made clear God’s call on his life, and encouraged his listeners to do the same for other young leaders. “There are people in your church that have been called to leadership and they don’t know it yet. It’s your job to hear that call.”

Philadelphia pastor Eric Mason preached on biblical leadership. "Jesus says in John 1:51, 'You will see angels ascending and descending…' It's a picture of Jacob's ladder. Jesus was saying he is that ladder. 'If you stick with me, you will see broken things connected that were never connected. Don’t ever think my power cannot connect the unconnectable.'"

Philadelphia pastor Eric Mason preached on biblical leadership. “Jesus says in John 1:51, ‘You will see angels ascending and descending…’ It’s a picture of Jacob’s ladder. Jesus was saying he is that ladder. ‘If you stick with me, you will see broken things connected that were never connected. Don’t ever think my power cannot connect the unconnectable.'”

JourneyWorship's rendition of "Build Your Kingdom Here" featured a stumpf fiddle.

JourneyWorship’s rendition of “Build Your Kingdom Here” featured a stumpf fiddle.

In IBSA Pastors' Conference and Annual Meeting , , , , , , , ,
permalink

‘Old’ is the new ‘new’

Meredith Flynn —  November 12, 2013

IBSA PASTORS’ CONFERENCE | The annual gathering for Illinois pastors and leaders kicked off this afternoon in Springfield, and beloved hymns have ruled the day so far, with a twist. JourneyWorship, the team from Journey Church in Bourbonnais, led the crowd in “Down at the Cross,” “I’ll Fly Away” and “Victory in Jesus,” complete with thumping percussion and electric guitars.

Chuck Kelley, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, brought the conference’s first message on “Leading through Disaster.” His voice breaking several times, Kelley shared how he led the seminary in the days and months following Hurricane Katrina. “In a disaster, you always tell the truth. You don’t act like it’s no big deal. You don’t act like it’s going to be easy,” he said.

“You get in touch with who God is, you get in touch with your mission, and you get to work. And with your heart breaking, and with every day a battle, you simply get after it.”

Follow the Pastors’ Conference and IBSA Annual Meeting here and at Facebook.com/IllinoisBaptist.

worship_1

In IBSA Pastors' Conference and Annual Meeting , , , , , ,
permalink

Tuesday News Briefing: Typhoon response, a LifeWay apology, and ‘Son of God’ the movie

Meredith Flynn —  November 12, 2013

THE BRIEFING | Meredith Flynn

Joining Filipino Baptists at work, IMB representative Mark Moses handed out packs of rice, noodles, canned sardines and water to Typhoon Haiyan victims on Panay island Monday, Nov. 11. “We listened to their horrifying stories of pounding winds and walls of sea water sweeping away their earthly belongings,” Moses said. “We prayed and grieved with the people. We made assessments of priority needs.” (IMB Photo by Mark Moses)

Joining Filipino Baptists at work, IMB representative Mark Moses handed out food and water to Typhoon Haiyan victims on Panay island Monday, Nov. 11. “We prayed and grieved with the people,” Moses said. “We made assessments of priority needs.” IMB photo by Mark Moses; from IMB.org

As officials assess the damage from Typhoon Haiyan, Southern Baptist workers in the Philippines are distributing food and evaluating how best to meet immediate and long-term needs. Officials estimate 10,000 people could have died in the storm. International Mission Board representative Dottie Smith said, “Pray for strength for those who are still stranded, low on food and water and are feeling helpless.” Read more at IMB.org.

LifeWay apologizes for stereotypes in ‘Rickshaw Rally’

The Southern Baptist Convention’s publishing arm, LifeWay Christian Resources, apologized last week for the use of racial stereotypes in “Rickshaw Rally,” its 10-year-old Vacation Bible School curriculum.

“I agree with those who have helped us understand the offensive nature of that material,” LifeWay President Thom Rainer said in the video apology presented at the Mosaix conference in California. “And I agree evangelical church and ministry leaders — particularly those of us who are white — need to commit to assuring, as best we can, these offenses stop.”

Rainer became LifeWay’s president in 2006. Read more at BPNews.net.

