JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri may be known as the “Show Me State”, but the award ceremony at the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) Roundtable, held on Jan. 23-25, revealed that Missouri Disaster Relief (MODR) volunteers are better known for showing compassion than skepticism. During the awards banquet, which was held during the annual event, not one, but two MODR volunteers were recognized with the Distinguished Service Award for exceptional service. The first was a memorial to the late … [Read more...]
MBU trustees approve 2024-25 budget, curricular proposals, faculty promotions
ST. LOUIS (MBU) – The Missouri Baptist University Board of Trustees approved the 2024-25 budget at its regularly scheduled meeting, Feb. 22, paving the way for initiatives aimed at expanding academic programming, upgrading technology and supporting faculty and staff. Key allocations include funding an additional faculty position to expand the popular Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, as well as $750,000 earmarked for technology advancements and capital … [Read more...]
Ozark Baptist Homes campus has become a mission field for maintenance director, pastor
OZARK – Often, the most desperate places on earth are thought of as places for missionaries and ministries to see people saved. But a retirement home for Missouri Baptists can also be a mission field. The Baptist Home in Ozark is the ministry area of campus maintenance director Joe Sisneros. Besides his full time duties keeping the home’s physical plant operating well, he also assists campus pastor Ron Adrian with chapel services and is a seminary student, church planter and … [Read more...]
Hedger to step aside as MBC multiplying churches director, begin ministry with Ridgecrest, Springfield
SPRINGFIELD – Rick Hedger, longtime director of the Multiplying Churches group of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC), is following the Lord’s call to a new church-planting ministry through Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Springfield. Hedger and his wife, Sandee, begin their new assignment March 10, starting multiple churches in the greater Springfield area over the next five years, as well as involving Ridgecrest members in global mission opportunities. Hedger’s final days with the MBC are … [Read more...]
First Baptist O’Fallon offers missions training, trips
O’FALLON – Following the completion of a building partly designed for the purpose of housing mission teams, First Baptist O’Fallon (FBCO) now offers lodging and training for weeklong or weekend mission trips. For years FBCO has sent mission teams out across the US and the world. Now, it’s ready to expand its efforts in proclaiming the gospel by accepting groups looking for low-cost missions opportunities, according to Brandon Kiesling, First Baptist’s associate pastor of gospel … [Read more...]
Greene County churches equip new leaders with ‘Timothy Sunday’
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...]
MBU partners with 3 new Chick-fil-A restaurants to offer tuition-free bachelor’s degrees to employees
ST. LOUIS (MBU) – Welcoming three new Chick-fil-A restaurants in Ellisville, Edwardsville and Creve Coeur, MBU continues to expand its mutually beneficial partnership with St. Louis area Chick-fil-A restaurants. The partnership, which began in the fall of 2022, offers tuition-free bachelor’s degrees to Chick-fil-A team members. “At Chick-fil-A Creve Coeur, we are all about finding ways to add value to people,” said Devin Bruce, owner/operator of the new Chick-fil-A in Creve Coeur. “Our … [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...]
BSU students catch vision to share gospel
JEFFERSON CITY – If there’s one thing that seems to be catching fire among MBCollegiate students across the state, it’s the call to share their faith and make disciples. University of Central Missouri (Central BSU) Jerome Stockert says he witnessed evangelistic initiative from his students early in the fall 2023 semester. “Several times this month, at least twice a week students pair up and walk the campus, asking how they might pray for people and then sharing the gospel,” he shares. … [Read more...]
MBCollegiate conference set, Feb. 23-24
COLUMBIA – The Missouri Baptist Convention’s ministry to college students (MBCollegiate) is hosting a conference at Parkade Baptist Church here, Feb. 23-24. With the theme “Entrusted” (from Matt 25:20-21), the conference “is focused on training high school seniors, college students and collegiate leaders to embrace God’s call to follow Jesus and faithfully labor in His Kingdom,” according to the event website, mbcollegiate.org/entrusted. The conference will feature guest speaker James … [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...]