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iLead

Financial crisis: a parable

June 9, 2017 By Sylvan Knobloch

Imagine with me that Pastor Rick is talking with Ernie, the financial team’s chairman, about the church’s budget: “This has been a difficult year financially,” Ernie says. “Since the glass company closed, giving and attendance has decreased. The financial team is recommending we reduce our percentage of missions giving, and that you pay a greater […]

Leadership and knowing when to hold back

April 16, 2017 By Stephen Williams

The church must discover and follow new leaders! We current leaders must allow those younger than us to do the hard work of discovering their leadership skills and potential. Read…

The key to successful outreach

March 2, 2017 By Jack Lucas

For church leaders, the end of an outreach event is only the beginning. This is heavy on my heart as we enter Vacation Bible School season, and I’m reminded how crucial a church’s follow-up process is to their overall VBS strategy. Read…

Disciple your leaders

December 13, 2016 By Stephen Williams

Discipleship has really happened effectively when the person I am coaching outdistances me and I must step aside. The same is true for leadership. If I have been effective, I can focus my attention elsewhere and celebrate the wins of those who have learned to take the reins themselves.  Read…

Casting a difficult vision

December 3, 2016 By Carmen Halsey

Leaders often are tasked with communicating vision. They call people to action, urging them to move from observers to participants. And often, they become leaders themselves. But sometimes the vision is difficult. Sometimes, successes aren’t resounding. For a few years now, our team has been working to equip and advise churches on the issue of human trafficking. It’s an exceedingly messy, heartbreaking problem, and casting a vision for people to help prevent it is also complicated. When an issue is so big, how do effective leaders guide people to real engagement, even without the promise of results? Here are some helpful tips we’ve learned along the way: Read…

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Featured Columns

Let me ask one question

Sammy Simmons

I left the deacons meeting one proud pastor. It had been a tiring Sunday evening filled with meetings and preaching. However, I went home greatly encouraged by how God was at work using our leaders. In our meeting, five deacons told stories about how they had shared the gospel with someone during the past month. […]

Each church thriving

Nate Adams

Recently our IBSA staff set aside a day for spiritual retreat and focus. Since the beginning of the year, our weekly chapel services have been focusing on the Bible passages that undergird key words and phrases in our new mission statement: “Deliver network value that inspires each church to thrive in health, growth, and mission.” […]

Serving the crucified Christ

Brent Cloyd

Filled with hate, ignorant of truth, lacking in faith, and void of righteousness, the Jews had plotted to kill Jesus. Rome took ownership of their plot and made a statement of their authority in the act of crucifixion. In the course of less than 24 hours, Jesus was arrested, accused, lied about, cursed, and beaten. […]

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Evangelicals blamed for vaccine fear, but pastors, leaders promote shots

Lisa Misner

Some in the media are warning the COVID-19 pandemic may last longer than necessary due to members of the evangelical community refusing a vaccine due to spiritual convictions or uncertainty regarding vaccine safety. An article headlined “How white evangelicals’ vaccine refusal could prolong the pandemic” appeared in the April 5 issue of the New York […]

News

Lake Sallateeska, Streator managers ready to welcome visitors

Leah Honnen

IBSA’s new camp managers moved to Illinois when many COVID-19 restrictions were still in place, limiting to a very small number the people they met in their first months at Lake Sallateeska and Streator. But they’ve used the last few months to prepare for a camp comeback this summer. At Lake Sallateeska, Manager Brock Vandever […]

All-time low membership: What does it mean?

IBSA Board adopts new statements, budget

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Mission

Mission teams hit the road after COVID hiatus

Meredith Flynn

Ken Schultz hadn’t performed in nearly a year when he dusted off his suspenders for a mission trip to Africa. The pastor of Crosswinds Church in Plainfield and long-time entertainer recently traveled to Kenya with a mission team to share the gospel with schoolkids. Schultz wowed the crowd with juggling feats and sleight of hand […]

Replanting season: Young churches embrace opportunities for growth and new ministry

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