JEFFERSON CITY – More than 100 Missouri Baptist pastors and other pro-life, pro-family leaders have personally endorsed Republican U.S. Rep. Todd Akin of Town and Country for the U.S. Senate seat now occupied by Democrat Claire McCaskill of Kansas City.
Akin is locked in a three-way battle in the Aug. 7 Republican primary with former State Treasurer Sarah Steelman of Rolla and St. Louis businessman John Brunner.
Six former Missouri Baptist Convention presidents are among the 103 leaders endorsing Akin whose voting record is rated among the most consistently conservative in Congress. The former presidents are Monte Shinkle, pastor, Concord Baptist Church, Jefferson City; Mitch Jackson, pastor, Miner Baptist Church, Sikeston; Ralph Sawyer, pastor, First Baptist Church, Wentzville; David Tolliver, a Jefferson City chaplain and retired pastors Bob Collins of Kansas City and Jay Scribner of Branson.
“We the undersigned do hereby extend our personal support and endorsement to Congressman Todd Akin in his bid for the office of United States Senator,” states the signed endorsement document. “We greatly appreciate his long-standing commitment to our God-given rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and his proven record of defending life, traditional marriage, religious liberty, the Second Amendment, free enterprise, limited government, fiscal responsibility and a strong national defense.
“It is for such reasons as these, that we the undersigned encourage our fellow Missourians to support Congressman Todd Akin as our next United States Senator.”
The group’s endorsement of Akin comes on the heels of another key endorsement by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, an ordained Southern Baptist minister who served as president of the Arkansas Baptist Convention. Huckabee, now a personality on the Fox News Channel, is featured in a new Akin campaign advertisement now airing on television stations statewide.
A Declaration of Missouri Pastors and Christian Leaders
We the undersigned do hereby extend our personal support and endorsement to Congressman Todd Akin in his bid for the office of United States Senator. We greatly appreciate his long standing commitment to our God-given rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and his proven record of defending life, traditional marriage, religious liberty, the Second Amendment, free enterprise, limited government, fiscal responsibility and a strong national defense.
It is for such reasons as these, that we the undersigned encourage our fellow Missourians to support Congressman Todd Akin as our next United States Senator.
(Church/organization affiliation is listed for identification purposes only)
Rev. Jay Scribner, former president, Missouri Baptist Convention, Branson
Rev. Dr. Victor Borden, pastor Red Bridge Baptist Church, Kansas City
Rev. Ralph Sawyer, former president, Missouri Baptist Convention, pastor, First Baptist Church Wentzville
Rev. Bill Edwards, pastor Sulfur Lick Baptist Church, Troy
Rev. Dr. Bob Collins, former president Missouri Baptist Convention, pastor Plaza Heights Baptist Church (retired) Kansas City
Rev. Charlie Burnett, pastor Harmony Heights Baptist Church, Joplin
Rev. Richard Rhea, pastor First Baptist Church Troy
Rev. Jeff Purvis, pastor First Baptist Church Herculaneum/Pevely
Don Hinkle, Director of Public Policy/Editor Pathway, Missouri Baptist Convention
Rev. Rodney Albert, former chairman Missouri Baptist Convention Christian Life Commission
Rev. Ron Kunzweiler, pastor Friendship Baptist Church & Dover Baptist Church, Bowling Green
Rev. David Baker, pastor First Baptist Church, Belton
Rev. Denny Marr, Executive Pastor Calvary Baptist Church, Republic
Rev. Mitch Jackson, former president Missouri Baptist Convention, pastor Miner Baptist Church, Sikeston
Rev. Marshall Link, Director of Missions, Cane Creek Stoddard (retired)
Rev. Jerry Williams, Director of Missions, Barry Association (retired)
Brent Campbell, Director of Missions, Twin Rivers Baptist Association
Rev. Dr. Mark Boley, pastor Cedar Grove Baptist Church, Kahoka
Rev. Dr. Danny Decker, pastor First Baptist Church, Warsaw
Rev. Jim Wilson, pastor First Baptist Church, Seneca
Rev. Jim Wells, former Director of Missions, Tri County Baptist Association
Rev. John Goldfuss, pastor Maranatha Baptist Church, Troy
Rev. Larry Atkins, pastor Buckhorn Baptist Church, Waynesville
Rev. Monty Dunn, Director, Be Thou My Vision
Rev. Stan Gibson, pastor Pacific Baptist Church, Pacific
Rev. Dr. David Vaughan, pastor Liberty Christian Church, O’Fallon
Kerry K. Messer, president, Missouri Family Network
Rev. Paul Akin (retired) Clarksville
Rev. Paul Pope, pastor Sonrise Baptist Church, Bonne Terre
Rev. Jerry Yarnall, pastor First Baptist Church, Exeter
Rev. Mark McMullin, pastor First Baptist Church, Piedmont
Rev. Jeff Anderson, pastor Calvary Baptist Church, Hannibal
Rev. Dr. Monte Shinkle, former president Missouri Baptist Convention, pastor Concord Baptist Church, Jefferson City
Rev. Dr. Bill Vail, pastor First Baptist Church, Poplar Bluff
