Now is the time of year when most Illinois Baptist churches are preparing to promote and receive the annual “Mission Illinois Offering,” which is devoted to advancing the gospel among more than eight million lost people, right here in our state. … Local churches are our greatest missionary asset as Illinois Baptists, and our investment in their health, growth, and leaders is as important as planting new churches, reaching college campuses, or meeting human and spiritual needs. Read…
Columns
Dave Ramsey: Learning and Living, Buying the Car
Financial advisor, prolific author and radio host Dave Ramsey provides direct, practical advice on financial decisions. In this column he answers questions on how much to invest in CDs and whether it’s the right time to invest in a new car. Read…
Pastor, go on a mission trip
I am ashamed to admit that I haven’t always understood why being on mission both personally and as a church is so vital. I used to skip the “missions” chapel services in seminary because I wrongly believed that missions and being a pastor were two separate callings. I just wanted to be a pastor. Sadly, the first church I pastored wasn’t very mission-minded because I wasn’t. Read…
The Midwest Takeover
We usually think of pioneers as starters, people who are willing to do hard, unheard-of things – impossible even – for the sake of a better future. As the work of sharing the gospel and making disciples gets more difficult, this influx of the “pioneer spirit” could be just what the SBC needs. Read…
Shop with purpose
Is scoping out garage sales part of your weekend routine? These easy tips can turn a garage sale-ing hobby into a simple, effective witness opportunity. Jesus instructed his followers to tell about him “as you go” (Matthew 28:19-20). So next weekend, as you go for a morning of garage sale-ing, make it more than just a shopping trip. Share Jesus as you go. Read…