The Bible speaks of at least four phases of glory for Christians: glory now, glory in death, glory in resurrection, and glory in the restoration of the cosmos. We explore the first two in this column, and the final two in future columns.
Missouri
MBC names Rob Pochek to lead prayer and evangelism ministries
Missouri Baptist Executive Director Wes Fowler has named Rob Pochek, senior pastor of First Baptist Church on Park Street, Charlottesville, Va., as team leader of Prayer and Evangelism, effective July 1.
National
FBC Mayfield returns home on Easter, three years after tornado devastation
First Baptist Church in Mayfield, Ky., a church whose campus was severely damaged by an EF-4 tornado on Dec. 10, 2021, will celebrate the long-awaited return to their campus on Easter Sunday. Eight baptisms are scheduled for the service, in addition to words shared by current pastor Paul Wilkerson and former pastor Wes Fowler, who now serves as executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention.
Columns
The simplicity of evangelism
Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Director Wes Fowler: “… Evangelism isn’t a program. I believe it’s important to schedule outreach events through the local church, but true evangelism should be a way of life.”
Apologetics
Glorification of the saints
In a manner of speaking, followers of Jesus are like the Memphis Belle. We make our way through perilous times as we live in a sinful and fallen world. We age, get sick, break bones, endure disappointment, suffer crushing defeats, and sometimes are persecuted for our faith. Christ doesn’t offer us an easy path to everlasting life, but in his work of salvation, he promises to bring us home one day and then fully restore us – body, soul, and spirit.
Global
Rescued: Friends, family of freed missionary ‘filled with praise to God’
American missionary pastor Josh Sullivan is a free man and reportedly back safely with his wife and children, according to media reports. The 45-year-old missionary from Tennessee was rescued in dramatic fashion Tuesday (April 16) in South Africa following a deadly shootout between police and his kidnappers.
Culture
Documentary tells stories of Joplin tornado, leaves out God’s faithfulness
The Netflix documentary about the Joplin tornado is purposefully focused on the storm itself. It devotes just a few scant minutes of its 90-minute runtime to the recovery—although the stories of God’s overwhelming, redemptive presence after the storm are worth a dozen documentaries.