SPRINGFIELD – Just like Paul raised up and trained early church leaders behind him, churches in the Springfield area intentionally poured into new preachers for what they’re calling “Timothy Sunday.” The idea began three years at Springhill Baptist Church here, and spread to churches in Greene County Baptist Association, with Feb. 4 being a Sunday to intentionally challenge and equip those who are new to ministry – from door greeters and ushers to Sunday School leaders and nursery workers, … [Read more...]
Historic rural church building, empty for five years, houses new Missouri congregation
CHULA, Mo. (BP) – Amanda Hicks knew there were bees inside the building that once housed Chula Baptist Church. Everyone in the small Missouri town knew that. The old church had been sitting empty for nearly five years, the last of four churches that once served the small community of Chula, Missouri. While it sat empty, bees had made a home inside it, but everyone thought the bees were hiding in the walls. However, last July, as Hicks, her husband, and a friend ventured into the old … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptists generously give to state missions
JEFFERSON CITY – For the second straight year, Missouri Baptists gave more than $900,000 to state missions through the Rheubin L. South Missouri Missions Offering (MMO), continuing a decade-long trend of rising financial support to statewide projects ranging from foster care to prison ministry. MMO receipts in 2023, which are disbursed in 2024, totaled $926,010, far outpacing the goal of $750,000. Further, 2023 marked the 11th straight year of MMO receipts above $700,000. The number of … [Read more...]
Gates elected to serve as next president of Missouri Baptist Children’s Home
BRIDGETON, Mo. – Pastor Juston Gates of First Baptist Church, Forsyth, Mo., has been elected by the Missouri Baptist Children's Home (MBCH) board of trustees to serve as the MBCH's next president. The MBCH is a Cooperative Program (CP) supported entity of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC). "On Jan. 23, the MBCH board selected Juston Gates to lead, guide, and steward this ministry," an MBCH press release stated. "During this search process, it became clear to the MBCH board that … [Read more...]
St. Louis Metro Baptist Association partnering to start Christian school
ST. LOUIS – Tower Grove Baptist Church is the proposed location for a new Christian high school to be launched in partnership with the St. Louis Metro Baptist Association. The Tower Grove church has hosted Tower Grove Christian Academy for many years with classes for Kindergarten through 8th grade. At one time, several years ago they offered a high school also. Now Metro St. Louis Baptist Association is making plans to partner with them to expand classes and sponsor a new high school … [Read more...]
‘We Believe’ project is a ‘touchstone that unites,’ SBU president says
BOLIVAR – Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo., has released a resource designed to make the Southern Baptist Convention’s statement of faith more accessible to today’s congregations. The “We Believe” project, a series of short videos highlighting the Baptist Faith & Message 2000, was developed last summer. SBU President Rick Melson expressed his excitement about the resource, saying, “As a lifelong Southern Baptist, I'm delighted that our faith statement at SBU is the Baptist … [Read more...]
‘God has a purpose behind the pain’: Pastor speaks about fire that destroyed church building, parsonage
EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was updated on Jan. 11. Baptist Press reporter Scott Barkley contributed to this report. WILLIAMSTOWN, Mo. – At 5:30 on Thursday morning, Jan. 4, Pastor James Leezer of Williamstown's Providence Baptist Church got a call with bad news no pastor wants to hear: “The church and the parsonage are on fire.” Leezer was studying Jesus' Sermon on the Mount at the moment he received the call, but after he heard the news he turned to God in prayer. After 20 minutes … [Read more...]
MBC’s Student Evangelism Conference Postponed
JEFFERSON CITY—Due to forecasts of snow and potentially dangerous low temperatures this weekend, the MBC’s Student Evangelism Conference (SEC) at Concord Baptist Church in Jefferson City, Jan. 14-15, has been postponed. The MBC’s Making Disciples Group is notifying all churches that have registered to provide refunds. The MBC will announce a new date for the SEC in the weeks ahead. Likely, the event will be moved to the fall. … [Read more...]
Investigation underway as fire destroys church, parsonage in Lewis County
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mo. – The rural church building and the parsonage of Providence Baptist Church here were separately leveled in fires Thursday morning, Jan. 4. No injuries were reported. The parsonage is located a quarter-mile from the church. The glow of both structures was visible for miles by responding crews. Canton and the Monticello base of the Canton R-V Fire Department were paged at 5:07 a.m., and upon arrival they found both structures fully engulfed. Western Lewis County … [Read more...]
Redeemer Church builds on 200-year Baptist legacy
LINCOLN COUNTY – When a church closes its doors, more than a congregation is lost: A community goes underserved for Christ. A building sits empty. A sense of failure hangs over the former ministry. New church plants, however, bring joy and spiritual vitality to communities. Redeemer Church, a new church plant in Lincoln County, Mo., continues God’s work in the area as it builds on the legacy of one of the oldest Baptist churches in eastern Missouri. The church meets in the former … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptist family launches coffee company to help trafficking victims
MARSHALL – It is not uncommon for viewers to leave a movie with strong emotions. In fact, most movies are crafted to elicit an emotional response. But rarely is the intended response anger. This summer, after seeing “Sound of Freedom” in theaters, one Missouri Baptist pastor went home angry. David Slusher, who pastors Gill Memorial Baptist Church in Marshall, Mo., recalls being deeply affected by the film, which exposes the dark reality of human sex trafficking – a plight which goes … [Read more...]
Historic Hannibal church celebrates with traditional Christmas activities
HANNIBAL – The Fifth Street Baptist Church is celebrating Christmas with a renewed sense of purpose and identity, but they recognize their traditional roots in Hannibal, which calls itself “America’s Hometown.” The historic Hannibal church has been in existence since 1837. They are celebrating Christmas this year with several traditional activities which may not seem particularly innovative or unusual – but that is the point. They are claiming their role in the Hannibal community as a … [Read more...]