If we’re honest, it’s been a difficult month for Missouri Baptists. The tragic and untimely death of Missouri Baptist Children’s Home President Juston Gates was felt statewide. As Chairman of the MBC Executive Committee, Wesley Vance, so eloquently stated at the memorial service, Juston was a force. A force of compassion and care, a force of grace and goodness, a force of gospel proclamation, and a force of passion and perseverance. I was on the search committee that called Juston to … [Read more...]
Let America read the Bible with vibrant faith in Christ
More than 3 million people reportedly tuned into a livestream on Pure Flix, April 18-25, as nearly 500 leaders from across the nation read the Bible from cover to cover in celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday. Organizers of this Bible-reading marathon, called “America Reads the Bible,” described the event as “a sacred opportunity to call our nation back to its spiritual foundations.” But what of these spiritual foundations? Did the Bible play any significant role for the United … [Read more...]
Cultivating wisdom in a post-Christian culture
As American Christians in the 21st century, we have already fought many battles over political and cultural issues in the first quarter of this century. These battles have borne real fruit for the cause of Christ and the common good—whether the overturning of Roe v. Wade or the ongoing protection of religious liberty. Contrary to the doom some people have predicted, our nation has seen significant progress. That said, Christians must still engage the public square with confidence and … [Read more...]
Reasons to Celebrate!
In ministry, it always seems easier to critique rather than celebrate. The sermon might be critiqued, or maybe the song selections for a worship service. Someone may critique the food at a fellowship or the temperature in the sanctuary. I was once told the music was way too loud, only to hear from someone a few rows down that it sounded perfect. In ministry, there’s no shortage of critiques, and at times it’s appropriate, but for April I would like to consider three great reasons to … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptist camps should be free from state bureaucracy
For the past five years, Director of Missions Trent Young has lived at the campground owned by the Gasconade Valley Baptist Association. He’s the only paid staff member for the association and the campground, and with the help of volunteers he works throughout the year to maintain the property so it can be used by churches for fruitful ministry. “I’ve seen lives changed every summer in all of our camps, and I know that’s the case in the other camps across our state,” Trent told me in a … [Read more...]
An email that should’ve been a meeting
I will not tell you how many emails are currently sitting in my inbox so don’t even ask me. Don’t even try to guess. I’m a wimp when it comes to deleting. It’s too embarrassing and I simply, wimply won’t tell you how many are in there. I’m probably considered an e-hoarder though. If you suggest therapies, I won’t refuse to look into them. Just zip me an email. Or 13,000. In all fairness, the messages are not urgent, even the ones marked urgent. Even the ones marked URGENT in all caps. … [Read more...]
Hope is reaching out to older youth in foster care
by Marla Taylor Billy stood outside my office with tears streaming down his face. “This is the end of the road for me, isn’t it?” The 16 year old had his hat pulled low on his head and his countenance completely sunk. “I am getting kicked out, aren’t I? I am doomed,” he said as he walked in and fell into the beanbag chair in front of me. He had been in our older youth program for over a year and had bright plans, but something broke him. MBCH was the first place he felt cared for since … [Read more...]
Why do we, as Southern Baptists, cooperate?
As the son of a Southern Baptist pastor, I’ve only ever known Southern Baptist life. Our family vacations often included the SBC annual meeting, many of which I still vividly remember. As a child, I naively believed all Southern Baptist churches were alike. In my childhood simplicity, I thought every SBC church looked and sounded just like mine. As I grew older and became a Southern Baptist pastor, I’ve realized our convention isn’t evenly uniform. The truth is, we’re different in lots of … [Read more...]
FIRST-PERSON: Islamic eschatology and the war in Iran
“I’m lost,” the Iranian pilot cried into the microphone. I was a few months into my jet training course at Laredo Air Force Base, Texas, in 1971. At that time, the Shah of Iran, a close ally of the United States, sent his pilots for training in the United States. They were a friendly, capable lot, but this one became disoriented over the Southwest Texas terrain, ran out of gas, ejected from the aircraft and parachuted to safety. His cry of desperation still rings in my ears. Twenty years … [Read more...]
FIRST-PERSON: Pastors should be able to opt back in to Social Security
For the past 50 years, in some form or another, I have had the privilege of serving in ministry in the Southern Baptist Convention. While I now serve as interim president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, I have pastored churches in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky and Virginia, and most recently, retired as executive director of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. The financial strain of retirement While a privilege to bear, the demands on pastors are great. For most, … [Read more...]
Pray for ‘freedom in Christ, freedom of religion’ in Iran
Missouri Baptist and Southern Baptist leaders alike have called for prayer amid rising conflicts in the Middle East. God has been moving in Iran for many years, and He is continuing to work for the salvation of men and women in the region. Last year, as tensions with Iran began to rise, I spoke with my friend Ayman Ibrahim, who serves as a professor of Islamic Studies at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Christianity is expanding in the region, he told me. “I know that … [Read more...]
Better Together, Stronger Together
At our annual meeting in Branson this past October, Messenger Cody Harlow, who serves as the pastor of First Baptist Church, Camdenton, made the following motion: “The messengers of the Missouri Baptist Convention request that the Executive Board and Executive Director Treasurer prepare and present in the MBC Pathway and the MBC website, by the end of the calendar year, a statement or report on “Plan B” giving to the Cooperative Program by MBC churches, reaffirming that churches giving … [Read more...]
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 137
- Next Page »
