WASHINGTON – One unique distinction held by Southern Baptists is a willingness to work together through the Cooperative Program to spread the gospel. A recent block party here demonstrated how that type of cooperation works at a local level. Joe Murray pastors Great Commission Baptist Church, consisting largely of attendees from a nearby apartment complex. A half-dozen churches and organizations partnered with Murray’s congregation to hold a block party for the people in the complex Aug. … [Read more...]
Aloha! Missourians plant new work in Hawaii
EWA BEACH, Oahu, Hawaii – The idyllic beaches with gentle ocean waves stirring the sand under palm trees don’t tell a complete Hawaiian picture. Missouri native Aaron Davis has pastored church-plant Aloha Community Church, on Ewa Beach on Oahu island in Hawaii since July, 2012, with wife Samantha, son Caleb, 10, and foster son, Kerry, 2. The initial church plant was funded, in part, by Cooperative Program gifts from the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) and Davis received his church … [Read more...]
Jefferson Baptist Association WMU group holds Christmas in August event
ST. LOUIS – The gift for attendees at a Christmas in August event for the Jefferson Baptist Associaiton Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) event was the conference itself. The conference Aug. 17 had the theme “The story lives on,” and featured St. Louis author Brenda Poinsett and actress Donna Douglas, best known for “Elly May Clampett” on TV’s The Beverly Hillbillies. Poinsett shared from one of her two Christmas-themed books Unwrapping Martha’s Joy, which asks can Martha have a “Mary” … [Read more...]
Beverly Hillbilly ‘Elly May’ tells WMU, youth God has guided her every footstep
ST. LOUIS – Donna Douglas knows Elly May Clampett opened doors in her life, but also knows God guided her to that door. Douglas, aka Elly May in the 1960s TV hit ‘The Beverly Hillbillies,” spoke at the Jefferson Baptist Association Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) Christmas in August event Aug.17 at South County Baptist Church here and to various youth. “My heart today is to speak to churches and youth and share what God has done in my life,” Douglas said. Douglas “was born to poor folks. … [Read more...]
First Lewistown sponsoring God & Family Pastors’ Conference
Lewistown – The First Baptist Church of Lewistown will sponsor its second annual God and Family Crusade Pastors’ Conference. The conference is Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. The theme is “Take My Life,” based on Eph. 4:23-24. Lewistown Pastor Ted Middleton said while it is open to anyone, the conference focus is to encourage pastors. “I hope they come and get excited and go back and get their churches excited. Churches in Northeast Missouri are in decline, not necessarily the fault of any pastor. I … [Read more...]
Transitional Training to help churches after pastor leaves
JEFFERSON CITY – The pastor is leaving. Now what? Former Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) staffer Monty Hale said a church should select a transitional pastor. A transitional pastor is not an interim pastor. “A transitional pastor is an intentional ministry. An interim comes in and holds things together (until a new pastor is selected). His (interim pastor’s) main ministry is a pulpit ministry,” said Hale, now South Carolina Baptist Convention director of pastoral ministries and the … [Read more...]
Pastors grateful for break in routine, mb125
Many of the pastors attending the mb125 conference were grateful for an opportunity to attend the event sponsored by the Missouri Baptist Convention. “It was really good. It was spiritually uplifting,” said Chris Aery, pastor of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in Calhoun, whose Sunday attendance hovers between 40 and 50 people. “I like how it was mid-week so I could preach on Sunday. I really enjoyed the session. The price was wonderful, and it opened my eyes to what Lifeway (Christian … [Read more...]
Hannibal woman goes from storm victim to DR volunteer
HANNIBAL – Sandy and Earl Cox’s property was among many where trees were down in the yard. A large part of a maple tree hit the corner of their house. But it wasn’t until after Sandy Cox had paid $700 to a professional tree service company, did she learn about some that would have taken the tree down without charge – Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief (DR). She dutifully took pictures for insurance and personal scrapbooking, and then got on the computer. Cox, a member of Calvary Baptist … [Read more...]
Feeding, shower units, chainsaws in Hannibal
HANNIBAL – It’s been a sizeable response for Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief for the Hannibal storm cleanup. Six of the 36 chainsaw units in Missouri were deployed to Hannibal – and all have been kept busy by the numerous tree damage calls. In addition, there have been a communications trailer from the Heartland Baptist Association, the mobile kitchen from the Northeast Missouri (Mt. Salem/Wyaconda Association), the mobile kitchen staff from southeast Missouri, and the state shower unit. … [Read more...]
Disaster Relief crews kept busy with Hannibal storm cleanup
HANNIBAL – More than 65 Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers helped clean up trees after a powerful storm ripped through Hannibal May 20. Though it didn’t have the scope or deadly results of the tornado the same day in Moore, Okla., the storm left thousands of trees in need of partial or total removal throughout Hannibal and damaged buildings on the Hannibal-LaGrange campus. By the next day, there were 72 work orders of trees that needed attention. That number had jumped to more … [Read more...]
Missouri moves deeper into orality way of life
JEFFERSON CITY – After a Truth That Sticks (Bible storying) class, some participants form an advanced evangelistic accountability group that calls each other monthly. “MO.O.N. (Missouri Orality Network) is a way for learning to continue after the TruthSticks workshop,” said Mark Snowden, evangelism/discipleship strategist for the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC). Snowden said a second MOON acronym tells what is covered: • Making disciples – “We share how we’re using Bible storying in our … [Read more...]
MWMU group helps send literature all over world
BUTLER, Ill.—Love Packages is a small ministry here in a town of 200 people, but a Missouri Woman’s Missionary Union (MWMU) group helps them reach the world for Jesus. Fifteen MWMU members and guests of the Mt. Salem/Wyaconda Southern Baptist Association made their sixth trip to Butler March 19 to sort and repack Bibles, Sunday School material, and Christian literature for spiritually needy people. Love Packages (LP), a non-denominational para-church ministry, began in 1975. Director Steve … [Read more...]