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Illinois Baptist State Newspaper

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Reporter’s Notebook

A long battle for a tired warrior

June 19, 2026 By Ben Jones

Al Mohler

“It’s not a crisis,” Albert Mohler said. “I do not fear an army of women preachers in the SBC. But what I do want to make clear is that this is something the SBC shouldn’t have to revisit over and over again.” Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and introducer of the self-named […]

What should we make of AI?

May 12, 2026 By Ben Jones

AI

What should we make of AI? Artificial Intelligence (AI) has steadily pushed its way to the front of the “another change I didn’t ask for” line. The talking tech heads promise AI is a silver bullet, but over the past year I haven’t shaken the uneasy feeling we humans might be on the receiving end […]

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 […]

A cornucopia of thanks

November 19, 2025 By Eric Reed

Pilgrim Labubu

(Editor’s note: Each year our Illinois Baptist team offers a Thanksgiving prayer in the way of Chicago Tribune columnist Joan Beck who annually published her list in free verse, interspersing lines from hymns and ending in Paul’s crescendo from Romans 8.) As we gather together to count the Lord’s blessings…405 years after the first Thanksgiving […]

My friend, Kay Arthur

July 24, 2025 By Eric Reed

Kay Arthur

When I ran into Kay Arthur on the campus of New Orleans Seminary about 30 years ago, I was surprised. No one had announced she would be there. We students thought we knew all the campus news, but apparently not. For me, this was a big deal. “Kay Arthur!” I exclaimed. “Why are you here?” […]

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Featured Columns

A Committed Church: 2 Timothy 2:1-4

Maurice Gaiter

In a recent trip to Haiti, I heard a Haitian pastor illustrate to his congregation the need for total commitment to Christ. A man wanted to sell his house for $2,000. Another man wanted to buy it, but because he was poor, he couldn’t afford the full price. After much bargaining, the owner agreed to […]

Paul Cooper

What’s greater than independence? Hebrews 10:19-25

Paul Cooper

We got news from my sister in New Mexico, and my brother, Dave, immediately called me. He wanted to see her, but the 20-hour drive was too hard to do alone. It would be easier with his brother. We could share the load. Even so, we would spend more than half our time on the […]

Our nation’s half-celebration at 250

Eric Reed

During these red, white, and blue months, YouTube keeps sending me a video clip. It’s King George’s solo from the musical “Hamilton.” Amid endless rapping and stamping of boots and swishing of tailcoats by Founding Fathers, a lone figure walks slowly to center stage, decked in satin knee breeches, ermine cape, and a crown. And […]

More Columns

What rural churches can do

Karen Willoughby

Sicily, Italy | “The goal is to get the gospel out,” said Steve Brown, a missionary in Europe serving as a team leader through the International Mission Board (IMB) for 22 years, the last five based in Palermo, Sicily. He recently came up with a new strategy for doing so, specifically designed to appeal to […]

News

Photo courtesy of Michael Byrd

Former IBSA Pastors Conference speaker, Send St. Louis church planter, announced as historic AMS appointment

Scott Barkley

Ferguson, Mo. | Michael T. Byrd, Sr.’s background in ministry began as a 19-year-old preacher before moving into the pastorate and associational work, all in his native St. Louis. It’s that experience he’s eager to put into practice as the new executive director of the St. Louis Metro Baptist Association. He told Baptist Press that […]

Mindy Cobb’s endless summer

New Illinois laws raise concerns for Baptists

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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