DON HINKLE/editor dhinkle@mobaptist.org A powerful book by two Iranian Christian women who spent 259 days in the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran, Iran, in 2009, gives outsiders a look at the harsh conditions and brutal persecution Christians face within the prison’s confines. Captive in Iran is the story of Maryam Rostampour and Maziyeh Amirizadeh who – over a three-year period – covertly put New Testaments in the hands of 20,000 of their countrymen, knowing that Islamic laws in Iran … [Read more...]
Wife of imprisoned U.S. pastor in Iranto speak at Ministers’ Wives Luncheon
JEFFERSON CITY – Registration for the 2013 Ministry Wives Annual Luncheon is quickly filling. “Snapshots: Women Partnering in Gospel Advancement” is the selected theme for the 2013 Ministry Wives luncheon Oct. 29 in conjunction with the Missouri Baptist Convention’s (MBC) annual meeting. “Our desire is simply to encourage and remind our MBC ministry wives that they are part of a larger story, an army of women called to advance the gospel in our generation,” said Sandee Hedger, 2013 Task … [Read more...]
Obama urges Rouhani to release U.S. pastor as prayer vigils continue
BY STAFF WASHINGTON – American Pastor Saeed Abedini is now aware that President Obama urged Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to release him from wrongful imprisonment for his Christian faith in Iran. Early on the morning of Sept. 30 in Tehran, Abedini’s Iranian family was able to sit and visit with him – through a glass partition – during regular visitation hours at Evin Prison, said a spokesman for the American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ), which is representing the Abedini … [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...]
Naghmeh Abedini tells of persecution against her husband
VICKI STAMPS/contributing writer BOISE, Idaho – Naghmeh Abedini’s life has been turned upside down. Her husband, Saeed, an Iranian-born pastor who is a naturalized U.S. citizen, is imprisoned in Iran’s notorious Evin Prison, known by human rights watchdog groups as one of the most brutal in all the world. Saeed was arrested a year ago at his parents’ home in Iran by five Revolutionary Guards who charged the house. He was sentenced to eight years in prison for threatening “national … [Read more...]
Ethnic ministry tracks popular at Send gathering
PLANO, Texas – More than 35 percent of the registrants at the 2013 Send North America Conference signed up for one of five ethnic ministry tracks. The final tally of registrants included 1,526 participants for the ethnic tracks, which included Hispanic Leadership and Mission, Black Church Discipleship and Development, Reaching People from a Muslim Background, Korean Leadership and Development and Leadership Development for Kingdom Development in Chinese Churches. Registrants from other … [Read more...]
From Missouri to Africa and back again: Freshwater answers call to plant churches
BOLIVAR – In 2009, Joshua and Tish Hedger moved to Bolivar to plant a church. They were hired by Second Baptist Church of Springfield to do so. When Hedger asked the leadership of Second Baptist what they desired this church to look like, they gave one simple requirement: to be a church plant that plants churches. Hedger and Freshwater have taken this seriously. In their first three-and-a-half years of existence Freshwater has planted or is in the process of planting 12 churches in … [Read more...]
Islam’s doctrine of deception
Like Christianity, Islam is monotheistic, yet it denies basic Christian doctrines like the Trinity, the deity of Christ, Jesus’ death and resurrection, and salvation by grace through faith. Muhammad’s encounters with heretical Christian sects, and the lack of a Bible in Arabic in his lifetime, no doubt contributed to his faulty understanding of the Christian faith. But two lesser-known teachings based on the Qur’an are equally disturbing. Christians should understand them in order to more … [Read more...]
Tour group builds on Israel trip, enjoys travel to Turkey, Greece
O’FALLON – Next stop, Turkey and Greece. Recently a group from First Baptist Church here made the journey to Turkey and Greece to “Follow in the Steps of Paul.” The itinerary included Istanbul, Izmir (Smyrna), Ephesus, Athens, Thessalonica, Berea, Philippi, and Corinth. “We planned this trip because of the excitement we saw with the Israel trip,” Lee Sanders, associate pastor of education, said. “Several individuals saw the value of visiting the places of Paul. Their interest is a natural … [Read more...]
SBU’s Center for Global Connections provides unique opportunities for students
BOLIVAR — Through the Southwest Baptist University (SBU) Center for Global Connections, students are ministering to multiple people groups around the world, but they can’t do it without financial support from a multitude of donors. With about 350 students having participated on 28 teams in 2012, students raised more than $550,000 to fund those trips. Teams begin to form during Global Connections Week, held each spring and fall for upcoming trips. Students submit an application and are … [Read more...]
Burundi pastor ordained in festive ceremony
KANSAS CITY — Many Burundi parishioners were gathered March 10 at the ordination service of Burundi Pastor Dany Byamungu here at Iglesia Cristiana Palabra Viva. The congregation meets at Central Baptist Church where Pastor Omar Segovia, who recently joined the church planting staff of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC), also serves. Byamungu, 29, was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire) where he was raised by Christian parents whom he thanked during the service. Due to war, … [Read more...]
Worldview event probes impact, spread of pluralism
JEFFERSON CITY — The 2013 Worldview Conference March 28 featured comparisons between “Paul at Mars Hill—Being a Christian in a Pluralistic Society” and the United States of America. The conference, which drew 100 people here to Memorial Baptist Church, was a joint project of the Christian Life Commission of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) and The Pathway. Andy Chambers, professor of Bible and vice president of Missouri Baptist University, laid a biblical foundation for the … [Read more...]
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