ST. CHARLES – For several years, Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief has handled the annual meeting childcare. This year, 2020, was the same in several respects: Steele, the 10-year old Labra-doodle dog was present; Disaster Relief staff brought toys, crafts, hands-on activities and clever games. There was one significant difference this year over last year: COVID-19 precautions. "We had 24 children on Monday. That’s less than we’ve had in the past. Last year, we had almost 50 children,” said … [Read more...]
Wives of ministry leaders get lesson on obedience through familiar words
ST. CHARLES – Every head bowed and every eye closed. These familiar words framed the humorous yet poignant message delivered by Bitsi Callahan, guest speaker at the event, “God Sees,” Ministry Wives Luncheon, which was held at the recent Missouri Baptist annual meeting in St. Charles. Women in attendance were first treated to a fabulous meal and then entertained with worship music by Chris and Rebecca Perstrope of Connect Church of Fenton. Mrs. Callahan followed, virtually on a big screen, … [Read more...]
Annual meeting offering supports ministry to refugees in St. Louis
ST. CHARLES – The “Good Neighbor Initiative” of Oasis International Ministries in the Bevo neighborhood of St. Louis, was the recipient of a $2,080 offering by MBC annual meeting messengers on the last day of the convention. Darren Casper, the Association Mission Strategist, for the St. Louis Metro Baptist Association, said the Good Neighbor Initiative attempts to connect volunteers from St. Louis area churches with an organization called Oasis International Ministries, located in the … [Read more...]
MBC messengers submit 8 motions
ST. CHARLES – Motions concerning the trustee selection and nominating committee process, critical race theory and asking pastors and directors of missions to affirm the Baptist Faith and Message were presented by messengers during the Missouri Baptist Convention’s annual meeting Oct. 26 - 27 here. Bob Ingold, a messenger from Second Baptist Church, Springfield, offered a series of five motions to amend the MBC bylaws, “related to reform of the trustee selection process” and the nominating … [Read more...]
MBC President Muniz declares, ‘Jesus saves’
ST. CHARLES – The challenge was clear. Jeremy Muniz, president of the Missouri Baptist Convention, chair of the Executive Board and senior pastor of Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Springfield, shared the need for more evangelism. “God is moving in hearts for evangelism,” he said. “We may be mediocre, but God is not. Look at the common fishermen God used to turn the world upside down. The Spirit of God must fall on us from on high.” Muniz used the story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10) to … [Read more...]
Messengers sweat the details in pro-life resolutions’ wording
ST. CHARLES – Debate ebbed back and forth to ensure wording was just right, but messengers voted to approve four resolutions during the Missouri Baptist Convention’s annual meeting, Oct. 26 and 27 here. Resolution 1 was a standard courtesy resolution expressing thanks to the local arrangements committee and the convention center staff, but Resolutions 2, 3 and 4 were more weighty. Restoration of Resident Rights Resolution 2 dealt with the restoration of resident rights. Authored by the … [Read more...]
Mohler tells MBC messengers, ‘Culture changes, the gospel does not’
ST. CHARLES – While change in the world is inevitable, Christians have confidence that the Gospel forever remains unchanged. Speaking on how the current cultural context affects Gospel presentation, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr. gave the plenary address to conclude the 2020 annual Missouri Baptist Convention held in St. Charles, Oct. 27. Mohler began his address by warmly greeting Missouri Baptists and offering compliments for meeting during the … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptists elect first black president during 2020 annual meeting
Messengers approve amendments to SBU governing documents ST. CHARLES, Mo. – During their 186th annual meeting, Oct. 26-27, messengers of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) elected their first ever black president and approved amendments to Southwest Baptist University’s governing documents. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, 842 messengers and 172 visitors from 340 churches gathered at the St. Charles Convention Center here. By contrast, the 2019 annual meeting in Branson included 1,277 … [Read more...]
Four pastors to be nominated as officers during MBC annual meeting
At press time, still no nominations for recording secretary announced ST. CHARLES – It has been announced that four pastors will be nominated to serve as Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) officers during the MBC annual meeting here, Oct. 26-27. Two of these nominations are for the office of second vice president, while at press time no nominations had been announced for the office of recording secretary. One other nomination is for president, and another for first vice president. Since … [Read more...]
FTC Luncheon to be hosted at MBC Pastors’ Conference
ST. CHARLES — Join Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary at a luncheon in conjunction with the Missouri Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference on October 26. Hear from Midwestern’s President Dr. Jason K. Allen and President of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee Ronnie Floyd. This catered lunch will be from 11:15am to 12:15pm at the St. Charles Convention Center. Lunch is free and all registered participants will receive a free book at the event. Learn more at the … [Read more...]
Harrison to be nominated for MBC second vice-president
OZARK – Lane Harrison, founding and lead pastor of Life Point Church here, will be nominated for second vice president of the Missouri Baptist Convention, according to Josh Hall, pastor, Selmore Baptist Church, Ozark, who will make the nomination. “Under Lane’s direction, LifePoint Church has grown from a church plant of 35 people in 2004, to a thriving church of several hundred in attendance each week,” Hall said. “Lane holds to the inerrancy of God’s Word, and leads his church to … [Read more...]
Mo. Baptist Pastors’ Conference aims to help Christians ‘stay the course’
ST. CHARLES – The 2020 Pastors’ Conference at the St. Charles Convention Center here on Monday, Oct. 26, kicks off two days of Missouri Baptist events. Sessions throughout the morning and early afternoon will feature speakers: Ronnie Floyd, President/CEO of the SBC Executive Committee, Nashville, Tenn.; Doug Munton, pastor of First Baptist Church, O’Fallon, Ill.; Kenny Qualls, pastor of First Baptist Church, Arnold; and Julius Wong-Loi-Sing, who formerly served as a pastor in Curacao and … [Read more...]