Illinois Baptist
When God sends a detour Table Talk with Van Kicklighter P. 9
Winds of change
in focus
Church leaders face into a new cultural climate
Coverage of the Midwest Leadership Summit starts on P. 5
IB
PIONEERING SPIRIT
Leaning into the challenge
Online all the time IllinoisBaptist.org
Amid decline, churches called to new commitments
News journal of the Illinois Baptist State Association
FEBRUARY 5, 2018
Nonprofit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Peoria, Illinois Permit No. 325
Vol. 112 No. 2
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK
J.D. Greear to run Field report confirms SBC political season arrived early P. 8
Springfield | Throughout 2018, Southern Baptist churches in Illinois are invited to accept challenges in four key areas: evangelism, church planting, missions giving, and leadership development. The challenges, focused on the “pioneering spirit” needed to advance the gospel among more than 8 million lost people in Illinois, were laid out last November at the Annual Meeting of the Illinois Baptist State Association. Their urgency was reinforced by new data based on the 2017 Annual
ADAMS
P. 3
NATE ADAMS
Yes, I’ve changed Starting a church made me expect something different P. 2
SECTION B
Missions commitment Annual report on churches’ Cooperative Program giving
Let’s make EVANGELISM a priority!