John Kelly is a lot like his western Chicago neighborhood of Austin—there is more to the story than first impressions. Austin, the third largest of Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods, has beautiful tree-lined streets, parks, pre-WWII homes, historic architecture, and ethnic diversity. It also has high poverty, lots of brokenness, and the eleventh highest crime-rate in Chicago. […]
MIO: College town’s Cornerstone connection
When Luke Henry became pastor of Cornerstone Church in Savoy, he knew the church had great opportunities to reach college students. But something unexpected surprised him. The new townhouses and apartment complexes surrounding the church were home to many, possibly hundreds, of Asians. The University of Illinois has one of the largest enrollments of Asians […]
MIO: Church replant picks up the torch
Thomas Gensler wonders if his childhood church and pastor ever imagined him filling the same pulpit. “I don’t think so,” he said. “I think he was like, ‘Man, this kid, I just hope he stays with it.’” But Gensler remembers those faithful leaders fondly. “They loved us and supported our family. And I think every […]
MIO: Just walk down the street
In small southern Illinois towns like Wayne City, being a missionary can seem like something for far-off places and foreign cultures. But in reality, there are people just down the street in need of a friend on mission for Jesus. Marlene Wood knows that. “We don’t have to go very far,” she said. “I just […]
Next Step: Letting the Word do the work in Atwood
When Pastor Woody White reached out to IBSA’s Fran Trascritti, his focus was on helping leadership function more efficiently as a team at First Baptist Church of Atwood. But through the consulting process, he also gained the clarity about discipleship that is changing the church. “I call us a big church in a small town,” […]
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