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The Million Dollar Question: Mark 8:22-30

January 21, 2026 By Ryan Hall

Stock image

Call me what you will, but I like watching people lose big on gameshows. It is far more enjoyable than watching them leave with a free car! The biggest gameshow loss happened on NBC’s “The Wall.” A father-daughter team worked to amass an unknown bank of cash, but then the daughter was offered a $230,000 […]

Pastoring: Would I do it again?

October 13, 2025 By Ryan Hall

Pastoring

“You’ll die a thousand deaths for your church plant.” I was cleaning the basement when I found this written on an old training document Lauren and I were given during our church plant residency in 2008. I thought, “Well, they tried to warn us.” But after 12 years at the same church plant, we felt […]

Featured Columns

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 […]

Meredith Flynn

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 […]

Transitions

Nate Adams

Leadership transitions are common in life. A boss retires. An incumbent loses an election. A pastor moves to another church. A parent leaves or passes away. When those transitions happen, the employees, the citizens, the church members, or the family face some uncertainty, especially if the transition is sudden or unexpected. Who will the new […]

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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 […]

News

Middle East

State Department urges Americans to leave 14 Middle Eastern countries

Scott Barkley

As fighting escalates in the Middle East since U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran began on Feb. 28, so has the number of countries Americans are being advised to leave or avoid. The U.S. Department of State released a list of 14 countries on March 2, urging American citizens to depart them immediately on available commercial transportation. […]

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

SBC leaders touring Israel await airport reopening

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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