Nevada pastor finds strength in Lord to overcome

February 27, 2012 By The Pathway

NEVADA – Persevere. It was Paul’s message to Timothy, and it is also what Melvin Mabra has done.

Mabra is the senior pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church here. At the end of 2011 he celebrated his 50th year in a ministry marked with perseverance.

Mabra met Christ when he was six years old. He then was called to preach at 13, and at 15, he was called to missions. He attended the Baptist University of Corpus Christi, where he graduated in 1964, and then Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary where he got his Master of Divinity degree.

When he graduated from seminary, he went into missions and planted Union Baptist in Norborne. It was his first church. He has also served in Mason City, Iowa, with Billy Graham Crusades, and there is a church plant in Omaha, Neb., due to his church planting ministry.

“In my ministry, my preaching style has been expository preaching,” he said. “I have tried to disciple our people by the study of the Word, and I have literally preached through the Bible three times. My heroes have been W. A. Criswell and Adrian Rogers.”

Mitch Shiffer/contributing writer

FBC Carl Junction, Rooted Church merger bears fruit in gospel-centered ministry

Brianna Boes

In 2022, the legacy of First Baptist Church Carl Junction was in danger. They’d experienced a slow but steady decline with an aging membership. Their history was rich—the church was founded in 1882—and they had some great resources, such as a large building. However, baptisms and new members were rare. Some members, like Charles Culbertson, sought opportunities for outreach elsewhere due to lack of opportunity in their own church. Charles and his wife, Ann, loved FBC, but it was clear to them (and to the leadership) that something needed to change.