SPRINGFIELD | Illinois missions and missionaries continue to be the focus of the Illinois Missions Offering and Season of Prayer, said Marty King, coordinator of the state mission emphasis.
"We appreciate all the IBSA churches that use this time to pray for and support Illinois missions and our 100 Illinois missionaries," King said, noting it is the only offering that focuses specifically on our "Judea mission field."
"The Cooperative Program provides critical foundational support we need day-in and day-out to meet the missions needs of Illinois Baptists" 1,000 churches, as well as support nearly 11,000 Southern Baptist missionaries across the country and around the world," King explained.
"But the Illinois Missions Offering and Season of Prayer gives us an opportunity to focus on our own state and how we are working together to reach the more than eight million lost people in Illinois."
The suggested dates for this year's state missions emphasis are September 13-20, although churches need to plan prayer and offering dates that fit their own schedules. King said the promotional materials are undated so they may be used throughout the fall. He also noted many churches conduct one offering a year for all special missions efforts and then divide it between state, national and international SBC mission causes.
"Every cooperating IBSA church and mission should receive an IMO planning kit by the first week in August, in plenty of time to prepare for a September emphasis," King said.
The kit includes a Planning Guide, a DVD with four brief
Additional materials will also be available on the IBSA.org website including:
- Age-graded mission studies for adults, youth, children and preschool
- Listening guides for the mission videos
- Clipart
- A children's sermon
- Illinois Missionary stories
The four mission videos are also available for preview and free download from the IBSA.org website, King said.
Last year, Illinois Baptists gave $380,824 to IMO, $2,000 less than the year before and $9,000 short of the goal. This year's IMO goal of $390,000 is the same as last year's.
"The need is so great, we are praying that, even in today's economy, we can exceed the $390,000 goal," King said.
"If every IBSA church increased their giving by 10 percent, we would give more than $420,000, but if every church gave the equivalent of $7 per person based on their average Sunday morning worship attendance, we would give more than half a million dollars. If they gave an average of $7 per resident member, that amount would double to over one million dollars for
King also explained this year's offering will be used where it is needed most next year.
"Gifts to this year's offering will be spent next year to make it possible to do more missions including supporting nearly 100 Illinois missionaries, starting 45 more Southern Baptist churches, training 22,500 church leaders, initiating more and supporting 30 existing campus ministries, in addition to providing salary support for associational directors of missions and partnering with 34 Illinois Baptist associations. Every effective ministry we provide our churches and associations requires increased support through the Illinois Missions Offering."
For more information about this year's Illinois Missions Offering and Season of Prayer, call IBSA at (217) 391-3116 or visit the IBSA website at IBSA.org.
"I do pray IBSA churches will see the importance of focusing on our
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