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Columns

The Million Dollar Question: Mark 8:22-30

January 21, 2026 By Ryan Hall

Stock image

Call me what you will, but I like watching people lose big on gameshows. It is far more enjoyable than watching them leave with a free car! The biggest gameshow loss happened on NBC’s “The Wall.” A father-daughter team worked to amass an unknown bank of cash, but then the daughter was offered a $230,000 […]

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, […]

Deadly serious, but fun

January 13, 2026 By Lisa Misner

Warning: Deadly serious, but fun

Last year, Illinois ranked 17th on Wallet Hub’s list of best states to live in based on 51 key indicators. Health and safety were among those factors, of which Illinois ranked 30th. But we’re a fun state. Illinois’ family fun rank was listed at 2nd. Still, there was a catch. A fun state to live […]

Trey’s new family

January 6, 2026 By Valarie Veteto

Stock image

“I’m not religious.” She spoke the words as soon as I pulled a chair beside her hospital bed. “That’s okay,” I replied, unsure if anyone had ever been so direct. I whispered an arrow prayer to the Lord for wisdom: Please help me say the right thing, Lord—Your words, not mine. She reclined in the […]

The real Christmas angels

December 19, 2025 By Melissa Spoelstra

Christmas angels

An angel accented the top of our family’s Christmas tree each year when I was growing up. This regal figure featured a golden gown, wings and a halo. Angels have become a common part of Christmas décor, but they are rarely portrayed accurately according to Scripture. Angels are not winged cherubs playing harps and sitting […]

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Featured Columns

Michael Awbrey

Calming an anxious generation

Michael Awbrey

You have probably heard some of the troubling statistics about teens and young adults. The data points are piling up like symptoms for a very ill patient. Since 2010, Anxiety is up 139% among 18–25-year-olds. Depression is up 145% among girls and 161% among boys. Self-harm emergency room visits are up almost 200% for girls […]

Nate Adams

Thank You

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 […]

Love note: Now I can say we’re time-tested

Meredith Flynn

A few nights ago, I woke up to the sound of wind howling outside our windows. Tree branches bowed and scraped against the side of the house. A loose shutter thumped rhythmically and loudly enough to wake two of the four of us inside. “At least this house can weather the storm,” I thought as […]

More Columns

Calming an anxious generation

Michael Awbrey

You have probably heard some of the troubling statistics about teens and young adults. The data points are piling up like symptoms for a very ill patient. Since 2010, Anxiety is up 139% among 18–25-year-olds. Depression is up 145% among girls and 161% among boys. Self-harm emergency room visits are up almost 200% for girls […]

News

Screenshot: PBS

Chicagoland’s Gaiter, Shannon honor civil rights icons and mentors

Illinois Baptist Staff

Chicagoland | Two pastors from IBSA network churches recently honored leaders in the civil rights movement who served as mentors and role models. Pastor Maurice Gaiter of Empowerment Community Church in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood was invited to pray at a remembrance service for Rev. Jesse Jackson, who died Feb. 17 at age 84. “He gave […]

State Department urges Americans to leave 14 Middle Eastern countries

Group of SBC leaders caught amid Iran attacks now headed back to U.S.

More News Stories

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

More Mission Stories

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