Missouri briefs
NAMB appoints 12 with Missouri ties
ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The North American Mission Board (NAMB) has appointed 12 missionaries with ties to Missouri.
Roy and Weida Spannagelare serving in Jefferson City where Roy is serving as associate executive director for the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) in Jefferson City. His wife is Weida.
Gene and Vickie Austin are based in Kirksville. Gene is serving as regional collegiate evangelism coordinator for the northern region of Missouri. Vickie is an administrative assistant at the Baptist Student Union, Kirksville.
Randall Dudik and his wife, Diane, are serving in Rolla, where Randall has been assigned as a regional collegiate evangelism coordinator for the southern region of Missouri.
Eric “Kurt” and Rhonda Simon are serving in Springfield, where Kurt has been named as a church planting missionary for NAMB and the MBC in southwest Missouri.
Bill and Christina Victor are now based inColumbia, where Bill is serving as regional collegiate evangelism coordinator for the central region of Missouri, supported by NAMB and the MBC.
Lonnie Johnson, a Missouri native, has been appointed as associational missionary for NAMB in Aberdeen, S.D. Before his new post, Lonnie served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Ripon, Calif.
Johnson attended Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City. His wife is Julia.
Missouri Baptist Builders in need of volunteers
IRONDALE – There is an immediate need in Irondale for volunteer work teams to help Church Planter Jim Frago finish the inside work of his new house. Jim and his wife have started a new church there, but had no place to live and have not had a house of their own for some time. Please call Jim: (573)366-5850
Selmore ordains one to the Gospel ministry
OZARK – Selmore Baptist Church ordained Jeff Updegraff to the Gospel ministry on Jan. 13. Updegraff serves as Selmore’s assistant pastor. Updegraff and wife, Liz, have three daughters: Sarah, Jessica, and Megan.
Hannibal – A survey from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) given to first-year teachers and their principals has given a high rating to the Hannibal-LaGrange College (HLG) Teacher Education program. While HLG has always surveyed its own beginning teachers and their principals, this is the first year that DESE has done a standardized statewide survey.
The survey rated the quality of college/university teacher preparation programs in the state based on the responses from first-year teachers and their principals. Responses from 3,091 teachers and 1,793 principals showed that 84% of the teachers and 80% of the principals rated the overall quality of their teacher preparation as “Good” or “Very Good.” The surveys addressed specific aspects of teaching, such as knowledge of the subject taught, understanding of theories of learning, effectiveness in planning, teaching, and assessment, and technology use.
Each college/university in the state received a summary of the survey results for its own graduates at a meeting in Jefferson City on Jan. 11. HLG’s results were higher than the state average in nearly all areas measured.
“I am very pleased with the feedback we received about HLG’s beginning teachers,” said Jane Schafer, Director of the HLG Division of Education. “Of course, this standardized statewide survey was a ‘first,’ so future surveys will allow us to identify patterns of strengths and weaknesses. HLG has a strong teacher education program. We are proud of our graduates and the positive impact they are making on student learning.”
Forest Park Baptist to open new chapel
JOPLIN – Forest Park Baptist Church recently celebrated the opening of its new 18,000-square-foot addition. The addition includes a 200-seat chapel, a worship rehearsal suite, audio/video production facilities, education space and a handicap-accessible baptistry.
Morris accepts call to pastor First Billings
BILLINGS – First Baptist Church here recently called Jay Morris as their pastor. Morris and his wife, Judy, will be on the field in April. Their daughter, Karilyn, attends Union Theological Seminary in New York City.
Bethany Baptist sets Lottie Moon record
CAPE GIRARDEAU – Bethany Baptist Church set a new church record for giving to the Lottie Moon Offering for international missions. The church exceeded their goal by 86 percent.