Springfield | “God is working through Illinois Baptists, and God is on the move through Illinois Baptists,” Executive Director Scott Foshie told the Illinois Baptist State Association (IBSA) Board of Directors in his second report since taking the role. “What a joy it is to see our God working through this beautiful family of churches that we get to be a part of.”
Meeting Sept. 15 at the IBSA Building, the Board approved three key partnerships, vision and mission statements, goals and budget for 2027, and other changes under IBSA’s new administration.
The Board approved modifying IBSA’s mission statement to become: “Inspire each church to thrive as we help people follow Jesus.” It also adopted a vision statement: “Glorify God by impacting lostness with the light of the gospel together.” These moves, along with adjustments to goals and strategies, reflect efforts to streamline and consolidate strategies, tying them more directly to biblical language.
Goals were streamlined and consolidated from 20 to 12. Strategies were aligned around Discipleship, Missions, Engagement, and Partnership. The Health and Growth Teams were combined as Discipleship, with John 15:5 as its biblical foundation, under the leadership of Josh Bledsoe. The Missions Team was identified with Acts 1:8, with Shannon Ford as team leader. “We’re reorganizing our team structure using biblical truth and language to guide us,” Foshie said.
Multiple partnerships
The Board approved IBSA entering partnerships with the International Mission Board (IMB), the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board (TBMB). These partnerships will “multiply discipleship and mission impact through Illinois Baptists and our partner entities,” provided documents explained.
The agreement with IMB is the first of its kind among state conventions, Foshie said, intended to better connect IBSA churches with the 73 Illinoisans on the mission field, and bring specialized training for ministry with the 200 languages and people groups represented in the state.
The NAMB partnership makes the state a “Send Illinois” partner, with the intention of expanding church planting presence and increasing plants from about 10 per year to at least 30. It also expands resources to reach Hispanics through Send Network Español and invest in church revitalization through NAMB’s Replant and Renew team.
The partnership between the Tennessee and Illinois state conventions will open doors for mission work across borders. TBMB Executive Director Randy Davis said in a video message sent to board members that this could be “a partnership that would advance the kingdom not only in our states, but it would help propel the gospel around the globe.” The Tennessee Board approved the agreement at the same time the IBSA Board was giving its support to the pact.
IBSA will also partner with Joni & Friends to further disability ministry throughout the state. The ministry is led by Joni Eareckson Tada, well-known Christian and advocate for the disabled who has lived with quadriplegia since a diving accident in 1967.
Right-sized budget
The Board approved the 2027 IBSA budget based on a Cooperative Program (CP) income projection of $5.5 million, down $500,000 from 2026. The budget was right-sized in response to a nearly 20% decline in Illinois CP giving from 2019 to 2025. This was accomplished by streamlining the management team and the personnel budget, positioning IBSA to spend less than it takes in.
CP giving as of Sept. 4 was up 3.4% over 2025, though it fluctuates from week to week, Foshie said. Messengers will vote on the budget at the annual meeting, held Nov. 2-3 in Edwardsville.
Foshie also asked Board members “to be an ambassador, to consider if every Illinois Baptist church gave 1% more from their budget next year. The Cooperative Program would increase 20%…. That would benefit our 3,500 missionaries, our 3,000 church planters, and all the wonderful ministries we are able to provide here in Illinois.”
The CP ratio of 56.5% for IBSA and 43.5% forwarded to the national SBC remains unchanged.
The Board approved three budget overspends, two of which were cause for celebration. They approved $10,000 from Information Services because of unforeseen price increases in essential data security software; $45,000 from Children’s Ministry Training because of high participation in IBSA-run camps at Lake Sallateeska and Streator this summer, which is projected to be offset by a $40,000 overage in cost recovery income (camp registration payments); and $12,000 from Women’s Leadership Development because of high participation in IBSA’s women’s ministry events and the expansion of additional satellite locations for the Priority event, which is projected to be offset by a $12,000 overage in cost recovery income (registration payments and sponsorships).
BFI reports ministry markers, addresses audit
Doug Morrow, Executive Director of the Baptist Foundation of Illinois (BFI), delivered an update on BFI’s five areas of ministry: life stewardship, savings and investing, educational scholarships, church loans, and church legacy.
“We want to connect (Illinois Baptists) with ministry that’s moving the gospel, that’s moving the kingdom forward,” Morrow said. He reported BFI has $61.5 million in funds under management and is nearing $1 million in scholarships awarded to Illinois Baptist college and seminary students since 2015.
Morrow also updated the Board regarding BFI’s audit situation. IBSA’s most recent audit received a “qualified” opinion due to delayed and unavailable audits from BFI.
“We wanted to again apologize that this has been a challenge for us and remains a challenge for others. We are not only well aware of it, but we are thinking about that and working on that problem every day,” Morrow said.
He reported that BFI has hired a new Chief Financial Officer, Kelly Flanagan-Burtis, and is now retaining the same auditor as IBSA—Batts, Morrison, Wales, & Lee, P.A. The Foundation has made its asset holdings publicly available to maintain transparency throughout the period of unavailable audits.
Other business
The Board welcomed two new members: Rhonda Johnson of Destiny Baptist Church in Rock Island and Mark Davis of Woodland Baptist Church in Peoria.
Newly elected officers are Chair Kirk Kay, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Benton and previous secretary; Vice Chair Chris Marsh, pastor of Ditney Ridge Baptist Church in Norris City; and Secretary Jim Wilson, elder at First Baptist Church in Atwood.
The Board recognized outgoing Chair Paul Cooper, pastor of Marshall Baptist Church, and Vice Chair Scott Douglas, pastor of Fairview Heights Baptist Church, for their service. Members rotating off are Jim Hanger, Rene Escalante, Jennifer Damotte, Scott Douglas, and Bruce Kirk.
Foshie presented News Manager Lisa Misner a crystal obelisk commemorating her 30 years with IBSA. She will retire in October.
The next IBSA Board meeting is scheduled for March 2027.