IBSA News

Illinois Baptist State Newspaper

Nate Adams

The year before

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I met my wife when she was 18, and ever since she turned 19, I have known that she prefers the day before her birthday to the birthday itself. I guess that’s not completely unique. Some people prefer Christmas Eve to Christmas, or New Year’s Eve to New Year’s Day. Still, those are two-day holidays […]

War & the world

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As 2023 draws to a close, many political and military leaders are referring to the times in which we now live as “the most perilous since World War II.” The invasion of Israel by Hamas on October 7 and the escalating and expanding responses since then seem to have placed the words “war” and “world” […]

IBSA Annual Meeting: Don’t come alone!

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I hope many hundreds of Illinois Baptists are planning to load up the car or church van and drive over to Marion for the IBSA Annual Meeting next month. If that describes you, or you’re at least considering the possibility, let me urge you to do something that could make the trip especially worthwhile: Don’t […]

FOR the Pastor

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I have a friend, a long-time pastor here in Illinois, who occasionally calls me just to check in. We catch up on each other’s lives, and he often asks a thought-provoking question such as “What are you excited about these days?” or “What do you see out there that’s really working?” The call always lifts […]

Positive purpose

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Without question, more of my time and passion is invested in encouraging churches to give to missions through the Cooperative Program than through any designated offering, including our own state missions offering. I believe that’s as it should be. Yet both the CP and designated offerings have vital, important purposes. My conviction is that the […]