HANNIBAL – One might call it “blessed clockwork.” Gasconade Valley Baptist Association (GVBA) spent a week in early June hosting volunteers and helping Hannibal-LaGrange University (HLGU) with summer projects. It was the 25th year they had done this. “The work you do does not go unnoticed. The Lord knows all you do,” said Anthony Allen, president of HLGU, who also shared from Colossians 3 of working unto the Lord. Like much else of 2020 so far, the COVID-19 had an effect. “We usually … [Read more...]
‘Water was at the neck, then over our heads’ – Toops family remembers near-disaster, God’s faithfulness, 15 years after flood
WAYLAND – Graduation is a time for reflecting on the past. The Jerry Toops family recalls a miracle over a decade ago that made their daughter’s graduation possible. In review, the five Toops lived in a house at the base of the Taum Sauk Park Reservoir near Lesterville, Mo., where Jerry was park superintendent. Just after 5 a.m. on Dec. 14, 2005, the reservoir dam failed. Millions of gallons of water gashed a 600-foot hole in the dam, rolled downhill into the house, and created a 30-foot … [Read more...]
Pastor continues to serve in half-century ministry
HURDLAND – Rev. Robert Shobe may have slowed down, but he has not stopped pastoring First Baptist, Hurdland. Come September, it will be 50 years of faithfulness to that church. Shobe surrendered to preach in 1967 and served Emmanuel Baptist in Hannibal and did supply preaching for various churches. He was at Hartford when he learned Hurdland needed a pastor, and accepted that pastorate in 1970. For several years, he and his wife Susie lived in Lancaster but pastored in Hurdland. The church … [Read more...]
Pandemic drives National Day of Prayer event to the streets of Eureka
EUREKA – When the virus pandemic canceled the National Day of Prayer event here, May 7, several Eureka churches found a way to take prayer out of city hall to the streets. The ‘prayer drive out-and-about’ was the idea of Lisa Gard, wife of Central Baptist pastor Dennis Gard, who organized the event. “Usually, we have a prayer breakfast with the mayor. With the COVID-19, that wasn’t possible this year. Mayor Sean Flowers loved the idea (of praying and driving) and promised administrative … [Read more...]
Church comes home in Kansas City
KANSAS CITY – New churches start in homes and sometime seek a “church” building. Christ Fellowship intentionally stays as a network of home churches. Christ Fellowship has five home congregations in North Kansas City, Liberty, Weston, Parkville, and Kearney. Each is led by a pastor/elder. “I pastored in Orlando (years ago) and there I wrote out a plan almost exactly like what we’re doing now,” said Jim Elliff, one of the elders. “All our elders are seen as equals. Any one of us can … [Read more...]
‘We’re part of the family now’ – Adopted through Mo. Baptist Children’s Home, HLGU professor reunites with his siblings
HANNIBAL – Home, the maxim goes, is where the heart is. Sometimes the heart claims multiple homes. Eric Turner, 48, Hannibal-LaGrange University Christian Studies Division Chair, knew growing up in Hannibal he was adopted through the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home. “My parents Charles and Joyce Turner still live here and are members of Calvary Baptist Church. My adoption was always part of my childhood. My parents talked of it in positive terms. My birthday is May 12 and June 9 was the … [Read more...]
Christmas blessings: Child joins new family for the holidays
DURHAM – This is a story of a birth celebrated in December. No, not that birth, the Savior, but an adoption with providential seasonal timing. When John and Lindsey Bedsworth were engaged in Aug. 2015, they began planning a family and married four months later. “We thought we’d have one child of our own and adopt one or two. There were difficulties. We tried having children for three years unsuccessfully, and invitro fertilization failed in May 2018,” said John, Durham Baptist’s pastor … [Read more...]
Non-traditional students fill women’s Trojans soccer roster
HANNIBAL – Two Lady Trojan team members gave ‘Soccer Mom’ a new connotation this season, which finished in early November. The traditional understanding of the ‘soccer mom’ term is a mother who takes her children to play in soccer games. The way two Trojans lived it, they played collegiate soccer as they enjoyed motherhood. Defenders Shelby Echelmeier and Sarah Rapp have each graduated from HLGU, but each had a year of playing eligibility left. Both of them are also mothers, Sarah to … [Read more...]
Pastors’ Conference speakers urge evangelism, compassion, truth
BRANSON – Missouri Baptists were encouraged to share the gospel, show compassion, and convey Jesus in a biblical manner during the Missouri Baptist Pastors’ Conference here, Oct. 28. Guest preachers at the conference included Johnny Hunt, senior vice president of evangelism and leadership at the North American Mission Board; Jimmy Scroggins, lead pastor of Family Church in West Palm Beach, Fla.; and Jason Allen, president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Cedric Dale Hoard also … [Read more...]
After 190 years, church looks to the future
CANTON – Wyaconda Baptist Church is marking its historic past with an optimistic eye to the future. The church will mark 190 years of overcoming city, county, and association boundaries, along with membership challenges, war, weather, pestillence, and a fire. It is the Mt. Salem/Wyaconda Southern Baptist Association’s and Lewis County’s oldest Baptist church and may be the oldest church in the county of any denomination. A special afternoon service occurred Sunday, Aug. 25. “After a … [Read more...]
Missouri mission team helps premature babies in Uganda
DURHAM – Premature babies and Chinese children were among recipients of work of a recent four-member mission team trip to Uganda. Teri Broeker, Missouri Baptist Convention Preschool/Children/Student Missions/WMU representative; husband Kevin; and teenagers Kayla Moore, 16, and Tara Toops, 17, aided former Durham pastor and wife Josh and Kimbre Thrower who are SBC missionaries in Kampala, Uganda. The Broeker’s and Moore, 16, are Durham First members. Toops, 17, belongs to Southern Baptist … [Read more...]
Thousands hear gospel at ‘Celebrate America’
ARNOLD – Thousands of Missourians heard the gospel message proclaimed in multiple ways at the annual “Celebrate America” event hosted by the First Baptist Church here. FBC Arnold Next Generation Pastor Jason Ervin said this was the 11th year the event has been held, and this year’s event occurred on the Sunday before July 4. “It’s a big community event that draws thousands of people,” Ervin said. “We have carnival rides; a car show with a people’s choice, pastor’s choice, and best of … [Read more...]
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