My brother once wrote, “Slave labor was brought to the U.S. to cut the overhead costs of agriculture. But what they didn’t realize is that the costs weren’t cut; they were merely deferred.” America continues to suffer internally from ancient sins of our forefathers, just as we continue to benefit from their brilliance that brought us checks and balances, the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution. As many know at this point, a black man by the name of George Floyd was killed by … [Read more...]
Early black Baptist missionaries inspire modern-day IMB personnel in Uganda
ST. LOUIS – India was blessed by the presence of William Carey in 1793, and Burma received Adoniram Judson in the year 1813. They were following the sure and true commandment of the Lord Jesus Christ when He told His disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel to all nations. And while Christians should celebrate and revere such men for their sacrifices, as Paul writes in Philippians, chapter 2, there is another name normally missed in these discussions: George Liele, the first … [Read more...]
From atheist to MBC’s first black officer: Jon Nelson a testimony to God’s grace
JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri Baptist Convention’s first African American officer, Jon Nelson, is not only a husband, father and church planter, but he is also a testimony to the grace of God that hunts us down and refuses to let us go. Only this grace can take an adversary, such as Nelson, and bring him into the service of the One he hated so much. Growing up in his parents’ inner-city church in Kansas City, Nelson admits he often intellectually wrestled with Christians there. “When I … [Read more...]
Mo. Baptists prayer walk in St. Louis
ST. LOUIS – Missouri Baptists in the St. Louis Metro Baptist Association went out to different communities in the St. Louis area to prayer walk and share the gospel, July 23. They were inspired by Luke 10:2, a call to ministry that applies to every member in the Body of Christ. Not everyone is called to preach, nor are we all called to go overseas. But every single member—from the oldest to the youngest, from the wealthiest to the poorest—can pray. Jesus Christ tells His disciples to do … [Read more...]
Redd family leads St. Louis church plant to share Christ
ST. LOUIS – When asked about how they first met, there was immediate laughter from Ricardo and Christian Redd. Apparently, Christina, Ricardo’s wife for the past 16 years, did not appreciate him as much as she does now. It is in God’s great wisdom that the two of them, Ricardo with Christina at his side, now labor to share the gospel and make disciples in St. Louis, where they started a Missouri Baptist church plant in a section of the city known as Fountain Park. New Direction Church … [Read more...]