Unfortunately due to demand from our own churches, the Lending Library is for Illinois Churches only.

The IBSA Lending Library is an excellent new look at an old tool for pastors, Sunday School teachers and church members in Illinois.  In the past, a tri-fold brochure was sent out informing churches of items IBSA had available in our Lending Library.  With our library constantly growing, a tri-fold brochure no longer can hold all of the studies IBSA has to offer.  Therefore, IBSA and the Church Strengthening Team decided to make this resource available online.

A “Churches Of Strength Conference” is coming to your area! Each event begins with a “free” continental breakfast from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., followed by (2) informative and inspirational breakout sessions led by various members of your IBSA Leadership Teams.

I want to 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 . . .

The 2010 Churches of Strength Schedule and Locations are as follows:

• June 5: Woodland Baptist Church, Peoria, IL
  
• June 12: (Hispanic) Iglesia Bautista Cortland, Chicago, IL
  
• June 19: Larkin Avenue Baptist Church, Elgin, IL
  
• August 14: Marion Third Baptist Church, Marion, IL
  
• August 28: Broadview Baptist Church, Broadview, IL
  
• September 11: O'Fallon First Baptist Church, O'Fallon, IL
  
• September 25: Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Mt. Vernon, IL

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 “CHURCHES OF STRENGTH CONFERENCE” in your area.

Let’s talk about “LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT” in 2010! That is going to be the primary focus of the Church Strengthening Team in the area of Leadership as we enter this New Year! Specifically, we plan to offer 8 Building Powerful Ministry Team training events across the state in the various locations and dates listed below. We hope this will give you some advance notice to get the event closest to you on your calendar.

Please remember that these are NOT designed for a single pastor or staff member, but rather for a church to send its Church Staff, Leadership Team, Deacon Body, or entire Department to work together – learning the principles and practices needed to build a “Powerful Ministry Team!”

The cost of each event will be $20.00 per attendee, which includes an individual’s B.P.M.T. Workbook, continental breakfast, lunch, and snacks. Each event is scheduled for 2 1/2 hours on Friday evening and 6 1/2 hours on Saturday. However, the investment of your Team’s time will be well worth it, and it may be the “best” Leadership Training you can take your Team through in 2010.

The 2010 schedule is as follows:

• May 14-15 FBC, Marion Williamson
• Sep. 17-18 FBC, Machesney Park North Central
• Oct. 8-9 Roland Manor Metro Peoria
• Oct. 22-23 Rochester, FBC Cap. City

Each month’s CST Happenings Newsletter will have a brief introduction to the six components of a “Powerful Ministry Team,” and a reminder of the date and location of the next event, so you can firm up your plans to attend.  Don’t miss the 2010 B.P.M.T. Training!