Paris | Right now, more than 10,000 athletes are gathering for the start of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. They are accompanied by coaches, spectators, vendors, journalists, media professionals and volunteers. It is estimated that 15 million visitors will pass through the French capital this summer, people from nearly every nation on earth, in one […]
![Team members offer free English language practice.](https://illinoisbaptist.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Paris-English-practice-900x550.jpg)
Baptist mission teams use upcoming Olympics to connect, evangelize in Paris
Paris | With the Olympic Games opening in Paris later this week, Southern Baptists have already been working in and around the city, capitalizing on the event as a bridge to spread the Gospel. “When we heard about the Olympics, we thought that would be a good time to go, to partner with some other […]
![Brent Leatherwood](https://illinoisbaptist.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Leatherwood-2024-1024x750-1-900x550.jpg)
ERLC’s Leatherwood wasn’t fired after all
Nashville, Tenn. | Brent Leatherwood appeared unemployed briefly on Monday, July 22. Then, in just few hours, the announcement of his firing was rescinded, and he was back in place as President and CEO of the SBC’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission “with our support moving forward,” an ERLC Executive Committee statement said early Tuesday. […]
![Tony Rotundo/Wrestlers are Warriors](https://illinoisbaptist.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Aaron-Brooks-USA-Wrestling-1024x683-1-900x550.jpg)
Despite criticism, Olympic wrestler Brooks points others to Christ
Paris | Olympic wrestler Aaron Brooks holds nothing back. You don’t have to encounter Brooks long to know the top priority in his life. His Instagram posts regularly reference Scripture verses. In his media interviews, he frequently and repeatedly talks about his commitment to Christ, sometimes while wearing a headband with the phrase “100% Jesus.” […]
![Rain soaked Lake Sallateeska](https://illinoisbaptist.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Lake-Sal-rain-soaked-800x550.jpg)
Lake Sallateeska Baptist Camp is wet, but not flooded
Lake Sallateeksa | “We’re wet. We’re experiencing a lot of water, but everything is draining well.” That was the word from Lake Sallateeska Baptist Camp Manager Brock Vandever around noon on Tuesday (July 16), after the camp received six inches of rain in 6-hours, with more in the forecast as it hosts its final week […]
![Streator Baptist Camp sign](https://illinoisbaptist.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Streator-sign-damage-800x550.jpg)
Storm downs trees, damages sign at Streator Baptist Camp
Streator | Some trees were downed, and the Streator Baptist Camp sign was damaged Monday night (July 15) when a severe thunderstorm swept through the area. Camp Manager Jacob Kimbrough said the camp is hosting Fox Valley Baptist Association’s Children’s Camp this week, but all the children were safe inside camp buildings when the storm […]
![(Screenshot/NBC News)](https://illinoisbaptist.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-NBC-Trump-Rally-900x550.png)
‘Horrific moment’: Baptist leaders urge prayer following Trump rally shooting
Baptist leaders were quick to respond in the aftermath of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania on July 13. A focus on prayer and unity continued throughout the weekend as leaders shared their thoughts on Saturday’s tragic events. Trump, who was injured in the attempt, was rushed off […]
![IMB Summer Olympic pins](https://illinoisbaptist.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/imb-photos-olympic-games-near3-small-900x550.jpg)
Hundreds of Southern Baptist volunteers Paris-bound as Olympic Games near
The 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris are just days away! The city is abuzz with shops and merchants in full prep mode for an influx of 15 million visitors — athletes, spectators, media professionals and volunteers — strolling along the Seine, clamoring for sights of Paris’ legendary art and architecture, and sampling local fare […]
Abuse in the SBC
With SATF recommendations approved, the hard part begins
“The recommendations before you are not from Guidepost, they are from the task force,” Bruce Frank, chairman of the Sexual Abuse Task Force told messengers as they prepared to vote on a set of history-making recommendations at the SBC Annual Meeting June 14-15 in Anaheim, Calif. The task force was assigned and authorized by action […]
IBSA President on abuse response: From difficulties to determination
A 288-page report on any subject is daunting, but as a Southern Baptist, pastor, and president of IBSA, I felt a responsibility to keep the report open all last week and slowly read through it. I made notes and wrote down personal thoughts, and as I reviewed them afterwards, I was surprised to discover a […]
Former Illinois pastor accused; two relationships occurred in youth ministry in 2002
Former Illinois pastor Wes Feltner is accused by two women of abusive relationships, one of them sexual, when he was their youth minister in Indiana 17 years ago. The charges came to light as Feltner is lead candidate for the pastorate of First Baptist Church of Clarksville, Tennessee. The story was reported by the Clarksville […]
Longtime Chicago pastor resigns; sexual abuse prior to ministry among reasons
Charles Lyons resigned as pastor of Armitage Baptist Church in Chicago following what church leaders called a “corrective leave of absence” that began in October 2018. Read…
Resources
- Protect your children, protect your church https://www.ibsa.org/3327-2/
- Caring Well https://caringwell.com/
News Stories
![Brent Leatherwood](https://illinoisbaptist.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Leatherwood-to-remain-890x440.jpg)
Leatherwood to remain ERLC president
Nashville, Tenn. | Brent Leatherwood remains president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. ERLC executive board members say board Chairman Kevin Smith acted alone in an announcement of Leatherwood’s removal on July 22 and violated the entity’s bylaws. A early morning release from the ERLC executive committee says: “As members of the ERLC’s Executive Committee, […]
![Brent Leatherwood](https://illinoisbaptist.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Leatherwood-2024-1024x750-1-890x440.jpg)
Leatherwood removed as ERLC president
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention announced Monday night, July 22, that president Brent Leatherwood has been removed from his position. He had served as president of the SBC’S public policy entity since September 2022. “In accordance with our bylaws, the executive committee [of the ERLC] has removed Brent Leatherwood as […]
![(Screenshot/CNN)](https://illinoisbaptist.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Vance-CNN-screenshot-890x440.webp)
Trump picks Ohio senator, ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ author J.D. Vance as presidential running mate
Milwaukee | Former President Donald Trump received the required number of delegates to be nominated as the presidential candidate for the Republican Party. The party’s convention kicked off July 15. Moments before receiving the nomination, Trump announced via social media that he had selected J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) to be his choice as a vice president. […]
![Darrell Molen](https://illinoisbaptist.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Darrell-Molen-archive-795x440.png)
Molen honored for seven decades of ministry
“Seventy years was quite an honor for me—God has been so good!” Family, friends, and church members gathered Sunday, June 2, at Bunker Hill Baptist Church to honor J. Darrell Molen’s 70 years in ministry. “I met Darrell back in 1986 shortly after I began my first pastorate,” said Cliff Woodman, IBSA Zone 6 Consultant […]