Acts 19:10 tells us that from Ephesus “all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord” over a period of two years.
A lot of good is happening among us (if you’re not part of the Chicagoland Baptists Facebook Group, join and see pictures from our recent Prayer Bus Tour).
But let’s not set our sights too low. What would it take to make sure the 6,200,426 people in Cook and DuPage Counties have heard a clear presentation of the gospel?
Here is someone to know about – Mike Yeh.
Mike was born in Chicago, but raised in central Ohio. He was born blind in one eye, so when he was taken to Sunday School as a child and heard about a man named Jesus who healed people who were born blind, he said, “Sign me up!” After countless attempts at praying for his healing resulted in disappointment, Mike decided that Christianity was just a good philosophy of life. He didn’t believe that God was real. Fast-forward to freshman year in high school, when his mother, the only Christian in the house, forced him to go with the church youth group on an evangelistic mission trip to the Dominican Republic. It was during a worship service at the beginning of the trip when Mike encountered the presence of the Living God; Mike then realized that the greatest need of his life was not to see out of his right eye. He realized that the greatest need of his life was to know the love of Jesus Christ.
After graduating from Ohio State with a BS in Psychology (‘02) and an MA in Higher Education (‘04), Mike moved to Illinois to begin seminary studies in 2005 at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and received his MDiv (‘11). In the Fall of 2011, he joined the core team that would plant Church of the Beloved, which started meeting on Saturday nights in the Immanuel Baptist Church building in February of 2012. In September of 2014, Mike joined the core team that would plant a separate, independent church, Church of the Beloved - Near West, which would later change its name to Beloved Community Church (‘19). Though Mike had served on the pastoral staff as a part-time and later full-time associate, he recently became the Lead Pastor of Beloved Community Church on May 1 of 2023. They currently meet at the Chicagoland Baptist’s building on Rockwell for Sunday services. Mike also just started serving as the Vice-Moderator for our Association, which also puts him on our Administrative Council. Please pray for Mike, his wife Stephanie, and their three children Noah (15), Jonah (12), and Gloria (18 months), as they finish their first year of leading the church.
You can see all past ‘Someones to Know’ here.
Here are some events to know about –
Weekly Prayer Calls every Wednesday from 9:00 to 9:30 AM. Just click here to join anytime.
Monthly Discussions on the first Wednesday of the month from 9:00 to 10:00 AM.
On 3/6 we will have Dan Darling with us to talk about “Political Theology.”
Upcoming Pastors’ Lunches for fellowship:
The next Women’s Hangout is next Monday night (2/19) at The Rockwell. Let us know you’re coming here so we can have dinner for you.
The Send Network Español Workshop is on 2/24 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM at The Rockwell.
The annual Chicagoland Baptists Women’s Conference is 3/2 at Faith Tabernacle Baptist Church. Register here by 2/26 for the early bird rate.
IBSA’s next Chicagoland Multiply Hub will be on 3/21 at All People’s Fellowship starting at 9:30 AM.
There will be a free VBS Training event at Broadview Missionary Baptist Church on 4/6. Register here.
As you’re dreaming about summertime, consider planning to come with other Chicagoland Baptists to ‘pay it forward’ at the Serve Tour in Flint, MI, 8/9-10. More info here.
Save the date for:
Minister’s Wives and Widows Luncheon at the Garfield Park Conservatory on 9/28.
ACEC at Hillcrest on 10/18-19.
Chicagoland Baptists Annual Meeting at Ashburn on 11/12.
Here is something else to know about –
The SBC Annual Meeting will be close-by in Indianapolis this summer (6/11-12). If you’ve never been, it’s definitely something to see and it’s easy to get to for us this year. Your church can register messengers here. One of the big items of business will be the “Law Amendment.” Here is a helpful podcast where current SBC President Bart Barber lays out best and worst case scenarios if it passes or if it fails. Bart will be in Springfield on 4/16 talking about current affairs in the convention. Let me know if you’re interested in going with me to hear him.
For the Sake of the Name,
Nathan Carter
Chicagoland Baptists
Executive Director/AMS
1356 N. Rockwell Street, Chicago, IL 60622
nathancarter@chicagolandbaptists.org
312.493.3726
You can apply to officially affiliate with Chicagoland Baptists here.
You can donate to Chicagoland Baptists here.
You can see past editions of ‘Things to Know’ here.
You can sign up for our weekly ‘A Quick Word’ here.
The mission of Chicagoland Baptists is to facilitate relationships among the Baptist churches of this Great City so that they can more effectively fulfill the Great Commission and live out the Great Commandment.