TOKYO – The 2020 Summer Olympic Games are more than eight months away but the athletes aren’t the only ones already in training. Jeff Wells, connections pastor at Chesterfield Community Church, just returned from a vision trip working with International Mission Board missionaries to ensure there’s an intentional gospel witness when the nations converge on Tokyo next July. “I went knowing Japan is less than one percent evangelical, and I kind of assumed it was because they had heard the … [Read more...]
Mo. Baptist messengers submit three motions
BRANSON – Messengers to the Missouri Baptist Convention annual meeting submitted three motions to the body urging action on racial reconciliation, the prevention of sexual abuse, and denouncing a resolution on critical race theory made at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting this summer. Motion No. 1 was submitted by Daniel Carr, a messenger from Canaan Baptist Church, St. Louis. He moved “that the Executive Board of the MBC create a task force with the purpose of developing a … [Read more...]
Messengers’ resolutions address racial reconciliation, ensuring religious freedom
BRANSON – Messengers to the 185th annual meeting of the Missouri Baptist Convention approved eight resolutions, ranging on issues of Christian citizenship to the need to care for those who have been sexually abused. The full resolutions can be read at https://mobaptist.org/annual-meeting/. Resolution No. 1: On Christian Citizenship This resolution called “upon all Christians to faithfully fulfill their God-given responsibilities to engage in the public life of the nation” and encouraged … [Read more...]
Greear: Prepare for ‘greater works’
BRANSON – J.D. Greear, pastor of The Summit Church in Durham, North Carolina, and president of the Southern Baptist Convention, spoke to Missouri Baptists, Oct. 29, at their annual meeting here. He preached from John 14, calling for Missouri Baptists to be less concerned with growing large churches, and instead multiplying those churches, even at the cost of the “best” and most reliable church members. “Jesus’s way of reaching the world would not come from one seed growing larger and … [Read more...]
‘Conversion therapy’ ban approved in KC, Columbia, debated in St. Louis
KANSAS CITY – Therapy and counseling from a biblical, Christian perspective that suggests leaving homosexuality behind have been banned in two of Missouri’s largest cities, and the matter is progressing through the St. Louis city government. Instead of protecting children, the proposed ban is a direct threat to religious liberty, Baptist leaders say. In Kansas City, the city council Nov. 14 voted unanimously to prohibit licensed medical or mental health professionals from counseling minors … [Read more...]
‘Be strong and courageous’ An all-time favorite Scripture passage for many purposeful people is Joshua 1:6-9:
An all-time favorite Scripture passage for many purposeful people is Joshua 1:6-9: “Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall … [Read more...]
‘Harriet’ highlights Tubman’s faith
HOLLYWOOD – “Harriet” isn’t a “Christian” movie, but that doesn’t mean this biopic about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad isn’t a movie full of Christian themes and content. Does your family need to get out of the house and get a breath of fresh air over Thanksgiving? You could do a lot worse than heading to the theater to see this uplifting and inspiring movie. It seems odd to say a movie about slavery is inspiring, but it’s true. Harriet begins with Minty, a slave woman … [Read more...]
HLGU’s Israel trips let students ‘walk where Jesus walked’
HANNIBAL – Studying the Bible while seated in Old or New Testament Survey is one thing, but Hannibal-LaGrange University offers another way to help students appreciate Scripture. HLGU partners with Passages, a program sponsored by the Philos Project and the Museum of the Bible Foundation to help students experience nine days in the Holy Land at a fraction of the normal cost. Thirty-seven students traveled to Israel earlier this year with several HLGU faculty, each paying less than … [Read more...]
Local associations meeting needs for Kingdom gains
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Week of Prayer for Baptist Associations is Oct. 20-26. Downloadable resources provided through a partnership with the Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders and the North American Mission Board are available at ameresources.org/week-of-prayer-2019. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (BP) – Associational leader is the most fulfilling role that Sean McMahon has held in nearly 40 years of ministry. "I absolutely love my job. I love what I have the opportunity to do," said … [Read more...]
An anniversary to remember: Mo. Disaster Relief team aids Texas couple on special day
ORANGE, Texas – The traditional gift for a first anniversary is paper. Tenth is tin. By 50, a couple is up to gold and at 60, the supposed gift is diamond. And for one Texas couple, their 62nd wedding anniversary “gift” was 9 inches of water in their home. James and Jackie’s home was flooded last month by Tropical Storm Imelda, casting a damp cloud over what should have been nothing but a joyous celebration of their 62 years of marriage. Fortunately, God had another gift planned for the … [Read more...]
Renovate SEMO creates replanting, revitalization leadership residencies
CAPE GIRARDEAU – Leading a church can be a challenge even in ideal circumstances. That goes double (or triple, or ten-fold) for a congregation that may need to take a hard look at itself and determine if revitalization or replanting might be the best way to glorify God. Renovate SEMO is a concerted effort by Cape Girardeau Baptist Association to help guide pastors through that process with a residency program. “Not only do we want to be coming alongside churches to see that … [Read more...]
Norfleet Baptist opens doors to Russian fellowship
KANSAS CITY – Norfleet Baptist Church felt invisible. “We have canvassed the neighborhoods many times,” said pastor Scott Flippin. “We have hung door hangers, gospel tracts, and invitations to church on their doors. We have rung doorbells and shared the gospel. We have prayer walked. We’ve put flyers out in the elementary schools. We’ve adopted local families at Christmas. We’ve hosted Trunk or Treats, Easter Egg Hunts, Movie Nights and Vacation Bible School, but we felt invisible. Nobody … [Read more...]
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