ST. LOUIS – About 15 years ago when she was in her mid-60s, Glenda Townsend began serving with Missouri Disaster Relief with her husband Ben. Recently, she deployed to east central Missouri to maintain the ministry’s laundry and shower trailer for crews working in the St. Louis area following tornados there in mid-March. She says the relief organization is one where older adults can make an effective contribution even if they don't want to be part of the physically demanding chainsaw and … [Read more...]
Pastor celebrates 40 years at Mineola church
MINEOLA – The typical Southern Baptist church sees a senior pastor change about every five years. It can be more often in smaller congregations. So what does it take for a pastor to remain in the same pulpit for four decades with no sign of slowing down? Mineola Baptist Church in east central Missouri just celebrated 40 years under the leadership of Pastor Jim (“Brother Jim”) Cline. He’s still looking at new ways to enhance the church and his ministry. He attributes no single thing to … [Read more...]
Overflow Church ‘saturates community with the overflowing love of Jesus’
GRANDVIEW – Overflow Church in the Kansas City suburb of Grandview, hopes to reach its community for Christ though a mission of “saturating (the) community with the overflowing love of Jesus.'" (See related story here.) Pastor Alan Findley says the recent church plant is doing that by blending its congregation with another, and through partnerships with other established churches. Overflow began in 2020 as a new church work of NAMB’s SEND program, and Blue Valley Church across the state … [Read more...]
Octogenarian couple aim to be ‘part of what God is doing’ at church plant
GRANDVIEW – Their mid-80s seemed a perfect time for Conrad and Donna Krieger to jump into a new work as church planters when Overflow Church began in a suburban area of young families and varied ethnicities. (See related story here.) And, for a couple used to traveling around the country in a motorhome with their family to sing in small churches, moving though several Kansas City locations as Overflow found a permanent building was nothing new. The Kriegers attended Blue Valley Church in … [Read more...]
Springfield church choirs take the stage at Carnegie Hall with Charles Billingsley
NEW YORK CITY – In November, three Springfield churches sent their choirs to perform at Carnegie Hall In New York City with Christian artists Charles Billingsley and TaRanda Greene. Choirs from Crossway, Ridgecrest, and Second Baptist, along with five other choirs from around the country, sang with Billingsley on Monday, Nov. 25. Billinglsey was formerly a member of the Contemporary Christian Music group NewSong, and was worship pastor at Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, VA. … [Read more...]
Trinity Baptist, St. Mary, finds renewal after aligning ministries with mission
ST. MARY – In 2020 Trinity Baptist Church in St. Mary was experiencing declining membership and had an average worship attendance of around 30. However, the congregation wasn’t ready to close the doors. The church’s biggest strength was it didn’t give up,” Pastor Ed Carter says. “It kept on going even though (the members) knew they didn’t have much strength or power left.” St. Mary is about an hour and a half south of St. Louis. Carter became the church’s pastor in August 2020. He led … [Read more...]
IMB’s Pratt: Local church ‘foundational’ to missions
O’FALLON – The local church is “the foundation” of training overseas missionaries for the International Mission Board (IMB) said the organization’s vice-president of field personnel, Zane Pratt, at the annual Global Missions Celebration at First O’Fallon, Oct. 10-13. Speaking as the mid-week conference kickoff speaker, then echoing his remarks during the church’s Sunday morning worship service, Pratt said, “The local church is the heart of missionary training.” Local churches, he said, … [Read more...]
Anthem Church, Columbia, fosters church planting in Mankato, Minn.
MANKATO, Minn./COLUMBIA, Mo. – Columbia’s Anthem Church is a fairly young Missouri Baptist church that’s putting an emphasis on missions, missions training, and church planting. Though it was a church plant itself just seven years ago, it’s already starting to grow other churches and recently sent members to Mankato, Minn., to aid a new work in the hometown of Minnesota State University. A member of the Heart of Missouri Baptist Association, Anthem is also a Salt Network church. The … [Read more...]
First Baptist Church, Arnold, seeks to present Jesus in Liberia, at home
LIBERIA, Africa – “The last words Jesus said before He ascended into Heaven were a directive to be witnesses to our neighbors and the nations, to the ends of the earth,” says Ellen Lauer, Global Missions Director at First Baptist Arnold. “A church that isn’t striving to provide or support opportunities to accomplish this directive, simply isn’t being obedient.” Toward that end First Arnold sent a 12-person team composed largely of Missouri Baptist University (MoBap) nursing students in … [Read more...]
FBC Blue Springs ministry impacts community for Christ
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. – The varied and large IMPACT Family Resource Center of First Baptist Blue Springs includes a monthly meal for the community. “We gather around tables family style. We eat, laugh, tell stories and pray,” says Pastor Matt Sprink. “After a few minutes it is hard to know who is hosting and who is being hosted. I love that. It reminds me that we are all guests at Christ’s table—and there is plenty of room!” Sprink is responsible for church’s community engagement and … [Read more...]
Little Flock Church makes kingdom impact for 140 Years
VIENNA – Generational impact with lasting Kingdom influence beyond the current generation is clearly evident at Little Flock Baptist Church in tiny Vienna, a village of 650 residents midway between Jefferson City and Rolla. Though small—Little Flock currently sees about 25 in Sunday worship services—its influence has been, and is, long lasting. The church recently celebrated its 140th anniversary. In its small rural community, it’s survived the Great Depression, COVID, membership loss, and … [Read more...]
Roby Baptist’s Helping Hands ministry blesses community, shares Christ
ROBY – For 10 years Roby Baptist has been meeting its small community’s clothing needs through its Helping Hands ministry, a retail store that charges nothing for its items. The expanding ministry just added a food pantry. Pastor Wes Mayfield says the ministry’s vision “is to meet the needs of others, both physically and spiritually. In addition to clothing and shoes, we give out free Bibles and gospel tracts.” The church of around 130 is located about 60 miles southwest of Rolla and 10 … [Read more...]
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