Both my sister and my parents came to visit me last year on Sunday, March 15. After church we went out to eat at Country House. There was no ketchup bottles or salt shakers on the table, and sometime between when we ordered and when our food came, news broke that all restaurants in Illinois would close the…

The weather forecast must have heard my hope for nice weather on Sunday. Granted, things might still change between now and then, but it looks like the weather is going to cooperate and not rain on our parade. We’ll make the final call on Sunday so be sure to tune into the livestream. The plan is…

Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand firm against the tactics of the Devil.  ~ Ephesians 6:11 Over the past few weeks, a selection of masks have collected on my desk. I wear a mask into the office when the preschool and other people are in the building, but then…

For the past few months, I’ve really enjoyed reading “Letters from an American.” It’s a daily reflection on national events from Heather Cox Richardson, a professor of American history at Boston College. I love how she puts the events of the day into perspective with how we got here. The present moment is the product of history—just the…

A couple weeks ago, I mentioned how special Ash Wednesday was for me this year. Imposing ashes is always a deeply meaningful and even intimate moment as I see the face and cradle the head of so many beloved children of God. With each swipe of ash, I feel the weight of what it means…

As we turn the corner from Black History Month to Women’s History Month, it felt right for our final spotlight to highlight a modern Black woman who’s recently made history and happens to share our Baptist heritage. Born the daughter of immigrants, her father emigrated from Jamaica to pursue a PhD in economics while her mother emigrated from India…

If you’ve been to downtown Chicago in the past year or two, you might have noticed that the prominent east/west artery formerly known as Congress Parkway is now Ida B. Wells Drive. Officially dedicated on February 11, 2019, Ida B. Wells Drive is the first road in Chicago to be named after a black woman. Affixing her…

While you’ve probably never heard her name, you’ve definitely benefited from the legacy of Henrietta Lacks. She was not a trailblazer in the traditional sense. Her legacy came after her death and took on a life of its own. Born August 1, 1920 in Roanoke Virginia. Henrietta’s short life was marked by poverty and more than her…

Few people can truly be called trailblazers. Many well-known leaders become well-known by building upon the foundations laid by those who came before them. Sometimes it takes a while for true trailblazers to receive the recognition they deserve because so many subsequent folks either knowingly or unknowingly built upon their work. Over the course of…

Beloved of God, it seems we hit the ground running in this new year. As we’re working on putting together our Annual Report and look forward to celebrating what we were able to accomplish despite the many challenges of 2020, I’m also very excited about several things on the horizon, both near and far. You…