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Abortion bill passes House; governor urged to veto

April 27, 2017 By Lisa Misner

Illinois Capitol

Springfield | Pro-life advocates are urging Gov. Bruce Rauner to veto a bill that would allow taxpayer-supported abortions. The measure, HB 40, was approved by a House vote of 62 to 55 on April 25. Next, it will go to the Senate where it is expected to pass, and then to the governor’s desk. Rauner […]

Pastors objected to Domestic Violence Training bill on First Amendment grounds; mandate withdrawn

April 19, 2017 By Lisa Misner

Springfield | Illinois Senate Bill 912, which would have mandated training in domestic violence reporting, will not move forward after scores of pastors objected. The bill had raised concerns regarding First Amendment rights and religious liberty. Senate Bill 912, the Abused and Neglected Child Training Bill, would have required pastors to complete at least four […]

Illinois clergy training mandate defeated

March 31, 2017 By Lisa Misner

Illinois Senate chambers

An Illinois Senate bill that would have mandated training for clergy has been pulled by its sponsor. The bill had raised concerns regarding First Amendment rights and religious liberty. Senate Bill 912, the Abused and Neglect Child Training Bill, mandated clergy be required to complete at least four hours of training each year to recognize […]

Statement seeks to bring unity and peace to SBC

March 23, 2017 By Lisa Misner

Russell Moore (right) and Steve Gaines

A statement on seeking unity in the Southern Baptist Convention has been well-received after controversy over statements made during the 2016 presidential election by Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, led to division in the Convention. The statements were factors in causing some churches, including Dallas area Prestonwood Baptist Church, pastored […]

Illinois Senate Bill raises religious liberty concerns for clergy

March 21, 2017 By Lisa Misner

Illinois Senate chambers

A bill working its way through the Illinois Senate proposes mandatory training for clergy to recognize signs of child abuse is causing concern among religious liberty advocates. Senate Bill 912, the Abused Child-Reporter Training Bill, mandates anyone who is a designated reporter of abused  children (teachers, physicians, clergy) as deemed by the Abused and Neglected […]

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Featured Columns

Gerald and Betty Steffy

We need more like them

Brent Cloyd

When Gerald and Betty Steffy came to Fairfield in August 1959, the couple were in their mid-twenties.  Gerald had just completed his theological training, and he was called to serve North Side Baptist Church. Gerald and Betty served churches in Illinois well into their eighties. Gerald died in September 2022, and Betty just a few […]

Ruth and Naomi

Ruth’s surrendered life

Meredith Flynn

Don’t plead with me to abandon you or to return and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God” (Ruth 1:16). A few months after I moved to Illinois, I was assigned to […]

Watching for Baptist smoke

Eric Reed

While the world waited in St. Peter’s Square, watching a nondescript stove pipe protruding from the roof of the Vatican, I was recalling the smoke jokes at the church where I have served as interim pastor. And I’m thinking about our own Baptist conclave coming soon. In Rome, three rounds of black smoke from the […]

More Columns

9 tips for life on mission: Retired missionaries offer advice for next generation

Sue Sprenkle

The 20-something held up a fistful of letters. Inside the old-fashioned style of communication were words of encouragement and advice for the new International Mission Board missionary.  The letters reaffirmed words Zoe Hill heard countless times in person at First Baptist Church Columbia, Mississippi, from retired IMB missionaries Tom and Gloria Thurman:  1. The call […]

News

Victoria Awbrey

Awbrey named to SBC’s Dallas Team

Illinois Baptist Staff

Victoria Awbrey returns to the Registration Committee for the 2025 Annual Meeting in June. She was one of 26 members appointed by SBC President Clint Pressley. The registration committee is called “to supervise the registration of messengers, to oversee the operations of the registration desk, and to rule upon any questions which may arise in […]

Hunt trial on hold for now

‘To preserve unity’ S.C. megachurch withdraws

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Mission

Metro East church plant hosts multiplication meeting

Metro East church plant hosts multiplication meeting

Ben Jones

Pastors and church leaders from around the Metro East area gathered in Collinsville May 17, 2023 for the second Multiply Illinois Hub. These quarterly regional events are designed to encourage and equip those interested in church multiplication. Heights Community Church, planted in 2016, hosted the gathering in their newly renovated home. With the St. Louis […]

Sallateeska baptism demonstrates SBC connections

A first-time ministry to migrant workers is very fruitful

More Mission Stories

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