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Increased biblical literacy comes through increased immersion in God’s Word

February 19, 2025 By Meredith Flynn

Biblical literacy

Alyssa Caudill was a college student studying the Bible with her dormmates when God impressed on her the real purpose of reading His Word. Caudill, now a pastor’s wife in Carmi, realized she was great at coming up with answers to her friends’ questions. But they—and she—needed more. “Alyssa, you are giving them your own […]

God sees and hears

February 19, 2025 By Meredith Flynn

Giovanni Lanfranco - Hagar in the Wilderness

I imagine Hagar was a woman at the absolute end of her rope. Any mother who has sent her child away because she can’t stand to watch him die would be utterly and ultimately without hope. And that’s exactly where she is in Genesis 21, sitting apart from her son in the desert, waiting for […]

Watching our Christmas words

December 19, 2024 By Meredith Flynn

Christmas words

When my sister and I were in elementary school, she was given a solo in our church’s Christmas program. Each verse was sung from the perspective of an animal present for the birth of Jesus—the wonder of the nativity story extended even to the non-human creatures who were there. I, being a few years older […]

Miss Rabbit’s big break

November 25, 2024 By Meredith Flynn

Miss Rabbit

The cartoon “Peppa Pig” is a delightful watch for many reasons, but chief among them is the character of Miss Rabbit. When Peppa and her friends hop on a bus, Miss Rabbit is the driver. She sells produce at the grocery store and runs the school carnival. She owns a shop, runs a recycling plant, […]

Lessons from a waiting season

October 21, 2024 By Meredith Flynn

Meredith Flynn

I have a friend who is particularly good at identifying spiritual seasons in her life. With or without the benefit of hindsight, she seems to be able to “sit” in whatever season she’s currently in, while also enumerating the blessings and challenges of seasons that have passed. She told me recently of a prolonged “waiting […]

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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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