Church Strengthening

IBSA Lending Library

The IBSA Lending Library is an excellent new look at an old tool for pastors, Sunday School teachers and members of Southern Baptist churches in Illinois. Our library operates just like your local library.  Browse to see what kit, book or workbook you would like to check out and contact IBSA with the following information:
- Contact's name
- Contact 's church
- Contact's telephone number
- Address (must be a physical address NOT a P.O. Box)  Please specify if it is a residence or a business address
- The date you intend to begin your study

IBSA will issue a due date for your item. If you need to borrow the study for longer than the assigned due date, contact us to extend your borrowing time.  This is important so we can give waiting churches a projected date of when studies will be returned and available for borrowing.

At this time, we are only able to loan materials to Illinois churches.  All materials listed in this catalog are available to borrow at minimal cost to your church.  All we ask is that you send $5 to help cover the cost of shipping and that you pay the return shipping to IBSA.

Download the IBSA Lending Library Catalog

For more information or to request materials, call Cathy Waters at (217) 391-3124, or e-mail CathyWaters@IBSA.org.

Super Saturday Seminars

Churches of StrengthChurches of Strength

A Super Saturday Seminar is coming to your area! Each event begins with a  “free” continental breakfast from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., followed by two informative and inspirational  breakout sessions led by various members of your IBSA Leadership Teams.

I invite you to join with hundreds of others for some practical, cutting-edge, useful training that is designed to equip and strengthen your church’s ministries in such areas as: Leadership Development, Sunday School, Evangelism, Discipleship, Music & Worship, Student Ministries, Family Ministries, Church Renewal, Missions Awareness, Church Planting, Next Gen. Information, Prayer, Men’s Ministries, WMU and more . . .

2012 Churches of Strength: Super Saturday Seminars schedule and locations are:

  • February 25 - Chatham Baptist Church, Chatham
  • February 28 - Woodland Baptist Church, Peoria
  • March 10 - (Hispanic) Romanian Baptist Church, Des Plaines
  • March 24 - Calvary Baptist Church, Monticello
  • April 21 - Effingham First Baptist Church, Effingham
  • May 5 - First Baptist Church, Fairview Heights
  • May 19 - Casey First Baptist Church, Casey
  • June 9 - (Hispanic) Armitage Baptist Church, Chicago
  • August 4 - Machesney Park First Baptist Church, Machesney Park
  • August 18 - Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Mt. Vernon
  • September 8 - Marion First Baptist Church, Marion
  • September 22 - Broadview Missionary Baptist Church, Broadview
  • October 6 - Joy Baptist Church, Joy


You’ll notice that we tried to place these events strategically across the state to help facilitate churches to bring as many different ministry leaders as possible! Travel time should not exceed an hour and a half to the closest event, and there are no overnight stay costs! This is an excellent way to get as many people as possible trained in as many areas of ministry as your church has.

Tons of free resources and materials will be handed out. So plan “NOW” to load up a van full of folks and participate in this year’s Super Saturday Seminars in your area.

Call (217) 391-3124 or e-mail CathyWaters@IBSA.org for more information.

Building Powerful Ministry Teams

Building Powerful Ministry TeamsMake the most of your church leadership teams whether they operate as a church staff, deacon body, youth ministry group, hospitality committee or other team by attending Building Powerful Ministry Teams training sessions to be held across the state in 2012.

Each training session will begin at 9 am and conclude at 5 pm. The cost is $20 per person or $100 maximum per church leadership team, and includes a Building Powerful Ministry Teams workbook, a free lunch and snacks.

2012 Building Powerful Ministry Teams Conference dates and locations:

  • March 10 - Shiloh Baptist Church, Bridgeport
  • April 14 - Elm Street Baptist Church, Murphysboro
  • September 15 - First Baptist Church, McHenry
  • October 13 - First Southern Baptist Church, Quincy
  • November 3 - Tabernacle Baptist Church, Decatur

For more information about Building Powerful Ministry Teams, contact Cathy Waters at (217) 391-3124 or CathyWaters@IBSA.org.

Pat Pajak

Pat PajakAssociate Executive Director
Church Strengthening Team
(217) 391-3129
PatPajak@IBSA.org

Cathy Waters

Cathy WatersMinistry Assistant
(217) 391-3124
CathyWaters@IBSA.org