TOKYO – A Buddhist priest learned about Jesus through Japanese comics. A worker from the Olympic village heard what is worth more than gold. A Christian woman struggling to find a church learned about ones she can attend. An athletic trainer ran to tell his friend how he could be rid of sin. A 93-year-old woman welcomed prayer from missionaries and Japanese Christians. As athletes soared over high-jump bars, balanced on beams, freestyled to gold medals and climbed to new heights, … [Read more...]
Midwestern Seminary launches ‘CALLED’ resource online
KANSAS CITY – After months of planning, Midwestern Seminary announced last week the launch of ‘CALLED’ – a new website offering resources to aid and equip individuals who sense a call to vocational ministry. “In our day, formal calls to ministry can seem ambiguous or even non-existent,” said Midwestern Seminary President Jason Allen. “In light of this, we are delighted for the opportunity to resource men and women seeking to take their next steps toward vocational gospel ministry through … [Read more...]
First Baptist Church, Kimberling City, partners with Minnesota church
WADENA, Minn. – Missouri churches are building relationships with a church in Minnesota. The church, Grace Connection in Wadena, Minn., is the only Southern Baptist Church within a 90-mile radius. “We don’t have a corner on what the Good News means,” Jeff Heisler, pastor of Grace Connection, said, “But, we are the only evangelical presence in this area.” According to Jeff Hardy, pastor of FBC Kimberling City, the partnership started at the Missouri Baptist Convention in 2019 when the … [Read more...]
Young adult becomes first known believer in Southeast Asian unreached people group
SOUTHEAST ASIA (IMB) – When an individual from an unengaged, unreached people group comes to faith, many rejoice: the missionaries who’ve dedicated their lives to reaching the people group, the believers and churches in the United States who’ve spent time praying for and investing resources in the people, the national believers and churches who have been instrumental in gaining access to and reaching the people, and even the angels in heaven (Luke 15:10). But, for the new believer – … [Read more...]
Can we love without being vulnerable?
As a pastor of a local church in Missouri, I remember the advice I first received when I entered full-time ministry. A pastor from another church approached me and said, “Well, you have to remember one thing: Don’t become friends with those you minister to. Staff are employees and you just want to keep a professional relationship.” This left me in a dilemma. Though his advice made practical sense, I couldn’t reconcile what he said with the Bible’s call to “love one another” (John … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptist pastors collaborate to release new Advent devotional
JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Baptist pastors Martin Winslow and Daniel Carr have uncovered a Christmas story embedded in Old Testament birth narratives that prefigure the Incarnation of Christ. Their collaborative work has resulted in a remarkably engaging Advent devotional book, The Seventh Birthday, released through High Street Press, the publishing arm of the Missouri Baptist Convention. Throughout Scripture we meet six unique women who aren’t able to conceive. The Bible depicts each of … [Read more...]
Southern Baptist seminaries shine in enrollment report
WILMINGTON, Del. (BP) — A recent report by the In Trust Center for Theological Schools highlighted Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary among U.S. theological institutions showing significant growth over the last five years. The report, based on data from the Association of Theological Schools, listed seven accredited theological institutions that have shown consecutive headcount enrollment growth during the past five years with two of those … [Read more...]
New strategies emerge as Japanese churches face future without pastors
Japan’s population is aging. Almost 30% of its population is 65 years old and older. This statistic is affecting church planting, church health and church growth. International Mission Board missionaries and Japanese Christians must answer the question, “Who will lead the next generation of believers?” Scott Bradford, a missionary in Tokyo, said the average age of local pastors is between 60 and 70 years old. Many pastors are in their 80s and don’t feel they can retire because there is … [Read more...]
College Park Church reaches students seeking community
ST. LOUIS – A July 2021 InterVarsity Christian Fellowship survey found that today’s college students, identified as Generation Z, experience isolation and lack social interaction in their lives. For church they desire community, Scripture study, and prayer. Jordan Cox, lead pastor of College Park Church, which meets at Missouri Baptist University (MBU), saw the same characteristics among students, leading him to plant the church a year ago. Fellowship of Wildwood in St. Louis County was … [Read more...]
FBC Ferguson ministers to elderly, disabled in North County, St. Louis
FERGUSON – Loving your neighbor is a commandment and First Baptist Church of Ferguson has found a new way to express that love. Engage NOCO is a new mission to serve the local community by ministering to the elderly and disabled. “Many of the folks in Ferguson love their property and want to take care of it, but they are not able,” Doug Inman, associate pastor, said. “We want to show them love and help them be proud of the community.” The church purchased a trailer with donations as … [Read more...]
Persecution persists as gospel spreads
Kingdom growth is always met with deep spiritual warfare for Aquila*. For him this includes active and imminent threats to his life. “Please pray for us!” Aquila asked the prayer team in a September 2020 message. He had heard that an extremist group was coming to the area where he lived. Because of his gospel witness, Aquila found himself on this group’s “top 10” hit list. He was fearful for his life and his family. He’s been on this list for seven years, yet his gospel witness hasn’t … [Read more...]
Ky. student connects with MBCollegiate, becomes Mo. Baptist summer missionary
JEFFERSON CITY – The scope of MBCollegiate isn’t limited to Missouri college students. Sometimes a simple connection through a friend is all it takes to reach across state borders to impact collegians on other campuses in other states. Olivia Helm is one such case. Helm, a senior at Campbellsville University in Kentucky, learned of a Mexico mission trip opportunity over Christmas break through a Campbellsville friend who had done her undergraduate at Hannibal-LaGrange University. Now, … [Read more...]
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