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The ministry of getting up

August 22, 2025 By Meredith Flynn

Mosaic

Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down, prayed, and turning toward the body said, ‘Tabitha, get up.’ She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.” My favorite part of the book of Acts is that we often get to read the rest of the story. The apostles did these amazing […]

A fate worse than death

June 17, 2025 By Meredith Flynn

Source: Princeton Seminary Library

I was around 12 years old the first time I got a glimpse of my own mortality. I had a migraine at school, realizing something was wrong when I could read only half of every question on the science test I was taking. Even after the vision disturbance and the terrible headache to follow had […]

Bivocational pastor finds personal purpose, congregational benefits

May 11, 2025 By Meredith Flynn

Prayer circle

As a new church planter, Derrick Taylor found himself wrestling with how to acknowledge his leadership role at Net Community Church in Staunton while still serving in his long-time role as a state trooper. “As I started the planting process, I consistently battled with the phrase, ‘I’m not a pastor; I’m a police officer,’” said […]

Dear Mary

April 14, 2025 By Meredith Flynn

Mary Magdalene

Early on the first day of the week, after he had risen, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons” (Mark 16:9). After her earth-shattering meeting with Jesus, Mary Magdalene told his friends he was alive! Even though they didn’t believe her at first, delivering that message must have […]

Heart of the matter

March 28, 2025 By Meredith Flynn

When our girls were younger, The Jesus Storybook Bible was our bedtime reading on most nights. And the story they often chose was “The Girl No One Wanted,” about Jacob’s lesser-loved wife Leah and her long struggle to be valued. In this version of the story, Sally Lloyd-Jones uses modern language to describe the differences […]

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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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