HOLTS SUMMIT – Brother Frank Whitney stood up, took a deep breath, and walked toward the pulpit. Bible in hand, he double-checked his notes for the Sunday evening sermon. Tonight’s topic: faith the size of a mustard seed. The crowd wasn’t any larger than usual; about 30 people. It was just another Sunday evening service, except for one detail: The preacher, Brother Whitney, was 12 years old. Whitney was born in 1956 in Decatur, Ill. When he was 2 years old, his family moved to Oak Ridge, … [Read more...]
‘God is on the move’: Two years in, HLGU prison program sees lives transformed
JEFFERSON CITY – Since July 2020, Hannibal-LaGrange University’s Freedom on the Inside has taught and ministered to incarcerated men in the Jefferson City Correctional Center, offering college credit classes to help inmates develop a biblical worldview and represent Christ. God is using Freedom on the Inside’s unique approach to change inmates’ lives. Freedom on the Inside is much more than a self-help program. “The goal is to reduce recidivism with the life-changing power of the gospel,” … [Read more...]
‘It Takes a Village’: Fifteen churches pitch in to plant new congregation in Colorado
DENVER – It’s easy to picture a church planter as the lone ranger – alone in a strange city, with little support structure, just a Bible and a dream. That’s not the case for Bryson and Sarah McGuire; there are over 15 churches in their corner. Bryson McGuire was born and raised in Springfield, Mo. “I joke that, in Springfield, there’s a church and coffee shop on every corner,” he says. He soon discovered that Denver is quite the opposite. “There’s one church for every 30,000 people in … [Read more...]
‘A gift I didn’t know I had’: With one arm, no legs, Missouri Baptist evangelist launched into ministry by 43-second swim
KANSAS CITY – Tim Clark took a deep breath and dove underwater. He came up, took a breath, and swam – faster than he ever had in his life. The cheers of 1,500 people echoed off the brick walls of the Gladstone Community Center pool, but Tim couldn’t hear them. The water rushed by his ears, and the blue and white lane markers turned into a blur. He reached the far end of the pool, touched the wall, and swam back. He reached the end and resurfaced to the cheers of the crowd. He'd placed … [Read more...]
Resound Network hosts late-night workshop at MBC annual meeting
ST. CHARLES – It’s 9 PM on Monday night. The first day of the MBC’s annual meeting has just ended. While many other messengers head for bed, this gathering of 50 pastors and church leaders stays up late. The Missouri Baptist Convention’s (MBC) Resound Network is hosting a late-night pastor’s workshop called “Taking Aim” during the MBC annual meeting, Oct. 24. Participants check in at the front, then form a line for root beer, ice cream, and cookies. They’re seated at round tables scattered … [Read more...]
Share Jesus ‘Out Loud’: Youth Evangelism Conference set for January 2023
JEFFERSON CITY – How should high school students respond when they face opposition while sharing the truth about Jesus with their friends? In short, they must do it “Out Loud” – with both truth and love. That’s the mission of next year’s Youth Evangelism Conference (YEC). Bob Caldwell, YEC facilitator, wants to use the two-day event to help maximize this generation’s potential. “We're trying to equip students in our current culture to clearly share Jesus with love and kindness.” The … [Read more...]
Recreational marijuana, gambling, abortion addressed by MBC resolutions
ST. CHARLES – The messengers assembled at the 2022 Missouri Baptist Convention annual meeting passed eight resolutions on a variety of issues – declaring their opposition to recreational marijuana and gambling and re-affirming their support for the sanctity of life for pre-born children. Most notably, these resolutions included a strong pro-life statement on the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade. Resolution 4 states that Missouri Baptists “will continue to contend for and defend … [Read more...]
Leaders trained to bring hope and renewal
KANSAS CITY – This summer’s busyness of camps, vacation Bible school, and even members on vacation claims the attention of most Missouri Baptist churches. While continuing to work on revitalizing churches, Resound Network also takes this summer opportunity to develop future church leaders. “We had 5 students with the Missouri Baptist Convention’s collegiate intern program,” says Brandon Moore, Resound Network director. “The really unique thing is that they get paired with a strong church, … [Read more...]
‘From every tribe, tongue and nation’: Kansas City pastors reach the unreached in Missouri
KANSAS CITY – The Northeast is known as a rough part of town. Its buildings are run down, the streets are narrow and full of potholes, and crime is common. It’s home to many different ethnic groups and many more languages. It’s the kind of place that might be especially hard for Missouri Baptists to reach, but there’s 22 church leaders in one room who are working to change that. They’re sitting around a square made of folding tables in the foyer of Central Baptist Church. Each pastor has … [Read more...]