Illinois Baptist Church teams with ‘Dragons’
The trials of a pastor’s wife And some joys too.
Melody Westbrook P. 13
in focus
P. 14
NEWS
Abortion battles Will be fought at the ballot box P. 3
ANAHEIM NOTEBOOK
Launch
Dueling ‘world’ views How will culture conflict be won? P. 6
MISSIONS
Young disciples become leaders at IBSA’s Super Summer
157,690 reasons To support Cooperative Program
INSIDE: 3 pages of colorful photos and students’ stories starting on page 7
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News journal of the Illinois Baptist State Association
AUGUST 1, 2022 Vol. 116 No. 8
IB Nonprofit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Peoria, Illinois Permit No. 325
IllinoisBaptist.org
Illinois Baptists aid after deadly shooting spree Highland Park | “When you ask if they were a victim of the parade shooting, you get several different responses,” Bev Laechelt explained. “Some people are very angry and they say ‘I-am-not-a-victim; I’m a survivor.’ Or they start crying because it’s the first time they’ve talked about it, and I have to get them to a counselor right away.” Laechelt and her husband, Wayne, are volunteers with Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief. They often serve as “blue caps” coordinating the response at com-
RELATED STORY page 4
Young pastor seeks help in citywide violence
mand centers and storm damage sites. This time they were asked to come to Highland Park after the July Fourth mass shooting that left seven dead and more than 40 injured. IBDR operated childcare four days, while the Laechelts worked at the center set up by the Red Cross at the request of the FBI. In the week following the shooting, more than 1,200 families were interviewed by law enforcement agents. Some came to share information about their experience, others came to claim the coolers, blankets, and bikes they had abandoned on the north Chicago suburb’s main street as gunfire rang out. The city shut the street down for a week afterward while detectives collected evidence. P. 4
Plan for the
Mission Illinois Offering & Week of Prayer September 11–18
N t S
church a Look for the MIO promotion kit in your church mailbox. Watch videos and get resources at
missionillinois.org