Editor’s Note: * denotes name changed for security. SPRINGFIELD – The Missouri Baptist Convention’s (MBC) 2014 state evangelism and discipleship conference will encourage church leaders as they sow the gospel amid hardship and tears. Springfield’s Crossway Baptist Church will host the event, called the Sowing in Tears conference, Jan. 27-28. The conference theme is based on Ps. 126:5-6: “Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy. Though one goes along weeping, carrying the … [Read more...]
Strategos training enhances church security
FULTON – Pastors and lay leaders from churches throughout the state of Missouri gathered at First Baptist Church, Fulton, for a security training event presented by Strategos International, Nov. 19. Missouri-based Strategos International has trained more than 7,500 law enforcement, military, church, school, security and business professionals since its establishment in 2002. During the recent training session in Fulton, Strategos president Vaughn Baker – who is also a lay leader at … [Read more...]
August Gate reaches St. Louis through servanthood
ST. LOUIS – Volunteers from August Gate Church here cleaned nearly 30 alleyways in the neighborhoods surrounding their building, Oct. 26, in an attempt to transform St. Louis’ sixth ward through the gospel. The team of 70 people who helped during this outreach event not only cleaned alleys, but they also welcomed neighbors to a block party near the church filled with games and food. According to Noah Oldham, lead pastor of August Gate Church, the alleyways in the community, which … [Read more...]
Missouri leaders: ENDA threatens religious liberty
WASHINGTON – In a move that many believe could jeopardize religious liberty, the United States Senate passed legislation that will protect homosexual and transgendered individuals from discrimination under federal employment law. According to the bill, employers cannot discriminate against employees or potential employees on the basis of “sexual orientation” or “gender identity,” which were added alongside the protected classifications of race, color, national origin, gender, age and … [Read more...]
Billy Graham video leads to 30 professing in faith: Including family of deceased LU football player
JEFFERSON CITY – One day after Lincoln University’s (LU) football team defeated Oklahoma’s Northeastern State University, 42-33, some team members scored a greater win when they professed faith in Christ after watching My Hope America with Billy Graham here during a service at Calvary Baptist Church. During the Nov. 10 service, 30 people surrendered their lives to Christ, including seven family members of deceased LU football player Gabriel Soto. Additionally, during this service, 14 … [Read more...]
Yeats urges pastors to promote CP, confront culture
KANSAS CITY – Missouri Baptists made a “grave mistake” when they allowed the state convention to take the lead role in promoting the Cooperative Program, Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) executive director John Yeats said during his address at the 2013 annual meeting in Kansas City, Oct. 28. This grave mistake took shape in the 1980s and 1990s, and “it is time it had a funeral,” Yeats said. “From the outset, the key promoters, the key educators, the key leaders for Baptist … [Read more...]
Bumpers: Messengers thirst for God’s power
KANSAS CITY – Eddie Bumpers urged messengers and guests at the Missouri Baptist Convention’s annual meeting, Oct. 29, to thirst for and seek after the power of God in their lives and ministries. “We need to experience the power of God in our ministries and in our lives and in our families and in our convention,” Bumpers said, calling messengers to consider the example of Elisha in 2 Kings 2:1-9. “Here in the Old Testament, we meet a man by the name of Elisha, who was used by God in a … [Read more...]
Little Bonne Femme affirms inerrancy, cooperation
COLUMBIA – The Little Bonne Femme Association affirmed the inerrancy of Scripture and their cooperation with the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) and the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) during their annual meeting at Calvary Baptist Church, Columbia, Sept. 15. The decision could strengthen an association in need of renewal, said Larry Lewis, interim pastor at Calvary Baptist, Columbia, and president of the association. “The Little Bonne Femme Association has continued to lose … [Read more...]
Pray for persecuted; challenged to live holy lives, engage culture
KANSAS CITY – Reminded that God’s Word and Spirit can transform a lost world and empower ministry, messengers to the 179th annual meeting of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC), Oct. 28-30, reaffirmed a “50-50 by 2020” cooperative giving initiative, defended the biblical definition of marriage, and prayed for persecuted believers around the world. A total of 942 messengers and 265 guests from 530 churches gathered at Kansas City’s Sheraton Hotel at Crown Center, where Southern Baptist … [Read more...]
Conference to call churches to sow gospel despite tears
Editor’s Note: * Denotes name changed for security. SPRINGFIELD – The Missouri Baptist Convention’s (MBC) 2014 state evangelism and discipleship conference will encourage church leaders as they sow the gospel amid hardship and tears. Springfield’s Crossway Baptist Church will host the event, called the “Sowing in Tears Conference,” Jan. 27-28. The conference theme is based on Psalm 126:5-6: “Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy. Though one goes along weeping, carrying … [Read more...]
Missourians break the missionary mold: CP is godsend, CPA-turned-missionary says
SANTIAGO, Chile – David Stow does not fit the stereotypical mold of a missionary, yet his role as team leader over the International Mission Board’s (IMB) office of overseas finance in Chile allows him to see the impact that all Southern Baptists can make around the world. “Fifteen years ago, I thought missionaries were preachers and people who were outgoing evangelists,” David said. He described himself, on the other hand, as an introvert who grew up attending North Star Baptist Church, … [Read more...]
Springfield couple abandons American dream to follow God wherever He leads
SPRINGFIELD – Kody and Erin Brandt were among 65 new missionaries appointed during the International Mission Board’s Aug. 28 service at Liberty Baptist Church in Hampton, Va. During the service, the IMB appointed two families and another individual with ties to Missouri. And like 27 of the other new appointees, the Brandts served overseas before accepting their new, career assignment in Malawi, Africa. The Aug. 28 appointment service, Kody said, was “absolutely amazing. It was probably … [Read more...]