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BF&M Articles 15, 16, 17: Our dual citizenship

December 3, 2025 By Eric Reed

BF&M A15 16 and 17

Some nations allow dual citizenship. Citizens can enjoy all the rights and privileges of their nation while pledging allegiance to another nation as well, so long as they keep up their obligations (and pay taxes, I suppose). The United States does not prohibit dual citizenship, but if you want to enter the country, you must […]

New church partnerships to build campus ministries

November 19, 2025 By Eric Reed

Campus panel

Springfield | “We want to challenge churches to take college ministry to the next level,” IBSA Executive director Nate Adams told messengers at the November 4-5 Annual Meeting. A year earlier, an inquiry by a messenger at a floor mic had sparked exploration of expanded ministry on campuses in Illinois. Currently IBSA supports outreach to […]

A cornucopia of thanks

November 19, 2025 By Eric Reed

Pilgrim Labubu

(Editor’s note: Each year our Illinois Baptist team offers a Thanksgiving prayer in the way of Chicago Tribune columnist Joan Beck who annually published her list in free verse, interspersing lines from hymns and ending in Paul’s crescendo from Romans 8.) As we gather together to count the Lord’s blessings…405 years after the first Thanksgiving […]

The ‘bro’ awakening: Young men surpass women in church attendance

November 19, 2025 By Eric Reed

Baptisms

USA | Are the winds of revival blowing across the nation? More specifically, is there an awakening of young people here and abroad right now? Pastors citing increased church attendance after the shooting death of Christian political activist Charlie Kirk would say yes. Two national polls just before that event appear to agree that something […]

Unity, cooperation reign at IBSA Annual Meeting

November 6, 2025 By Eric Reed

Messengers raise their ballots.

Springfield | If 1925 was a year to remember, with the birth of a unified missions funding system and the denomination’s first official statement of faith, then 2025 was also a year to remember. Southern Baptists celebrated the centennial anniversaries of Cooperative Program and the Baptist Faith and Message. Illinois Baptists marked the coming 20th […]

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Featured Columns

Warning: Deadly serious, but fun

Deadly serious, but fun

Lisa Misner

Last year, Illinois ranked 17th on Wallet Hub’s list of best states to live in based on 51 key indicators. Health and safety were among those factors, of which Illinois ranked 30th. But we’re a fun state. Illinois’ family fun rank was listed at 2nd. Still, there was a catch. A fun state to live […]

Stock image

Trey’s new family

Valarie Veteto

“I’m not religious.” She spoke the words as soon as I pulled a chair beside her hospital bed. “That’s okay,” I replied, unsure if anyone had ever been so direct. I whispered an arrow prayer to the Lord for wisdom: Please help me say the right thing, Lord—Your words, not mine. She reclined in the […]

The real Christmas angels

Melissa Spoelstra

An angel accented the top of our family’s Christmas tree each year when I was growing up. This regal figure featured a golden gown, wings and a halo. Angels have become a common part of Christmas décor, but they are rarely portrayed accurately according to Scripture. Angels are not winged cherubs playing harps and sitting […]

More Columns

Deadly serious, but fun

Lisa Misner

Last year, Illinois ranked 17th on Wallet Hub’s list of best states to live in based on 51 key indicators. Health and safety were among those factors, of which Illinois ranked 30th. But we’re a fun state. Illinois’ family fun rank was listed at 2nd. Still, there was a catch. A fun state to live […]

News

Retirement

Farewells in Rehoboth, Louisville

Illinois Baptist Staff

Rehoboth Baptist Association saw two of its top ministry leaders retire at the end of 2025, Director of Missions (DOM) Joe Lawson and Administrative Assistant Theresa Flowers.  Both served over 25 years with Flowers joining the association in November 1999 and Lawson becoming DOM in May 2000. They retired on December 31. Lawson is also […]

Consultants work in 5 regions

News stories in the new year that we’re watching for new developments

More News Stories

Mission

“While we have not yet arrived at the destination we envision, I believe we are clearly headed in the right direction,” said IMB President Paul Chitwood to trustees in the May 22 plenary session. IMB Photo

IMB trustees appoint new missionaries, elect first woman chair

Leslie Caldwell

Richmond | International Mission Board trustees approved 65 fully funded missionaries for appointment during their May 21-22 meeting near Richmond, Virginia. The missionaries approved for appointment will be recognized during a Sending Celebration on Tuesday, June 10, at 10:08 a.m. CDT in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Dallas. The event will […]

Metro East church plant hosts multiplication meeting

Sallateeska baptism demonstrates SBC connections

More Mission Stories

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