KANSAS CITY – The adage is familiar: prayer leads to revival. This was the gist of a talk by author and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary professor Robert Coleman during the CORE conference at the Missouri Baptist Convention’s annual meeting, Oct. 29. “Revival puts it all in perspective,” said Coleman, author of The Master Plan of Evangelism and The Master Plan of Discipleship. “Authentic revival is the springboard of what you see in the book of Acts.” “Jesus told the disciples … [Read more...]
Pastor’s conference lifts up Christ Jesus
KANSAS CITY – Fullness in life and ministry come only through knowing Christ, two Southern Baptist seminary professors said when asked why ministers should sacrifice a full day for a conference on “seeing and savoring the Son of God.” “We can’t minister if we’re not full of God,” said Thomas Schreiner, professor of New Testament interpretation and associate dean of Scripture and interpretation at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. “The greatest good in life … [Read more...]
Twice Adopted tells of God’s Love at Branson, on tour
ST. LOUIS – Adopting 10 children into a family might seem daunting, but it works for Randy and Linda Koenig who live in a St. Louis suburb. Their children, adopted between 1990 and 2002, now range in age from 16 to 23. They sing as “Twice Adopted” at the historic Owens Theatre, Branson’s first theatre, which the Koenigs manage. The name indicates inclusion in a physical family as well as a spiritual family, as all the children have surrendered their lives to Jesus. After 11 childless … [Read more...]
Pastor, family make return to Congo for mission work
KINSHASA, Congo – It is a dark, occult-like world, but a Missouri pastor and his family took the message of Jesus’ love to the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo during a recent mission trip. First Baptist, LaBelle, Pastor James Renot and family took a two-week trip in June to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, a place where they served as International Mission Board (IMB) missionaries from 2005-07. Now, few missionaries are there, with even IMB pulling out. “The obstacles … [Read more...]
God calls a cop to become full-time pastor
Pleasant Valley – Open Door Bible Baptist Church in Pleasant Valley is more than a church-plant name. It describes the path of its pastor Shane Stamm. Stamm was 19 when he began a career with the Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) in 1993. He’ll leave the force in December. “It’s a super job. When I tell people I’m walking away, they ask why don’t I wait for six years (for full retirement). I’m walking away from a $70,000 job to basically nothing. It’s a wonderful thing,” Stamm … [Read more...]
Churches, MBC hold apartment complex block party
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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]