Springfield | If 1925 was a year to remember, with the birth of a unified missions funding system and the denomination’s first official statement of faith, then 2025 was also a year to remember. Southern Baptists celebrated the centennial anniversaries of Cooperative Program and the Baptist Faith and Message. Illinois Baptists marked the coming 20th […]
Adams honored before retirement
Springfield | It was a celebration of tears and laughter, as messengers at the IBSA Annual Meeting honored Executive Director Nate Adams ahead of his planned retirement. Two moments stand out. The first was when the elder Adams his introduced his son Noah, now a pastor in Colorado, who was invited to preach. The proud […]
31 IMB missionaries sent to nations
For the fourth time in 2025, Southern Baptists gathered to celebrate new International Mission Board missionaries on Oct. 27. Southcrest Baptist Church in Lubbock, Texas, hosted the most recent Sending Celebration in conjunction with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s annual meeting. Trustees of the IMB appointed the 31 fully funded missionaries who represent seven […]
Pre-Annual Meeting business prep, registration deadlines
The IBSA Annual Meeting is less than one week away, and the 2025 Book of Reports is now available online for viewing in preparation ahead of the meeting. It’s a hefty 114 pages largely owing to proposed changes to the IBSA Constitution and its entities’ bylaws. Messengers may read proposed constitution and by-law changes, review […]
The unseen work of a healthcare missionary
After hiking in 90-degree weather in flip-flops and a skirt to reach a village, Julia Spelter and another International Mission Board missionary were exhausted and dripping in sweat as they sat drinking tea in the dim room of a local nurse. The Malagasy nurse had the overwhelming task of serving several rural villages by herself […]
Visit Resource Central in the Annual Meeting Exhibit Hall
The IBSA Annual Meeting this November 4-5 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield is more than just the Association’s business meeting or a joint worship service. It is also a conference that connects local church leaders with people and resources that can help your church solve challenges and grow. This year’s Exhibit Hall should […]
Pastoring: Would I do it again?
“You’ll die a thousand deaths for your church plant.” I was cleaning the basement when I found this written on an old training document Lauren and I were given during our church plant residency in 2008. I thought, “Well, they tried to warn us.” But after 12 years at the same church plant, we felt […]
Pastoring: Staying or going?
Pastors once held the most respected positions in the community, up there with doctors and lawyers. Now nurses, grade-school teachers, and military officers are at the top. Pastors have dropped to more than halfway down the list, down there with judges, bankers, and nursing home operators. Of 23 professions, clergy ranked 10th in a survey […]
News Stories
Trinity Christian College will close
Palos Heights | After 66 years in operation in suburban Chicago, Trinity Christian College will close at the end of the 2025-26 academic year. The school’s final commencement will be May 8, 2026. The liberal arts school offered degrees in 70 programs. It was named among the top schools in the Midwest region by U.S. […]
Pritzker considering suicide bill
Springfield | Gov. J.B. Pritzker seemed surprised by passage of an assisted suicide bill for terminally ill patients when pressed by a group of reporters this week. “I’m looking at it, Pritzker said in Chicago Monday. “It was something that I didn’t expect and didn’t know was going to be voted on, so we’re examining […]
Panel at Annual Meeting to address campus ministry
Springfield | A panel of campus ministry leaders will address gospel opportunities among the young adults at Illinois’ many colleges at the IBSA Annual Meeting in Springfield Nov. 4-5. The special focus is one of four highlights on the program that also celebrates the centennial anniversaries of the SBC’s Cooperative Program and Baptist Faith & […]
Kimbrough moves to Lake Sallateeska
Springfield | Streator Baptist Camp manager Jacob Kimbrough will become the new manager for Lake Sallateeska Baptist Camp, following the departure of Brock Vandever in October. “Jacob’s leadership at Streator camp these past five years has been exemplary,” IBSA Associate Executive Director Mark Emerson said. “He was able to build upon the momentum of the […]
BF&M 2000
BF&M Articles 13 & 14: What’s temporary vs. what’s lasting
Those unfamiliar with the biblical use of the word steward may find it helpful to substitute the word manager. The Bible teaches that God owns everything, and that Christians, God’s people, are temporary managers of all that he entrusts into their lives. Managers are not owners. They are caretakers, with delegated responsibility for the treasures […]
BF&M Articles 11 & 12: Let’s talk about Jesus
The first official SBC-sanctioned witnessing training I received was called “Lay Evangelism School.” A leader from the state convention came to our church and taught us how to use a “survey method” to share the gospel on a Saturday morning. Then we went out and did it. We knocked on doors in the neighborhood and […]
BF&M Articles 9 and 10: Building to the final act
The “Kingdom of Heaven” or “Kingdom of God” is mentioned directly 125 times in the New Testament. That’s a lot, in case you were wondering. Consider a word as ubiquitous in our Baptist theology as salvation only occurs about 150 times (as a noun or its verbal cousin). Yet in many ways, our essential and […]
BF&M Articles 7 and 8: Our God is a jealous God
Shortly after the Chicago Pope, Leo XIV, was elected, a man who has attended the church my friend pastors said, “I think I’m gonna join the Catholic church. I like this new pope. And besides, they have more sacraments than you do.” “Actually,” my friend responded, “Baptists don’t have any sacraments. We have ordinances.” He […]