ST. CHARLES – One look at the lovable face of Steele the labradoodle and Missouri Baptist children were put right at ease. “We like to hang around at check-in because many of the kiddos are anxious and Steele will get them excited, or at least a little distracted, to go into the childcare room,” said Ann Stevenson, Disaster Relief (DR) volunteer, member of First Baptist Church, Richland, and Steele’s handler. Steele is a professional therapy dog and has been part of the Missouri Baptist … [Read more...]
CORE speakers urge church multiplication
ST. CHARLES – J.D. Payne, pastor for church multiplication with The Church of Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama, addressed the CORE Conference at the annual meeting. The CORE Conference focuses on the “Core” values of making disciples; multiplying churches and developing leaders. “The definition of church planting,” Payne said, “is evangelism that results in new churches. The gravity of the scripture requires that we look back at the biblical model of how churches were birthed. It will … [Read more...]
Messengers speak on transgender identity
ST. CHARLES – The people and churches making up the Missouri Baptist Convention lent their collective voice to three resolutions during the annual meeting, each one without opposition or discussion. Resolutions are nonbinding, but they do offer a way for members to speak on certain issues with one voice. Messengers approved a resolution on Christian citizenship, urging all believers to prayerfully consider issues, platforms and candidates and then vote in the Nov. 8 elections. … [Read more...]
Franks urges messengers to return to ‘real reality’
ST. CHARLES – Missouri Baptist Convention President Neil Franks spoke to the convention during the opening session of the MBC annual meeting, Oct. 24. He urged messengers to push back to “real reality.” Franks is the pastor of First Baptist Church, Branson. He took the platform with his smartphone in hand and wandered around with a gleeful facial expression exclaiming “Who would have thought there would be this many Pokemon at this convention!” PokemonGo is a video game with a smartphone … [Read more...]
Ratliff challenges not to settle for a ‘powerless’ Gospel
ST. CHARLES – Ron Ratliff, pastor of Tenth Street Baptist Church in Trenton is a cowboy poet and a preacher, and he did a little of both as he presented the Convention Sermon to messengers at the Missouri Baptist Convention Annual Meeting here. Ratliff preached from 2 Timothy 3, Paul’s description of difficult times. In verse 5, Paul specifically warns Timothy that he must not “have a form of godliness, but denying its power.” This is what is wrong with the church in America, Ratliff … [Read more...]
Gaines buoys those ‘stuck in a cave’
ST. CHARLES –The president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) brought Missouri Baptists’ annual meeting to a close with his sermon based on 1 Kings 19. Steve Gaines, who was elected SBC president this June in St. Louis and serves as pastor of Bellevue in Memphis, Tenn., told the crowds that many times, there is a spiritual valley after a great victory. In the passage, Elijah runs from Jezebel and Ahab, hiding in the wilderness. He cries out to God, “I’ve had enough, Lord take my … [Read more...]
‘You are never alone,’ Yeats tells messengers
ST. CHARLES – Followers of Jesus are never alone, John Yeats, Missouri Baptist Convention executive director, told messengers at the Missouri Baptist Convention’s annual meeting here, Oct. 24-26. Yeats spoke to Missouri Baptists in his president’s address during the opening session of the meeting, held in the St. Charles Convention Center. “The Lord Jesus said to His followers, ‘I am with you always, to the end of the age,’” noted Yeats. “And in Hebrews 13 He reminded us, ‘I will never … [Read more...]
Williams keynotes CORE, annual meeting
ST. CHARLES – Compassion and revival were the focus of the sermons by K. Marshall Williams, senior pastor of Nazarene Baptist Church in Philadelphia, during the CORE Conference and the final session of the annual meeting. Williams discussed Matthew 9:35-37 during the CORE Conference. “Jesus went through the towns ministering,” Williams said, “and had compassion on the harassed and helpless. We are facing this today and we need to have compassion. Jesus was a lover of souls. We have the … [Read more...]
Mo. Baptists stand together at annual meeting
ST. CHARLES – Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) messengers stood together during their 182nd annual meeting, urging believers to active Christian citizenship and defending biblical views of the sanctity of life and transgenderism. A total of 861 messengers and 195 guests from 366 churches gathered Oct. 24-26 at the St. Charles Convention Center, where MBC Executive Director John Yeats reminded them that they need never be alone. He encouraged them with Christ’s words, “I am with you … [Read more...]
Partnership missions lunch features missiologist J.D. Payne
ST. CHARLES – The luncheon speaker raised a key question: "Are we being wise stewards, considering the state of the world and the large group of resources we have?" The questioner reminded the lunch crowd that they were eating a fine meal, but that amount of food is more than many people in some parts of the world would have for several days. A sobering thought. The Partnership Missions luncheon is always one of the more popular convention related activities at the MBC annual meeting. … [Read more...]
‘Satisfied’ theme of women’s luncheon
ST. CHARLES — From the chicken pesto, chocolate cake and take-home goody bag to the theme scripture passage found in Psalm 63:1-5, Missouri Baptist women left the 2016 Ministry Wives Luncheon completely satisfied. “As ministry wives we are often judged, or at least we feel judged, and we just can’t live up to it all,” said Juli Perstrope, president of this year’s group of luncheon officers and wife of Dr. Buddy Perstrope, pastor at First Baptist Church, St. Charles. “That’s why we … [Read more...]
Pastor’s challenged to seek renewal
ST. CHARLES – Four speakers at the annual pastor’s conference of the Missouri Baptist Convention meeting October 24 used the theme “Call down Fire” to bring inspirational words. Those preaching were Missouri Baptist Evangelist Roger Alford, Larry Wynn of the Georgia Baptist Convention, Dr. Herb Reavis of North Jacksonville (Fla.) Baptist, and Southern Baptist Convention president elect Dr. Steve Gaines. Alford took a mock campaign to tell of his candidate. “My candidate was born in a … [Read more...]