When we hear the phrase “mission field,” we often think internationally, and we imagine people who don’t look like us, or who don’t speak our language, or who don’t live with many of the blessings that we enjoy. We remember with respect and gratitude those called missionaries who leave home and who go to live in faraway places to share the gospel, sometimes with people who will hear it for the first time.
But even as we pray and send and give so that missionaries can go to “the uttermost parts of the world,” we should remember that Jesus also said the Holy Spirit would empower his disciples to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria. More than just those specific, first century locations and disciples, I believe Jesus was describing in Acts 1:8 a history-long, worldwide mission, with each faithful church creating its own ripple effect in these ever-widening, concentric circles.
In other words, your church and those near you share a Jerusalem mission field. Our churches here in Illinois share a Judea mission field. And yes, there’s plenty of Samaria here in our home state too, plenty of people who seem different from us in background or culture or language, and who we might think are difficult to reach with the gospel. Yet when we go there, we often find them surprisingly receptive, as did Jesus and the early disciples. In fact, many people groups from the ends of the earth now call Illinois home as well.
Acts 1:8 is just as relevant and commanded for churches today as it was when Jesus first spoke these final words before ascending into heaven. For us, these mission fields are right here in Illinois. And we and our churches are among the closest missionaries.
Your Mission Illinois Offering can accelerate the spread of the gospel in our most accessible mission fields.
Last year IBSA churches reported 3,359 baptisms, a 21% increase over the previous, pandemic-oppressed year. And together we planted or restarted 11 new churches, though many more are desperately needed. We are making an impact on the lostness of our state. But frankly, that lostness is growing faster than our efforts or resources.
Your church’s gifts through the Mission Illinois Offering can make a tremendous difference in accelerating the spread of the gospel here in our most accessible mission fields. As you invest in missions here in Illinois, our IBSA network can not only send more missionaries such as church planters, but we can invest more in strengthening and assisting the churches that are our state’s primary missionaries.
For example, last year IBSA assisted more than 100 churches and pastors in personal assessment and revitalization processes, to help them get “unstuck” and moving forward on mission. Our staff strengthened the leadership skills of over 750 pastors and church leaders and trained almost 1,700 church workers in various church ministries. More than 100 churches were equipped with evangelism strategies, and we trust that these efforts contributed to the resurgence in baptisms.
One of the primary reasons IBSA exists is to help churches work together to reach especially those three closest-by mission fields Jesus described in Acts 1:8. We can do this because of the generous gifts of churches, not just through the Cooperative Program but also through the Mission Illinois Offering, which most churches receive during the month of September.
With today’s economic and cultural challenges, I can’t recall a year when your state missions offering is more needed. You can learn more at mission illinois.org and if your church isn’t receiving a formal offering at this time, you can give securely there too. Why? Because your church’s Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria mission fields are right here, in Illinois.
The 2024 Mission Illinois Offering and Week of Prayer is September 8-15 and this year’s statewide offering goal is $350,000. Find out more at MissionIllinois.org.
Nate Adams is executive director of the Illinois Baptist State Association. Respond at IllinoisBaptist@IBSA.org