A renewal of evangelistic zeal is dependent first on the Holy Spirit. When he finds a people who are open to his work and eager to share their faith, the Spirit opens doors for gospel conversations and readies the waters for baptism. IBSA’s Mark Emerson said there are vital ways for churches to encourage an […]
Yes, pastors are tired. What can you do about it?
I’m at the season where I am contemplating lessons learned from past ministry. I find myself using “If I was to do it all over again” statements in training and coaching seeking to warn others to learn from missteps that I identify in my journey. Don’t get me wrong! I’d love to go back and […]
Fishing season: 8 hooks for effective pastor search
One outcome of the Covid season appears to be an increase in pastors changing churches, and churches starting pastor searches. Call it “pent-up demand.” In many fields, people waited during the closures forced by the pandemic before making major purchases, changing jobs, or relocating. Even in the best of situations, churches will need to call […]
What happens at camp can be life changing. It was for me.
Unlike several of my coworkers, I did not receive the Lord at camp. Yet, thinking back through my time attending summer camp as a student and leading camps for the past 30 years, most of the major spiritual decisions in my life happened in a camp context. I can show you the exact spot in […]
Plan now for mission trip success in 2020
In past years, short-term missions were mainly summer activities. Some churches would hold an annual youth mission trip, help another church with VBS, or join in on a construction project. Today, Illinois Baptists are engaging their Acts 1:8 mission fields year-round. We are excited to hear reports that our churches are engaging lostness around the […]