• Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • About
  • Home

Pathway

Missouri Baptist Convention's Official News Journal

  • Missouri
    • MBC
    • Churches
    • Institutions & Agencies
    • Policy
    • Disaster Relief
  • National
    • SBC Annual Meeting
    • NAMB
    • SBC
    • Churches
    • Policy
    • Society & Culture
  • Global
    • Missions
    • Multicultural
  • Columnists
    • Wes Fowler
    • Ben Hawkins
    • Pat Lamb
    • Rhonda Rhea
    • Rob Phillips
  • Ethics
    • Life
    • Liberty
    • Family
  • Faith
    • Apologetics
    • Religions
    • Evangelism
    • Missions
    • Bible Study & Devotion
  • E-Edition

More results...

Children’s Home looks to engage churches for Mo. kids

August 30, 2018 By Brian Koonce

SPRINGFIELD – The Missouri Baptist Children’s Home has a far-reaching network as they train and provide gospel-centered resources for foster families as they care for more than a thousand kids across the state. But as the number of at-risk children, youth and families keeps rising, even their reach isn’t far enough.

“We cannot be everywhere,” Russell Martin, the MBCH president told his trustees in July. “But almost everywhere in Missouri there is a Southern Baptist church that can provide some much-needed services to strengthen and enrich families. Hopefully we can have an impact in lessening the number of children in state custody, as well as helping connect families to churches.”

One way he hopes to make that happen is through David Burch, a long-time MBCH staff member who, Sept. 1, is taking on the role of Church Engagement Strategist. He has worked in foster home development and various leadership positions within the MBCH’s Children and Family Ministries, in addition to being a bi-vocational pastor.

“Our churches are ministering to children, youth and families,” Burch said, “and often times, they’re ministering to those families that may be at risk of relationships falling apart, parenting issues, or of child welfare agencies getting involved. We want to partner with and equip the church and ask them, ‘How can we help you be more effective as you go about your mission to be the hands and feet of Jesus to at-risk families?’”

That might look like hosting a seminar to help the church recognize risk factors for neglect, or signs of sexual abuse. It might also be a church recognizing they’re ministering to children in the community with a lot behavioral issues, issues that might extend beyond simple youthful rowdiness, and seeking help to better equip teachers to better deal with those challenges.

“There’s a wide variety of options, but it’s not us coming to the church saying ‘we’re the expert on the church,’” Burch said. “You’re the expert on your church. We just want to help churches be more effective in your community, or helping them see some examples of some things going on in their where they might can plug in.”

Burch said he plans to reach out to directors of missions across Missouri as he begins the process of seeking out churches that want to partner with MBCH.

Comments

Featured Videos

Lick Creek Fellowship - A Story of Cooperation

A declining rural church faced closure after years of dwindling attendance and aging members. But after the doors closed, a small group stepped in to build something fresh from its legacy. Watch this video to hear this story of cooperation and new life.

Find More Videos

Trending

  • HLGU asks U.S. Department of Education for protection from unconstitutional mandate 

  • HLGU President: ‘Why I’m asking the Department of Education to protect religious liberty at Christian universities’

  • Raytown church finds new chance for life

  • HLGU’s ‘Freedom on the Inside’ celebrates first class of graduates inside Missouri prison

  • Lick Creek Fellowship – A Story of Cooperation

  • HLGU’s Freedom on the Inside program to celebrate first class of graduates

Ethics

HLGU asks U.S. Department of Education for protection from unconstitutional mandate 

Hannibal-LaGrange University

Hannibal-LaGrange University (HLGU), affiliated with the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) since 1857, has formally requested a religious accommodation from the U.S. Department of Education from a Biden-era regulation, 34 CFR §668.14. Without timely action by the Department, the university intends to file a lawsuit seeking relief to safeguard its religious freedoms.

Legislative actions aim to protect unborn lives

Timothy Faber

More Ethics Stories

Missouri

Missouri Baptist University celebrates 53rd commencement

Missouri Baptist University

More than 700 degrees were conferred to the class of 2025 at Missouri Baptist University’s 53rd commencement ceremony on May 6 at the Family Arena in St. Charles, Missouri. The degrees conferred included 363 undergraduate degrees, 243 graduate degrees and 20 doctoral degrees, including degrees that will be completed in summer 2025.

Copyright © 2025 · The Pathway