Illinois Baptist Read all about the 2017 IBSA Annual Meeting in Section B Pastors’ Conference starts at 1:15 P.M. Tuesday, Nov. 7 Annual Meeting starts at 1:30 P.M. Wednesday, Nov. 8
Meet Jesus
Why the SBC needs sharper focus Table Talk with Doug Munton P. 13
in focus
REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK
Loving Las Vegas Can we make sense of the tragedy? P. 6
NEWS
Court rulings
Tabernacle Baptist Church, Decatur
Effect on Chicago church, housing allowance
Churches can pre-register messengers now. Make dinner reservations for both nights at
P. 5
FRESH IDEAS
More ways to appreciate pastors
IBSAannualmeeting.org
Diana Davis P. 13
IB Online all the time IllinoisBaptist.org News journal of the Illinois Baptist State Association
OCTOBER 16, 2017
PINSPIRATIONS
Youth Encounter leads teens to worship—and to faith INSIDE: Churches come together for annual evangelism event P. 7
Handshake alternatives Share greetings, not germs in flu season P. 16
Nonprofit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Peoria, Illinois Permit No. 325
Vol. 111 No. 14
religious freedom
Trump plan draws praise
Justice Department pledges to protect churches
SESSIONS
First hurricanes, now wild fires
Washington | Southern Baptist and other religious freedom defenders have hailed the Trump administration’s new guidelines to safeguard in federal law the free exercise of religion. Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a memorandum Oct. 6 to executive branch departments and agencies that provides guidance on religious liberty protections. In introducing 20 principles of religious freedom, Sessions said, “…to the greatest extent P. 3
Baptists offer ongoing relief P. 5