Illinois Baptist
4 reasons to support MIO Mission Illinois Offering September 13 - 20 Nate Adams P. 2
in focus
ILLINOIS
Disaster Relief Romanian immigrant finds new friends and calling on chainsaw worksite MORGAN JACKSON P. 4
Keeping Sheep
TABLE TALK
Christians & politics: Retreat or charge ahead? TOM STRODE P. 13
We’re always on Get news and commentary online. See page 3 for addresses.
What we can learn from those who left the fold P. 11
News journal of the Illinois Baptist State Association
AUGUST 31, 2015
ChicaGO Week
Waking to the need Chicago | “This is by far the biggest mission field we have in our state, with a population that is unchurched, unbelieving, and much in need of the gospel,” Dennis Conner told 181 students who converged in the Windy City for a week-long church planting mission trip in July. As Church Planting Director in the Northeast region, Conner challenged the high school students from 14 churches mostly in downstate Illinois to develop “a love for this place and the people who live here.” About 10 million people live in Chicagoland, but fewer than onefourth of them have a relationship with Jesus Christ. And only about one-tenth of the people are connected to an evangelical church. Developing a pipeline of future church leaders and planters prompted IBSA to create ChicaGO Week, a student missions project unique to Illinois. Participation in ChicaGO Week tripled in its second year. CHICAGO WEEK P. 3
mission
Nonprofit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Peoria, Illinois Permit No. 325
Vol. 109 No. 12
Teens partner with Chicago planters
Metro East churches join forces
International outreach SUMMER MISSIONS STORIES P. 7