Springfield | The 2026 IBSA Annual Meeting promises to be a standout in the 120-year history of Illinois Baptists. The leaders of three Southern Baptist Convention entities, one sister state convention, and one auxiliary will be on hand at the first meeting under the leadership of Scott Foshie.
Their participation comes as part of an enthusiastic wave of support for the new Executive Director.
International Mission Board President Paul Chitwood will be the Wednesday evening main session speaker in the two-day event to be held at Metro Community Church in Edwardsville, November 3-4. Under the theme “It’s all about the Gospel,” Chitwood will highlight IMB work and Illinois’ contribution to the work on global mission fields. IBSA churches currently have 73 missionaries serving with the IMB mission force of more than 3,500.
Wednesday afternoon, SBC Executive Committee President and CEO Jeff Iorg will take the main stage, speaking on the impact of cooperative partnership. Iorg has been a frequent presence in Illinois as the Executive Committee leader and before that as Gateway Seminary President.
New President of the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission Evan Lenow will speak in the Wednesday afternoon session. The former Mississippi College and Southwestern Seminary professor, who was discipled at Bellevue Baptist Church under the teaching of late Southern Baptist statesman Adrian Rogers, has been received
with broad acclamation across the convention. Foshie served as ERLC trustee chair until April, wrapping up his service with Lenow’s calling.
Tennessee Baptist Mission Board Executive Director Randy Davis will also be a special guest during the Tuesday evening session. Davis and Foshie are expected to celebrate finalization of a new missions and ministry strategic partnership between Illinois and Tennessee Baptists.
Illinois native Sandy Wisdom-Martin returns home as messengers to the annual meeting will honor her upon retirement after 10 years as Executive Director-Treasurer of the SBC auxiliary, Woman’s Missionary Union. Wisdom-Martin began her missions service as a teenager in Illinois, then a member of the IBSA staff. Later stints in Arkansas and Texas led to her call as head of national WMU.
Illinois WMU President, Jill McNicol said Wisdom-Martin’s legacy of service brings to mind words from historic Southern Baptist missions advocate, Annie Armstrong, who wrote, “What has been done for the glory of God, will be steadfast as the stars.”
“Sandy has served Illinois and National WMU as a servant to her Father,” McNicol said. “Until she reaches heaven, she will not truly know the difference she has made and the lives she has touched.”
In addition to national SBC leaders, Illinois Baptists will also hear from home state leaders. Metro Community Church pastor, Seth Conerly, will preach the Annual Sermon, and IBSA President Doug Munton will preside over the November meeting and deliver the President’s Message.
“I sure do hope our IBSA churches and leaders will plan to come to our annual meeting at Metro Community Church in Edwardsville,” Munton said. “This is Scott Foshie’s first annual meeting as our leader, and I look forward to hearing from him and connecting with the IBSA family.” Munton is a veteran of IBSA events. The senior pastor of First Baptist Church of O’Fallon has twice served as state convention president and is concluding his current term.
In addition to main sessions, Illinois Baptists can participate in 20 practical ministry breakouts and numerous meal gatherings. Church messenger registration opened August 24. Details and event registration information are available at IBSAAnnualmeeting.org.