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Nate Adams
IBSA Executive Director
Nate oversees and leads all the IBSA teams in the office in Springfield and in the field. Pray for God to grant him wisdom and discernment as he juggles his many responsibilities.
Tim Bailey
Church Planting Team
Suburban Church Planting Catalyst in Northeast Region
Tim serves church planters in the Chicago suburbs where there are relatively few SBC churches. Pray that God will raise up more church planters in this area and that Tim will continue to be an effective catalyst for new congregations.
Dennis Conner
Church Planting Team
Director of Northeast Region
Dennis serves as the church planting director as well as a church planting catalyst in the Chicagoland area. Pray for wisdom and discernment in his leadership, and that the Lord would make it clear to him the many pockets of unreached people in Chicago who need to be engaged with the gospel.
Dale Davenport
Church Consulting Team
Zone 1 Consultant
Dale assists Chicagoland churches with leadership development, curriculum, resources and networking. He asks for prayer for greater involvement from all Chicago churches to have greater impact in the city.
Jeff Deasy
Associate Executive Director
Church Cooperation Team
Jeff oversees the cooperation team, which helps provide an integrated and seamless support system for IBSA churches. Previously serving with the International Mission Board, pray for Jeff and his wife as they continue to adjust to life back in the States.
Dwayne Doyle
Church Resources Team
Director of Men’s Ministry and Missions Mobilization
Dwayne serves as mobilizer for men’s missions and guides Illinois Disaster Relief efforts, catalyzing Illinois Baptists to respond and offer aid in crisis situations. Pray for Dwayne and his family as they transition from serving overseas to doing ministry again in the U.S.
Mark Emerson
Associate Executive Director
Church Resources Team
Mark oversees the Resources team, which helps churches to grow in areas related to kids, students, men, women, pastors, discipleship, evangelism, missions, and worship. Pray for endurance and wisdom for Mark and his team as they plan and execute a number of annual ministry events.
Bob Evaul
Church Consulting Team
Zone 7 Consultant
Bob connects with the 100+ churches and pastors in Zone 7 in lower central and southern Illinois, and requests prayer that he would make good use of his time, connect with as many pastors as possible, and that he would serve the Lord in doing so.
Joe Gardner
Church Consulting Team
Zone 5 Consultant
Joe serves the northwest corner of our state, which made the list of most unchurched areas in the U.S. Joe says to pray for wisdom as he assists churches in fulfilling their mission.
Steven Glover
Church Consulting Team
Zone 1 Consultant
Steven serves the Chicagoland area, currently training church leaders in the “Life: 3 Circles” evangelism methodology. He requests prayer that pastors and church leaders will continue fulfilling the Great Commission after the training concludes.
Philip Hall
Church Resources Team
Manager of Lake Sallateeska Baptist Camp
Philip oversees all the activities at Lake Sallateeska, where many people go throughout the year for Christ-centered camps and retreats. Pray that Philip’s work will be effective in reaching campers and visitors of all ages with the gospel.
Carmen Halsey
Church Resources Team
Director of Women’s Ministry and Church Missions
Carmen engages and equips Illinois Baptist women to be effective leaders in their local ministries. She asks for prayer for discernment on the plans God has for Illinois Baptist women, and for courageous obedience to follow.
Steve Hamrick
Church Resources Team
Director of Worship and Technology
Steve oversees IBSA’s worship and music ministry, equipping adult and youth worship leaders throughout the state. He leads technology conferences, Summer Worship University, and All-State Youth Choir. Pray that he will effectively equip pastors, ministry leaders, and students to guide our churches in worship each week.
Jack Lucas
Church Consulting Team
Zone 9 Consultant
Jack works with churches and associations in southern Illinois to connect them with IBSA resources. Jack asks for pray for God’s guidance in managing time wisely between family and ministry.
John Mattingly
Church Planting Team
Director of Northwest Region
John assists in the development of new church work in northwest Illinois, a large area in terms of landmass, but small in number of people, and smaller still in the number of believers. Pray for him as he works to establish three church planting missionary teams in this region where some counties do not have a single evangelical church.
Brian McWethy
Church Consulting Team
Zone 4 Consultant
Brian serves the churches in Zone 4 in northwest Illinois, focusing on strategy development, connecting churches, and working to develop church leaders. Pray that he is effective in fostering healthy churches, inspiring cooperation, and beginning new leadership cohorts.
Jorge Melendez
Church Planting Team
Strategist for Fox Valley, Lake County
Jorge works with church planters in the greater Chicagoland area, mainly focusing on the Hispanic population. Pray for him as he reaches out to the many people in this demographic who don’t have a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Van Kicklighter
Associate Executive Director
Church Planting Team
Van oversees the church planting team, equipping them to help catalyze more New Testament churches across the entire state. Pray for new partnerships with churches and church planters that want to start new churches. Pray for Van to have wisdom in planning strategy for reaching lost people in Illinois, plus stamina and endurance in leadership with his team.
Sylvan Knobloch
Church Resources Team, Church Consulting Team
Director of Church Leadership, Zone 3 Consultant
Sylvan serves IBSA churches in the areas of church health and leadership development, and asks for prayer that God will grant him wisdom in leading churches to effectively engage their communities with the gospel.
Joe Oliver
Church Consulting Team
Zone 2 Consultant
Joe serves in the northeast corner of our state, in Lake County and Fox Valley, connecting churches to IBSA resources and equipping them for ministry. As Joe’s zone includes part of the Chicago Metro area, pray that he will be an effective servant in this huge mission field.
Pat Pajak
Associate Executive Director
Church Consulting Team
Pat oversees the church consulting team, making sure consultants are equipped to aid churches and associations across the state. Pray for Pat as he continues to recover from some health complications.
Eddie Pullen
Church Planting Team
Strategist for Gateway, Metro East
Eddie catalyzes new churches and works with new church planters to push back darkness in the Metro East region, saying the primary prayer need is “workers for the harvest.”
Larry Rhodes
Church Consulting Team
Zone 8 Consultant
Larry serves the Gateway and Metro East Associations and asks for prayer that the Lord will help him make meaningful relationships with the churches, pastors, and leaders in Zone 8.
Stephen Williams
Church Consulting Team
Zone 10 Consultant
Stephen consults with churches and church leaders in the southernmost part of our state> He asks for prayer for opportunities to serve in more churches, and that the churches will open to taking action to reach communities there.
John Yi
Church Planting Team
2nd Generation Church Planting Catalyst in Northeast Region
John works with churches in Chicago, where all the nations reside, yet many people groups remain unserved by the church or unreached with the gospel. He asks for prayer that God will raise up courageous leaders who will push back the darkness in Chicagoland.
Mike Young
Church Resources Team
Manager of Streator Baptist Camp
Mike oversees all the activities at Streator Baptist Camp, where many northern and central Illinois Baptists go throughout the year for a Christ-centered camp or retreat. Pray for Mike as he builds up the facilities and ministries of Streator Camp, and the spiritual growth of people who visit there.