KANSAS CITY — Nearly one year ago 12 people met in Jernigan Schwent’s northern Kansas City living room to discuss God’s vision for a new church plant. Today the fulfillment of that vision, Discover Church, has risen to about 340 people each weekend. “What God has done through our church is unnatural,” said Schwent, pastor of Discover Church here. “The trajectory and the velocity we’ve experienced in just the three months since we launched is amazing and not at all the norm. I’m not … [Read more...]
As iron sharpens iron, ‘Forged in Fire’ TV appearance fulfills God’s purpose
DESLOGE – After the most physically, mentally and emotionally draining day he had ever experienced, John Wigger, longtime member of First Baptist Church Desloge (FBCD), trudged back to his room exhausted, but satisfied with the outcome of the first round. Wigger, part-owner of blacksmithing business Hawthorne Forge, was chosen to be on “Forged in Fire,” a competitive and popular bladesmithing show that airs on the History channel, after the casting director saw pictures of his forged … [Read more...]
Graves charges messengers to preach complete Word of God
SPRINGFIELD — Missouri Baptist messengers hung on every word Ken Graves said. Graves, with his booming Hollywood-quality voice, ended his sermon by reciting a poem he wrote called “Still More,” which is based on Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4. “…He confronted that beast that caused us to cower so frightened and terrified,” said Graves, founding pastor of Calvary Chapel Bangor in Central Maine. “The words that He spoke were not a request; they were not a victim’s plea. His words were not … [Read more...]
‘Unexpected’ testimony challenges ministry wives
SPRINGFIELD — When a surprise pregnancy pushed back Rich and Lisa Finch’s calling to serve as missionaries to West Africa not just once, but twice—that was exciting, but unexpected. Then several years later when Finch received the news that she did, in fact, have breast cancer, while she was on mission teaching English to Muslim children in West Africa—that was very difficult and definitely unexpected. And then earlier this year when Finch learned that her dear friends and missionary … [Read more...]
‘Heart of Hope’ – Former addicts transformed by gospel
HOLLISTER – This place was once full of darkness. Within the walls of the Hollister apartment building people not only used drugs for the first time, but they used drugs for the last time. Death seemed to have a grip on this place. But as the previous landlord continued giving his tour, Rita Nogal heard God whisper to her spirit, “What the devil made for darkness, I made for light.” She had heard God speak those words before, but that time it wasn’t about redeeming a building; it was … [Read more...]
Lessons from my little ones: Hawley’s new book offers mother’s view of how God calls us to be His children
JEFFERSON CITY – Erin Hawley’s faith and dependence on God has grown the most – not in her years at Yale Law School or while working as a clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, not even as a supportive and loving wife to Missouri Attorney General and current Missouri Republican nominee for U.S. Senate Josh Hawley – but it’s been during her role as mother to her two young sons, Elijah and Blaise, that God brought Hawley closer to Himself. Hawley, who has worked primarily … [Read more...]
FBC Joplin hosts confab for small churches
JOPLIN – Much like the young shepherd David, some churches might appear small in the eyes of man, but they often have the most heart in the eyes of God. “People who attend smaller, or normative-sized, churches are looking for authenticity,” said Jamie Tickel, pastor at First Baptist Church (FBC) here. “They want to belong, they don’t want to slip in and be anonymous. When they make the decision to go to a smaller church, these are people looking for a relationship.” Tickel was one of … [Read more...]
LifeConnection brings heart change to KC
KANSAS CITY – Last year a young couple who had been living together for four years came to LifeConnection Northeast’s Sunday gathering and then joined a small group. Chris Seay, pastor/planter of LifeConnection, saw a transformation take place in the heart of the young woman, who requested a counseling session for guidance on what it would look like to follow Jesus in their relationship. “I graciously and honestly told them that it would honor Jesus if they stopped living together and … [Read more...]
Hazelwood stirs hope in hotel residents
HAZELWOOD – Sometimes staying in a hotel is no vacation. “There are hotels in Hazelwood that cater to people who are homeless,” said Jim Walker, lead pastor at Hazelwood Baptist Church (HBC), located in northwest St. Louis County. “They are families who get evicted because they couldn’t make rent or because outstanding utility bills overwhelm them and they’ve exhausted their other options. They are living week to week or even day by day.” Seeing the need and desiring to do something about … [Read more...]
Viburnum FBC’s outreach blesses local families, widow
VIBURNUM – She had a 6-foot-wide hole in her roof and a 55-gallon drum catching rainwater in her living room. Retired after 35 years in the Viburnum school district and now living with her son who was diagnosed with cancer, Love Thy Neighbor gave this elderly widow a brand new roof. “I was on that crew and every person except me had her as a teacher,” said Justin Perry, pastor at First Baptist Church here. “While the crew worked, she cried tears of joy and told story after story about … [Read more...]
God builds Strong Tower in St. Joseph
ST. JOSEPH – One year into setting up and tearing down each week in a roller rink turned bingo hall – a rite of passage for many young church plants, God orchestrated a miracle for Strong Tower Baptist Church. “We got a phone call from a dwindling congregation in a different denomination,” said Senior Pastor Tom Wilson. “They said they were prayerfully considering giving us their building. They had to send out an e-mail asking others in their own denomination if they wanted it and if … [Read more...]
The mission gets personal: Forest Park, Joplin, advances gospel through Acts 1:8 project
JOPLIN – The mission doesn’t get powerful until it gets personal. “When a person sees the darkness in the world and then comes back they are much more motivated to do something about it,” said John Swadley, lead pastor at Forest Park Church here. “We desire to know the people out there on the field making the sacrifices to spread the gospel where they are so that we can play a small part in advancing their work.” That’s where Forest Park’s new giving strategy, the Acts 1:8 Project, comes … [Read more...]
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