Bill Dudley and a group of his teenage friends rode in a pickup truck over to a revival tent to make fun of the people attending and making decisions that night. “I was 17, and I stopped going to church when I was twelve,” Dudley, now pastor of First Baptist Church, St. Robert, said. “So my friends and I thought it would be fun to make fun of the revival. We wanted to have a few laughs.” Dudley said it was a two-week revival in Ganter, Texas, held at the end of July through the beginning … [Read more...]
Heaven’s Anglers’ event to support children’s home
ARNOLD – “Heaven’s Anglers,” a Christian fishing club, has found a way to help children while promoting their sport. On May 31, Heaven’s Anglers will hold the 12th annual “Help a Child” Charity Fishing Event at Mark Twain Lake in northeast Missouri. “We’ve designed an event to share God’s Word and to fish,” said Gary Hollern, president of Heaven’s Anglers and member of First Baptist Church, Arnold, “all while fundraising for children.” The charities helped by the fishing event are the … [Read more...]
WMU celebrates 125 years of worldwide ministry
Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) has a great deal to celebrate, and the party is set for April 4-5. WMU’s “Missions Celebration” will be held at Second Baptist Church, Springfield. According to Laura Wells, Missouri WMU executive director, WMU is celebrating 125 years nationally, as well as 100 years of Girls in Action (GA) and 90 years of Missouri WMU. The April celebration targets any Missouri Baptists who desire to reach their state and their world with the gospel. “We are … [Read more...]
Missouri, Atlixco, Mexico churches forge partnership
WASHINGTON, Mo. – Thousands of people who need Christ live in Atlixco, a city in the Mexican state of Puebla. Faith Baptist Church in Washington and Rios de Agua Viva (Rivers of Living Water) Church in Atlixco have formed a partnership to meet that need. “We want to instill a desire in my people to show Christian love like Jesus,” Mario Ramirez, pastor of Rios de Agua Viva, told members of Faith Baptist Church during a visit to Missouri, Feb. 23. “It should be a priority regardless of … [Read more...]
MO pastor takes gospel to Olympics
FLORISSANT – The Olympic Games are a great meeting place for the people of the world, and Jeff Wells, senior pastor of Cross Keys Baptist Church here, believes it is a wonderful place to introduce them to Jesus. He is ready for his trip to Sochi, Russia. “The Olympics are Acts 1:8 all in one place,” Wells said. “People attend from all over the world, and I love to tell them about Jesus.” Wells tells the story about meeting two guys at the swimming venue in Beijing in 2008. “We started … [Read more...]
1st Ferguson opens to elementary school
FERGUSON – Snow and cold temperatures could cause more than a few closed days for Johnson Wabash Elementary School in the Ferguson-Florissant School District. As the students were ready to return from the recent snow days, the custodial staff discovered a major sprinkler system break forcing relocation. The new location is First Baptist Church (FBC), Ferguson. “I was in the office expecting a quiet day because of the snow,” Ron Beckner, associate pastor of FBC Ferguson, said, “when the … [Read more...]
First Troy plants church 3 miles from campus
TROY – Matt Bartig, lead pastor of NorthRoad Community Church, appreciates the sacrifice of First Baptist Church (FBC) Troy to plant NorthRoad. Senior pastor, Richard Rhea, of FBC Troy was more than just supportive of the new church start located about three miles from his church. FBC Troy sent almost 100 people to help NorthRoad. “Richard is a humble, amazing man,” Bartig said. “He encouraged the cream of the crop to come help us. Leadership of Troy came with us. The teacher of the … [Read more...]
Helping missionaries on furlough: Righteous Rides offers cars for the price of gasoline
MOSCOW MILLS – Righteous Rides meets a need for missionaries on furlough. Co-founders of the nonprofit organization, Bret Byus, member and deacon at First Baptist Church (FBC) Troy, and Mark Reighard, discovered this need through friendships from LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas. “LeTourneau is a Christian school,” Byus, Righteous Rides president, said. “So, we had lots of friends going to the mission field. We’ve been involved in their lives over the years, and when the family … [Read more...]
First Ferguson utilizes parking lot to reach out to city parade attendees
FERGUSON – Marching bands, beauty queens and fantastic floats for wide-eyed children are not just on the football field. The Sunday after Thanksgiving, every year they are found on the north parking lot of First Baptist Church of Ferguson. The church serves as the staging area for Northern Lights, the winter parade for the city of Ferguson. “The ministry during the parade is a touch point,” Ron Beckner, associate pastor, said. “We are touching the lives of people here. We are affirming … [Read more...]
MBC churches reach the world in St. Louis
ST. LOUIS – The Lord is making connections to draw people from around the world to Christ, according to Tim Cowin, lead pastor of The Rock Church of St. Louis. “We have a culture based on Ephesians 6,” he said, “We want to equip the saints. When those come from different ethnic backgrounds, we embrace them with hearts passionate for ministry.” The mid-city, four-campus congregation at the Rock Church has seen many internationals come and go through the years. “We’ve had active … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptists embrace Operation Christmas Child
HANNIBAL – Calvary Baptist Church in Hannibal is one of the leading Baptist churches in the state of Missouri giving 1,231 shoebox gifts through Operation Christmas Child (OCC). The motivation for Calvary’s focus on this ministry year round is the Great Commission. “I’m concerned about the lost people around the world,” Jeff Anderson, pastor of Calvary, said. “The more I researched Operation Christmas Child, the more I am convinced that it is one of the most effective ways to share the … [Read more...]
Naghmeh Abedini tells of persecution against her husband
VICKI STAMPS/contributing writer BOISE, Idaho – Naghmeh Abedini’s life has been turned upside down. Her husband, Saeed, an Iranian-born pastor who is a naturalized U.S. citizen, is imprisoned in Iran’s notorious Evin Prison, known by human rights watchdog groups as one of the most brutal in all the world. Saeed was arrested a year ago at his parents’ home in Iran by five Revolutionary Guards who charged the house. He was sentenced to eight years in prison for threatening “national … [Read more...]