Scott Barkley/The Christian Index DULUTH, Ga., (BP) – Wesley Thompson would probably contend he’s devoted to ministry. A student at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, he’s pursuing a degree in church ministries, with an emphasis on students and families, to improve his ability at presenting the gospel. Wesley Thompson also might say he is devoted to being a better educator. A teacher at a small private school about 20 minutes from Southern’s campus in Louisville, Ky., Thompson looks … [Read more...]
Easter brings re-birth for Kansas City church
TOBIN PERRY/North American Mission Board KANSAS CITY – On Easter Sunday the community surrounding Bales Avenue Community Church here came together to celebrate two resurrections. The first and most important was Jesus’ resurrection from the grave. The second – the church’s new beginning after decades of decline – visibly illustrated the first. “The neighborhood has changed and the world has changed, which represents sin all around us within the city,” said Jason Dawson, the pastor of … [Read more...]
Brandon Kiesling: From Jail to Preaching the Gospel
HOLTS SUMMIT – Nearly 10 years after standing before a judge on two felony and three misdemeanor charges, Missouri native Brandon Kiesling stood before an audience at Union Hill Baptist Church in March, proclaiming the gospel of God’s grace. Born in Latham and raised in California, Kiesling began as a high school student to drink alcohol, smoke marijuana and use methamphetamine. In August 2003, he was arrested for making meth, was soon bailed out of jail, and returned to drugs the next … [Read more...]
900 inmates attend ministry event in Vandalia
VANDALIA – Nearly 900 women from a prison here heard about the love of Christ one week before Easter during an event organized annually by volunteers from First Baptist Church, Vandalia. According to Tommy Barnhart, the chaplain at the Women’s Eastern Reception and Diagnostic Correctional Center in Vandalia, the First Baptist Church’s “Agape Festival” is the largest ministry event that takes place in the prison each year. Barnhart, a member of Centennial Baptist Church, Mexico, is … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptists share gospel through ERC hotline
JEFFERSON CITY – Ryan Stiffler, a member of Southridge Baptist Church here, has shared the gospel with an orthodox Jew in New York and a college student from Portugal – all from the comfort of his home. Stiffler serves as a facilitator in Missouri for the Evangelism Response Center (ERC), a nationwide ministry organized by the North American Mission Board (NAMB) that trains Southern Baptists to share the gospel and counsel with people on the telephone or through online chat. Every year, … [Read more...]
National Day of Prayer at a glance
The Pew Research Center provided the following facts about the National Day of Prayer: • The National Day of Prayer (May 1) was enacted in 1952 by Congress and President Harry S. Truman. • In 2011, The Freedom From Religion Foundation unsuccessfully challenged the National Day of Prayer in federal court. • Some 55% of Americans said they pray every day, according to a 2013 Pew Research survey, while 23% said they pray weekly or monthly. Another Pew survey conducted in 2012 found that 76% … [Read more...]
Kenison lauded for 35 years at Children’s Home
BRIDGETON – The spotlight was on Bob Kenison’s 36 years at the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home as he was lauded for his term as president of MBCH and his simple philosophy: “family works.” A crowd of friends, family, colleagues and board members were on hand April 21 in the MBCH’s Spiritual Life Center in Bridgeton to celebrate his career and dedication to Missouri’s children. Kenison also received a citation from the Missouri Senate, presented by Senator Doug Libla of Poplar … [Read more...]
Local canvassing, revival prepare church for work along I-29 corridor
GRAY SUMMIT – Members from the First Baptist Church (FBC) here canvassed their community in preparation for their “Hopefest” revival services, March 22-23. The church distributed 500 bags to households in the town of nearly 3,000 during the weeks leading up to the revival services. The bags contained the Gospel of John, a tract, an invitation to the “Hopefest” revival services, a letter about the church’s preschool program, a church pen and business card, some hard candy, and various … [Read more...]
Never surrender to flesh, ever-surrender to Jesus
Eating on the healthier side of the food pyramid is a battle for me. My pyramid is much more … shall we say … prismatic. And probably at least a heptagonal prism at that. I hear I’m not the only one. For those of us who struggle with food geometry, some days “diet victory” means we chewed the donut before swallowing it. (I would mention the “ring torus” here, but I’m really not that good at geometry.) That battle to eat well? That’s on the front lines. But related skirmishes break out … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptists invited to ‘Furnace’ in 2015
SPRINGFIELD – The Missouri Baptist Convention’s (MBC) 2015 state evangelism and discipleship conference will challenge church leaders to remain faithful to God and to His call despite hardship. Springfield’s Ridgecrest Baptist Church will host the conference, called “Furnace,” Feb. 5-6, 2015. Ridgecrest can hold up to 1,000 people. The conference theme is inspired by the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the book of Daniel – a story that International Mission Board (IMB) … [Read more...]
Yeats’ SBC nomination to be made by MBTS’ Allen
BALTIMORE (BP) – Jason K. Allen, president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, will nominate John L. Yeats for an 18th term as recording secretary of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) at the June 10-11 annual meeting in Baltimore. As executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention since 2011, Yeats has demonstrated leadership and love of Southern Baptists, Allen said. “Since coming to Midwestern Seminary, one of my great joys has been getting to know John Yeats and to … [Read more...]
HIS task force plans a pair of ‘Heartland’ vision tours
Lee Warren/contributing writer Sioux Falls, S.D. – In its first meeting since paring down to one representative from each participating state convention, the Heartland Interstate Strategy (HIS) task force made two key decisions at a meeting on April 23 at Cross Pointe Baptist Church that will take the gospel message to the heartland. Task force members in attendance included Jeffrey Chavez, HIS coordinator, Garvon Golden of the Dakota Baptist Convention, Steve Melvin of the … [Read more...]