Coming soon to a theater near you
The producers behind History Channel’s “The Bible” miniseries are repackaging the parts of the story that focus on Jesus for a new feature film. “Son of God” will be released February 28, 2014 by 20th Century Fox. “This is a big story. It deserves a big presentation,” Roma Downey told The Christian Post. The star of “Touched by an Angel” produced “The BIble” with her husband, Mark Burnett, and also starred as Mary, the mother of Jesus. “The stand-alone opportunity of two hours and 15 minutes to follow the birth, the life, the mission, the miracles, the death, the resurrection, the ascension, the Great Commission, the entire Jesus narrative.” Read more at ChristianPost.com.

IBSA Annual Meeting starts Nov. 13
Follow along here and at Facebook.com/IllinoisBaptist or Twitter.com/IllinoisBaptist. The IBSA Pastors’ Conference starts today, with panel discussions and messages by Bobby Boyles, Jerry Cain, Micah Fries, Chuck Kelley, Eric Mason and Jason Strother. For more information, go to IBSA.org/meeting2013.

Writer lists five phrases that are too ‘churchy’ for Millenials
Blogger and author Addie Zierman once left the church, and now she’s back. She shares on The Washington Post’s On Faith blog five church cliches that are “maddening and alienating” to Millenials like her. Read the list here and then tell us how you agree or disagree.

In Briefing , , , , , , , , ,
permalink

Pray for the IBSA Annual Meeting this week

Meredith Flynn —  November 11, 2013

MI_logoHEARTLAND | Lisa Sergent

We need every aspect of our IBSA Annual Meeting, Nov. 13-14, to be bathed in prayer. Please look over the prayer prompts below, and ask the Holy Spirit to remind you to return often to this list during the meeting.

Pray all the time. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

  • Give praise for all the ministry the Lord has accomplished through the work of the Illinois Baptist State Association congregations and ministries this past year.
  • Pray for the messengers as they travel to the meeting from across Illinois: safety, discernment as they hear reports, wisdom as they cast votes, and communication of the work of IBSA to their home congregation.
  • Pray for the guests, presenters and exhibitors who will be preparing and traveling to be with us; ears for us to hear speakers’ challenges and presentations, and for divine connections to serve our pastors and messengers.
  • Pray for North American Mission Board Vice President for the Midwest Gary Frost, as he travels and as shares with us; may they hear clearly from us for their work at a national level as we desire to hear compellingly from them for impact in our communities.
  • Pray for IBSA President Jonathan Peters as he leads the meeting and Tim Lewis as he preaches the annual sermon.
  • Pray for the IBSA Pastors’ Conference and Minister’s Wives Conference and Luncheon that precede the Annual Meeting: encouragement, enlightenment, empowerment … And ask the Spirit for a generous offering for Minister’s Relief.
  • Pray for the Annual Meeting Mission Illinois theme to inspire and inform each messenger so they may inspire and influence their congregation.
  • Give thanks for our new fellowship in the Spirit with congregations applying for affiliation with IBSA; pray they will be healthy, reproducing churches.
  • Bring to the Lord the many church plants scattered across our state and request we become known for fruitful new churches.
  • Pray as the messengers elect officers to serve the convention for 2013-14, that each officer will serve with faith and integrity, and will use their authority to build the work of IBSA.
  • Pray for the IBSA Executive Board as they meet to organize for their work for a new year … for IBSA staff members to have the resources they need to equip those who equip the saints for the work of the ministry.
  • Ask the Spirit to direct many to the Annual Meeting Prayer Room (Plaza 4) that they might spend even a few minutes asking the Lord how we can better pray and more effectively serve in the coming year.

Lisa Sergent is communications director for the Illinois Baptist State Association.

In Heartland , , ,
permalink

I want you to know

Meredith Flynn —  November 4, 2013
MI_logo

The IBSA Annual Meeting Nov. 13-14 will explore the theme “Mission Illinois: Churches Together Advancing the Gospel.”

HEARTLAND | Nate Adams

Opportunities for our entire Illinois Baptist family of churches to be together at once are all too rare.  But the IBSA Annual Meeting each November is one of those precious opportunities.  This year the meeting returns to the downtown Springfield Hilton for the first time since our 100th anniversary meeting in 2007. I hope to see you there November 13-14, or perhaps earlier at the Pastors Conference or one of the other related gatherings.

Click here for more on the IBSA Annual Meeting.

But in case you can’t come, let me preview some highlights of the information that I plan to share during that meeting.

