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Table Talk

Blinded by bright spots: Kelley warns of trends we’re ignoring

October 29, 2025 By Chuck Kelley

Chuck Kelley

(Ed. note: One IBSA Annual Meeting keynote speaker has been concerned about the direction of the SBC for a long time. As a professor at New Orleans Seminary, he warned in 1983 that the denomination had plateaued. He pointed to the loss of evangelism among Methodists that led to their decline. “They never mounted a […]

Brent Cloyd: My not-so-secret to success

October 14, 2025 By Brent Cloyd

Pastor Brent Cloyd and his wife Jeanette

On September 6, 1982, I was a student at Midwestern Seminary. That day I walked into the kitchen at the dormitory and saw a young woman. There was a spark in her eyes that lit a fire in my soul. On October 26, we went on our first date. On Thanksgiving Day, I asked her […]

3 reasons to improve connections

October 7, 2025 By Doug Munton

Stock art

I’ve said this sentiment frequently in recent days as I’ve spoken to other pastors and Christians and churches around the Illinois Baptist State Association and the Southern Baptist Convention. With the spiritual brokenness of our generation and culture, believers need each other more than ever. At the same time, pastors, Christians, and churches seem less […]

When retreat is not an option

September 17, 2025 By Obbie Tyler Todd

(Editor’s note: Lyman Beecher was a pastor who had 13 famous children, among them abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” and Edward Beecher, the first president of Illinois College in Jacksonville. This excerpt is from a new book, “The Beechers: America’s Most Influential Family.”) When Edward [Beecher] first met Elijah Lovejoy at […]

Why early days on campus are crucial

August 13, 2025 By Daniel Good

Daniel Good

The first 48 hours of a student’s time on a college campus are some of the most important hours that a student will ever go through in their life. That may sound like a big statement, but it is true. It certainly was for me. Within my first 48 hours at the University of Wyoming, […]

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Featured Columns

Scott Foshie

Two ways shared service works

Scott Foshie

This month, thousands of messengers and guests from around the SBC will converge in Orlando for our annual time of celebration, prayer, and family decision making. There will be lively debates, nomination speeches, and votes on multiple issues. However, the part I look forward to the most about our family meetings is the fellowship, worship, […]

Blackabys

Less produces more

Eric Reed

Richard Blackaby challenged the IBSA staff at our annual Spiritual Focus Day. “If glorifying God is the goal of life, how do I increase that each year?” For all of us in ministry, especially those who set goals and count results and live by metrics, that’s a tough question. Can we always do more than […]

SBC ’26: What we’re watching

Illinois Baptist Staff

The question at the Illinois Baptist each spring is “What do you think will come up at the convention?” Some things are obvious, because they’re on the agenda—such as the presidential election. Pastors Josh Powell and Willy Rice are in the ring. There have been no surprise announcements so far, unlike 2024 when we had […]

More Columns

Mohler narrows amendment to preaching, resolution addresses women’s roles

Eric Reed

SBC | Southern Seminary President Albert Mohler narrowed the language in his to proposed amendment to prohibit women “specifically preaching” in a pastoral capacity. His earlier version, planned for introduction at the Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando next week, had said that cooperating SBC churches would “not affirm, appoint, or endorse women serving as pastors […]

News

Kevin Alvarez

New regional consultant named

Illinois Baptist Staff

Springfield | Kevin Alvarez joins the IBSA staff as Central Region Consultant as of June 15. As a regional consultant, Alvarez will travel within his designated region to encourage local churches, provide resources, training, and support, and help churches discover and accomplish their next steps in sharing the Gospel. The Central Region includes Bay Creek, Central, […]

Two promoted in IBSA leadership

‘Blueprint’ for NextGen to reach the nations

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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