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Luter: ‘Authentic racial unity’ goal of Unify Project

February 13, 2023 By Tom Strode

Top clockwise -- Ed Litton, Brent Leatherwood, and Fred Luter.

An “authentic racial unity” in the Southern Baptist Convention that offers evidence to other sectors of American life of what is possible on the issue is a goal of the Unify Project, Fred Luter, the lone African American to serve as SBC president, told an online audience Feb. 9. Luter, the project’s co-chair, said of […]

Biden pledges to make abortion rights No. 1 priority in Congress

October 20, 2022 By Tom Strode

President Biden promised Tuesday (Oct. 18) to make enshrining Roe v. Wade in law his legislative priority if Democrats control Congress in January. Screen capture from CNBC.

Pro-life leaders expressed their strong objection to President Biden’s promise Tuesday (Oct. 18) to make enshrining Roe v. Wade in law his legislative priority if Democrats control Congress in January. If voters elect more Democrats to the U.S. Senate and keep his party in the majority in the House of Representatives, the “first bill” he […]

Many states prepare pro-life laws

March 17, 2022 By Tom Strode

Chelsea Sobolik

Pro-life lawmakers in dozens of states are apparently preparing for a day, maybe as early as this year, when legalized abortion is no longer the rule throughout the United States. Legislators in 34 states have introduced at least 175 abortion-related bills already in 2022, most of them pro-life, according to Americans United for Life (AUL). […]

Chicago pastor says ‘dinner tables’ key to racial reconciliation

February 24, 2022 By Tom Strode

Screenshot “Pursuing Unity: A Discussion of Racial Reconciliation Efforts and the SBC”

Achieving racial reconciliation calls for building friendships over a meal, the audience for a Southern Baptist-sponsored conversation was told Wednesday (Feb. 23). In an online event hosted by the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), four Southern Baptist panelists – including both the current SBC president and the convention’s only African American president – addressed […]

ERLC urges church cooperation with contract tracing

July 14, 2020 By Tom Strode

Churches should partner with government officials to fight the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) while receiving First Amendment protections as they cooperate, the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission said in a new statement. The ERLC issued a document July 10 that provides guidance to church and civic leaders regarding the effort to protect […]

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Featured Columns

Meredith Flynn

Post-it on your heart

Meredith Flynn

Several months ago, I wrote Isaiah 26:3 on a yellow Post-it note and stuck it on my desk next to my laptop. “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” (ESV). At the time (and still, if I’m honest), I was overwhelmed by a big project […]

AI

What should we make of AI?

Ben Jones

What should we make of AI? Artificial Intelligence (AI) has steadily pushed its way to the front of the “another change I didn’t ask for” line. The talking tech heads promise AI is a silver bullet, but over the past year I haven’t shaken the uneasy feeling we humans might be on the receiving end […]

God is busy with our kids. Join in.

Scott Foshie

“We will not hide them from their children, but will tell a future generation the praiseworthy acts of the LORD, his might, and the wondrous works he has performed.” ─ Psalm 78:4 God is reaching a new generation of Christ followers. All over Illinois, thousands upon thousands of children, youth, and adults are seeking the […]

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Deasy retires, heads for hills

Illinois Baptist Staff

Springfield | Jeff Deasy and his wife, Kathy, are headed home to Tennessee following his retirement after 10 years as IBSA Administrative Director for Operations. He oversaw finances, human resources, and properties. Their ministry began with pastoral leadership in worship in the Volunteer State. Then they spent 20 years with the International Mission Board in […]

News

AI questions

AI and your church: 4 practical prompts to start using this week

Mark MacDonald

Artificial Intelligence isn’t replacing church communicators, it’s simply helping the good ones work smarter. Tools like ChatGPT (and similar) can become a creative ministry partner that helps you understand audience, brainstorm fresh ideas and create content that connects. But only if you ask the right questions. CAUTION: don’t let AI do most of the work. […]

Pastors, church leaders encouraged to participate in church compensation survey

SBC sees attendance, baptism gains amid membership declines

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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

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