With 1.8 million residents born outside the United States—that’s 14% of its population—Illinois has more chances than most states to reach the peoples of the world starting right here. Going to the ends of the earth has never been easier, as the people from the ends of the earth are coming here.
Consider this example from one language group: The Latino community is growing fast in Illinois. At 2.1 million people, the largest minority group equals 17% of the state population. All but one of Illinois’ 102 counties reported a growing Latino population in the 2020 Census.
In metro Chicago, 400,000 people (15.7%) speak a language other than English at home. The top six, according to Census data are Spanish, Mandarin, Polish, Arabic, Hindi, and Urdu.
Baptists are at work among many people groups: 20 different languages are spoken in Baptist churches in Chicagoland every Sunday. But there is much more to be done. The gospel opportunities we have in Illinois to reach the world’s population can be told in these three stories.
- IMB targets USA. A new collaborative ministry led by Southern Baptists’ International Mission Board is helping to maximize our seed sowing among the peoples who have come here. This is a new cooperative effort available to every church. Read more about it here.
- Migrants flood Uptown worship services. This Chicago church has reached people of many nations throughout its 50-year history. But as immigrants amassed in the city, a weekday outreach exploded (pictured in the photo above). Find out more here.
- Rolling prayer for people groups. The annual Chicagoland prayer tour reveals unreached and under-evangelized peoples at every stop. What may seem commonplace on a tour of the city highlights tremendous global opportunity for Illinois congregations. Learn more here.