JEFFERSON CITY – Last month, as Missouri Baptist churches received their remittance forms for Cooperative Program (CP) and designated giving in 2018, church leaders noticed something different. Starting Jan. 1, 2018, there is no longer the option to give to CP through Plan A or Plan B. That’s because messengers at the 2017 Annual Meeting approved a 2018 budget that no longer allocates a portion of CP funding for “agency restoration.” And that’s good news for Missouri Baptists, according … [Read more...]
Messengers utilize childcare ministry at annual meeting
RAYTOWN – Little Liam didn’t want to leave. The four-year-old was busy working on a craft and he wasn’t done yet. “He was really concerned that I picked him up before he could finish the craft, so he was excited to get back to it today,” said Caleb Smith, pastor of Aurora Springs Baptist Church near Eldon, and father of Liam, 4, and Cade, 2. “He loves craft time and singing time.” Smith and his wife, Melissa, utilized the free childcare provided at the 2017 Missouri Baptist Convention … [Read more...]
Ministry wives celebrate devotion to God, calling
RAYTOWN – Ministry wives know what it means to be devoted. They are devoted to their husbands, they are devoted to their children and they are devoted to their ministry. “But are you fully devoted to God?” asked Kelli Jordan, leadership development manager for MOPS International, an organization dedicated to sharing the good news of Jesus with moms around the world. “It amazes me how far off track I can get when I’m busy with my other devotions and I’m not paying attention to my number … [Read more...]
Elliff, Ezell featured in brunch
RAYTOWN – Church leaders from throughout the state gathered for a ministers’ brunch, Oct. 25, following the Missouri Baptist Convention annual meeting here, where they heard again from former International Mission Board President Tom Elliff and current North American Mission Board President Kevin Ezell. Before a time of questions and answers, Elliff encouraged ministers to invest themselves in the church where God has placed them. “Effectiveness is being content within the … [Read more...]
Elliff, former IMB prez, speaks to messengers
RAYTOWN — The preacher said he was going to start with an altar call. “At the end of my message we are going to call you to come down and pray,” Dr. Tom Elliff said to the MBC messengers at the concluding session of the MBC annual meeting on Tuesday night. Elliff was president of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention from 2011 to 2014, preceding current president Dr. David Platt. He spoke from his heart, without notes, in front of the pulpit for the … [Read more...]
Missouri Pastors’ Conference highlights spiritual heritage
RAYTOWN – The Missouri Pastors’ Conference tied future generations with past influence, emphasizing the importance of spiritual heritage. Matt Kearns, MBC Making Disciples Catalyst Leader, spoke poignantly about the influence of his late mother. He recalled often seeing his mother with her open Bible on her lap. Kearns said in her last weeks, a nurse checked on her about 2:30 a.m. at a care facility, to find her on her knees, praying. Greg Stier, a youth ministry leader and author … [Read more...]
Dabler leads sessions on conflict, health of ministers
RAYTOWN— Where two or more are gathered, there will be conflict. Though that’s not exactly the truth Jesus shared in Matthew 18:20, it doesn’t make the statement any less true. “Conflict is tearing apart the Bride of Christ,” said Judy Dabler, founder of Creative Conciliation, during one of her presentations on conflict and the personal and spiritual health of church leaders at the Missouri Baptist Convention annual meeting here. “Conflict happens when the righteous, sinful or fallen … [Read more...]
Resolutions spotlight life, liberty, orphan care, Reformation
RAYTOWN – Missouri Baptists approved five resolutions during their annual meeting at Connection Point Church here, Oct. 24. Through their resolutions, they expressed appreciation for recent legislation protecting the unborn and supporting religious liberty, they called churches to support adoption and orphan care, and they marked the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. “Appreciation for Legislation Preserving Free Exercise of Religion”: In this resolution, Missouri … [Read more...]
NAMB’s Ezell urges Baptists to ‘live on mission’
RAYTOWN – “Thank you for the Cooperative Program, Thank you for Annie Armstrong (offerings) for the North American Mission Board” said Dr. Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board (NAMB) in his Tuesday night message to the MBC annual meeting. He said his first church was in Ft. Worth, Texas while he was in seminary and he got a unanimous call—all 7 of the members voted for him to be pastor. “But it doesn’t matter if it is 7 people or 7,000 people, we are to bear … [Read more...]
Gov. Greitens addresses messengers on religious liberty, pro-life agenda
RAYTOWN – For the first time since 2005, the governor of Missouri spoke to messengers at the Missouri Baptist Convention annual meeting which took place at Connection Point Church here Oct. 25. Eric Greitens, a republican and political newcomer with only 10 months of office under his belt, received a warm welcome with his pro-life, pro-religious liberty message. The governor also thanked messengers for their prayers for him, his family, and the rest of state government. He spent half an … [Read more...]
Baker takes a look on the inside during annual convention sermon
RAYTOWN – Building off of a cryptic title, Kirk Baker, pastor of First Baptist, Camdenton, delivered the annual sermon to Missouri Baptist Convention annual meeting, speaking on “Chicken, cheese and cereal.” The title was a playful take off of Velveeta, a “cheese product,” Wyngz, a chicken-based snack with no wing meat, and Froot Loops, the sweet cereal that yet contains zero fruit. His text was 1 John 3:11-16: “For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love … [Read more...]
We are true partners, Yeats tells MBC
RAYTOWN – Followers of Jesus are true partners in the Lord, John Yeats, Missouri Baptist Convention executive director, said during his address to messengers at the MBC annual meeting at Connection Point Church here, Oct. 23. “Missouri Baptists, we’re better together,” said Yeats. “That’s the gist of synergy: people can accomplish more together than separately.” Yeats noted that the apostle Paul, in his writings, uses the Greek word synergos – the root word for synergy – several times … [Read more...]
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