Springfield | “It can be wearisome.”
Opening the fall IBSA Board of Directors Meeting with scripture and prayer from Galatians 6:9, Scott Douglas implored, “God help us to not be tired.”
“While there is a harvest out there at times the soil can be very hard,” said Douglas, pastor of First Baptist Church in Fairview Heights and a member of the Board. “Don’t give up, don’t give up.”
Board members were gathered at the IBSA Building on September 10 to hear and vote on committee reports, elect new officers, and for a report from IBSA Executive Director Nate Adams. They also voted on a proposal to put a former collegiate ministry building near the University of Illinois in Urbana up for sale, and approved the proposed 2025 IBSA budget for recommendation to messengers at the IBSA Annual Meeting in Orland Park November 12-13.
Executive Director’s report
“Don’t grow weary in well doing well. Galatians 6:9 was my grandfather’s favorite verse,” Adams remarked during his report.
“In this day, there are cultural, generational economic pressures on the work of churches, and especially in some ways on the work of networks,” he said. “As churches encounter those pressures, they sometimes pull back from network cooperation in order to survive or persevere. And so, the encouragement that we want to give to churches is, you’re not alone. And you’ll always do better when working with other churches and other leaders doing missions together.”
He gave a brief update on the network’s 2024 goals reporting, “We’re well past the halfway point in most goals, and in many cases have exceeded the annual goals already.”
Board members received a preview of the 2024 IBSA Annual Meeting which will be held on a condensed schedule November 12-13 at Ashburn Baptist Church in Orland Park. “There will still be five messages, and three plenary sessions, but also on Wednesday morning, we’re going to provide in each of two-time slots, ten practical ministry workshops for a total of 20 workshops,” said Adams. “So, we’re seeking to, in less time, deliver more training and leadership development value for pastors and lay leaders in the annual meeting.” The meeting will also feature SBC Executive Committee President Jeff Iorg as a main speaker.
Looking ahead to 2025, Adams noted it will be the 100th anniversary of what he called “two pillars of Baptist Cooperation” – the Cooperative Program and the Baptist Faith and Message. Continuing the word picture, he said, “The Baptist Faith and Message facilitates multi-church unity around God’s Word. The Cooperative Program facilitates multi-church cooperation in God’s mission.”
Business items
The Board authorized Adams to pursue of the sale of what is “commonly referred to as the BASIC House in Urbana,” which has been used for collegiate ministry over the years. “It’s an older property, and we’ve seen it become much more expensive to maintain,” said IBSA Associate Executive Director, Mark Emerson. “Those ongoing costs, combined with changes in collegiate ministry strategy, led all parties to the decision to let go of the house.”
Proceeds from the sale of the property are to be placed in an account designated for collegiate ministry or church planting use with the proceeds to be placed in a “net asset account” for use near the “Illinois University Campuses.”
It approved an overspend of up to $39,000 of the 2024 IBSA Budget, due to a higher than estimated attendance at 2024 IBSA Camps with the knowledge additional income from the camps will cover those costs.
The Board approved the 2025 IBSA Budget based on a Cooperative Program Goal of $6,000,000 and a Cooperative Program ratio of 56.5%/43.5% (IBSA/SBC).
Newly elected IBSA Board of Directors 2025 Officers are: Chair – Bruce Kirk, pastor, Alpha Missionary Baptist Church, Bolingbrook (re-elected), Vice Chair – Paul Cooper, pastor, Marshall Baptist Church, and Secretary – Noah Lee, pastor, Tremont Baptist Church.
Members rotating off the Board were: Josh Bledsoe, Andy DeWitt, Bob Dyer, Mark Goldman, Barbara Lee, Jill McNicol, LaRue Parr, and Kathy Stanford.
The Board also welcomed new member, David Higgs, Minister of Music, Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church, Jacksonville, who was elected at the March meeting after another member stepped down.