Missouri briefs
Bethany Baptist sets Annie Armstrong record
Cape Girardeau – The annual Annie Armstrong Offering was met and exceeded this year at Bethany Baptist in Cape Girardeau. The offering exceeded the church goal of 26 percent, with more monies yet to come in.
Through gifts to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, missions personnel are enabled to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Because every dollar given to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering goes to direct support of missionaries and their ministries, Bethany Baptist members are confident offering gifts are an investment in eternity.
Pastor Shawn Wasson said, “It is possible to give without loving, but it is not possible to love without giving”.
First Diamond calls
youth/education pastor
DIAMOND – First Baptist Church of Diamond has called Daniel Smathers as the new full-time minister of youth and education. Daniel will begin May 6. He and his wife come from Piggott, Ark., and have a 7-month-old daughter, Jeanna.
Temple Baptist marks
45 years as a church
POPLAR BLUFF – Temple Baptist Church, Poplar Bluff celebrated its 45th church anniversary April 22. Pastor Ira Singleton preached in the morning worship service. A luncheon followed, and at 1:30 p.m. there was a celebration service with many members, former members, and former interim pastors in attendance. There also was a special video history presentation. Steve Patterson is the current pastor.
Morse Mill honors pastor for 35 years of ministry
DITTMER – Morse Mill Baptist Church recently honored pastor Jim Johnson and his wife, Becky. for their 35 years of ministry at the church. during the celebrations. State Sen. Kevin Engler, R-Farmington, presented Johnson with a plaque from the Missouri Senate.
HLG hosts President’s Breakfast for 32 guests
Hannibal –Hannibal-LaGrange College President Woodrow Burt hosted a President’s Breakfast on April 18. This is a quarterly event to bring to campus leaders in the community who have a desire to improve their operations.
Approximately 32 business persons from Hannibal were in attendance at the breakfast. The guest speaker was Joe McKenna of Kansas City. McKenna began his career with Marion Laboratories as a sales representative in California. In 1980, his career took him to Kansas City, where the company’s corporate office was located. Twenty-four years after a very successful career in sales and marketing, McKenna formed The Kenna Company. The work of The Kenna Company is based on what McKenna had learned working in one of the best business cultures of all time. His mission is to help companies select and develop talented and motivated personnel that will produce positive results in their business. According to McKenna, “It all begins with who you hire.”“I was extremely pleased with the attendance at the latest President’s Breakfast,” said Burt. “The cross-section of community leaders in attendance was very impressive, and the information provided by Joe McKenna was beneficial to all in attendance. I was delighted with the entire event.”
Challengers, Crusaders meet on hard-court
ELDON – Ten teams from across Missouri met at the First Baptist Churches in Eldon and Springfield to play for bragging rights and the opportunity to minister in Mexico.
Each team in the tournament nominated players to be part of the “all-mission team.” The players were evaluated during the event and then participants were chosen for a mission trip to Mexico.
This years’s nominees were: Ben Stark, Mercer; Nathan Corn, Scott City; Devin McDowell, Nixa; Seth Arnold, Houston; Joey Herdon, Houston; Ryan Pendergraft, Washburn; Curtis Williams, Independence; Heath Turnbough, Steelville and Raime Woods, Washsburn. Alternates include: Caleb Antle, Exeter; Brock Burton, Holts Summit; Tim Carter, Wheatland; and Heath West, Mercer.
Midwestern welcomes Dead Sea Scrolls experts
KANSAS CITY – Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS) features scroll scholar Craig A. Evans and Ouachita Baptist University Professor of Biblical Studies and prolific author C. Marvin Pate at a workshop in the MBTS chapel auditorium April 27-28. The event is free and open to the public.