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Meredith Flynn

I’m still learning from my Mom

May 11, 2023 By Meredith Flynn

Meredith Flynn

I am a helicopter parent (and I am), I didn’t get it from my own mom. Chalk it up to raising kids in a simpler time, but my mom doesn’t suffer from my tendency to hover. Instead, she chose her moments carefully. In fact, she’s the one who taught me that principle after a contentious […]

Spectators or participants?

March 14, 2023 By Meredith Flynn

Meredith Flynn

My church is in a season of refocusing on prayer. Every Sunday before the sermon, we break into small groups and pray together. One of the goals of this emphasis, our pastor has said, is to move from being spectators of prayer to participants in it. Last season, the football team I have followed and […]

In praise of a true team player

February 10, 2023 By Meredith Flynn

Thurman Stewart

The last time I saw Thurman Stewart was at the IBSA Annual Meeting last fall. He and his wife, Carol, were there as part of the contingent of volunteers who serve every year, dressed in their yellow Disaster Relief garb caring for the children of Illinois Baptists who come to the meeting. Thurman died Dec. […]

Breaking the fourth wall

January 12, 2023 By Meredith Flynn

Meredith Flynn

A recent study by Barna had good news and bad news for increasingly polarized Americans. More than 90% of U.S. adults say they welcome different ways of thinking about important topics. But 51% also say their ideas are usually better than other people’s ideas, up from 31% who said so in 2015. And 36% say […]

The force is with us

December 13, 2022 By Meredith Flynn

Meredith Flynn

Our family’s recent Covid quarantine finally provided my husband an opportunity to introduce our daughters to Star Wars. Over several days, they dug into the space saga until we were all well-steeped in the story of good versus evil. A few days later, we were rushing around the house scrambling to leave for a much-needed […]

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Featured Columns

Online fraud

Six steps to protect your church from online fraud

Jeff Deasy

Several SBC churches and entities have been hit with online fraud nearing $1 million each. Their dramatic losses serve as warnings to all our churches. The Florida Baptist Convention lost more than $700,000 in a transfer involving a fraudulent email that was intended for the North American Mission (NAMB). A similar scam involved an email […]

"My unlikely Ebenezer"

My unlikely Ebenezer

Amy Richards

My husband’s cheerful voice on the other end of the line said, “I found a cool piece of wood.” I answered with an indifferent “OK,” but he continued, untouched by my disinterest. I listened, but my mind circled with questions. What in the world am I going to do with junk wood he found in […]

SBC: Striking a healthy balance

Nate Adams

A pastor once told me that he didn’t feel he should serve on one of our statewide committees because he wasn’t in complete agreement with the SBC’s Baptist Faith and Message statement. He cited Article VII on “Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.” He said he felt it described what is commonly referred to as “closed […]

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Former Central Association DOM Tom Miller dies at 92

Illinois Baptist Staff

Thomas E. “Tom” Miller died June 3. He was 92 years of age, and was preceded in death by his wife, Pauline, in November 2022. Miller served as Director of Mission for the Central Baptist Association from 1979 to 1994. He pastored several churches in the Decatur area, including Hammond Missionary Baptist Church, Macon First […]

News

Nick Volkening, campus ministry at U of I (left) and Jonah Christiansen, Salt Network campus ministry at Illinois State participate in an exercise together.

Leaders target college evangelism in confab

Lisa Misner

College ministry leaders met to make evangelism a chief goal of their work on Illinois campuses. Baptist collegiate leaders and their families gathered at a retreat center near Starved Rock State Park over the Memorial Day Weekend for what they hope will become an annual event fostering ministry collaboration. Church Planting Director Kevin Jones, who […]

Wellman nod fails, Robinson respects decision

Church Renewal Journeys revitalize churches

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Mission

Metro East church plant hosts multiplication meeting

Metro East church plant hosts multiplication meeting

Ben Jones

Pastors and church leaders from around the Metro East area gathered in Collinsville May 17 for the second Multiply Illinois Hub. These quarterly regional events are designed to encourage and equip those interested in church multiplication. Heights Community Church, planted in 2016, hosted the gathering in their newly renovated home. With the St. Louis skyline […]

Sallateeska baptism demonstrates SBC connections

A first-time ministry to migrant workers is very fruitful

More Mission Stories

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