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The new edition of the Illinois Baptist features a recap of the Women's Missions Celebration, provides tips for pastors and ministry leaders, looks at the view from "The Rooftop" and much more.

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The red carpet was rolled out for missionaries and missions leaders at the Illinois Women’s Missions Celebration held May 3-5 at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Decatur. Missionaries stood on the red carpet with Academy award style backgrounds behind them as they posed for pictures with Illinois Baptists Thursday evening. It was a time of fellowship that set the tone for celebration themed, “The Story Lives On” using imagery associated with the motion picture industry. Read more

We have a tradition at our house that we refer to as “getting the red plate.” We didn’t originate this tradition, and I suspect a number of families share it, because I still see plates like ours at gift stores, even though we purchased it years ago. Ours is a rather normal dinner plate, other than its bright red color and the white words painted artfully around its edges, which simply read, “You Are Special Today.” Read more

It’s amazing how God works in your life if you allow Him to. As a pastor’s wife and stay-at-home mom, I never imagined God would call me, of all people, to travel to the other side of the planet to witness to women and children rescued from human trafficking. Read more

Leaders have more opportunities than ever to continue their education while serving in ministry
When Art Garland, a pastor in his early 50s, decided to go back to school to learn more about the Bible, he was most surprised by one thing: how easy it was to enroll in classes. Read more

Pastors and leaders can get a seminary education just by watching videos available on E-Quip, a website sponsored by the Illinois Baptist State Association. Lead 360 is a partnership of the Canadian Southern Baptist Convention and IBSA that utilizes E-Quip a storing house for training videos on a variety of topics, including missions, culture, church planting and discipleship. Read more

Theological training is available to more leaders through extension centers and distance learning programs. Read more

She was the child of alcoholic and drug-addicted parents in Russia. Sleeping on the streets and stealing food were part of her everyday life. When she was age seven or eight, authorities stepped in and sent her to an orphanage. Read more