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B-101: Can Europe be saved (again)? 9 • Super Bowl party tips, 12

Volume 109, No. 1

JANUARY 12, 2015

‘ We’re here to meet with God’

IB Insider

Polar vortex got you down? Think summer. page 4 What the Bible really says about abortion page 5 Midwest pastors favor immigration page 6 New resources for student ministries page 7 ‘Pastor of the Year’ page 8

92 profess faith at Youth Encounter By Meredith Flynn

News and updates Throughout the week:

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Springfield | Rick Gage stood in front of nearly 1,000 students and leaders meeting at the Prairie Capital Convention Center for the Youth Encounter evangelism conference. The room was much quieter than it had been just a few minutes earlier, when the Dec. 2930 event kicked off with high-energy music, improv comedy from Team WordPlay, and a performance by illusionist Bryan Drake. When Gage took the stage, he spoke first to leaders who brought students to the annual event, thanking them for investing in young people’s lives. “We’re here to meet with God. We’re here to do business with God.

Moving day

Metro East church builds new home

Columbia | Ask Pastor Jonathan Peters how long it took his church, First Baptist in Columbia, to build their new building, and he talks about the land purchase, the design, and the construction. Then, he breaks it down like this: “Years, with a capital Y.” The project, which started in 2004 with the purchase of 47 acres, finally came to fruition December 7, when the congregation held their first service in the building on Valmeyer Road. The new facility includes an auditorium designed to seat 720 people, room for preschool and chil-

And it’s our prayer—it’s your prayer—that God would use these next 24 hours to impact not just the teenagers’ lives, but all of our lives.” A few minutes later, after preaching a message on what it means to have an authentic relationship with God, Gage called students to the front who felt led to make a decision for Christ. They streamed down the aisles. Almost 300 people crowded near the stage (above) as the evangelist prayed over them and instructed them to head backstage to meet with counselors. All told, 92 people made decisions to trust Christ at Youth Encounter, and 205 recommitted their faith. During the two-day conference, 20 students also answered the call to ministry, and

dren’s ministries, and lots of space for fellowship. The church’s student ministry is housed in a smaller building nearby. “We just saw God work through this in so many ways,” said Jack Turner, a member of the building committee. “And so many things happened in His timing and His way, and it was just such a wonderful experience to be involved in. “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.” For a while, it seemed like the project would never get off the ground. When the church first Continued on page 2

33 committed to pray for lost friends or family members. “God has his hand on some guys and when they preach the gospel…I can’t explain it. I just watch it happen and shake my head, but when they preach, people respond to the gospel,” said IBSA’s Tim Sadler. “There’s an anointing that’s on their lives, and it’s just a powerful thing.” Gage knows how to “draw the net,” said state evangelism director Sadler, who also directs YE. The decision to invite Gage was strategic because of his experience as a youth evangelist, Sadler told the Illinois Baptist. “And I’d also add into that, I’ve heard several of our youth leaders, our local church youth leaders, talk about how they intentionally sought to bring Continued on page 7

Cuban church’s future weighed

President Obama’s announcement Dec. 17 that the U.S. will renew its relationship with Cuba had pundits talking about the political and economic implications. Meanwhile, many Christian leaders focused on what the decision could mean for believers in Cuba. Phil Nelson has traveled to Cuba 11 times since 2003, speaking openly about the gospel with college students and on one occasion, a university president. “Everybody we met with, we talked with about the gospel,” said Nelson, pastor of Lakeland Baptist Church in Carbondale. The Cuban Christians he has worked with are “passionate about the gospel, Continued on page 6