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Culture

Trump appoints pastors to key posts

May 12, 2025 By Illinois Baptist Staff

White House prayer team

Washington, DC  | Former Arkansas governor, presidential candidate, talk show host, and Baptist pastor Mike Huckabee was confirmed as U. S. Ambassador to Israel in April. He is one of several pastors named to high posts in the Trump Administration. Former pastor and staff member of Prestonwood Baptist Church in the Dallas Metroplex, Scott Turner, […]

Trinity becomes Canadian seminary

May 8, 2025 By Lisa Misner

Canadian flag

Deerfield | Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) announced it is leaving the suburbs of Chicago to move to Canada where it will merge with that country’s largest Christian university, Trinity Western University (TWU). A statement posted to the school’s website on April 8 reads, “TEDS has entered into a formal commitment to take steps moving […]

Counselor suspended after state charges

May 6, 2025 By Illinois Baptist Staff

Stock photo

Editor’s note: Article was updated 6/6/2025 to correct information regarding Matthew Cuppett’s employment history. Edwardsville | A mental health counselor for two counseling services in Metro East St. Louis has been charged with five counts related to sexual exploitation of a minor. Matthew S. Cuppett of Collinsville was charged May 5. One count of grooming […]

Huckabee confirmed as US ambassador to Israel

April 11, 2025 By The Baptist Paper

(Screenshot/Trinity Broadcasting Network)

The U.S. Senate confirmed former Arkansas governor and Baptist pastor Mike Huckabee as the Trump administration’s ambassador to Israel on Wednesday (April 10), in a 53–46 vote largely along party lines. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) reportedly was the only Democrat to support the confirmation. Rising tensions Huckabee’s appointment comes amid ongoing regional tensions, including the […]

LGBTQ students protection objection

March 31, 2025 By Illinois Baptist Staff

Lockers

Two groups have filed a complaint against Chicago Public School (CPS) for their extension of Title IX to include LGBTQ identity. The groups, Defense of Freedom Institute and Liberty for Justice, told the U.S. Department of Education that CPS is “forcing students to share bathrooms, locker rooms, and overnight accommodations with members of the opposite […]

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Featured Columns

Cross found in the rubble.

25 years after 9/11: A lot has changed. And not much.

Eric Reed

By the time you read this, many people will be talking about where they were when the Twin Towers fell 25 years ago. Bells will toll. Long lists of names will be read. We will remember, and never forget. The realization that its anniversary is upon us raises the question— Has anything really changed since […]

Scott Foshie and his father

Paying the ‘Faith Forward’

Scott Foshie

“The LORD is great and is highly praised; his greatness is unsearchable. One generation will declare your works to the next and will proclaim your mighty acts.”– Psalm 145:3-4 In August, Audra and I celebrated 25 years of marriage. After an anniversary dinner and dessert together, we came home and looked through our wedding photos. […]

What makes ministry successful?

Mark Goldman

As a psychologist and researcher, Angela Duckworth was puzzled why some intelligent and talented people persisted while others quit. Most of those she observed were probably far more gifted than I am, but raw talent was not a reliable predictor of success. What she found was one characteristic that repeatedly predicted success above raw talent—grit. […]

More Columns

3 partnerships in development

Illinois Baptist Staff

Springfield | With the inception of Scott Foshie’s leadership, IBSA is developing partnerships with three SBC mission boards, including an IMB partnership that promises to be the first of its kind in the convention. They are expected to bring additional missions engagement for churches in Illinois and opportunities for service outside the state. “Our partnership […]

News

Willy Rice

Prepping for Indianapolis: How to pray for Willy Rice, and more from our exclusive interview

Eric Reed

At the SBC Executive Committee meeting Sept. 20-21, recently elected convention President Willy Rice is expected to present several challenges to the 86-member panel about next steps to secure final approval of the constitutional amendment dubbed by its author Al Mohler the “Truth & Unity Amendment.” Passage by two-thirds majority of messengers meeting at the […]

Youth Encounter expands to 3 locations

Blackwell commits to ‘come alongside’ churches at Lifeway trustee meeting

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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