BRANSON – To say that chaplain and evangelist John Ray McBride has had a tough life would be an understatement. To say he’s recovered well through God’s grace would be also. At five years old McBride saw his mother murdered in California. “From five I was thrown about to different aunts and uncles,” McBride says, “and eventually to a stepmother that raised me until I was 16. At 16 years old my stepmother kicked me out. I was sitting on the curb with a bag of clothes.” “So, I got a job … [Read more...]
‘Tell them the greatest news’: FBC Arnold on mission at home, around the globe
ARNOLD – Adam Cruse, senior associate pastor at First Baptist Church here, says “one of the greatest ways to disciple people is to get them on an airplane.” “We have found that there’s a huge difference in people when they return from being on (a mission trip). Their faith grows by leaps and bounds and it impacts how they live and serve long term.” He says that growth then helps drive Christians “to see people come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, and see strong, … [Read more...]
Lifelong passion for missions inspires Meeks’ pro-life efforts
JEFFERSON CITY – In the early 90s,14-year-old Brandy Meeks sat on a church pew on a Sunday evening and listened to a medical missionary share their experiences of serving Christ overseas. Meeks says she instantly connected to the stories about meeting physical and spiritual needs that showed Christ’s love and mercy. After the presentation she felt called to serve in medical missions. However, years later in a high school biology class the sight of blood while dissecting frogs caused her … [Read more...]
MBC student pastors, wives retreat fosters renewal, fellowship
BRANSON – Bob Caldwell, Mobilization Strategist for the Making Disciples Group of the Missouri Baptist Convention, says a recent retreat for student pastors and their wives helped refresh ministers and provided instruction in dealing with common ministry issues. The Dec. 1-3 invitation-only Retreat for Student Pastors and Wives at Chateau on the Lake in Branson was attended by 20 student pastors from across the state and their spouses. It focused on helping pastors remain spiritually … [Read more...]
Joyful Giveaway: FBC Kearney cheerfully serves community
KEARNEY – On Dec. 3, First Baptist Church, Kearney, held its annual Joyful Giveaway (a community outreach event) served 165 families, met over 780 people, and gave away more than 400 bags – or 3-1/2 tons – of groceries. The church has presented Joyful Giveaway since 2011. Ken Parker, senior pastor, said the idea came out of his noticing a similar event at First Baptist Church, Branson. “We want to do something that makes people feel really special,” Parker said, “and demonstrate that … [Read more...]
BRKC’s Hammer leaves a Kansas City Baptist legacy, takes on new ministry
KANSAS CITY – As 2022 draws to a close Rodney Hammer, executive director of the Blue River-Kansas City Baptist Association (BRKC), prepares to leave that work to move full time in 2023 into leading an organization he founded at the association – Restoration House. Rebranded this year as REHOPE, this ministry works to help adults and children who have survived sex trafficking. REHOPE (formerly Restoration House) was spun out of the association and is now a stand-alone ministry. “It’s been … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptist pastor collects resources on biblical gender, sexuality
OZARK – After noticing the struggles in his congregation with contemporary gender and sexuality perspectives, as well as from talking with other pastors struggling with the issues, a Missouri Baptist pastor has assembled resources to help ministry professionals and laypeople deal with LGBTQ+ issues from a biblical viewpoint. M. Lane Harrison, lead pastor of LifePoint Church in Ozark, says, “While historically Southwest Missouri has been a bastion of conservatism…, in the last decade many … [Read more...]
FBC O’Fallon conference to confront sexual revolution with biblical truth
O’FALLON – With worldly views on sexuality and gender invading contemporary church life among several denominations, First Baptist O’Fallon is hosting a conference October 14-15 to explain the Bible’s perspectives on the topics. During the conference—Creation v. Revolution: How God’s Revelation Confronts the Sexual Revolution—speakers from the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) will discuss current cultural and sexual attitudes and how Christians should respond; what the … [Read more...]
Camp blends love of Jesus, horses to impact younger generation
SWEDEBORG – Will you need your own horse if you attend Horsemanship Bible Camp in 2023? “Nay,” say Joe and Kristi Cargill, operators of the camp and members of First Baptist Church, Swedeborg, in central Missouri. They’ll supply the horse for campers, ages 9-17, of any experience level. The unique summer youth camp combines a love of horses with a biblical focus. It operates every June on the Cargill’s farm south of Swedeborg. The 2022 event wrapped up with impressive results as over 100 … [Read more...]
Prophecy conference offers insights on future events
JEFFERSON CITY – An August conference in Jefferson City hopes to provide biblical understanding of end times events, according to Missouri Baptist church member Larry Crabtree, founder and president of Perilous Times Ministry, which is hosting the free event. He says those attending the one-day conference will gain an understanding of future events as well as a heightened need to share Christ with nonbelievers. “Those who attend the conference,” Crabtree says, “will leave with a … [Read more...]
Potosi Community Church reaches into community to share God’s love
POTOSI – For Keeli Singer, missions is homegrown and local. She’s a member of Potosi Community Church in southeast Missouri and a public school art teacher. When she heard a minister say that missions was every Christian’s responsibility, she came up with His Hands and Feet, a local compassion ministry for her community. The church is currently in a pastor search, so Keeli says a visiting preacher mentioned that “as members we need to not wait for someone else to do something. God wants us … [Read more...]
New VBS project teaches students about missions on their level
ST. LOUIS – Vacation Bible School has a new missions education opportunity this year through Pennies for Pupils, a project that aids a Kenyan school founded by Missouri Baptist layperson George “the Shoeman” Hutchings. The program connects children with children through participatory missions and teaches that no amount is too little in the hands of God, he says. Hutchings is the president of the Juanita School for Girls in Kenya. Pennies contributed by VBS students add up one by one to … [Read more...]