In this issue there are several stories about the MBC annual meeting. When Missouri Baptists convene, we are one of the largest annual meetings among the state conventions in partnership with the Southern Baptist Convention. This year we had 1,022 messengers from 440 churches and 236 registered guests. I’m grateful for every Missouri Baptist and guest who came to hear, see, and learn about the amazing cooperative ministries our churches do throughout our state, this nation and the world. … [Read more...]
Yeats highlights Missouri Baptist vision, mission
SPRINGFIELD – During the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) annual meeting here, Oct. 26, Executive Director John Yeats highlighted the reorientation of the MBC staff around a mission grounded in the historical purpose for which the convention was founded and around the MBC’s vision for the future. Yeats urged Missouri Baptists to embrace a sense of urgency as they engage a culture desperately in need of the transforming gospel of Jesus Christ. Starting two years ago, Yeats challenged the … [Read more...]
Franks urges Missouri Baptists to move forward
SPRINGFIELD – To promote forward thinking, Neil Franks looked back. Franks, pastor of First Baptist, Branson, gave the president’s address at this year’s Missouri Baptist Convention annual meeting, using a cleverly-filmed video and a throwback to his high school days to drive home his point. The video showed a man walking forward on a street, while the world moved in reverse around him. But then Franks showed the video the way it was filmed: the man walked backwards; he, not the people … [Read more...]
Ripken: Persecuted Christians see miracle of everday U.S. churches
SPRINGFIELD – The International Mission Board’s Nik Ripken opened a window on the realities facing persecuted believers worldwide and on the way those believers view American Christianity during the Missouri Baptist Convention annual meeting, Oct. 28. “There is no free church and persecuted church,” Ripken said. “There is just the church. And it is always persecuted and it is always free. And when any part of your body is hurting and you’re not aware of it, and you’re not concerned about … [Read more...]
MBC’s Yeats outlines restructuring, attendees focus on religious liberty
SPRINGFIELD – Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) messengers pressed forward during their 181st annual meeting with the restructuring of the convention’s staff and with the defense of religious liberty. A total of 1,022 messengers and 236 guests from 440 churches gathered, Oct. 26-28, at Springfield’s University Plaza and Expo Center, where MBC Executive Director John Yeats highlighted the need for the convention to return to its original mission to “make disciples, multiply churches, and … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptist women hear message of courage
SPRINGFIELD – Five years ago Jennifer Rothschild was ready to quit ministry and hide in her bedroom. “I want to be gut-honest with you, Sisters. I was defeated and depressed,” she said to a packed ballroom of more than 200 Missouri Baptist women at the University Plaza Hotel here. “My system for managing my blindness was failing me … but I am so thankful that God never fails me. In that moment I preached to my soul, ‘I Am.’ That’s when you realize what can change everything. There is a … [Read more...]
Gospel at the CORE of making disciples
SPRINGFIELD – While the unifying theme for this year’s two-session CORE conference was Making Disciples, the takeaway inspired messengers to share the gospel more. Organized by Matt Kearns, Leadership Development Team Leader for the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC), the CORE conference took place Oct. 27 in the Springfield Expo Center as part of the 181st annual meeting of the MBC. “While the gospel will change others as we share it, it should be changing us,” said Alvin Reid, professor of … [Read more...]
Floyd: Cry out for ‘unprecedented move of God’
SPRINGFIELD – As the MBC Annual Meeting concluded, Ronnie Floyd, president of the Southern Baptist Convention and pastor of Cross Church, Springdale, Arkansas, spoke to the messengers. His sermon was titled “Moving Forward in God’s Power.” Floyd said missions organizations, state conventions, associations can drift away from their central purpose. “The danger is they lose sight of their priorities and focus, drifting away from God’s mission and power,” he said. He told of the Great Prayer … [Read more...]
Shelton preaches on gospel treasure
SPRINGFIELD – The Apostle Paul wrote his second letter to the church at Corinth amid an era of spiritual immaturity and an increasingly sinful culture. Robert Shelton preached to Missouri Baptists that they would do well to consider Paul’s words in the convention sermon Oct. 27 at the Missouri Baptist Convention’s annual meeting. The pastor of First Baptist Church, Plattsburg, Shelton preached from 2 Corinthians 4. “It was a time of religious pluralism, an age of decadent lifestyles and an … [Read more...]
Pastors challenged to seek revival
SPRINGFIELD – Eight speakers challenged and encouraged attendees of the Missouri Baptist Pastors’ Conference, Oct. 26. Jeremy Roberts, The Church in the Highlands in Chattanooga TN pastor, admonished ministers not to compare themselves with others. “Stop feeling inferiority or superiority to others, but stand in the sufficiency of God,” Roberts said. He said the solution is to honor, magnify and glorify God, and be thankful. “(This) stops the focus on ourselves. It is a blessing to have our … [Read more...]
Luncheon highlights MBC partnership with Italy
SPRINGFIELD – MBC Annual Meeting participants heard Charles Worthy, Connecting Leader for Italy with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, as he spoke at the partnership missions luncheon here. Rick Hedger, team leader for the MBC Missional Evangelism/Discipleship Team, cast the vision for 15 Missouri churches to agree to partner with three regions of Italy: Veneto, Tentino Alto and Friuli Venezia Giulia. These are all in the northeastern part of Italy, and each region has … [Read more...]
Messengers speak on religious liberty, sanctity of life, Israel
SPRINGFIELD – Speaking with one voice and with little debate, messengers to the Missouri Baptist Convention annual meeting here were unified in their support of a resolution reaffirming religious liberty for all Americans. “Resolution 3” spoke in defense of religious liberty, pointing out that Baptist in the United States and in Missouri have a long history of supporting freedom of religious exercise for all. The resolution notes that “religious liberty guarantees, not merely the right of … [Read more...]