Southern Baptist Convention President Bart Barber is featured in the September issue of the Illinois Baptist. An hour-long interview focused on key issues including women in pastoral ministry and “friendly cooperation.” Editor Eric Reed asked Barber to look ahead to the 2024 SBC in Indianapolis. They discussed the role of social media in our Baptist […]
Week of Prayer for the Mission Illinois Offering
Illinois is our mission field. When your church gives to the Mission Illinois Offering, you’re investing in the health of hundreds of fellow Baptist churches in our state, impacting communities we call home. Your MIO giving stays 100% here and supports the health of Illinois churches. Healthy churches are essential in see our over 8 […]
Board hears reports on baptism rebound, new initiative for pastors
Springfield | The Illinois Baptist State Association Board of Directors held its fall meeting September 12 in preparation for the network’s upcoming Annual Meeting. Executive Director Nate Adams introduced a new initiative, “For the Pastor,” designed to support and encourage pastors serving throughout the IBSA’s approximately 900 member churches. The board also passed a proposed […]
Newsmakers Interview with Bart Barber, part 2
Southern Baptist Convention President Bart Barber is featured in the September issue of the Illinois Baptist. An hour-long interview focused on several key issues, including how “friendly cooperation” will define a church’s qualification as a member of the SBC. In part one posted last week, editor Eric Reed asked Barber about recent convention actions on […]
Baptists bless city as Serve Tour comes to Chicagoland
God is doing a gospel work here,” said Jorge Rodriguez, pastor and planter of Grace Family Church in Rogers Park. “And having the crews come in just brings more light to what God is doing.” The crews were Southern Baptists from across the region who heard the Chicago version of the Macedonian call—at least for […]
Newsmakers interview with Bart Barber, part 1
Southern Baptist Convention President Bart Barber is featured in the September issue of the Illinois Baptist. An hour-long interview focused on several key issues, including actions on the role of women in pastoral life. Editor Eric Reed asked Barber to respond to the recent use of “comfortably complementarian” to describe where the SBC has landed […]
Illinois couple leads Maui’s DR response
John and Gay Williams anticipate a very long response by Disaster Relief teams after wildfires decimated Lahaina, Hawaii. Beyond the immediate needs of those who lost everything in the conflagration, the Williams are thinking about spiritual ministry to those who are combing the ashes looking for evidence of victims. “The islands are a small community, […]
MIO 2023: Planter finds ample help with big task
“When I entered the pastorate, we planted this church with the idea that we had to do it alone,” Jonathan de la O said. With his wife, Emely, the young planter wanted to reach people like themselves, first and second generation Latinos in Chicago. Nine years ago, the couple walked hand-in-hand past a fence with […]
News Stories
Recap of this week’s SBC Exec Comm meeting
While the anticipated next step regarding who will temporarily lead the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee in the interim period changed mid-way through the trustees’ meeting this week, trustee chair Philip Robertson plans to begin a new search right away. Recently retired Kentucky pastor Dan Summerlin provided this statement yesterday afternoon (Sept. 19) after alerting […]
Barber recalls ‘bold’ Southern Baptists, urges cooperation amid trials
Nashville, Tenn. | As the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee gathered Monday night (Sept. 18) in Nashville amid economic challenges, ongoing conflicts and a barrage of troubling headlines, Bart Barber challenged trustees to “look past those who tear down” and focus on cooperation — and the One “who will go before us and give us […]
Quick look at SBC Exec Comm agenda, Sept. 18-19
For those serving on the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee board of trustees, the regularly scheduled meetings in Nashville in September and February are routine treks. However, this year’s September meeting, which begins with various sub group meetings this afternoon (Sept. 18) followed by the opening plenary session tonight, brings another level of intensity, even […]
Summerlin to be nominated as EC interim president and CEO
Nashville, Tenn. | A recently retired Kentucky Baptist pastor will be nominated to serve as the SBC Executive Committee transitional interim president and CEO this week in Nashville. The nomination of Dan Summerlin will be a joint recommendation of Philip Robertson, EC chairman, Jonathan Howe, current interim, and the EC officers. “Dr. Dan Summerlin is […]