REPUBLIC— Though retirement isn’t necessarily on Denny Marr’s radar, he still loves cheering on his fellow Baby Boomers as they leave the workforce and are able to give more of their time and energy to their church and to the kingdom of God. “Senior adults are probably the greatest untapped resource the church has,” said Marr, senior adults and pastoral care pastor at Calvary Baptist Church here. “Their wisdom, their time – our church needs them. And while I certainly don’t want to wear … [Read more...]
100-year-old Halliburton defines abundant living
ST. LOUIS – Mary Halliburton is usually one of the first church members to arrive on a given Sunday. As she meets her pastor, John Childers, at the doors, she often has a book or magazine to give him. It’s not that the jokes in his sermon aren’t funny; it’s just that there are even funnier quips inside the pages of Reader’s Digest. “She volunteers at the thrift store where she can get books for 25 cents,” said Childers, pastor at South County Baptist Church here. “She’s given me … [Read more...]
Esther Baptist shares Christ’s love, prom dresses
PARK HILLS – It was obvious by her sad eyes she didn’t want to be there. “The young lady had cystic fibrosis and had to have a small oxygen tank with her,” said Sandy Hovis, member of Esther Baptist Church here. “My friend Connie was attending her and I kept running back and forth with different dresses for her to try on.” Then Hovis saw someone bring in a stunning floor-length gown that had been donated moments before. “It was beautiful and even had a little purse that went with it, so … [Read more...]
Mount Vernon widow lives out faith on courthouse lawn
MOUNT VERNON – On the south lawn of the historic Lawrence County Courthouse Nora Lewis, 84, closes her eyes to pray. Lewis, a member of First Baptist Church (FBC) here, never misses a “Prayer on the Square” meeting. It’s her standing appointment every Thursday at noon for the last eight and a half years. “Rain, shine, snow storm or heat, Nora has been a part of our prayer group since the beginning,” said Rabbi Eukel, who leads Kehila Nahar Zerach River Rising Congregation, a Messianic … [Read more...]
Pro-Life advocate Bonnie Lee gives voice to the voiceless
COLUMBIA – The abdominal bleeding wouldn’t stop and she was running a fever of 104. The landlord knew the ordeal her young tenant had been through at Planned Parenthood, so she called somebody who knew more about post-abortion health concerns than she did. After a few more phone calls and questions, Bonnie Lee was able to get in touch with her. “Am I dying?” the scared young woman asked Lee. She told Lee how she called the nurse practitioner at Planned Parenthood and was told she may have … [Read more...]
‘Born to die’ 5,000 see Christ’s life, death displayed
SPRINGFIELD – An estimated 5,000+ people attended the 2017 Springfield Live Nativity held inside Corwin Arena at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds Nov. 30 through Dec. 2 here. Sponsored and supported by Greene County Baptist Association churches, this annual free event presents the life of Christ from birth to resurrection through enactment, narration and music. Now completing its 39th year, the Springfield Live Nativity included a large volunteer cast, live animals, light effects, narration … [Read more...]
Messengers utilize childcare ministry at annual meeting
RAYTOWN – Little Liam didn’t want to leave. The four-year-old was busy working on a craft and he wasn’t done yet. “He was really concerned that I picked him up before he could finish the craft, so he was excited to get back to it today,” said Caleb Smith, pastor of Aurora Springs Baptist Church near Eldon, and father of Liam, 4, and Cade, 2. “He loves craft time and singing time.” Smith and his wife, Melissa, utilized the free childcare provided at the 2017 Missouri Baptist Convention … [Read more...]
Ministry wives celebrate devotion to God, calling
RAYTOWN – Ministry wives know what it means to be devoted. They are devoted to their husbands, they are devoted to their children and they are devoted to their ministry. “But are you fully devoted to God?” asked Kelli Jordan, leadership development manager for MOPS International, an organization dedicated to sharing the good news of Jesus with moms around the world. “It amazes me how far off track I can get when I’m busy with my other devotions and I’m not paying attention to my number … [Read more...]
Dabler leads sessions on conflict, health of ministers
RAYTOWN— Where two or more are gathered, there will be conflict. Though that’s not exactly the truth Jesus shared in Matthew 18:20, it doesn’t make the statement any less true. “Conflict is tearing apart the Bride of Christ,” said Judy Dabler, founder of Creative Conciliation, during one of her presentations on conflict and the personal and spiritual health of church leaders at the Missouri Baptist Convention annual meeting here. “Conflict happens when the righteous, sinful or fallen … [Read more...]
Redemption: Addict finds answers in Jesus
MOUNT VERNON – Desperate and alone in his misery, Scott Lung begged God to either kill him or show him the way out of the vicious cycle of “drinkin’ and druggin’” that he’d been in since high school. “I got sick and tired of being sick and tired,” said Lung, member of Covenant Baptist Church here. “I was leading a double life. I went to work every day to try to do right by my family, but I also continued living my dark secret: I was addicted to prescription pills.” Little did he know, … [Read more...]
Where God leads, De Soto man goes
DE SOTO – The line of people spanned at least three and half blocks. The mission team in Matamoros, Mexico, was giving away shoes, filled backpacks and hot dogs, and the locals were ready to receive. “We looked at the people and guessed there were about 1,200 and then we looked at the supplies and we knew we didn’t have nearly enough,” said Russ Sander, a deacon at First Baptist Church here. “It was a true fishes and loaves miracle and I know God provided. When the day was done everybody … [Read more...]
Mineral area blessed by woman after God’s own heart
POTOSI – With Bibles open to learn and hearts open to receive, 197 women hung on every word Bev McCulloch had to say. “God wants a woman with a contented heart,” McCulloch said. “Show your faith by your smile and your rested sigh. Can you imagine the difference it would make in a marriage if every day the husband were aware that his wife was happy with what she had, and was happy with him? Think what children would learn about building their own home if they saw mother filled with the joy … [Read more...]
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