HANNIBAL – One week before Easter, Isaac Sapp – once a top drug dealer in Marion County – publicly declared his faith in Jesus Christ through baptism at Calvary Baptist Church here. Sapp was among three other drug addicts and dealers baptized during the service. And, afterward, nearly 15 other people – among them, people affected by addiction and alcohol – came forward to profess faith in Christ. This was a highpoint in Calvary Baptist’s “Victory in Jesus” Sundays, March 18 and 25. … [Read more...]
St. Joe church launches first global missions effort
HINCHE, Haiti – Women were the first to share the Gospel with the world, and now a group of women from Renovation Church here are following suit. The four-year-old Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) church plant sent a team of women to Haiti on the church’s first international mission trip. According to team leader Chelsie Kormeier, the trip is the first step in what they believe will be a long journey of obedience to the Great Commission. The team, consisting of four adult women and … [Read more...]
FBC Elsberry pursues ‘meaningful membership’
ELSBERRY – The rich 135-year history of FBC Elsberry has included overflow crowds. One service for the funeral of Congressman Clarence Cannon, member, was attended by former Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Harry S. Truman. But, in recent years, the church saw a decline. In fact, eleven years ago, the church was reduced to only about 15 members. “We’ve been through lots of transition,” Redonda Heitman, a member since 1970, said. “Back when we had a slim crowd and a skeleton crew, … [Read more...]
‘The most unreached place in North America’: Springfield family plants churches in Montreal
MONTREAL, Canada – Soon after James Copeland, the former missions pastor at Ridgecrest Baptist Church, Springfield, moved his family to Montreal, he met a self-described atheist named Michael. Over time, Copeland’s friendship with Michael grew. And nearly five months later Michael admitted that he’d been watching the worship services at Renaissance Church online – an English-language congregation near the heart of Montreal where Copeland serves as the lead pastor. Today, Michael attends … [Read more...]
Crossway experiments with online video, chat
SPRINGFIELD – Watching a church’s worship service online can be a way for those who are sick to still participate and feel like they are part of church. But Crossway Baptist Church here is taking streaming video to another level in an effort to harness social media for the gospel. Using a service called Church Online Platform, Crossway will not only broadcast its services over the internet, but the church’s media team can chat privately back and forth with viewers while the service is … [Read more...]
Parents, churches called to ‘connect’ in digital age
JEFFERSON CITY – Mobile phones and social media bring many advantages, but they’ve also unleashed dangers on the young. That’s what “Connect,” the latest documentary film by Christian actor Kirk Cameron, claims. And, with the support of churches, parents must take up the challenge to reconnect with their children, according to Southern Baptist youth ministers and experts across Missouri and around the nation. “We’re the first generation to parent these ‘digital natives,’” Kathy Koch, the … [Read more...]
Baptist Ridge Camp finds new camp manager, vision for multipurpose building
WARSAW – The gates at Baptist Ridge Camp, a facility of Fellowship Baptist Association (FBA) located in Warsaw, have opened on a new chapter as newly hired camp manager Randy Festervand, and his wife Melissa, assume the position upon the retirement of Jim Andrews, and his wife Jean, who served in this position for 16 years. Festervand has a master’s degree in theology, and is currently working on his doctorate. His education, experience as a pastor and previous camping career will help … [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...]
Soldiers, trainees follow Christ: 200-plus profess faith, 20 baptized at Fort Leonard Wood
FORT LEONARD WOOD – More than 200 Army soldiers and trainees professed faith in Christ during two consecutive Sundays at Fort Leonard Wood earlier this month, and 20 have already been baptized, according to a Southern Baptist chaplain on the base. Captain Jose Rondon reported that at least 128 soldiers and trainees – and perhaps more – professed faith in Christ on March 11, and another 80 professed faith on March 18. Some of these men and women were involved in Basic Training, while … [Read more...]
FBC Memphis offers work opportunities to build kingdom relationships
MEMPHIS – Benevolence ministries to help out with food or utility bills are nothing new, but one church in northeast Missouri is taking things a step further. “It’s been a great way to reach people with the gospel that previously we haven’t had a very open door to,” said Dan Hite, pastor of First Baptist Church. First Baptist’s Helping Hand not only provides financial assistance with necessary expenses, it folds in biblical counseling in areas of need and volunteer work opportunities. It … [Read more...]
REVIEW: ‘I Can Only Imagine’ shatters expectations
I Can Only Imagine, which opened March 16th, will shatter expectations of inferior Christian filmmaking and may be considered the new standard for Christian movies. The film, based on the true story behind MercyMe’s double platinum hit, features solid cinematography, a talented cast, and a story filled with humor, romance, and redemption. The movie follows the life of Bart Millard (J. Michael Finley), the lead singer of MercyMe. Full disclosure: J. Michael Finley is a friend from high … [Read more...]
Lebanon doctor sends medical supplies across the globe
LEBANON – Doctors are called to take care of their patients, but one Missouri doctor’s passion has made patient care possible all over the world. Over the last twenty years, Dr. Jeff Bond has gathered medical supplies and shipped them to hospitals in South America, Asia and Africa. God has used this ministry, whose impact is not diminished by the fact that it has no official name, to provide care, save lives, and even open up an entire wing of a children’s hospital in Nepal. The story … [Read more...]
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