Rev. David Krueger, pastor First Baptist Church Linn; Chairman, Christian Life Commission, Missouri Baptist Convention
Rev. Ron Aldridge, pastor New Beginnings Fellowship, Charleston
Allen Palmeri, Associate Editor Pathway, Missouri Baptist Convention
Rev. Dr. Carl Herbster, Senior Pastor Tri-City Baptist Church, Independence
Rev. Rex Green, pastor Edmonson Baptist Church, Lincoln
Rev. Harold Hendrick, Director of Public Affairs & Talk Show Host, Bott Radio Network
Rev. Frank Welch, Director of Missions, Salt River Baptist Association, Curryville
Rev. David Nissing, pastor Keytesville Baptist Church, Keytesville
Rev. Daniel Hite, pastor Christian Family Fellowship, Wentzville
Bev Ehlen, State Director, Concerned Women for America (Missouri)
Rev. David Cheung, Retired Seminary President, and Chairman, St. Louis Christian Chinese Community Service Center
Rev. John Stormer, author, “None Dare Call it Treason,” and many other books; 12,000,000 printed and distrubited, Troy
Rev. Dana L. Burris, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, Affton
Dr. Debra Peppers, Long-time radio talk show host; Salt and Light Ministry Inc.; Pepperseed, Inc., St. Louis
Debra Kohl, Missouri Field Coordinator, Concerned Women for America
Ginger Yoak, Encourage a Legislator Coordinator, Concerned Women for America
Rev. Dr. Jeff Brown, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, Mexico
Brad L. Haines, Executive Director, Families for Home Education, Missouri
Rev. Chuck Hunter, pastor, Trinity Grace Bible Church, Troy
Rev. Steve Summers, pastor, Faith Baptist Church, Louisiana
Rev. Dwight Blankenship, pastor, Parkway Baptist Church, St. Louis
Rev. Jarel Burnside, Missouri Baptist Evangelist, Joplin
Rev. Larry Fackler, former Director of Missions, supply preacher, Houston
Rev. Fred P. Barker, pastor, New Melle Baptist Church, New Melle
Rev. Nick Catrow, pastor, Harmony Baptist Church, St. Louis
Rev. Justin Nelson, Elder/pastor, South Creek Church, Springfield
Rev. Bill Johnson, pastor, Calvary Baptist Church, Versailles
Norm Baxter, Christian Activist, Chesterfield Township Republican Committee
Rev. Randy Comer, Director of Missions, Barry County Southern Baptist Association
Rev. Jim Eddleman, minister, Troy
Rev. Bob Tolliver, Executive Director, Life Unlimited Ministries, former missionary to the Ukraine
Rev. Don Rice, pastor, First Baptist Church, Hume
Rev. Bob Gaddis, pastor, First Baptist Church, Shell Knob
Rev. Doug Richey, pastor, Pisgah Baptist Church, Excelsior Springs
Kay L. Meyer, president and radio host of Family Shield, Family Shield Ministries; Board member, Lutheran Hour Ministries
Rev. Jim Savage, Chaplain, Friendship Village, Sunset Hill, MO
Rev. Wesley M. Cummins, Presbyterian pastor in the City of St. Louis
Rev. Stoney Shaw, First Baptist Church, Ferguson
Rev. Floyd Pyle, long-time minister of the Gospel, Wentzville
Lois and Bill Linton, Lois; former president, Missouri Eagle Forum; Bill, retired member of the MO House of Representatives
Rev. Allen Calkins, pastor, Star Hope Baptist Church, Elsberry
Rev. Ion Cheptene, associate pastor, Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church, Webster-Groves
Rev. Aaron Weibel, pastor, New Site Baptist Church, Monett
Rev. Jesse Cass, retired pastor, Jamesport
Gina Allen, Pro-Life Coordinator, Concerned Women for America
Elise Kostial, Founder, Concerned Young Women for America
Haven Howard, Area Director, Concerned Women for America of Missouri
Nancy Jones, Project 535 Coordinator, Concerned Women for America of Missouri
Rev. Ron Griffith, pastor, First Baptist Church, Lincoln
Rev. Dr. Charles B. Murray, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Ellisville
Rev. Dr. David Tolliver, former president, Missouri Baptist Convention
Rev. Shawn Wasson, pastor, Bethany Baptist Church, Cape Girardeau
Rev. Justin Mosher, pastor, Fifth Street Baptist Church, Hannibal
Scott Weldon, pastor, Faith Southern Baptist Church, Marshfield
Mrs. Jamie Hitt, Recording Secretary, Missouri Baptist Convention, Winfield
Rev. David Mason, pastor, Green Valley Baptist Church, St. Joseph
Rev. Kenny Sims, associate pastor, Raintree Church, Hillsboro
Rev. Keith Perren, pastor, Highland Southern Baptist Church, Hillsboro
Rev. William Curp, director of missions, Jefferson Baptist Association
Rev. Bruce Tegg, member, First Baptist Church, Festus/Crystal City
Rev. David Klee, pastor, Wentzville
Rev. Mike Ryan, pastor, First Baptist Church, Winfield
Rev. John Martin, pastor, Heritage Baptist Church, Columbia
Rev. Tim Blankenship, pastor, Carr Lane Baptist Church, Lampe
Rev. Larry Greenfield, former Director of Missions, Mineral Area Baptist Association, Farmington
Rev. Dr. Gary Urich, pastor, Heritage Baptist Church of Bolivar
Rev. James Ogan, staff evangelist, First Baptist Church, Shell Knob
Roger Moran, former member Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, research director, Missouri Baptist Laymen’s Association, Middletown
Cliff Case, member Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board, Warsaw
Joan F. Langenberg, president, Missouri Eagle Forum
Rev. James Plymale, Director of Missions, Franklin Baptist Association, Union