Southern Baptist Convention 2014 • Complete Coverage from Baltimore • Special section pages 7-11
Volume 108, No. 9
JUNE 16, 2014
IB Insider
The SBC on its knees
Arkansas pastor Ronnie Floyd wins top post page 2 From 1964: The curse of ‘tolerance’ page 4
Finally, we stopped talking about prayer – and we prayed
Illinois women tackle sex trafficking page 6 In Her Steps: our Annie Armstrong tour page 11
News and updates Throughout the week:
facebook.com/IllinoisBaptist twitter.com/IllinoisBaptist pinterest.com/IllinoisBaptist vimeo.com/IBSA www.IBSA.org
By Meredith Flynn
Baltimore | Running 45 minutes ahead of schedule on the second day, those keeping the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting on track didn’t do the usual thing – advancing the schedule to allow more time for business (or lunch). Instead, they got down to the serious business of prayer. Clustered in small groups across the convention hall, Baptists prayed for personal and national revival, and for spiritual awakening in churches and in a denomination “that often seems
to have lost its first love,” said Frank Page, president of the SBC Executive Committee. It wasn’t the only time messengers were called to prayer and repentance during the Baltimore gathering. A powerful message by Francis Chan had resulted in similar prayer moments a few days before. “We need the next great spiritual awakening,” said new Southern Baptist Convention President Ronnie Floyd, who succeeds New Orleans
Continued on page 2
Sallateeska construction continues
Nonprofit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Peoria, Illinois Permit No. 325
Sign up for the weekly eConnection at www.IBSA.org/Communications.
Luter’s successor continues call for revival in nation and denomination
CAPACITY DOUBLED – Volunteer construction workers helped the staff at IBSA’s Lake Sallateeksa camp expand the dining hall. A late start to spring slowed the project, but the team pledged to finish before the first campers arrived. Story on page 3.
In the SBC Special Section Luter’s enduring message: Let revival begin with me! Call to pastors: Re-engage with Cooperative Program as main missions network
IMB’s turning point and the challenge out of Illinois
More original reporting and photos from Baltimore, starting on page 7
Declines demand ‘renewed passion’
Nashville, Tenn. | The number of churches affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention increased slightly in 2013, while other key measures declined, according to the Annual Church Profile (ACP) compiled by LifeWay Christian Resources in cooperation with Baptist state conventions. The number of SBC churches grew by 91 to 46,125, a 0.2% increase over 2012. SBC churches also reported 4,789 church-type missions last year, a decline of 203 from 2012. However, some state conventions no longer use the designation church-type mission, which may have impacted the total. While the number of SBC churches increased, several other numbers declined, including: • Church membership decreased by 136,764, down 0.9% to 15.7 million members. Continued on page 2