I want you to know that Illinois Baptists are going into their Acts 1:8 mission fields in dramatically increased numbers. After several years of our churches reporting around 20,000 missions volunteers, last year churches reported more than 27,000 volunteers, a 34% increase! And there is no indication of that rate slowing down this year.

I want you to know that 28 new churches were planted across our state last year, and through August of this year at least 19 more have been planted. During our Wednesday night worship session at the Annual Meeting we will be hearing from seven of those creative and hard-working planters, and you will be able to meet them and others in person during a dessert reception following the session.

Dr. Gary Frost of the North American Mission Board will bring a challenging message that evening, and you will also meet Dr. Gene Crume, Judson University’s new president, and hear about an exciting new church planting partnership we are working on together in Chicagoland.

I want you to know that our dedicated staff continues to crisscross the state helping churches, and that through September they have already delivered 17,000 trainings in strategic ministry and mission skills to IBSA church leaders and workers.  Baptisms in IBSA churches were up over 2% last year, and the continued momentum of evangelism strategies like “Choose 2” give us hope of another increase when all the 2013 Annual Church Profiles are tabulated.

Finally, in case you can’t come to the annual meeting, I want you to know that the IBSA Board is exploring the option of acquiring a new property in Springfield, a retreat-like facility devoted to leadership development and pastoral renewal. You can read more about that possibility in this issue of the Illinois Baptist, and there will be additional information on http://www.IBSA.org.

Last year when the IBSA Board was exploring this possibility, I invited feedback, both positive and cautionary, from IBSA churches.  The responses were relatively few, but were favorable toward the idea by about a two-to-one margin.

The cautionary and even negative responses were just as helpful as the supportive and enthusiastic ones, however. They helped lead me to recommend to the IBSA Board that we not make an offer on the property unless or until we had the cash in hand to acquire it, even though that probably meant missing the opportunity. And they helped me discover some concerns about developing our camp properties that I felt could be addressed in time.

To my surprise, the potential leadership center property we looked at last year is still available, now at a further reduced price. That doesn’t necessarily mean we should acquire it. In fact, I’ve been praying that someone else would, if it’s not God’s best for IBSA churches. But the IBSA Board and I believe it’s in our best interest to at least explore the option again, because leadership development and renewal among pastors and church leaders is such a strategic need, and we think this property might play a role in meeting that need.

So please let me hear from you again, certainly if you support the idea, because often we leave positive feedback unexpressed. But if you have cautions about the idea, please patiently express them as well. Either way, I want you to know I’m listening.  And I hope to see you soon.

Nate Adams is executive director of the Illinois Baptist State Association.

In Heartland , , , , , ,
permalink

Praying for Baptist state conventions

Meredith Flynn —  October 9, 2013

PRAYER | Frank Page

Editor’s note: This column is part of a Baptist Press series designed to follow the SBC Call to Prayer issued by Frank S. Page (photo below), president of the SBC Executive Committee, to pray for revival and spiritual awakening for our churches, our nation and our world during 2013.

Frank_PageState convention season is here!

I spoke at the Baptist Convention of New York’s annual meeting earlier this week to kick off a full season of state convention travel. My goal is to represent the Southern Baptist Convention to as many states as possible. The reason for this is simple: It is a time when I can touch the lives of a large number of pastors and church leaders.

Our cooperative ministries will only thrive when trust is strong among the churches, associations, state conventions and the SBC. I strive to encourage our state convention leaders in the common work for Christ in which we’re engaged. Trust is built when these relationships are strengthened.

Our state conventions serve as partners in many ways. First and foremost, they are involved in reaching people in their respective states with the Gospel. They also provide specialized ministries to a large number of our churches.

With more than two thirds of our churches facing slow-growth or no-growth challenges, many of our churches are hurting. In most instances, when a church needs help, it is the state convention to which it goes for training, encouragement and assistance across a wide range of needs.

State conventions also serve as partners as the conduits through which our Southern Baptist missions and ministries receive Cooperative Program funds to do the work God has entrusted to them. They have taken significant steps in forwarding a larger percentage of CP funds to these SBC ministries, for which we are grateful. Partnerships developed over the decades remain strong as we join together to do the work of God at every level.

