Wednesday, February 5, 2014

News from the Illinois Baptist

Mark Emerson and Harold Booze were just off Africa's west coast, trying to locate a people group everyone seemed familiar with, but no one could find. With evening approaching and no place to stay for the night, Emerson knew they needed to go back to Kamsar, the city they had left a few hours before. Read more from iB2news.org.

View the Africa Vision Trip photo album on Facebook.

Uh, oh! 5 common preaching mistakes you might be making

Being a pastor is hard work. This is especially true for those who carry the heavy expectation of preaching a mind-blowing, original sermon every seven days. Because of this difficulty, many pastors make simple preaching mistakes that can be easily corrected. Learn how to avoid five common preaching mistakes at PastorsToday.com.

12 ideas for sharing the Savior in the snow
Snow, snow and more snow. While you can't do anything about the weather, you can make it a ministry opportunity. Winter weather needn't shut down church activities but can yield a range of opportunities for community witness. Get 12 great winter weather ministry opportunity ideas for your church at BPNews.net.

IBSA Disaster Relief Team goes to the Philippines

An IBSA Disaster Relief team is getting ready to serve in the Philippines from Feb. 6-17. The team will help rebuild a school on Gibitngil Island, a small island just northwest of Cebu Island, which was destroyed by Typhoon Haiyun. Please remember them in prayer as they prepare to leave the U.S. and while they are in the Philippines. Watch our Facebook page for updates from the team.

The 2014 IBSA Expository Preaching Retreat

Pastors, you're invited to participate in an expository preaching retreat hosted by IBSA at Lake Sallateeska Baptist Camp March 27-29. Dr. Greg Heisler, former preaching professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and current senior pastor of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church in Boone, NC, will lead the retreat with a focus on "Preaching Christ from all the Scriptures." Find out more at IBSA.org.

Stop yourself before saying these 5 phrases

We mean well, don't we? But sometimes our attempts to say something spiritual actually come out unbiblical, or at a minimum, not very helpful. Learn which five phrases may be better left unsaid at ChurchLeaders.com.

IBSA eConnection is a weekly e-newsletter designed to provide Illinois Baptists with relevant, useful information and resources. We pray it enriches your ministry and helps your church to grow and minister.