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Teens celebrate AWSOM in an unusual year

November 30, 2020 By Leah Honnen

Jacksonville | Tie-dye, popcorn, friendship bracelets, pizza, karaoke, ice cream, sardines (the game, not the food), and of course, solid Bible teaching. Oh, and no sleep. In this year of social-distance, it was essential. And it was definitely AWSOM. This was my first year as a chaperone for the teen girls’ conference IBSA hosts each […]

Oh my soul

April 15, 2020 By Leah Honnen

Encouraging Words

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take courage; wait for the Lord! (Psalm 27:14) Real talk here: I just took a music-less bath in the middle of the day. I don’t know about you, but I treat baths like a spa treatment. I only take one every few months. I use bubble bath. I […]

The problem with self-care

March 13, 2020 By Leah Honnen

The toy company Mattel released a Self-Care Barbie last month. This original influencer of young girls is now instructing them how to care for themselves through play, so they can be emotionally healthy as they grow into adulthood. According to the press release, “Barbie knows to be one’s best is to give yourself the best […]

What a difference a year makes

January 18, 2020 By Leah Honnen

Last year at this time, I was in shock. God had just taken us through a time of mourning after a miscarriage. We were planning our next step toward a family, which included surgery for me. This surgery was supposed to finally answer why we could not conceive. Last year at this time, all of […]

Helping couples struggling through infertility

January 9, 2019 By Leah Honnen

Editor’s note: Sanctity of Human Life Sunday is January 20. I never thought I would be so moved while attending my first IBSA Annual Meeting, but when we voted as the church to be compassionate toward those experiencing infertility, I melted. Messengers to the meeting in Maryville last November voted to acknowledge the many trying […]

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Featured Columns

Praying to satisfy a deeper hunger

Doug Munton

Editor’s note: Pastor Doug Munton posted this column on his website just as the first COVID-19 restrictions were implemented. Now, many months later, it seems an even more vital word as we contemplate life after the pandemic. Personal revival is a challenge in isolation; now our churches—and we ourselves—need a fresh wind of the Spirit […]

‘Sanctity’ beyond the unborn

Eric Reed

Ahead of each January issue, our editorial team asks, “How will we report on ‘sanctity’ this year?” The Sunday before the anniversary of the 1973 decision legalizing abortion in the United States is observed as Sanctity of Human Life on the SBC calendar. This year it falls on January 17. For many Southern Baptists, that […]

Start fresh with family worship

John Yi

Before my wife, Gloria, and I even married, we vowed to establish a rock-solid family tradition of daily devotions together. But after almost 25 years of marriage and building a family, we could count on a single hand the longest streak of consecutive days when every member had come together for family worship or devotions […]

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2021 Forecast: Start the new year by rebuilding discipleship patterns

Illinois Baptist Staff

Editor’s note: For the January 1 issue of the Illinois Baptist, pastors and leaders from IBSA shared their thoughts on the challenges and opportunities facing the church in 2021. You’ll see them here every Wednesday this month. Scott Foshie, IBSA director of revitalization In 1920, Arthur Flake came to the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board […]

News

AL pastor to be nominated for SBC president

Illinois Baptist Staff

Ed Litton, pastor of Redemption Church in Saraland, Ala., is the third announced candidate for SBC president. Former SBC president Fred Luter announced his intention to nominate Litton at the denomination’s annual meeting in June. “With Ed’s commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission, he is what our convention needs to help us […]

Baptists and a new, ‘blue’ White House

Anne Graham Lotz to speak at Priority Women’s Conference

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Mission

2021 Forecast: Hope for the year ahead

Illinois Baptist Staff

Editor’s note: For the January 1 issue of the Illinois Baptist, pastors and leaders from IBSA shared their thoughts on the challenges and opportunities facing the church in 2021. You’ll see them here every Wednesday this month. Rayden Hollis, pastor, Red Hill Church, Edwardsville A recent “Thanksgiving Song” by musician Ben Rector sums up 2020 […]

Food giveaways launch holiday season for Illinois Disaster Relief

Annual offering takes the gospel to unreached groups

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