Illinois leaders are expressing sadness and urging prayer after the Oct. 14 resignation by Ronnie Floyd from his post as President and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee (EC). Floyd’s Thursday night announcement came in the form of a letter released to SBC leaders and media. It followed a decision by the 86-seat committee Floyd […]
Floyd resigns EC, after controversial vote
Ronnie Floyd, president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, announced Thursday night (Oct. 14) he will leave the position at the end of October. This comes over a week after the EC voted to waive its attorney-client privilege in the investigation of the EC’s handling of sex abuse claims in the Southern […]
Pastors Conference to focus on Revelation 2-3
Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches” is the advice repeated to each of the churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. That’s the goal of the yearly gathering of Illinois pastors coming in November. The IBSA Pastors Conference will exposit the Seven Churches from Ephesus […]
News Stories
Pastor arrested
Joseph M. Krol was arrested by the Macon County Sheriff’s Office Oct. 15 on a single charge of grooming a minor. Krol was booked on the Class 4 felony at the Macon County jail. He was arraigned Oct. 16 and bail was set at $75,000. Krol had served as pastor at Galilee Baptist Church in […]
BFI increases endowment distributions
The Baptist Foundation of Illinois (BFI) Board of Trustees voted unanimously to increase the agency’s endowment distributions for quarters 4Q21 and 1Q22 during the Fall board meeting held October 2 at Springfield Southern Baptist Church. BFI had projected a distribution of 4.75%, but elected to raise it to 5% based on strong investment performance numbers. […]
ADF online prayer event for Dobbs case Oct. 14
IBSA ministry partner Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) is hosting an online prayer initiative Thursday, Oct. 14 focused on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, which will soon be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. The case puts the question before the Court of whether all pre-viability bans on elective abortions are unconstitutional and has the potential […]
Ministers’ wives to meet for fellowship and blessings
“My Cup Overflows” based on Psalm 23:5 is the theme of the annual IBSA Ministers’ Wives Luncheon. They’ll meet Wednesday, November 3 at the IBSA Building starting at 8:30 a.m. and conclude with lunch. “God led me to the theme because I know from talking to ministers’ wives that ministry can be awesome,” said Jeanette […]
Encouraging Words
Personal resurrection
Matthew 28 takes us to the first Sunday morning after the crucifixion. Two days prior, the disciples and friends of Jesus had witnessed his brutal execution and saw his body placed in the tomb. Many of them had restructured their lives in order to follow Jesus. They had found pride in being a part of […]
Serving the crucified Christ
Filled with hate, ignorant of truth, lacking in faith, and void of righteousness, the Jews had plotted to kill Jesus. Rome took ownership of their plot and made a statement of their authority in the act of crucifixion. In the course of less than 24 hours, Jesus was arrested, accused, lied about, cursed, and beaten. […]
Leaders
Fishing season: 8 hooks for effective pastor search
One outcome of the Covid season appears to be an increase in pastors changing churches, and churches starting pastor searches. Call it “pent-up demand.” In many fields, people waited during the closures forced by the pandemic before making major purchases, changing jobs, or relocating. Even in the best of situations, churches will need to call […]