KANSAS CITY — On Easter Sunday, March 31, Legacy Church, located at 8641 North Oak Trafficway here, officially launched as a second generation church plant sponsored by Fellowship of Grace Church. Fellowship itself was sponsored by another Kansas City church, Northland Baptist. Kevin Barnes is the pastor of Legacy (www.legacykc.org) and said it has been quite a process for him and his family becoming church planters. “I was a youth pastor at Heaston Community Church, El Reno, Okla., and … [Read more...]
Missouri’s John Edwards sowing seeds on Main St.
FORT WORTH, Texas – Known as the Main Street of America, Historic Route 66 meandered across the western U.S. from Chicago to Los Angeles. Small towns popped up along the popular highway in the ‘20s and ‘30s as truckers and vacationers cruised the open road. Church planter and Southwestern Seminary graduate John Edwards uses the highway’s heritage as a way to connect Harvest Hill Baptist Church with the community of Strafford, which lies just a stone’s throw from Springfield, the Birthplace … [Read more...]
Race to kill gambling bill nears finish line
JEFFERSON CITY – With just days remaining in this year’s General Assembly, Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) churches are being urged to contact their state senators and ask them to vote against House Bill 747 (HB 747). HB 747 was sponsored by Rep. Dwight Scharnhorst, R-St. Louis. Its purpose is to permit casinos to accept credit cards and other credit instruments from gamblers in exchange for chips, tokens, or electronic tokens that can be used to continue their gambling after their cash … [Read more...]
Conway church ‘gone to the dogs’
CONWAY – If you would have slipped into the worship service Crossing Over SBC held in the Conway Community Center in mid-March as a visitor, you might have told friends afterward that the church had gone to the dogs. Technically, you would have been correct. Sherry Reeves attended the church for the first time that day, and she brought her Yorkshire Terrier, named Rocky, because she didn’t want to leave him home. But there’s more to the story – so much more. Lynndon Welch, a Missouri … [Read more...]
WMU meeting marked by excitement
WARRENSBURG – Moving forward on the quest to share the gospel around the world, Missouri women celebrated 125 years of Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) at the 2013 annual meeting April 12-13. Nearly 500 women gathered for the WMU Missions Celebration, held here at First Baptist Church. “I don’t know of any other event in the state of Missouri that presents missionaries and opportunities for learning like this,” said President Joan Dotson. “Attendance is up. Excitement is up.” Attendance … [Read more...]
Tower Grove Baptist intends to stay faithful with school
ST. LOUIS — As a river finds its source at the top of the mountain so Tower Grove Baptist Church has founded a city on a hill. That city is Tower Grove Christian School (TGCS), depositing springs of everlasting life into the culture flowing from the heart of St Louis. TGCS was founded in 1978 to serve family members of the church. It has since become a mission field housing close to 300 students, of which less than 50 percent are professing Christians. The school motto is “Teaching truth, … [Read more...]
Liquor control bills seek balance
JEFFERSON CITY – Much of the state’s public policy may be contingent on the outcome of two liquor control bills before the General Assembly which address liquor law regulations struck down earlier by a federal judge. Kerry Messer, lobbyist for Missouri Baptist Convention’s Christian Life Commission, said Missouri Baptist churches should take note and, preferably take action. Missouri’s regulatory structure divides the industry into three basic categories – producers, distributors and … [Read more...]
SBU’s Center for Global Connections provides unique opportunities for students
BOLIVAR — Through the Southwest Baptist University (SBU) Center for Global Connections, students are ministering to multiple people groups around the world, but they can’t do it without financial support from a multitude of donors. With about 350 students having participated on 28 teams in 2012, students raised more than $550,000 to fund those trips. Teams begin to form during Global Connections Week, held each spring and fall for upcoming trips. Students submit an application and are … [Read more...]
Gambling expansion possible
JEFFERSON CITY – The legislative liaison for the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) said it is imperative that Missouri Baptists become involved in two issues during the current General Assembly that involve the gambling industry. Kerry Messer, president of Missouri Family Network which provides lobbying services for the MBC’s Christian Life Commission, reported that the state lottery is hoping to expand its offerings without going through the formal legislative process. He also reported … [Read more...]
When did it become unconstitutional?
Perhaps the most important question asked in the Supreme Court during the two days of argument on gay marriage was a rhetorical question posed by Associate Justice Antonin Scalia to pro-gay marriage attorney Ted Olson. “When did it become unconstitutional to exclude homosexual couples from marriage?” Implicit in the question “when did it change” is the question “who changed it?” The answer to those questions exposes the fundamental difference between two competing worldviews in the … [Read more...]
Truman State BSU team springs into urban ministry
KIRKSVILLE – Greg Xander said it is mostly about counting conversations. The Baptist Student Union (BSU) campus missionary at Truman State University values talk with lost students more than anything else. Over March spring break, students from Truman drove to Kansas City for service and evangelistic opportunities. In everything they did, they tried to make it a place where conversations could occur. About half of the 22 students on the trip were Christians. The rest were Asian and … [Read more...]
New Omaha, Neb., church aided by MBC
OMAHA, Neb.—With the help of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC), Changed Life Church launched Jan. 13 with some 200 people in attendance at Burke High School. They have been averaging more than 100 ever since. Pastor Craig Liscom said one of the most compelling values at the heart of the church is its focus on the concept of restarting over. “We believe that when you open the pages of the Bible that some of the people who lived the greatest lives for God at some point needed a … [Read more...]