IBSA News

Illinois Baptist State Newspaper

News

Pleasant Hill church wins Governor’s Cup for food program

By

Springfield | They faced some big competition. Pleasant Hill First Baptist Church’s summer food program was one of four finalists for the Governor’s Hometown Awards awarded annually at the Illinois State Fair. The church, with an average attendance up to 150, faced three other volunteer organizations from Chicagoland—Flossmoor, Joliet, and Plainfield. In the Illinois Building […]

States ranked for religious freedom

By

Illinois falls in the middle on a new ranking of religious freedoms for non-profits, which includes churches. The new Faith and Freedom Index released in July measures the protections afforded faith-based organizations. At 48%, Illinois scored much better than neighbors Wisconsin (26%) and Michigan (22%). Nevada scored lowest (18%). Alabama (86%) and Texas (70%) ranked […]

Pastor arrested in Wisconsin

By

Kenosha, Wisc. | The bivocational pastor of a church in Lake County, Illinois was arrested Aug. 10 in Somers, Wisconsin, and charged with two misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and lewd and lascivious actions. Thomas Bartmer, 57, was taken into custody in the parking lot of Walmart in the village just north of Kenosha. He […]

Barber taps Wellman to lead ‘cooperation’ study, makes ARITF changes

By

Nashville, Tenn. | Southern Baptist Convention President Bart Barber named fellow Texas pastor Jared Wellman to chair the group studying “friendly cooperation” as a standard for church membership in the denomination. “I am concerned about the way that we’re defining friendly cooperation,” Barber said in an exclusive interview with the Illinois Baptist just ahead of […]

Illinois Baptists welcome new AMSs and pastors

By

Bob Burton’s retirement was brief. Three months after his departure from the North American Mission Board (NAMB), Burton has been called as Associational Mission Strategist for Salem South Baptist Association. He succeeds Kevin Carrothers and will start work Sept. 1. Burton served with NAMB 21 years in various positions, often working with local Baptist associations […]