Messengers welcomed 13 new churches to the Illinois Baptist State Association, heard about additional plans to prevent sexual abuse and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as churches were urged to “start fresh.”
Then the spotlight turned to missions with the theme “Each church a missionary.” While missions leaders shared testimonies in the auditorium, church volunteers filled “Buckets of Blessings” with goods for children’s ministries.
These actions marked the 116th IBSA Annual Meeting at Metro Community Church in Edwardsville Nov. 1–3. Along with receiving missions reports from IBSA and its affiliated financial development and children’s home ministries, and national missions partners, messengers approved a 2023 Cooperative Program budget of $6 million, maintaining a 56.5/43.5% split in mission funds between IBSA and the national SBC.
Following two days of solid preaching at the Pastors Conference, the yearly event also brought messages from outgoing IBSA President Heath Tibbetts and a missions challenge from Church Planting Director Paul Westbrook.
Ending abuse
Presiding over his final meeting as IBSA President, Tibbetts told 392 messengers and guests that the next president would bring together an ad hoc group of committees already in existence to put extra teeth into enforcement of sexual abuse prevention guidelines.
“I felt what was important, instead of adding to our constitution, we could make use of the documents we already have,” said Tibbetts, pastor of First Baptist Church of Machesney Park.
IBSA staff produced additional plans for abuse prevention after the national SBC Sexual Abuse Task Force issued recommendations in May. IBSA’s plan expands previous guidelines with five new recommendations.
In addition, the actions will give extra force to the IBSA Credentials Committee.
“It seemed best to clarify language to help the Credentials Committee to identify what is a ‘cooperating church,’” Tibbetts said. “This will identify the tools they will need to take action” if a church fails to act on credible claims of abuse.
“We were surprised and glad to find that there were already a number of trauma-informed counselors” as recommended by the SBC’s Sexual Abuse Task Force in June, IBSA Executive Director Nate Adams reported.
“The most important thing is that we all be vigilant in our churches,” he noted, with training and background checks. “Sadly, predators look to churches as vulnerable places where they might have contact with children and vulnerable adults.”
Ongoing rebound from pandemic ‘not fully complete’
In his report on the overall work of the state association, Adams concluded that the rebound from the pandemic in many Illinois churches is ongoing and not fully complete.
He explained the three-year refocus project of IBSA, which clarified the work of the association as a network of churches seeking to “deliver network value that inspires each church to thrive in health, growth and mission.”
IBSA’s work has shifted from delivering programs to aiding churches in development of processes that strengthen their ministries for their settings.
“Is our cooperation as a network working?” Adams asked. “Well, it’s kind of like democracy. It’s messy and there are disagreements and it’s worth fighting for. In a similar way, autonomous congregations working together — that it hangs together is a miracle.”
Adams choked up as he said, “I believe God wants us to work together to reach the lost people around us.”
Missions takes spotlight
“Let’s do something big together,” Paul Westbrook told messengers during the Annual Meeting sermon at Metro Community Church, his former church. Westbrook joined the IBSA church planting team in early 2022 after 31 years as planter and pastor in Edwardsville.
“I didn’t plant a church for the limelight,” he said. “I did it because I became increasingly convinced that people need Jesus.”
Before the home crowd, Westbrook used a large cardboard box to make his point. “I stepped out of the box I was stuck in, and I stepped into faith.”
He related the journey that included a small start for the church planted by Oklahoma transplants, and sojourns of more than a decade meeting in four public schools as the church grew. He urged church leaders to “Multiply Illinois” by supporting church plants to reach the state’s nearly nine million lost people.
“Maybe you got stuck in a box, and you haven’t stepped out in faith,” he said. “Hebrews says without faith, it is impossible to please God. Not hard, but impossible.”
At the conclusion of the sermon, Westbrook destroyed the box and stood on top of the pieces as he prayed for a multiplying movement of church planting and evangelism in Illinois.
New projects
Missions partners brought opportunities to the assembly. Former Benton pastor Sammy Simmons, now with Send Relief, announced the “Send Relief Serve Tour” in Chicagoland next August.
Volunteers from Illinois will engage a variety of missions projects in Chicago to open doors for witness. “No act of love is insignificant when King Jesus is involved in it,” Simmons said. Information is posted at ServeTour.org.
International Mission Board missionaries to Brazil, Rick and Jill Thompson, shared experiences from the field. Rick is from Illinois. He welcomed fellow Illinoisans to venture to the mission field, whether local or international. Jill encouraged the people to start simple: get a passport and pray.
Adams introduced the 13 churches that affiliated with the state association earlier in the day. Later he brought three church planters to the stage to share their stories.
Jacob Goble, planting pastor of Rooted Community Church in Lebanon described a town divided by State Highway 4, with “have’s” on one side and “have not’s” on the other. Lebanon is home to McKendree College with 2,000 students from 43 states and 43 countries. “We believe the world is going to be changed through Rooted Community Church,” Goble said.
Jose Nunez is pastoring Iglesia Buen Samaritano of Aurora. Through an interpreter, he explained the church started through 12-step programs for addiction and is ministering to first- and second-generation Latinos. “The support we have received from the Illinois Baptists and through your prayers allowed us to be with you. We thank you and we want to continue.”
Daniel Nemmers started Salt Church on the Illinois State University campus in Normal this fall.
“We had our fourth kid two weeks before we planted the church. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone,” he said to laughter. “We’ve seen eight people saved and two people baptized. And I got to lead my neighbor to Christ.”
To read full report, click here.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Eric Reed and originally published by Illinois Baptist State Association.
