ST. LOUIS – New Year resolutions can bring enthusiasm and hope for developing new habits. Daily Bible reading might be one of those resolutions for Christians. According to two Missouri pastors, Christians need to be intentional in reading the Bible and have a plan to get through it because—though it has great depth—it can be complex. Many Bible reading plans are a guide of books, chapters, and verses to read each day—usually alone, without accountability, and perhaps without textual … [Read more...]
FBC O’Fallon Giving Tree has helped local families at Christmas for 25 Years
O’FALLON – One Christmas, a teenage girl hoped for an iguana lizard as a gift. So her name and request were put on the Giving Tree at First Baptist O’Fallon (FBCO). The church partners with other local organizations in its annual Giving Tree ministry but Barb Bateman, an FBCO layperson, has since the ministry’s 1996 inception placed the names and children’s gift requests from area needy families on FBCO Christmas trees every November. Church members, small groups, and Sunday School classes … [Read more...]
Hazelwood church meets need in annual Christmas giveaway, despite COVID-19
HAZELWOOD – Each December, Hazelwood Church members look forward to ministering to their needy neighbors through the church’s Lifelines Christmas Giveaway. The event supplies physical needs but also addresses individuals’ spiritual needs for Christ. Participants receive the Gospel message when they come to pick up needed clothing or toys. On Saturday, Dec. 5, the giveaway served 60 families through its toy and coat distribution, which included approximately 150 children. Church member … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptist University’s trustees hear report on strategic planning project
ST. LOUIS – In his Nov. 19 comments to Missouri Baptist University trustees Keith Ross, university president, outlined a new project to aid the university’s strategic planning, said MBU has successfully addressed COVID challenges to in-person classes so far this fall, explained new campus technology improvements, and reported that fall 2020 sophomore retention – a measure of returning first-year students – matched prior year results despite COVID’s effects. Ross described how the strategic … [Read more...]
‘Church undivided’: New curriculum leads churches to grow in love, faith, unity
ST. LOUIS – Bob Ingle says church unity is a bit like a kiss—the actual experience is so much different than a description. “The dictionary definition of a kiss is pretty mundane. But, if you’ve ever experienced a kiss, you know it’s far better than the definition.” He says church unity is similar: “You can give a definition of unity but the experience is far sweeter and you know it when you have it and you know when you don’t. And it’s an awful thing when you don’t.” Ingle, lead pastor at … [Read more...]
After 200 years, High Point Church aims for future ministry, missions
HIGH POINT – The adage that God moves in mysterious ways is evidenced no better than by High Point Church, which recently celebrated its 200th anniversary but doesn’t have a pastor. It’s a small congregation in a rural area far from a large metropolitan area. Its interim pastor for the past year is from El Salvador. High Point is a small farming community about 30 miles southwest of Jefferson City. It’s in an unincorporated area and uses a California, Mo., address. The congregation was … [Read more...]
Youth ministers see challenges, blessings in student ministry during pandemic
KIMBERLING CITY – With spring church youth activities cancelled and most summer plans on hold because of quarantine and social distancing restrictions brought on by COVID-19, youth ministers are adapting to new methods of ministry. They say the changes are bringing blessings and benefits they hope will continue after restrictions lift. Youth pastors are using new ways to preserve student relationships that are challenged when students who thrive with face-to-face contact can’t meet. The … [Read more...]
Patterson challenges FBC O’Fallon students to get involved in missions
O’FALLON – Saying he was speaking to young people but letting everyone else listen in, Paige Patterson challenged students to get involved in missions, and challenged First Baptist Church of O’Fallon to invest in young people for full-time missions and pastoral ministries. Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, made the comments October 23 during First O’Fallon’s second morning worship service to conclude a weeklong missions emphasis. “Is it … [Read more...]
Ramsey Creek proud of past, leaning toward the future
PIKE COUNTY – How does a Missouri church “in the middle of nowhere,” according to its current pastor, survive for 200 years? To Ramsey Creek Baptist Church Senior Pastor John Bateman the reason is clear: “Anything the Lord’s not involved in or not approving of will die.” The church recently celebrated its 200th anniversary by hosting a weekend party that included old time gospel music, sermons by former pastors, lots of activities—from bounce houses and community dinners to an animal … [Read more...]
SBC’s Page talks missions with First O’Fallon
O’FALLON – Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Frank Page said in a recent missions conference that problems in SBC mission efforts is due to churches placing priorities on activity rather than close relationships with Christ. Page made the comment at First O’Fallon on October 24 in concluding remarks to the church’s annual missions conference. He cautioned that churches should not be so busy with religious activities that they leave … [Read more...]
FBC O’Fallon puts global missions in the spotlight
O’FALLON – Though most new years begin in January, at First Baptist Church, O’Fallon, October kicks off the year for one of the suburban St. Louis congregation’s biggest ministry priorities. The church’s recent annual Global Missions Conference (GMC) celebrated activities the church accomplished in the last 12 months, and introduced mission partnerships and short-term trips for the coming year. The five-day emphasis involved 12 missionaries in multiple events, several dozen church … [Read more...]
O’Fallon church growing Christ’s presence in community
O’FALLON – First Baptist O’Fallon (FBCO) in suburban St. Louis seeks to grow God’s church – not necessarily only the local congregation – through a renewed outreach program focusing on spreading Christ’s message. Senior Pastor Richard Young explained the program: “We are providing an opportunity for church members to take the good news of Christ to the community in a variety of ways: personal visits, phone calls, cards and letters, and intercessory prayer.” Since January, members have … [Read more...]