The IBSA Annual Meeting will be held at Cornerstone Church in Marion November 8-9. It will be preceded by the IBSA Pastors Conference, starting at 1 p.m. on November 7.
Church health is the theme of the Thrive’23 meeting. IBSA Executive Director Nate Adams will also speak on the new “FOR the Pastor” emphasis, which draws together existing IBSA ministries with new cohorts and retreats for pastors.
In announcing the yearlong focus, Adams and the IBSA Health Team have pointed to statistics which show that only 23% of pastors report being happy and content in their identity in Christ, in their church, and in their home, while 50% would leave ministry if they had another way of making a living.
Nine-in-ten pastors say they feel fatigued or worn out on a weekly or daily basis.
“Before a pastor decides it would be easier to move on to a new ministry or chooses to leave ministry altogether, we need to address these realities,” Adams said, as the team corralled IBSA resources for a new outreach.
“We are surveying pastors and gathering them in listening groups to help our network better know and understand their current challenges and needs,” Adams said. “We will add pastoral care elements to our training and gathering times. And we will develop closer comradery among pastors who share similar challenges and concerns.”
The Pastors Conference preceding the Annual Meeting will offer a series of sermons from Romans 8 on “Life in the Spirit.” The purpose is, similarly, refreshing pastors who have endured a tough season in ministry.
IBSA President Michael Nave will bring a message, and the worship team from his church, Cornerstone, will lead praise. In addition to affinity group gatherings and an exhibit hall in the large lobby area, the event will offer community times in the Baptist tradition of the ‘eatin’ meetin,’ with four dessert fellowships on Wednesday night.
Churches may be represented by up to 15 messengers, but their participation must be approved by the church and messengers must be registered.
For more information on the gathering, visit IBSA.org/IBSAannualmeeting.