Illinois Baptist
Future focus Learning from our recent past Nate Adams P. 2
in focus
We thought you’d never get here What will the new year mean for the church? 8 views of our challenges and opportunities P. 7-9
COVID–19 response
MISSION
Nonprofit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Peoria, Illinois Permit No. 325
Family’s ‘double miracle’ P. 11 WORSHIP
Church attendance Tied to better mental health P. 3
TABLE TALK
Revival begins with me Doug Munton P. 14
FAITH & POLITICS
Gains and losses
Illinois Disaster Relief delivers $1.5 million in food and goods Across illinois | Just as the semi-truck full of food pulled into the parking lot at Second Baptist Church, the skies opened up, said Pastor Chris Sedabres. Even as the rain poured down, people came to the church to receive free groceries and supplies. And many of them stayed to help, he said. “We had a lot of people from the neighborhood come to get food, but a lot of them stayed to help and unload the trucks,” Sedabres said. “To
see the people come out and stand in the rain and help us, it was unbelievable. It was nothing short of a miracle of God.” His church was one of six central and southern IBSA congregations that participated in massive food distributions just before Thanksgiving. In Springfield (pictured above), around 1,000 people were served at Springfield Southern Baptist
IB
News journal of the Illinois Baptist State Association
For evangelical voters P. 10
IllinoisBaptist.org
P. 5
JANUARY 1, 2021 Vol. 115 No. 1