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Illinois Baptist State Newspaper

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Nate Adams

Thank You

March 3, 2026 By Nate Adams

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 […]

Adams: Transitions

February 19, 2026 By Nate Adams

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 […]

Three requests

January 21, 2026 By Nate Adams

Nate Adams

Last month the IBSA Board of Directors’ Executive Director Search Committee completed an eight-month process of considering the future needs of the IBSA organization, and screening and interviewing candidates to succeed me in the role of Executive Director. I’ve been praying for them throughout that time, as I’m sure many others have. On December 9, […]

Family reunion

October 17, 2025 By Nate Adams

Scenes from the 2024 IBSA Annual Meeting.

As I was preparing for my first IBSA Annual Meeting as Executive Director almost 20 years ago, I remember one long-time staff remember exclaiming, “I just love the Annual Meeting! It’s like a big family reunion.” Having just moved back to Illinois three months earlier, I didn’t yet share his enthusiasm. I was still meeting […]

A new posture

September 9, 2025 By Nate Adams

Nate Adams

I was a church planter for only about three years. Like many planters, I was co-vocational. I have said many times that those three years were among the most difficult, and yet most spiritually rewarding of my life. They forever changed my perspective, not just on how churches get started, but on how church should […]

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Featured Columns

Doug Munton

Something bigger than ‘us’

Doug Munton

The longer I live, the more I value connecting with others. I see that I am part of something bigger than me and that I need the contributions of others in my life and in the work of the kingdom of God. This is why I am excited about joining with other Illinois Baptists at […]

Scott Foshie

An honest word about our CP giving

Scott Foshie

The first six months of serving you have been filled with encouragement and hope. God is bringing a new season of harvest across our state, with rising attendance, baptisms, and outreach opportunities. We are answering his invitation to join him in his work as we say “yes” to opportunities to show up in the lives […]

What if leadership isn’t the main issue?

Carmen Halsey-Menghini

Recently, I’ve been reflecting on something Henry Blackaby said: “The church doesn’t have a leadership problem; it has a discipleship problem.” I’ve found myself thinking about that, especially when talking with pastors of smaller churches who are discouraged because they don’t see enough people stepping into leadership roles. What if the question isn’t “Why aren’t […]

More Columns

Something bigger than ‘us’

Doug Munton

The longer I live, the more I value connecting with others. I see that I am part of something bigger than me and that I need the contributions of others in my life and in the work of the kingdom of God. This is why I am excited about joining with other Illinois Baptists at […]

News

Ministry fair

Ministry fair makes connections

Kayla Houchin

Marion | Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) of Williamson Baptist Association held their third annual Ministry Fair in September. “It started as something new and different as a way to connect our churches and people in the churches with ministries in the area,” said Tammy Samples, WMU leadership team member. “We wanted them to see how […]

Cooperative Program giving remains the same year over year

Tully recalls early promise of Wisdom-Martin

More News Stories

Mission

World Cup scores for digital witness

Illinois Baptist Staff

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup roared to a close and Spain left holding the trophy, Southern Baptist churches and missionaries around the world prayed for impact that outlasts the hardware. Southern Baptists mission boards joined churches and associations in digital and in-person outreach, as North America hosted the World Cup for the first time […]

IMB trustees appoint new missionaries, elect first woman chair

Metro East church plant hosts multiplication meeting

More Mission Stories

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