LEETON – The Harmony Baptist Church in rural Johnson County was destroyed by a fire on the evening of Sunday, July 5. The fire is of suspicious origin and fire officials from the offices of the Missouri State Fire Marshall and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are investigating the cause and have reason to believe it is the work of an arsonist. They have not identified any suspect at present. Pastor John Phillips said a car was seen leaving the church … [Read more...]
Passion for church planting, missions drives Twin Rivers Association’s Brent Campbell
TROY – Brent Campbell was an insurance agent and a deacon in a Baptist church for much of his adult life. But the last twelve years he had a second career as the director of missions for the Twin Rivers Baptist Association, Wright City. Campbell retired in February. It was not the usual path for a director of missions. Campbell grew up in Troy, went to “Mizzou,” got married to Diane and got established in the insurance business. He was an agent for Shelter and later for Allstate. But in … [Read more...]
Gasconade Valley association organizes ‘Prayer Journey’ to bless churches
BLAND – The churches in Gasconade Valley Baptist Association receive prayers from their association leadership on a regular basis. Director of Missions (DOM) Phil Rector leads small groups of people to come together and pray for all the churches in the association. They call the effort a “Prayer Journey,” and they often take drives out to the church buildings for prayer times in the three-county region of the association. Rector said they generally schedule three churches in a day to … [Read more...]
Associations provide financial help to churches, individuals with needs during COVID-19 crisis
JEFFERSON CITY – In early March the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) allocated $120,000 to be distributed to Baptist associations to help with benevolent and ministry needs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Associations received varying amounts based on their size. MBC Executive Director John Yeats encouraged directors of missions to use the funds to assist churches with benevolence. DOMs sprung into action and put those funds to work quickly. Directors of missions report that they … [Read more...]
Associations face tough decisions about camps, seek alternatives
CHILLICOTHE – Like many other association camp facilities across Missouri, the Grand Oaks Baptist Assembly is concerned about their summer camp schedule. The Grand Oaks board voted to postpone the opening of the facility until two weeks after state and local authorities lift social distancing restrictions. Depending on when the restrictions are lifted, that may impact some of the camps in the early part of the summer season. Others are concerned that camps may not be able to be held at … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptist apologist develops strategy for reaching Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons
SPRINGFIELD – Jim Schurke has always been interested in people who hold different beliefs than his own. His interest started when a young Catholic friend complained to him in high school that he always had to eat fish on Fridays. He didn’t know why. Schurke knew why and was surprised that a practicing Catholic did not. Catholics used to be forbidden to eat meat on Fridays. Another time Schurke suggested to a friend that they get a cola at a nearby drugstore. She replied she couldn’t … [Read more...]
Drive-in services a success in many Mo. towns, discouraged by leaders in some jurisdictions
HOUSTON – Mike Walker, director of missions for Texas County Association saw that churches were holding drive-in worship services in parking lots as an alternative to meeting in church buildings during the pandemic crisis. So he and his pastors took it a step further and decided to have a drive-in revival with a series of preachers and musicians holding a county-wide crusade May 3-6. And they had the benefit of having a drive-in movie theater to use. The Houston area drive-in is one of … [Read more...]
The Lesters lead worship as Lewis County churches partner for drive-in service
EWING — The COVID-19 recommendation was for churches not to meet in groups larger than ten. Most churches were canceling worship services on March 22nd or broadcasting worship on the Internet. For many this was a hard thing to do. Jon Lester, a member of the St. Louis area southern gospel group, The Lesters, proposed to Lewis County area churches that they hold a “drive-in” worship service. They obtained a low-power FM transmitter to broadcast the service to car radios in the parking … [Read more...]
Missouri Pastors’ Conference registration opens with a bonus prize for early birds
MOBERLY – Leaders of the 2020 MBC Pastors’ Conference have announced that pre-registration is now open for the October 26th event in St. Charles. Richard Clouse, pastor of Carpenter St. Baptist Church in Moberly is the president of the 2020 Pastor’s Conference. There is a bonus opportunity for those who pre-register early. A gift package that includes a Spurgeon Study Bible, valued at $90, as well as other resources, will be provided for the first 50 registrants. Clouse said there will … [Read more...]
Midwest Leadership Summit draws 165 Missourians for training, networking
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The hotel conference center lobby was buzzing with activity as over 1,200 Baptist leaders from nine states descended on Springfield, Ill., for a leadership training summit. Spencer Hutson, MBC Liason, reported 165 Missourians were at the event, January 21-23. It featured 80 breakout sessions and keynote speakers including J.D. Greear, Haydn Shaw, Dhati Lewis and Sandy Wisdom-Martin. Hutson said the MBC wanted to give directors of missions “the opportunity to pick top … [Read more...]
Costephens leaving Ferguson for Navy chaplaincy
FERGUSON – After serving four years as pastor of First Baptist Church in Ferguson, Pastor Joe Costephens is entering the U.S. Navy as a chaplain. He will be entering as a lieutenant, and after training he will be attached to a Marine unit. He grew up in the North County region of St. Louis, part of the First Baptist Church, Ferguson. After seminary he and his wife, Sarah, planted a church in 2009 called Passage Community Church in nearby Florissant. In 2015 that church merged with First … [Read more...]
Churches celebrate 25-year partnership in Belarus
MAYSVILLE – The sermon at First Baptist Church Dec. 8 was in Russian, translated for the congregation by a former IMB missionary. Brother Vasya Vimovoi spoke about growing up in post-Chernobyl Belarus and how his family had been impacted by support from Missouri Baptists as part of a 1994-99 missions partnership. He is the son of Ivan Vimovoi, pastor of Krasnapolie Baptist Church, who was befriended by former Maysville pastor Rodney Dorr. Dorr has been serving in recent years at First … [Read more...]
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 7
- Next Page »