Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Mission Illinois Offering: New rural churches

There are 13 million people in Illinois, and at least 8 million of them do not know Christ. Your gifts to the Mission Illinois Offering help plant churches in their communities to reach them. This week (September 14-21) is the Missions Illinois Offering Week of Prayer. To order additional MIO materials for your church, visit IBSA.org/mio or e-mail MissionIllinois@IBSA.org.

10 ways to reignite your love for the church

The church is sometimes not easy to love. People claim to be Christian but act like the devil. We say the words, "I love the church" while knowing our heart isn't there. When you've had enough bad days in ministry, love for the church seems to disappear completely. Visit ThomRainer.com to learn how to reignite that love.

News from the Illinois Baptist

Illinois Disaster Relief teams aid flood recovery in Michigan

The Detroit suburb of Warren, Mich., is the destination for four Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief teams in September. Three additional teams served there last month, after slow-moving storms dumped several inches of rain on the area Aug. 11. Find out more about IBSA disaster relief work in Michigan at IB2news.org.

How to be a be a community-building pastor

To be a kingdom-building pastor you need be a community-building pastor. To reach people today, we have to get outside the walls of our church buildings. The community has to know-and believe-that we really do care for them. Learn what you can do at ChurchLeaders.com.

IBSA Marriage Retreat at Lake Sallateeska

God's word says that we should do all things to the glory of God. If that is true, then marriage is one of those things. The first IBSA marriage retreat will explore how your marriage can and should be lived in an act of worship to God. What a concept, marriage to the glory of God! Visit IBSA.org to find out more about the Oct. 24-25 Worship as Marriage Retreat at the Lake Sallateeska Inn.

Effectively reaching and retaining Millennials

Being effective at reaching and keeping Millennials doesn't have much to do with being a "young, cool, hip church." It has more to do with fostering relationships between young adults and older adults who care about them, listen to them, and, as a result, minister together with them. Learn how at ChristianityToday.com.

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