CHICAGO — A year after calling for 100,000 volunteers to spread Christianity in Chicago, Southern Baptist officials admit they set their sights to high.
About 1,200 out-of-town volunteers have committed to coming to Chicago for a July 8 blitz that was supposed to climax the major evangelism effort. A similar number has promised to work in the city’s suburbs, according to a story June 7 in the Chicago Tribune.
Local Baptist officials said they planned to release at least 6,000 hotel rooms that had been booked for the event.
A North American Mission Board (NAMB) official told the newspaper the agency was probably too bold in taking on a major city for its first effort, particularly with just a year to plan.
NAMB vice president Phil Roberts said the agency is already moving on toward 2001 “Strategic Focus” cities. “Our emphasis will be on Boston and (Las) Vegas for next year,” he said.
Share with others: