Illinois Baptist
‘Harvest’ in June
Will your church join this nationwide effort? Nate Adams P. 2
Baptists told, ‘Go West’
in focus
Meeting in Arizona for third time
Phoenix rising
Phoenix, Az. | When Baptists gather in Phoenix next month, they’ll address the challenges of taking the gospel to a world that seems less inclined to hear the message, and doing so with fewer resources to get the job done. Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention June 13-14 will also meet against a very different political backdrop than a year ago, and could contend with the fallout of recent debate fueled by a raucous and divisive U.S. presidential election. Or not. Recent calls for Convention-wide unity—and similar statements by SBC leaders—could rule the day in Phoenix, where Baptists will focus on prayer, evangelism, and financial stewardship, said SBC President Steve Gaines. “I believe Southern Baptists can be used of God to spark a mighty movement of prayer, evangelism, and discipleship across our nation and around the world,” said Gaines, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in metro Memphis, Tenn., in announcing the meeting’s theme. “Pray! For such a time as this” is based on Luke 18:1 and Esther 4:14.
A preview of the 2017 Southern Baptist Convention What Illinois and Arizona have in common • Chicago pastors to preach • Insider’s tour guide P. 7-9
Nonprofit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Peoria, Illinois Permit No. 325
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MISSION
NEWS
Rescuer gets rescued Going under a second time
Taking stock
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TABLE TALK
Happy Mother’s Day (sort of)
New church makes healthy community connections P. 4 News journal of the Illinois Baptist State Association
MAY 01, 2017 Vol. 111 No. 06
Why some struggle to celebrate P. 13
Frequent updates at IllinoisBaptist.org
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See page 3 for more addresses.
PAT’S PLAYBOOK
Spiritual conversations Pajak’s secret witnessing tool P. 16