• Contact
  • Return to IBSA
  • Advertise Through Us
  • Subscribe
  • E-Reader

IBSA News

Illinois Baptist State Newspaper

  • Quick Links
    • E-Reader
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
  • News
    • IBSA
    • SBC
    • Culture
    • Illinois Churches
  • Stories
    • Church Planting
    • Mission
  • In Focus
  • Columns
    • Scott Foshie
    • Eric Reed
    • Meredith Flynn
    • Table Talk
    • Reporter’s Notebook
    • Encouraging Words

Messengers close loophole

August 4, 2026 By Eric Reed

Loophole

It seemed like no big deal at the time. Messengers quickly voted for a change to the Baptist Faith and Message in 2023, there was no great debate. The motion came up and it kind of slid through—and that’s the problem. In 2026 they voted to prevent that from ever happening again. At the 2026 […]

SBU President called to Moody

July 21, 2026 By Eric Reed

Richard Melson SBU image

Chicago | A Baptist will be the new president of Moody Bible Institute (MBI) starting August 17. Rick Melson will leave his role at Southwest Baptist University (SBU) in Bolivar, Missouri for the post vacated by Chicago pastor Mark Jobe after seven years. Melson, with Baptist roots, joins the independent evangelical school founded by Dwight […]

Our nation’s half-celebration at 250

June 24, 2026 By Eric Reed

George

During these red, white, and blue months, YouTube keeps sending me a video clip. It’s King George’s solo from the musical “Hamilton.” Amid endless rapping and stamping of boots and swishing of tailcoats by Founding Fathers, a lone figure walks slowly to center stage, decked in satin knee breeches, ermine cape, and a crown. And […]

It’s time for fresh eyes on Chicagoland

June 23, 2026 By Eric Reed

The Bean

Zoom out over Chicago and you will see not only one world class city, or one monolithic metro region with 10 million people sprawled across three states. You will see its component parts: 77 neighborhoods and 200 suburban communities, each with its own food and flavor and ethnicity and team allegiances and politics and faith […]

History repeats: How we got here

June 23, 2026 By Eric Reed

DL Moody

There are three sharp turning points in Southern Baptists’ history with Chicago. The first is the 1957 SBC Annual Meeting held in Chicago with its subsequent “Big Cities” focus. The second is the selection of Chicago as one of 32 SEND Cities in the U.S. by the North American Mission Board (NAMB), and the church […]

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • …
  • 54
  • Next Page »

Featured Columns

Doug Munton

Something bigger than ‘us’

Doug Munton

The longer I live, the more I value connecting with others. I see that I am part of something bigger than me and that I need the contributions of others in my life and in the work of the kingdom of God. This is why I am excited about joining with other Illinois Baptists at […]

Scott Foshie

An honest word about our CP giving

Scott Foshie

The first six months of serving you have been filled with encouragement and hope. God is bringing a new season of harvest across our state, with rising attendance, baptisms, and outreach opportunities. We are answering his invitation to join him in his work as we say “yes” to opportunities to show up in the lives […]

What if leadership isn’t the main issue?

Carmen Halsey-Menghini

Recently, I’ve been reflecting on something Henry Blackaby said: “The church doesn’t have a leadership problem; it has a discipleship problem.” I’ve found myself thinking about that, especially when talking with pastors of smaller churches who are discouraged because they don’t see enough people stepping into leadership roles. What if the question isn’t “Why aren’t […]

More Columns

Something bigger than ‘us’

Doug Munton

The longer I live, the more I value connecting with others. I see that I am part of something bigger than me and that I need the contributions of others in my life and in the work of the kingdom of God. This is why I am excited about joining with other Illinois Baptists at […]

News

Ministry fair

Ministry fair makes connections

Kayla Houchin

Marion | Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) of Williamson Baptist Association held their third annual Ministry Fair in September. “It started as something new and different as a way to connect our churches and people in the churches with ministries in the area,” said Tammy Samples, WMU leadership team member. “We wanted them to see how […]

Cooperative Program giving remains the same year over year

Tully recalls early promise of Wisdom-Martin

More News Stories

Mission

World Cup scores for digital witness

Illinois Baptist Staff

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup roared to a close and Spain left holding the trophy, Southern Baptist churches and missionaries around the world prayed for impact that outlasts the hardware. Southern Baptists mission boards joined churches and associations in digital and in-person outreach, as North America hosted the World Cup for the first time […]

IMB trustees appoint new missionaries, elect first woman chair

Metro East church plant hosts multiplication meeting

More Mission Stories

  • News
  • Mission
  • In Focus
  • Columns

Copyright © 2026 · Website by Megaphone Designs