April 2021
Chicagoland Baptists,
You can join our weekly Wednesday prayer time tomorrow by clicking here at 9:00 AM or calling 331-218-1983 (Conference ID: 534 363 743#).
As we grieve the latest shootings in our city and deal with the innumerable problems that we face in our churches and communities, we can be tempted to think, as one author voiced it – “Is it really helping when we spend so much of our week laboring at the word of God, preparing to preach it to the churches we serve? …Is it worth slogging away preparing Sunday’s sermon with such a world of need outside?” [you can read more here]
There are many things that the church can and should be doing, but the one essential thing that must not get crowded out is the ministry of the Word (see Acts 6:2). Fellow Baptist and ‘Prince of Preachers’ – Charles Spurgeon – warned that “the moment the Church of God shall despise the pulpit, God will despise her. It has been through [this] ministry that the Lord has always been pleased to revive and bless His Churches.” We’re praying for your preaching this Sunday and for a revival in our times through the powerful proclamation of the gospel. If there’s ever any way we can help with this aspect of your ministry, we’d love to! Bryan just finished teaching an Edge Course on preaching and there is another one you can sign up for this summer.
Here’s someone to know about – Pastor Bryan Coble. Bryan and his wife Marci moved to Chicago with their two sons, Matthew and Caleb, in 2016 to plant Sow Community Church. In 2020 they welcomed their little girl, Gwendolin, after losing a stillborn son in 2018. Bryan is a CPS school teacher as well as a pastor. The Cobles reside in the Portage Park community (the northwest part of the city of Chicago) and the church focuses on serving there. They have given out masks, food, care packages, and have put hours and hours of work from volunteer teams into their community over the past five years. While it has not always been easy, through the help of great partners and a few wonderful families God has assembled people together to make a church. Bryan says, “Church planting is hard work, and in a city like Chicago it seems impossible at times, but you can never forget that He who calls you is faithful to complete the work.” Sowing (hence the name) takes patience, but the pandemic has produced positive conversations and lots of chances for Sow Community to tell many about Jesus. Pray for this church as they shift and reset out of the pandemic and continue to love and serve their neighbors so that Christ may be known and glorified by those in their community of Portage Park and beyond.
Here are some events to know about –
The Priority Women’s Conference is April 23-24. More info here.
Pastor Eric Brown of Brainard Avenue Baptist Church in Countryside is hosting a one day Pastors’ Conference designed to encourage us in our noble task. Aaron Menikoff will be the main speaker. More info here.
The SBC Annual Meeting is June 15-16 (still in Nashville, but now at a different site). More info here.
Do you have 3rd through 12th graders that would like to go to summer camp? There are three offerings of Bounce IBSA Kids’ Camps at Streator in June and July. Check them out here.
Here’s something else to know about – High school seniors are currently making their decisions about what to do next year. College isn’t for everyone. And higher education is facing many issues. But there still remains a role for residential, Christian learning communities. And Southern Baptists have founded many such institutions (including the reigning men’s collegiate basketball champs – Baylor)! Check out all the SBC-affiliated schools here. Some aren’t too far away and offer discounts for members of SBC churches (i.e. Boyce in Louisville, KY) or scholarships for kids of pastors (i.e. Union in Jackson, TN). And don’t forget that the Baptist Foundation of IL has a scholarship for members of IBSA churches.
Looking Toward Home,
Bryan R. Price
Zone 1 Church Consultant
Leadership Development Team
Illinois Baptist State Association – Chicago
630-908-0853 (Cell)
Nathan Carter
Zone 1 Church Consultant
Leadership Development Team
Illinois Baptist State Association – Chicago
312-493-3726 (Cell)
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