Extra time on your hands? So, I imagine you have been spending a little more time at home as of late. Not getting out of the house as much for church, shopping, movies or dining? Yeah, me too. The days seem a little longer, the nights maybe even more so, and each day brings with it another round of closings of some previously scheduled, really important, events. (I write this on March 25th) I am beginning to wonder what will get cancelled next, the rapture? What are you doing with … [Read more...]
Mo. Baptist Foundation, LifeWay resources available to churches for online giving
EDITOR’S NOTE: Missouri Baptist Foundation (MBF) President Neil Franks is offering daily updates for MBF clients on the MBF Facebook and Twitter feeds. JEFFERSON CITY – As our global community navigates the personal and business implications of COVID-19, the Missouri Baptist Foundation (MBF) wishes to help Missouri Baptist churches. We want to serve your church’s needs while you are caring for the ministry needs of your congregation. Knowing that with the restrictions on sizable … [Read more...]
MBF, LifeWay resources available to churches for online giving
EDITOR'S NOTE: Missouri Baptist Foundation (MBF) President Neil Franks is offering daily updates for MBF clients on the MBF Facebook and Twitter feeds. As our global community navigates the personal and business implications of COVID-19, the Missouri Baptist Foundation (MBF) wishes to help Missouri Baptist churches. We want to serve your church’s needs while you are caring for the ministry needs of your congregation. Knowing that with the restrictions on sizable gatherings you will … [Read more...]
A new perspective on the ‘interim’ status
I just completed my very first interim pastorate. Well, I guess all of my pastorates have been interim, since I am no longer serving at any one of those churches. Come to think of it… I suppose all pastors are interim if you factor in enough time, and all church members too, including deacons. But, I think you know what I mean. I had the privilege of serving a local congregation during the “in between” time the church had a “permanent” pastor. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there and I can … [Read more...]
Overcoming our thinkin’ problem
It has been said that country music is just “three chords and the truth.” Now I am not sure who “they” are, but I wholeheartedly agree. In all the opening lines of country music, David Ball’s 1994 song must sit at the top of the list for truth. The song begins, “Yes, I admit… (with the prototypical nasal tonality I might add) I’ve got a thinkin’ problem.” Mr. Ball hits upon the gravest of all problems, a thinkin’ problem. I was forced to review this problem recently while preparing a … [Read more...]
Why did we buy Windermere?
(See related stories here and here) So you might be wondering…Why would Straightway Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of the Missouri Baptist Foundation, purchase a distressed campground called Windermere Baptist Conference Center? It is a reasonable question, and one in which our staff and trustees wrestled for some time. I would like to take this opportunity to attempt an explanation. In case you have not already heard, the real estate and real property of Windermere Baptist Conference … [Read more...]
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! No, I am not confused, I realize it is not January. But, in our world at the Missouri Baptist Foundation, our fiscal-year ends on Sept. 30. A fiscal-year is any 12-month period selected for accounting purposes. While most churches and many businesses use the calendar year, others – based on their particular business field – may choose another. We use the Oct. 1 to Sept. 30 time frame, just like the federal government, but don’t confuse us with them. Every church of … [Read more...]
MBF can help you get well, live well, finish well
I really enjoy my job. But, I have to admit, I questioned God about a move from the pastorate of the local church into becoming your Foundation president. I never really sought to be a “convention guy;” however, the Lord had placed me in certain roles and positions which seemed to confirm this was in fact His unique calling for me. I do have the desire to make our convention a better place to serve the Lord while serving each other. I am happy to do so as opportunities present … [Read more...]
Work in daylight, prepare for nightfall
So, in the house we are currently leasing, the master bedroom faces the morning sun. Which means I am very aware of the sunrise. This is not normally a big deal, as in the winter months I get up long before the sun does. But in the summer, especially on Saturdays…, well let’s just say I have no other place I need to be at 5:35 AM. This awakening is amplified by having only blinds on the windows rather than curtains where the light can be stymied from sneaking around the edges. But, I will … [Read more...]
‘The harvest is plentiful …’
“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” Matthew 9:37 I was overwhelmed by the response. Last fall the Board of Trustees for the Missouri Baptist Foundation decided they wanted to demonstrate their commitment to Christian higher education and to the students. (We are so blessed to have three great Baptist Universities in our state, each led by a capable Christian scholar/administrator; plus, we have the unique benefit of an SBC Seminary in Missouri as well, and one that is … [Read more...]
‘These are great days for partnership’
These are great days for partnership! Not just in Missouri Baptist life, but across the globe. One reason is simply the fact that we can get more done together than we can separately. (Baptists, of course, have always believed it, even when we haven’t practiced it. The Cooperative Program, for instance, is the premier example of “crowd sourced funding” long before we had the internet.) Which brings me to my point. Our goal at the Missouri Baptist Foundation is to be your Generosity … [Read more...]
Use finances to advance the gospel across the globe
I have been to a lot of conferences in my time. (I have always liked attending conferences and learning from others. I especially like learning from their mistakes so I can pursue my life goal of constantly making new mistakes, rather than repeating the same ones over and over again). So, in my new role of serving you in the areas of development, management and distribution of financial resources while encouraging generosity, in order to Advance the Gospel, a whole new genre of conferences … [Read more...]