July 2021
Chicagoland Baptists,
We hope you’re enjoying your summer and finding rest in the Lord.
You can join our weekly Wednesday prayer time tomorrow by clicking here at 9:00 AM or calling 331-218-1983 (Conference ID: 217 141 015#).
Recently the 2020 Annual Church Profile data was released showing the total number of baptisms at the lowest it’s been in over 100 years. Out of our 47,592 total SBC churches there were only 123,160 people baptized last year (an average of 2.59 per church). This is concerning because of what we Baptists believe baptism is. We hold that immersion is an indication of conversion. Baptism symbolically pictures what has spiritually happened to a lost soul – sins washed away and new life given through faith in Christ! So if less people are being baptized, that means that less people are being born again. We also maintain that baptism is a “prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord’s Supper” (BFM, VII). So if less people are being baptized, that most likely means that less people are joining our churches and participating in that fellowship, which the data also bears out (total membership was down by 435,632 from the previous year). New Christians aren’t keeping pace with dying Christians in our churches, which is not a good trend. Let’s pray and recommit ourselves to the Great Commission – going out and making new disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And let’s keep cooperating as Chicagoland Baptists in this task!
Here’s someone to know about – Jason Stuckey. Jason and his wife Melissa moved to Chicago in June of 2020 to pursue multi-cultural church planting in the city. Currently they are serving at Chicago West Bible Church as community group ministry leaders and are using this season to learn the culture and make disciples in their day-to-day rhythms.
But also as of June 2021 Jason is now serving as the Chicago Ministry Center Coordinator for Send Relief. In this role he will be directing and training mission teams throughout the US and Chicago to both serve with church planters in Chicago and equip these mission teams in doing the same work in their cities. NAMB has recently purchased a building in the Austin neighborhood for this that will be a great asset for us in Chicago!
Plus, any day now Jason and Melissa are expecting their first child. Please pray for the Stuckeys as they prepare to receive their daughter. And pray for Jason as he steps into this new role with Send Relief and as he continues to serve at Chicago West.
If you would like to connect with Jason, his email is jstuckey@sendrelief.org.
Here are some events to know about –
We’re putting on two Regional Training Events in the Chicagoland Area. These are for you to bring leaders from your church to in order to get equipped with practical tools for ministry. Click here for more info.
September 17th at Location TBD
September 18th at Alpha Baptist of Bolingbrook
Jeff Iorg, President of Gateway Seminary, is coming to Chicagoland on September 22nd to give us a free seminar on Leading Major Change. See more info here.
The Illinois Baptist Evangelism Conference will be held at Tabernacle Baptist in Decatur on September 26th and 27th. Dr. Fred Luter will be a keynote speaker along with some Chicagoland Baptist breakout speakers. More info here.
Here’s something else to know about – Since 1891 Southern Baptists have had a publishing arm providing Sunday School curriculum and much, much more. Check out LifeWay if you’re looking for Bible-study materials, communion supplies, outreach ideas, etc...
Every week Bryan and I have been taking geographical clusters of pastors out to lunch. It’s been a great way to foster fellowship. If we haven’t treated you to lunch yet, we can’t wait!
Gladly serving,
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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