It took me a little over a year in my current role to get to every state convention and visit with the executive directors of those conventions. I have found these men to be deeply called and passionate about winning people to Christ. Interestingly enough, most come from the states they serve and have a deep passion for their home base. They also have a clear vision for reaching the nations with the message of salvation through Jesus Christ, both here and abroad.

I have often said that if we lose the base, we have lost the battle. We need to work as partners in encouraging one another. While we have many, many churches in our state conventions, particularly in the South, we desperately need to understand the lostness that surrounds even those churches.

If there was ever a time when we need to be strengthening churches to reach the lost, it is now. Our state partners are true helpers in that needed ministry.

Join me in praying for the work of our state convention ministry partners.

— Pray for your state convention executive director.

— Pray for the church planting and other ministry specialists employed by your state convention.

— Pray for the ministry entities of your state convention.

— Pray for and participate in the missions initiatives of your state convention.

— Pray for the collegiate ministries in your state.

— Pray for me as I continue my assignment of building relationships and hopefully deepening trust as we encourage one another in the good work of our Lord.

I am thankful for our state convention partners and pray this fall will be a time of deepening resolve and commitment to the work of our Lord.

This column first appeared on BPNews.net.

In Heartland , , , ,
permalink

Climbing the same mountain again

Meredith Flynn —  September 26, 2013

Nates_column_0930COMMENTARY | Nate Adams

For several years now, my oldest son Caleb has been on a quest to climb the 58 tallest mountains in Colorado. They are known as “14ers,” because the summit of each one is at least 14,000 feet in elevation. I told him I would join him in this quest whenever I could, as long as my middle-aged legs and lungs hold out.

So this past summer, we were climbing again. And though I made it up and down six 14ers in about a week, only two of them were new conquests. Believe it or not, I chose to climb four of the mountains I had already climbed.

I know what you’re probably thinking. Why on earth climb the same mountains twice? The simple answer is that, this time, we wanted to take some new climbers with us. Caleb married Laura last January, and was eager to share his love for mountain climbing with her. And while my wife Beth has been supportive of our climbing efforts over the years, she had never climbed a 14er with us.

So we chose mountains that were familiar, and that we believed our understudies could climb too. On the hike itself, we went slower than we normally would, and stopped to rest more often. Of course it took longer. Yet there was a new kind of joy in the climb, and a new kind of satisfaction at the summit, even though we had been there before.

During that same week, I was finalizing IBSA’s proposed goals for 2014, goals that were to be approved by the IBSA Board at their September meeting. For months already, we had been talking about the vital importance of leadership development, both for pastors and for other church leaders. Instruction and training are valuable, we reasoned, but moving leaders to new levels of effectiveness will require deeper processes of personal growth and development.

As I worked on those goals, I reflected on our experiences climbing mountains. Many times before, Caleb and I had returned from a hike and described to others its unique challenges and what was required to make it to the top and back. Often we had urged others to come with us to those new heights, of course explaining what they would need to endure to get there. But none of that talk “about” hiking could compare with the experience of actually walking together, in relationship, up a mountain some of us had already climbed.

So one evening with tired legs at the bottom of a mountain, I drafted a new 2014 goal for IBSA about Leadership Development. The first part of the goal describes the more than 20,000 trainings IBSA delivers every year, in areas ranging from Sunday School to evangelism to worship leadership and student ministry. But the second half of our new Leadership Development goal says we will “engage at least 200 pastors, staff, church planters or leaders in spiritual, relational leadership development processes, striving for breakthrough growth in leaders that helps transform churches and their effectiveness.”

The IBSA Board unanimously embraced this new goal, along with its implications.  Helping church leaders grow and develop at deeper, more transformational levels will require new processes, new commitments, and perhaps even some new venues and facilities.  For example, we will be exploring the feasibility of how both IBSA camps and a possible new leadership retreat center in Springfield may contribute to the “spiritual, relational leadership development” of our churches’ leaders.

There are many pastors and leaders who have climbed their own mountains in ministry, and who can help other pastors and leaders up those mountains.  We believe enlisting them in a more intentional leadership development process may be just what is needed for the “breakthrough growth” that “helps transform churches and their effectiveness.” After all, as I learned again this summer, helping someone else up a mountain you’ve already climbed can be even more satisfying than simply climbing it yourself.

Nate Adams is executive director of the Illinois Baptist State Association.

In Commentary , , , ,
permalink