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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

A Committed Church: 2 Timothy 2:1-4

Maurice Gaiter

In a recent trip to Haiti, I heard a Haitian pastor illustrate to his congregation the need for total commitment to Christ. A man wanted to sell his house for $2,000. Another man wanted to buy it, but because he was poor, he couldn’t afford the full price. After much bargaining, the owner agreed to […]

Paul Cooper

What’s greater than independence? Hebrews 10:19-25

Paul Cooper

We got news from my sister in New Mexico, and my brother, Dave, immediately called me. He wanted to see her, but the 20-hour drive was too hard to do alone. It would be easier with his brother. We could share the load. Even so, we would spend more than half our time on the […]

Our nation’s half-celebration at 250

Eric Reed

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 […]

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SBU President called to Moody

Eric Reed

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 […]

News

Photo courtesy of Michael Byrd

Former IBSA Pastors Conference speaker, Send St. Louis church planter, announced as historic AMS appointment

Scott Barkley

Ferguson, Mo. | Michael T. Byrd, Sr.’s background in ministry began as a 19-year-old preacher before moving into the pastorate and associational work, all in his native St. Louis. It’s that experience he’s eager to put into practice as the new executive director of the St. Louis Metro Baptist Association. He told Baptist Press that […]

Mindy Cobb’s endless summer

New Illinois laws raise concerns for Baptists

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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