Missouri briefs
FBC Branson breaks ground on family center
BRANSON – Aug. 27 First Baptist Church here broke ground on a 15,000-square-foot family life center Aug. 27. Phase I of the $2 million project is expected to be completed in January.
Fort Wyman ordains three new deacons
FORT WYMAN – Fort Wyman Baptist Church ordained three new deacons during special ordination services Aug. 27. Ordained were: Joe Kennedy, Kent Miller and Ken Quinton. Cecil King led the charge to the candidates and Pastor Steve Betts led the charge to the church. In addition, 12 men from the church attended PromiseKeepers Aug. 18-19 in Kansas City. The men had two days of testimonies, Bible study and music.
Adam Stoddard returns to First, Springfield
SPRINGFIELD – Adam Stoddard became the minister of youth and recreation at First Baptist Church Sept. 1. He served the Springfield church as associate director of recreation 1998-2001. He comes to Springfield from the staff of First Baptist Church, Frisco, Texas
HBA to host Bible conference
LAWSON – Heartland Baptist Association will sponsor a Bible Conference Oct. 7 at First Baptist Church, Richmond. The one-day conference, “Thoroughly Equipped” will begin at 11:00 am.
The conference features speakers from around Missouri and consists of three workshops. The Sufficiency of God’s Word, The Authority of God’s Word, The Application of God’s Word.
The public is welcome and there is no charge for this event.
WDOBA to host disaster relief training
HARTVILLE – Wright-Douglas-Ozark Baptist Association will host disaster relief training Oct. 6-7, at Camp Calvary, the association camp. Courses will include Introduction to Disaster Relief along with Mass Care and Chain Saw training. Shower unit training will not be offered.
Registration begins at 5 p.m. Oct. 6. and the training will end at 3:30 the following day.Registration fee is $30, which covers training costs, shirt, meals and associational fees.To register call the association office at (417) 924-3707.
Moorfield licensed to ministry
LA TOUR – Rose Hill Baptist Church recently licensed Jeffrey L. Moorfield, the church’s youth minister, to the Gospel ministry.
Plaza Heights to Celebrate 40th Anniversary
BLUE SPRINGS – Plaza Heights Baptist Church is planning a celebration of 40 years as a congregation sharing the Gospel. The celebration will begin Oct. 14 with a luncheon and an open house.
For additional information, contact the church at phbc@plazaheights.org or call the church office at (816) 229-4077.
Evangelist Dudley called to pastor FBC St. Robert
ST. ROBERT – Long-time Missouri pastor and evangelist Bill Dudley has answered the call to serve as pastor for First Baptist Church, St. Robert.
CORRECTION
The Pathway printed an incorrect phone number to contact Spence Hutson regarding the partnership between the Southern Baptist Convention and Crown Financial Ministries in its previous issue. The correct number is (573) 636-0400 ext. 222.
Retirement Announced
Benny Gard has announced his retirement from the First Baptist Church of Houston after serving the church for more than13 years.
Gard lead the church to take more than 18 mission trips during his ministry, several trips were outside the United States. For 11 years, Gard led the Houston church to present the life of Jesus through musical pageants that he wrote, cast and directed. Currently, Gard serves on the Christian Life Commission for the Missouri Baptist Convention. He has also been trained to be a transitional pastor by the Missouri Baptist Convention.
His pastorates include Central Baptist Church of Malone, Texas, Second Baptist Church of Lebanon, First Baptist church of El Dorado Springs and the Castleview Baptist Church, Blue Springs. He is a graduate of Missouri State University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas.
He is available for supply work, to be an interim pastor, or to be on staff. He and his wife Barbara plan to move to Springfield. Gard may be reached at 417-260-3440.
HLG’S John Booth has article published
Hannibal – John Booth, chair of the music department at Hannibal-LaGrange College, published an article in “College Faith III: 150 Christian Leaders and Educators Share Faith Stories from Their Student Days”. The article was titled “From Probation to ‘Most Improved’”. The article shares of Booth’s experience as a freshman in college as he learned (sometimes painfully) the rigors of being a music major and how a sense of God’s call was the stabilizing force that saw him through. The College Faith series has been published since 2002.
RAs’ soap box derby draws crowd
GILLIAM – A large crowd gathered Aug. 13 to watch Royal Ambassadors (RAs) from Gilliam Baptist Church race their soap box derby cars. The RAs built the cars with the guidance from pastor Chris Weber and other men in the church.
New Salem celebrates 180 years
INDEPENDENCE – Founded in 1826, New Salem Baptist Church has endured not only the passage of time, but has inhabited three buildings, served as a Civil War hospital and survived fires. Now in 2006, they recently celebrated their 180 anniversary.
“You will be hard-pressed to find better people than are at New Salem,” Micah Meek, pastor, said. “Their focus in not on what is easy or best for them, but on what brings glory to God.”
Central Baptist marks 75 years of ministry
EUREKA – Central Baptist church will celebrate their 75th anniversary Oct. 8. For more information visit www.centralpoints.org
Harmony Assoc. buys van for Belarussian pastor
SEDALIA – For the past three years, the churches of Harmony Baptist Association (HBA) have been saving Best Choice labels to help purchase a van for a Belarussian pastor. Last month, pastor Leonid Demidchik, and his daughter, Anya, were guests of East Sedalia Baptist Church where HBA presented him a check for $5,323 toward the purchase of a van.
HBA also recently dedicated a piece of property purchased by the association’s Hispanic congregation. The congregation is already saving money toward a new building.