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Volume 108, No. 13
IB Insider
Volunteers help Detroit recover page 2 Nate Adams: State of the Midwest page 4 How to pray for persecuted Christians page 5 Photo gallery: Student teams take gospel to Caribbean page 7
Does Sunday matter anymore? page 10
SEPTEMBER 08, 2014
Platt to lead International Mission Board
‘Radical’ author and pastor elected amid talk of age and CP giving
Richmond, Va. | Fittingly, it was on a mission trip that new International Mission Board President David Platt sensed God moving in his heart about making a deeper commitment to taking the gospel to the nations. On a trip to Nepal in February, his team trekked for five days before meeting a single Christian. Platt also witnessed Hindu families burning the bodies of newly deceased loved ones and scattering their ashes over a sacred river in hopes that they would be reincarnated. Most if not all of them presumably had died without ever hearing of Christ. “It just gripped me in a deeper way,” Platt said. “I came back with a desire to say, ‘How can my life more intentionally be used to get the gospel to unreached peoples?’” As IMB president, he’ll help Southern Baptists around the world answer that same question. Trustees over-
MISSION: INSPIRATION – Leaders hope David Platt, seen here addressing IMB trustees following his election, will draw a new generation to comit to missions. IMB photo by Thomas Graham
whelmingly elected Platt as the agency’s new president Aug. 27, six months after current president Tom Elliff asked the board to begin looking for his successor. At 36, Platt will be the youngest leader in IMB’s 169-year history. He
State missions week starts Sept. 14
currently pastors The Church at Brook Hills, a congregation of 4,500 members in Birmingham, Ala. The author of bestselling book “Radical” and a popular conference speaker, Platt is known for his intense preaching style Continued on page 2
Page hears from Chicago leaders By Meredith Flynn
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The Mission Illinois Offering and Week of Prayer focuses on ministry to kids and families. The crucial “4-14 window” is the best opportunity for churches to effectively share the gospel with the next generation. Go to www.IBSA.org/mio for videos, stories, mission study teaching plans, and ideas for prayer and worship.
Edgewater | Frank Page is president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee, but he also carries the title CEO, which he has often said means “chief encouraging officer.” Operating in that role, Page joined pastors and church planters in northern Illinois for two “listening sessions” in August. Throughout the year, Page (right) has met with leaders in several states. In Chicagoland, he and members of his staff hosted church planters at a luncheon in Edgewater to discuss specific ministry challenges related to planting in the city. They also were at Broadview Missionary Baptist Church for a session with more than 50 leaders. “I think the key is building relationships and building trust,” Page told SBC Life about the listening sessions. “It’s time to build some momentum on correct relationships.” Broadview Pastor Marvin Parker said he was impressed Page “is taking the time to go around the country, to hear what SBC pastors are talking about.” In the Chicago sessions, Page and leaders addressed several issues: Church size and diversity. Page previously has called small churches the “backbone” of the convention. In the session at Broadview, he told leaders that a large majority of Southern Baptist churches run 100 people or less, said Continued on page 6