RAYTOWN, Mo. – Missouri Baptists pursued greater synergy for transforming lives and communities with the gospel during their 183rd annual meeting. A total of 883 messengers and 234 visitors from 391 churches gathered Oct. 23-24 at the Connection Point Church (formerly First Baptist) of Raytown, Mo., where they approved new governing documents, heard a report from the Missouri Baptist Foundation President for the first time in 15 years and welcomed special guests, including Missouri Gov. … [Read more...]
Nailed it! Luther triggered Reformation 500 years ago
WITTENBERG, Germany – Five hundred years ago this month, Martin Luther, a German monk and university professor, turned the world upside down as he began to proclaim a gospel of “costly grace.” On Oct. 31, 1517, Luther posted 95 theses for public debate on the Castle Church door in the small university town of Wittenberg, Germany. In his pungent theses, he criticized abuses of church power – especially the pope’s attempt to raise funds for renovating St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome by … [Read more...]
Creation declares God’s glory: Photographer sees God’s hand at work in nature, in life
ROGERSVILLE – Hiking along the Current River in Shannon County about four years ago, Matt Miles walked onto an overlook just before dawn. Beyond the river, the hills were thick with trees, and as the sun rose its light set the whole wood ablaze with autumn colors. Not a moment too soon, Miles photographed the scene. After he did so, the sun rose above the clouds, and the hills turned to somber grey. “The magical light of that incredible view was essentially gone,” he remembered. Yet … [Read more...]
Christian journalism’s Reformation roots
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the final column in a year-long series leading up to the 500th anniversary of the 16th-century Reformation on Oct. 31, 2017. During the spring of 1521, the German Reformer Martin Luther stood alone before the most powerful men in Europe and declared that, no matter the consequences, his conscience was bound to the Word of God. And on this Word he would stand. Shortly after making this famous “Here I Stand” speech at the Diet of Worms, Luther was condemned by … [Read more...]
50 years at one church: Lebanon pastor reflects on God’s faithfulness
LEBANON – As a young pastor, Donald Wood expected that after 30 years in the ministry, he’d have enough sermons to last him a lifetime. But now that he’s celebrating his 50th year at New Hope Baptist Church near Lebanon, he realizes that he’ll never get to the bottom of God’s Word. “Still today,” Wood said, “I’ll read something, and I think, ‘How come it took 50 years to figure that out?’” Celebrating 135 years this month, New Hope Baptist currently runs about 20 people each Sunday … [Read more...]
Freeway Ministries: Ex-cons, drug addicts profess faith
SPRINGFIELD – Roughly 3,500 people heard of the gospel’s power to transform lives during a revival hosted here, Sept. 7-9, by Freeway Ministries, a Springfield-based outreach and discipleship ministry to ex-cons, drug addicts and other hard-to-reach people. Nearly 60 people professed faith in Christ during the three-day event, and another 70 people took other spiritual steps towards Christ, according to John Stroup, a member of Crossway Baptist Church here and one of the founders of … [Read more...]
Satanists, judiciary empower Missouri abortion industry
JEFFERSON CITY – Lawmakers aren’t to blame for Planned Parenthood’s most recent expansion in Missouri, according to some of the state’s pro-life advocates. Instead, the abortion industry is making a comeback in the state with the help of judicial decisions – and the Satanic Temple. Planned Parenthood’s legal fight to gain ground in Missouri took a turn in the abortion industry’s favor because of an order released, Oct. 2, by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The court battle centers … [Read more...]
Church’s gift shields Sedalia’s ‘men in blue’
SEDALIA – Members of Katy Park Baptist Church here raised support for local law enforcement after a $25,000 grant from State Farm Insurance fell through, leaving Sedalia’s “men in blue” without funds to buy protective helmets and vests. Katy Park’s Senior Pastor Jon Church and Associate Pastor Richard DeFord presented a check of $2,035 to Sedalia Police Commander Larry Ward, Sept. 8. The church made the donation in honor of one of their own members, who serves with the police … [Read more...]
A religion of the Book: The King James Bible
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the 20th column in a year-long series leading up to the 500th anniversary of the 16th-century Reformation on Oct. 31, 2017. When Queen Elizabeth I died childless after 45 years in power, the dynasty of the Tudor family descended from Henry VIII also ended. Now, the English monarchy went to the Stuart family and, specifically, to the Scottish King James VI—now crowned also as King James I of England. During his reign in Scotland, King James became familiar with … [Read more...]
Juston Gates: The pastor as preacher, administrator
FORSYTH – When Juston Gates of First Baptist Church, Forsyth, first surrendered to the ministry, he imagined that most of his time would involve preaching, prayer and other “neat, spiritual stuff,” but 18 years in ministry have taught him otherwise. In fact, he came to find out that many of his days were filled with administrative tasks: making financial decisions, overseeing the work of committees, leading meetings and equipping the church’s ministry staff. “We (pastors) make so many … [Read more...]
Called to shepherd the flock of Christ
JEFFERSON CITY – The preaching of God’s Word is central to a lead pastor’s role in the local church, but the pastor—as an under-shepherd of Christ’s flock—is required to do much more than this during his weekly routine. “The pastor has to be a shepherd,” said Tony Preston, director of missions for the Clay-Platte Baptist Association and professor of pastoral leadership at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. “A shepherd does a number of things: he protects the flock. He provides for … [Read more...]
Clinton church grieves after shooting
CLINTON – A Missouri Baptist congregation here is grieving after the Aug. 6th shooting of local police officer Gary Michael, Jr. Michael, 37, a member of First Baptist Church here, served with the Clinton police department for less than a year when he was shot to death after pulling someone over for a registration violation. According to Pastor Randy Shipman, Michael loved serving his community through law enforcement. He recalled a conversation he had with Michael only a few weeks … [Read more...]
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