Things to Know (September)
Stay in the know with what's going on
Our focus in 2024 has been facilitating relationships among women in our churches. We want our pastors’ wives and women’s ministry leaders to be connected too. Towards that end, we’ve had a Women’s Conference in March plus monthly Women’s Hangouts (see below for info about two more coming up in October and November). But the really big event we’ve planned for this year is the Minister’s Wives and Widows luncheon at the beautiful Garfield Park Conservatory. And it’s coming up next week (9/28)! You can expect a nice, catered meal… goodie bags… a time of worship… hearing from Diane Nix (a nationally known speaker whose specialty is encouraging minister’s wives)… and a chance to build friendships with other kingdom-minded women in Chicagoland. We have 16 spots left. If you know someone who would like to come, let us know asap.
Here is a ministry to know about – Mestizo Ministries
Marvin del Rios was pastoring Iglesia Bautista Erie. Jonathan de la O planted Starting Point Community Church (which meets in the old Lamon Avenue Baptist Church building). Then Erie sold their building to Real Church and merged with Starting Point. In 2023 after an influx of migrants had arrived in Chicago, Starting Point began housing them and helping them find work. To date they have housed over 75 men and currently have 17 living in their building, with 40-50 additional migrants from a nearby shelter joining them on Sundays for physical and spiritual food. This summer Jonathan moved back to California to be near family and work for the local association there. Marvin is pastoring Starting Point and running the migrant ministry on the ground, but Jonathan is still involved in mobilizing support for the effort. He has officially started a new not-for-profit called Mestizo Ministries to help raise support for the work at Starting Point and hopefully replicate it in other churches. Here are some specific needs Starting Point has right now:
$500 for a Christmas Tree Giveaway on November 30th
$500 for Project Joy – a program they have been doing for the last 9 years to give Christmas gifts and the gospel to children and youth in their community
Donations for regular operating costs
Prayer that the gospel will be received by open hearts and that Starting Point receives what they need to continue to bless the community
You can ask more questions or give towards this ministry through Zelle at mestizoministries@gmail.com.
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 10/2 our topic will be “Getting the Most Out of Logos” with Rob Fleshman.
Upcoming Pastors’ Lunches for fellowship:
Come to the Multiply Hub on 9/26 at Urban Voice from 9:00 AM to noon. More info and registration here.
The Minister’s Wives and Widows Luncheon at the Garfield Park Conservatory is on 9/28. More info here.
In need of some time away? For the Pastor Retreat is being held at Streator Baptist Camp on 10/4-5. Check it out here.
Moody Bible Institute is hosting a complimentary Pastors & Wives Banquet on 10/4 at 6:00 PM. Register here.
ACEC is an annual tradition put on by our African American Pastors’ Fellowship to help equip members of your churches. It will be held at Hillcrest Baptist Church on 10/18-19. More info and registration here.
The next two Women’s Hangouts are on 10/24 at 6:30 PM at The Rockwell (RSVP here) and 11/21 at noon at Starting Point (RSVP here).
The Chicagoland Baptists Annual Meeting will be an evening dinner on 11/12 during the IBSA Annual Meeting at Ashburn Baptist in south suburban Orland Park. Register for the Chicagoland Baptists banquet here. Register for the IBSA Annual Meeting here.
Here is something else to know about –
If you’re a pastor and need to talk to someone confidentially, you can call 1-844-PASTOR1 and get free counseling between 8:00 AM and 10:00 PM Eastern Time. More info here.
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.
You can apply to stay at The Rockwell 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.
Here are our state and national partners for resourcing the church and reaching the lost:
Dr. Bryan R. Price
Illinois Baptist State Association
Zone 1 Church Consultant
bryanprice@ibsa.org
630.908.0853
Jorge Melendez
Illinois Baptist State Association
Hispanic Church Consultant
jmelendez14@comcast.net
630.710.3106
Dr. Scott Nichols
North American Mission Board – Send City Missionary
snichols@namb.net
630.668.5900
Jorge Rodríguez
North American Mission Board – Send Español
Midwest Champion
jrodriguez@namb.net
312.934.4040
Qusai Mahmud
North American Mission Board – Send Relief
Chicago Ministry Center Director
qmahmud@sendrelief.org
312.296.4615
