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ERLC Trustees approve guiding statement

February 2, 2026 By Eric Reed

ERLC trustees pray

Nashville, Tenn. | The SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) approved a statement January 30 that will help guide the work of the public policy entity’s next president. Meantime, the presidential search committee reported progress in their effort to bring a nominee, with hope that a new leader will be in place by the […]

Q & A with Scott Foshie

January 12, 2026 By Eric Reed

Scott Foshie

In December, the IBSA Board of Directors met and unanimously elected Scott Foshie IBSA Executive Director. He will serve as Executive Director Elect until current IBSA Executive Director Nate Adams retires on April 1. A few days following his election, IBSA Media Editor Eric Reed interviewed Foshie about his thoughts on the challenges ahead of […]

Welcome, Scott Foshie

January 6, 2026 By Eric Reed

Scott Foshie

A conversation with Scott Foshie will often lead home, to the faith of his forebears that led to his own. “Some of my earliest memories are my grandma Lois standing next to me in church with a hymnal, a shape-note hymnal,” Foshie recalled. “She sang the most beautiful low alto, and she could harmonize with […]

Behold!

December 22, 2025 By Eric Reed

Behold

(Editor’s note: This column was originally published on December 20, 2023. We liked it so much, we’re sharing it again.)  Jack Benny was from Waukegan. The renown comedian of the mid-twentieth century mentioned it occasionally on his radio show and later on The Jack Benny Program on television, along with his screechy violin skills and […]

‘Sweet Baby Jesus’: Yes, it’s all about the incarnation.

December 17, 2025 By Eric Reed

It's a boy | Stock art

A young woman singing pop tunes on a Christmas special peppered her patter with “Sweet Baby Jesus!” The audience snickered. Even the singer commented on the irony, as she was Jewish. While I might have wanted to discuss whether this was taking the Lord’s name in vain, she seemed to like the phrase. She commented […]

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Featured Columns

Scott Foshie

Two ways shared service works

Scott Foshie

This month, thousands of messengers and guests from around the SBC will converge in Orlando for our annual time of celebration, prayer, and family decision making. There will be lively debates, nomination speeches, and votes on multiple issues. However, the part I look forward to the most about our family meetings is the fellowship, worship, […]

Blackabys

Less produces more

Eric Reed

Richard Blackaby challenged the IBSA staff at our annual Spiritual Focus Day. “If glorifying God is the goal of life, how do I increase that each year?” For all of us in ministry, especially those who set goals and count results and live by metrics, that’s a tough question. Can we always do more than […]

SBC ’26: What we’re watching

Illinois Baptist Staff

The question at the Illinois Baptist each spring is “What do you think will come up at the convention?” Some things are obvious, because they’re on the agenda—such as the presidential election. Pastors Josh Powell and Willy Rice are in the ring. There have been no surprise announcements so far, unlike 2024 when we had […]

More Columns

Mohler narrows amendment to preaching, resolution addresses women’s roles

Eric Reed

SBC | Southern Seminary President Albert Mohler narrowed the language in his to proposed amendment to prohibit women “specifically preaching” in a pastoral capacity. His earlier version, planned for introduction at the Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando next week, had said that cooperating SBC churches would “not affirm, appoint, or endorse women serving as pastors […]

News

Kevin Alvarez

New regional consultant named

Illinois Baptist Staff

Springfield | Kevin Alvarez joins the IBSA staff as Central Region Consultant as of June 15. As a regional consultant, Alvarez will travel within his designated region to encourage local churches, provide resources, training, and support, and help churches discover and accomplish their next steps in sharing the Gospel. The Central Region includes Bay Creek, Central, […]

Two promoted in IBSA leadership

‘Blueprint’ for NextGen to reach the nations

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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