Illinois Baptist
Are you a rope holder? Nate Adams P. 2
GO!
mission
Good sport P. 15 ASSOCIATIONS
New strategies For local networks P. 10
TABLE TALK
Smaller churches, bigger vision Drake Caudill P. 13
FOR THE PASTOR
The ‘Go Chicago’ adventure. P. 7 PLUS: The pastor who gave up and started over P. 9
IllinoisBaptist.org
IB
September 8–15 • missionillinois.org
News journal of the Illinois Baptist State Association
Hero lessons Michael Awbrey P. 15
IBSA Annual Meeting
New format for Thrive ‘24 More opportunity in fewer days
SEPTEMBER 1, 2024
Nonprofit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Peoria, Illinois Permit No. 325
Vol. 118 No. 9
Time to pray and give to the Mission Illinois Offering
Schooled in prayer
Meredith Flynn P. 16
Orland Park | When Illinois Baptists gather this November at Ashburn Baptist Church in the southwest Chicago suburb of Orland Park, they will experience something new. The 2024 IBSA Annual Meeting and Pastors Conference will feature a condensed two-day format, making the midweek event briefer and easier to attend for pastors and church messengers. The program for the unified gathering will continue to highlight the dynamic preaching that Pastors Conference attendees have come to expect, featuring five messages from respected national ministry leaders Brian Croft, Mark Croston, and Jeff Iorg as well as Illinoisans Bruce Kirk and Michael Nave. Additionally, the new format will include 20 helpful, ministry-oriented breakout sessions for pastors, pastors’ wives, church planters, and other leaders, led by WESTBROOK Croft, Croston, Nave, and others. “I’m really glad for the return of the breakout sessions,” said IBSA Associate Executive Director Paul Westbrook. “When I served as a pastor, I always felt like breakouts helped me grow to the next level as a leader and provided me with tools that I could take back P. 3