Illinois Baptist
My flying lesson
Who knew it would be so brief—or inspiring! Nate Adams P. 2
Ready, aim
COOPERATIVE PROGRAM
Track your church’s giving
Plus ‘tweets’ from the field P. 11
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK
Two modest proposals
mission
Phoenix convention in rearview P. 7
PEOPLE NEWS
Winners
Two young women represent Illinois well P. 14
News journal of the Illinois Baptist State Association
JULY 24, 2017 Vol. 111 No. 10
Summer camps encourage higher goals
Check in often at IllinoisBaptist.org
IB
Nonprofit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Peoria, Illinois Permit No. 325
See page 3 for more addresses.
FIRESIDE STORIES: You won’t believe where one couple spent their honeymoon. P. 8
Small churches can grow New study shows factors that attract and keep new members
Wheaton | Attracting and keeping people considered unchurched is rated as the top predictor of growth through new professions of faith at small churches, according to a new study encompassing 12 Christian denominations including Southern Baptists. “These churches are places of invitation, welcome, and involvement for the unchurched,” the study’s authors said. “So, the unchurched stick around in greater numbers. And they come to Christ and get committed to the church in greater numbers.” The Billy Graham Center of Wheaton College conducted the newly released study in partnership with Lifeway Research of the Southern Baptist Convention and the Caskey Center for Church Excellence of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. The telephone survey P. 3
in focus Protect the flock
The growing need for church security P. 5