RAYTOWN – Building off of a cryptic title, Kirk Baker, pastor of First Baptist, Camdenton, delivered the annual sermon to Missouri Baptist Convention annual meeting, speaking on “Chicken, cheese and cereal.” The title was a playful take off of Velveeta, a “cheese product,” Wyngz, a chicken-based snack with no wing meat, and Froot Loops, the sweet cereal that yet contains zero fruit. His text was 1 John 3:11-16: “For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love … [Read more...]
We are true partners, Yeats tells MBC
RAYTOWN – Followers of Jesus are true partners in the Lord, John Yeats, Missouri Baptist Convention executive director, said during his address to messengers at the MBC annual meeting at Connection Point Church here, Oct. 23. “Missouri Baptists, we’re better together,” said Yeats. “That’s the gist of synergy: people can accomplish more together than separately.” Yeats noted that the apostle Paul, in his writings, uses the Greek word synergos – the root word for synergy – several times … [Read more...]
Pray across Missouri, a call for leadership
As I write this column, Sharon and I, along with state missionary Spencer Hutson, are wrapping up the 2017 Pray Across Missouri tour. Our goal is to hold a prayer meeting on the Courthouse grounds in each of the 115 county jurisdictions in our beautiful state of Missouri. On Friday, Nov. 3, we pause the tour with the 110th prayer meeting in Carroll County. We will complete the final five in the spring of 2018. We are grateful for every person who participated, and above all we are … [Read more...]
‘Don’t worry, be holy,’ MBC President says
RAYTOWN – “Don’t Worry, Be Holy” was the theme of the presidential address spoken by MBC President Ken Parker, who is the pastor of First Baptist Church, Kearney. He spoke about Jesus’ teachings in Luke 12:22-31. The Lord told His disciples not to be anxious about several areas of their lives. One of them is the encouragement to not be anxious about life in general. Parker said, “There are a lot of people who think President Trump is the Messiah. He’s not. Some think he is the … [Read more...]
Grieving, praying for Sutherland Springs
SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas – Missouri and Southern Baptist leaders expressed broken hearts and prayerful pleas as they reacted to the news of a Nov. 5 shooting that killed 26 and injured 20 at First Baptist Church, Sutherland Springs, Texas. “Our words fail to express the sorrow we feel for this church family and their pastor,” said John Yeats, executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention. “Their depth of grief is unimaginable. Such slaughter compels us to keep our focus on the … [Read more...]
MBTS’s Allen celebrates five years
KANSAS CITY – Amid a grand celebration of Jason Allen's fifth anniversary as Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's president, trustees, friends and the seminary community gathered Oct. 16 to mark the occasion and praise God for Allen's accomplishments during that tenure. Additionally, trustees approved a campus renovation project and received news of record enrollment, faculty re-elections and promotions. Following a full day of trustee work sessions and committee meetings, the … [Read more...]
Churches advance the glory of God in Italy
ITALY – Italy may seem like an unusual country for missions, but according to Rick Hedger, Missouri Baptist Convention’s (MBC) Multiplying Churches Catalyst, Northeast Italy is a great area for mission partnerships. “Missouri Baptists were contacted by the International Mission Board (IMB) to consider mission partnerships in Italy,” Hedger said. “It is considered an unreached area. Only four out of 100 have a relationship with Christ which is extremely low for any place. Many have an … [Read more...]
Midwestern adds Spanish-speaking master’s program
KANSAS CITY (MBTS) – Expecting a significant need arising within the Southern Baptist Convention for Spanish-speaking pastors and ministry leaders, Midwestern Seminary added two Spanish language master’s degrees designed to prepare leaders for pastoral ministry and post-graduate study. Beginning with its pilot “Leadership Practicum” course at the 2017 For the Church Conference on Midwestern Seminary’s Kansas City campus, the school expanded the reach and accessibility of affordable … [Read more...]
Redemption: Addict finds answers in Jesus
MOUNT VERNON – Desperate and alone in his misery, Scott Lung begged God to either kill him or show him the way out of the vicious cycle of “drinkin’ and druggin’” that he’d been in since high school. “I got sick and tired of being sick and tired,” said Lung, member of Covenant Baptist Church here. “I was leading a double life. I went to work every day to try to do right by my family, but I also continued living my dark secret: I was addicted to prescription pills.” Little did he know, … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptists pursue synergy for transforming lives, communities
RAYTOWN, Mo. – Missouri Baptists pursued greater synergy for transforming lives and communities with the gospel during their 183rd annual meeting. A total of 883 messengers and 234 visitors from 391 churches gathered Oct. 23-24 at the Connection Point Church (formerly First Baptist) of Raytown, Mo., where they approved new governing documents, heard a report from the Missouri Baptist Foundation President for the first time in 15 years and welcomed special guests, including Missouri Gov. … [Read more...]
Missourians trust Scripture to transform
JEFFERSON CITY – John Stroup sat in a prison cell when the gospel arrested his attention. Now, through Freeway Ministries, which he and two other members of Crossway Baptist Church, Springfield, established, he strives to capture criminals for Christ and plug them into the local church. “I was raised in a drug-addict, drug-dealer environment,” Stroup said. “Everybody I knew is pretty much dead or doing life in prison.” In 2008, Stroup himself was serving time behind bars, when he … [Read more...]
Where God leads, De Soto man goes
DE SOTO – The line of people spanned at least three and half blocks. The mission team in Matamoros, Mexico, was giving away shoes, filled backpacks and hot dogs, and the locals were ready to receive. “We looked at the people and guessed there were about 1,200 and then we looked at the supplies and we knew we didn’t have nearly enough,” said Russ Sander, a deacon at First Baptist Church here. “It was a true fishes and loaves miracle and I know God provided. When the day was done everybody … [Read more...]
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