When Randy Oliver saw news of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the doctor from Southern Illinois knew he would be going to the region again. And when he received notice from the International Mission Board that Ukrainian refugees were flooding into nearby countries, the family physician quickly joined a five-person medical mission team that included […]
Post-Roe vs. post-abortion: Baptists have a larger goal in mind
As they gathered for the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim, California, messengers anticipated release of a U.S. Supreme Court opinion that might overturn the 1973 decision legalizing abortion in all 50 states. They prayed about it. They hoped it might even come during the convention. But what was made clear in the convention is […]
IBSA Executive Director responds to SCOTUS ruling
Illinois Baptist State Association Executive Director Nate Adams provided a statement regarding today’s (June 24) U.S. Supreme Court decision in the abortion case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health. The Court’s decision overturned the nearly 50-year-old Roe v. Wade ruling, calling it unconstitutional and returned the decision of whether or not to legalize abortion to individual […]
News Stories
How pro-choice is Illinois?
While Illinois Baptists celebrated the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, they were quickly reminded of the challenges ahead to making Illinois a pro-life state when Governor JB Pritzker announced plans to call the Illinois General Assembly back into session to “further enshrine our commitment to reproductive health rights.” In a press […]
Abortion by the numbers
Opinions on abortion Of likely U.S. voters, 48% would approve of the Roe v. Wade ruling being overturned by the Supreme Court according to a new Rasmussen poll. However, 59% say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, according to Pew Research. “Abortion should mostly be illegal” Pew Research polled U.S. adults in […]
BFI scholarships top $100,000
Scholarship recipients from as far south as Anna, up to Hoffman Estates, and communities in-between gathered in Springfield for the first Baptist Foundation of Illinois Scholarship Dinner. BFI awarded a record $101,750 to 49 college and seminary scholarships for the 2022-23 academic year. Reagan Webb, a member of Logan Street Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon, […]
Executive Committee president search team receiving recommendations
After a season of prayer, the group tasked with presenting the next candidate for president/CEO of the Executive Committee wanted to hear from Southern Baptists before taking next steps. The team is now ready begin the search in earnest. Messengers to last week’s annual meeting in Anaheim approved recommendations from the Sexual Abuse Task Force […]
Encouraging Words
Frozen in motion
Overwhelm. I think that’s my word so far for 2022. Last year began as a year of weary, needing change. My husband was jobless. We lived in a one-bedroom apartment with our toddler. My work was remote, and our lifestyle was very limited. But this year the changes are hitting me hard. None of these […]
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 […]
Leaders
Ministering to immigrants
Jared Pryer of Ten Mile Baptist Church once expressed to me a burden that God laid on his heart. He explained the overwhelming need of ministering to hundreds of migrant workers who would travel to Southern Illinois and work for three months, before heading back to their home countries. They would come, work, and go […]