IBSA’s annual youth conference needs to reach some distinct audiences, said Jimmy Hammond. Youth Encounter, held in two of its three locations this month, is designed for students who know Christ and those who don’t, for teens in the church and out of it. At Tabernacle Baptist Church in Decatur, speaker Josh Griffin (pictured on […]
News Stories
Abortions likely to increase in Illinois due to new clinic
Fairview Heights | A massive new abortion clinic built in secret in Metro East Illinois is expected to open October 23 and draw more than 11,000 clients annually from a multi-state region. The Fairview Heights clinic is just 13 miles from St. Louis, where officials have threatened to close the last remaining abortion clinic in […]
Church hits the ‘Mother Road;’ Red Hill’s outreach aims for a better city through gospel presence
Edwardsville | In a town proud of its Route 66 heritage, thousands gather every year to celebrate what John Steinbeck called “the Mother Road.” For more than 20 years, Edwardsville’s annual Route 66 festival at City Park has offered visitors fun, food, and classic cars. What was missing, realized church planter Rayden Hollis, was a […]
Churchgoers say they can go it alone, but they also need others
A LifeWay Research survey uncovered contradictory info about modern churchgoers and biblical community: 65% say they can walk with God without other believers, but an even larger number–75%–say they need other believers to help them grow in their faith. The findings are at odds with each other, says Southwestern Seminary’s Kenneth Priest, and the issue […]
Partnerships breathe new life into northern Illinois community
The year after Redemption City Church closed its doors, a new church is preparing to use its building as a hub for outreach and ministry in this community 60 miles northwest of Chicago. Gospel Grace, a church plant headed by Nate Praytor, has spent the summer meeting neighbors and gathering in two Bible study groups: […]
Stitchin’ time: Quilters on a mission to support Illinois families
“Each one of us has got some adopted grandchildren.” In a Sunday school classroom at Marshall Missionary Baptist Church, Alberta Siverly explains why she and her sisters meet here every week. Along with their friend Karen Wallace, the sisters are assembled to work on quilts for an annual auction held by Illinois’ Baptist Children’s Home […]
Storms spur Disaster Relief callouts in Illinois
Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers mobilized in the Metro East region after mid-August rain overwhelmed drainage systems and damaged many homes. “The people are desperate for our help,” said Sharon Carty, a Disaster Relief volunteer from Emmanuel Baptist Church in Carlinville. Carty was one of the volunteers at a Multi-Agency Response Center (MARC) at Granite […]