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‘To preserve unity’ S.C. megachurch withdraws

May 15, 2025 By Eric Reed

SBC 2025 Dallas

Newspring Church in South Carolina has chosen to leave the Southern Baptist Convention in the interest of “preserving unity in the Body of Christ” rather than face further scrutiny about a woman teaching pastor on its staff. The megachurch with 13 locations across the state was interviewed by the SBC Credentials Committee for its inclusion […]

Watching for Baptist smoke

May 7, 2025 By Eric Reed

Black smoke

While the world waited in St. Peter’s Square, watching a nondescript stove pipe protruding from the roof of the Vatican, I was recalling the smoke jokes at the church where I have served as interim pastor. And I’m thinking about our own Baptist conclave coming soon. In Rome, three rounds of black smoke from the […]

3 years on: Is there hope for churches in war-torn Ukraine?

May 6, 2025 By Eric Reed

Field of dying sunflowers

Palm Sunday worship service in this church looks like most any evangelical congregation. The people stand to sing and the pastor leads from the pulpit. Until shelling begins. There are some gasps and yelps as glass shatters. Some people drop to the floor, while a couple look out the window to the street where the […]

Reporter’s Notebook: An astronaut’s lesson in church attendance

May 5, 2025 By Eric Reed

NASA photo

What does an astronaut do immediately after nine months in space? Go to church, of course. Butch Wilmore and his Space-X crewmate Suni Williams returned to earth after their epic and unplanned hermitage on the International Space Station March 18, and on March 23 Wilmore was back in church—giving thanks to God for his reunion […]

Chatham Strong: When tragedy hits home

April 30, 2025 By Eric Reed

Rylee Britton

You expect to see the signs after a bombing or a school shooting or a natural disaster. But you don’t expect to see them in your own small town: “Chatham Strong” with its red ribbon has joined Boston, Uvalde, and Highland Park in declaring strength after tragedy. Perhaps it’s a plea more than a declaration, […]

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Featured Columns

Gerald and Betty Steffy

We need more like them

Brent Cloyd

When Gerald and Betty Steffy came to Fairfield in August 1959, the couple were in their mid-twenties.  Gerald had just completed his theological training, and he was called to serve North Side Baptist Church. Gerald and Betty served churches in Illinois well into their eighties. Gerald died in September 2022, and Betty just a few […]

Ruth and Naomi

Ruth’s surrendered life

Meredith Flynn

Don’t plead with me to abandon you or to return and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God” (Ruth 1:16). A few months after I moved to Illinois, I was assigned to […]

Pastoring after tragedy

Josh Parsons

An older pastor once told me that at Christmas, the Christian and secular cultures sync to embrace the joy of the season. But I have also learned another factor has power to bring these communities together and even open gospel doors—tragedy. Soon after we heard about the horrific accident in Chatham that claimed four young […]

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9 tips for life on mission: Retired missionaries offer advice for next generation

Sue Sprenkle

The 20-something held up a fistful of letters. Inside the old-fashioned style of communication were words of encouragement and advice for the new International Mission Board missionary.  The letters reaffirmed words Zoe Hill heard countless times in person at First Baptist Church Columbia, Mississippi, from retired IMB missionaries Tom and Gloria Thurman:  1. The call […]

News

Victoria Awbrey

Awbrey named to SBC’s Dallas Team

Illinois Baptist Staff

Victoria Awbrey returns to the Registration Committee for the 2025 Annual Meeting in June. She was one of 26 members appointed by SBC President Clint Pressley. The registration committee is called “to supervise the registration of messengers, to oversee the operations of the registration desk, and to rule upon any questions which may arise in […]

Hunt trial on hold for now

Trump appoints pastors to key posts

More News Stories

Mission

Metro East church plant hosts multiplication meeting

Metro East church plant hosts multiplication meeting

Ben Jones

Pastors and church leaders from around the Metro East area gathered in Collinsville May 17, 2023 for the second Multiply Illinois Hub. These quarterly regional events are designed to encourage and equip those interested in church multiplication. Heights Community Church, planted in 2016, hosted the gathering in their newly renovated home. With the St. Louis […]

Sallateeska baptism demonstrates SBC connections

A first-time ministry to migrant workers is very fruitful

More Mission Stories

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