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How two days of service can turn into a lifetime of ministry

October 20, 2023 By Nathan Carter

Serve Chicago

How do you feel about being served? Some people really struggle with it, like Peter did when Jesus started to wash his feet. It’s awkward. It offends our pride. In many ways, we’d prefer to be the one serving. But at bottom, being a Christian requires a recognition of our deep need, an admission of […]

6 lessons from a lawsuit

March 14, 2023 By Nathan Carter

Immanuel Baptist Church in Chicago

In February 2017 our church reluctantly filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Chicago. Our complaint? The Chicago Zoning Ordinance didn’t treat churches fairly with regard to parking requirements, which prevented us from buying our building. Well, we finally had our trial in January—nearly six years after filing suit! The wheels of justice turn […]

Debating the Sunday meeting mandate

January 31, 2019 By Nathan Carter

Like a growing number of churches, The Summit Church in Raleigh, N.C., cancelled services the Sunday after Christmas. Pastor J.D. Greear took some heat on social media for the decision, but should he? What’s wrong with skipping a lightly attended service and giving everyone a break after the holidays? What about the growing practice of […]

The New Reformers

October 5, 2017 By Nathan Carter

To the consternation of some and celebration of others, Reformed theology has been on the rise. Here are some of the new Reformers who have been instrumental in Calvinism’s comeback. Read…

5 centuries later, 5 beliefs still matter

March 9, 2017 By Nathan Carter

The five solas provide a helpful grid for assessing the American church’s current spiritual climate and guide us in how to pray and work for revival. Read…

Featured Columns

Michael Awbrey

Calming an anxious generation

Michael Awbrey

You have probably heard some of the troubling statistics about teens and young adults. The data points are piling up like symptoms for a very ill patient. Since 2010, Anxiety is up 139% among 18–25-year-olds. Depression is up 145% among girls and 161% among boys. Self-harm emergency room visits are up almost 200% for girls […]

Nate Adams

Thank You

Nate Adams

These are the final few paragraphs I will write to my Illinois Baptist family as IBSA’s Executive Director, and I want to express gratitude for so many things. Thank you for welcoming my family and me back to Illinois after almost nine years at the North American Mission Board in Georgia. As I’ve written and […]

Love note: Now I can say we’re time-tested

Meredith Flynn

A few nights ago, I woke up to the sound of wind howling outside our windows. Tree branches bowed and scraped against the side of the house. A loose shutter thumped rhythmically and loudly enough to wake two of the four of us inside. “At least this house can weather the storm,” I thought as […]

More Columns

Calming an anxious generation

Michael Awbrey

You have probably heard some of the troubling statistics about teens and young adults. The data points are piling up like symptoms for a very ill patient. Since 2010, Anxiety is up 139% among 18–25-year-olds. Depression is up 145% among girls and 161% among boys. Self-harm emergency room visits are up almost 200% for girls […]

News

Screenshot: PBS

Chicagoland’s Gaiter, Shannon honor civil rights icons and mentors

Illinois Baptist Staff

Chicagoland | Two pastors from IBSA network churches recently honored leaders in the civil rights movement who served as mentors and role models. Pastor Maurice Gaiter of Empowerment Community Church in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood was invited to pray at a remembrance service for Rev. Jesse Jackson, who died Feb. 17 at age 84. “He gave […]

State Department urges Americans to leave 14 Middle Eastern countries

Group of SBC leaders caught amid Iran attacks now headed back to U.S.

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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