“The LORD is great and is highly praised; his greatness is unsearchable. One generation will declare your works to the next and will proclaim your mighty acts.”– Psalm 145:3-4
In August, Audra and I celebrated 25 years of marriage. After an anniversary dinner and dessert together, we came home and looked through our wedding photos. When we came upon a photo of me with my best man, Dad, I was immediately reminded of one of our conversations as he and I walked together in the morning.
I told Dad that as we get older and have families of our own, we begin to realize that our parents were right about a lot more than we credited them for in our younger days. We also begin to realize the sacrifices our parents made to give us opportunity and care as we begin to experience making those sacrifices for our children.
I remember asking, “Dad, how can I ever repay you for all you’ve done for us?”
He turned, smiled, and said, “Your way to say thank you is to pass on our faith in Jesus and to pay it forward. That’s the very best way you could ever thank me.”
I’ll never forget that moment.
As we enter an exciting new season of Illinois Baptist life, we are responding to God’s call to shift our Mission Illinois Offering toward reaching the next generation with the gospel.
The theme for this year’s offering is Faith Forward, and 100% of our giving will support churches as we help children, teens, and college students experience a life-changing relationship with Jesus.
This year’s shift is a response to an extensive season of listening to how God is speaking through you. We are united in our desire to join God in his work of helping a new generation follow Jesus and live out its Acts 1:8 calling.
This year’s Mission Illinois goal is $350,000, which is about 9% more than we received in 2025. That may seem like a stretch, but it is more attainable than at first glance. If Illinois Baptists in 800 of our churches each gave only $500, we would exceed our goal by $50,000.
Our top-giving church in 2025, Hoosier Prairie, a sweet congregation near Louisville with an average worship attendance of around 50, gave $16,710. If 800 of our churches gave like Hoosier Prairie did last year, we would raise $13,000,000 for the next generation!
Many of our churches did not give to the Mission Illinois Offering last year or have never joined in this blessed effort. I’m praying that God will lead you to join him in this worthy cause for the first time. Unlike the Cooperative Program, which is primarily funded through a percentage of our church budgets, the Mission Illinois Offering is usually received from individuals in your church who are led to give.
It would be a culture-changing moment for Illinois Baptists if 800 of our churches set a goal of at least $500 this fall. Exceeding our goal could lead to new initiatives and opportunities that we could discern together to cultivate the next generation of Illinois Baptist pioneers in 2027 and beyond.
As I have answered God’s call to serve you, many of you have exhorted me not to shy away from challenging us as He leads, even if that takes us in new, exciting directions. Now is one of those times. The next generation is worth our sacrificial investment. Let’s join God and follow his lead on how he wants us to pay it forward.
My Dad paid his faith forward so I could follow Jesus. Now, it’s our turn.
May future generations see 2026 as a pivotal year when Illinois Baptists, like Isaiah, said, “Here I am, send me!”
Contact Scott Foshie at IllinoisBaptist@IBSA.org.