Illinois Baptist
Growing concern for our cities Table Talk with Carrie Campbell
Keeps you in touch
P. 13
mission
Get news and commentary online. See page 3 for addresses. News journal of the Illinois Baptist State Association
SEPTEMBER 21, 2015 Vol. 109 No. 13
in focus
SAVE ME A SEAT AT THE LIFETREE CAFE P. 7
First & Ten
How is tithing like football? P. 7
IBSA ANNUAL MEETING
Plans announced First Baptist Church, Marion November 11-12, 2015 P. 4
MISSIONARIES
IMB downsizes Up to 800 to receive buyout offers P. 5
NOTEBOOK
After Suicide Survivors counter shame with grace P. 6
Nonprofit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Peoria, Illinois Permit No. 325
Survey
Pastors stay in the game The work is hard, but they love it. Nashville, Tenn. | If you write your resignation on Monday don’t turn it in, the adage goes. And pastors are heeding it. Though they report stress about money and overwhelming ministry demands, only one percent leave the ministry each year, a new survey finds. Though the work is hard, pastors apparently love it. In a first-of-its-kind study, LifeWay Research surveyed 1,500 pastors of evangelical and historically
black churches and found an estimated 13% of those who were senior pastors in 2005 had left the pastorate ten years later for reasons other than death or retirement. “Pastors are not leaving the ministry in droves,” said Scott McConnell, LifeWay Research vice president.
Still, pastors say the role can be tough: • 84 percent say they’re on call 24 hours a day. • 80 percent expect conflict in their church. • 54 percent find the role of pastor frequently overwhelming. • 53 percent are often concerned about their family’s financial security. • 48 percent often feel the demands P. 3