Illinois Baptist
Thinking about legacy How others remember you really matters
Carmen Halsey P. 9
Lord’s army
Pastor deployed Church supports his year in Afghanistan
Riverton | Pastor Kip Troeger and his church are in uncharted territory. They’re also on different continents. Troeger, a chaplain with the Army National Guard, deploys this month for a year of service in Afghanistan. Many pastor/chaplains called to long deployments resign from their churches. Troeger’s church, First Baptist in Riverton, fully expects him to return as pastor after his time in Afghanistan. “Why wouldn’t we?” is deacon Mark Barber’s simple response to how the church decided to keep Troeger as pastor. The congregation will be led by a long-term intentional interim pastor until Troeger is back in Illinois. “Pastor Kip’s going to be deployed,” Barber said, “but we’re deployed to do various things here in the community to build the church.” Troeger’s church commissioned him as a missionary Jan. 5, praying over him and his wife, Barb. The chaplain gets emotional at the memory of the send-off. “I think we’re both on this parallel journey, both going towards the Lord,” Troeger said of himself and his church. “And when we do get the chance for a
News journal of the Illinois Baptist State Association
JANUARY 20, 2020 Vol. 114 No. 2
Online all the time IllinoisBaptist.org
IB
COOPERATIVE PROGRAM
Your church’s worldwide impact 2019 missions giving tallies Special section
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK
Responding when leaders disappoint Eric Reed P. 8
TABLE TALK
Good news, couch potatoes! Meredith Flynn P. 10
Nonprofit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Peoria, Illinois Permit No. 325
P. 4 PLUS: Praying for military families P. 4
in focus
What are the neighbors doing? NATE ADAMS ON VISION P. 2 OMNIBUS: News and trends from Midwest Baptists P. 6