Politics ... It seems like a dirty word to many. The mere mention of it bothers others. And I get that irritation. We as Missouri Baptists are a gospel people, Jesus above all. And this is the right position. However, that fact has lulled some into the false notion that being about Jesus and the gospel puts them outside the realm of politics. But that can’t be true. The good news announcement touches every aspect of our lives. Complete discipleship demands our faith infiltrates our civic … [Read more...]
Baptist Homes offers Christlike care
EDITOR'S NOTE: David Sundeen serves as vice president for organizational culture and care at Baptist Homes & Healthcare Ministries. Baptist Homes and Healthcare Ministries stands proudly as a recipient of this year’s esteemed “Best Christian Workplaces” award. Achieving this recognition in our inaugural year of evaluation stands as a testament to the exceptional dedication and values ingrained within our organization. While the award itself is gratifying, we were even more blessed by … [Read more...]
May is national foster care awareness month
May is foster care awareness month. Do you know much about foster care? Are there opportunities for your church to serve right here in Missouri? Children’s Division reports indicate 12,143 children are in Missouri state custody. When comparing other states with similar populations, Missouri has nearly double the number of children in state custody. There is a shortage of foster homes, and a need to reduce the number of children in foster care by focusing on prevention. No organization is … [Read more...]
How can we mobilize church members for missions?
Last month, my church hosted an event called “Together for the Nations” put on by the International Mission Board (IMB). The purpose of this event was to introduce churches to the work of the IMB and encourage them to consider ways to join these mission efforts around the world. Several topics were addressed at this event, but the one from which I gleaned the most was about mobilizing God’s people for mission work. For pastors, few things are more exciting than mobilizing God’s people on a … [Read more...]
Spring is new life
EDITOR'S NOTE: Julie Ball serves as vice president for The LIGHT House, an affiliate of MBCH Children and Family Ministries. I’ve been in my position for 12 years. Twelve years is a long time. In those years I have changed, times have changed, the world has changed, and our clients have changed. After a dozen years, it is easy to get stagnant, easy to enter autopilot mode, easy to take it easy. Residential programming is hard, turnover is exhausting, and burnout is likely. With God’s … [Read more...]
Should pastors use Artificial Intelligence to prepare their sermons?
EDITOR'S NOTE: Matt Kimbrough serves as associate professor of theology at Southwest Baptist University. Language-learning Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools have exploded onto the scene and are expected to add $2.6 trillion to the global economy. ChatGPT, in particular, has gained popularity because it is simple and accessible. I don’t have the expertise to explain how AI works, but I can offer a few analogies to consider. In one sense, ChatGPT (a language-learning AI tool) is a … [Read more...]
‘Let all mortal flesh keep silence’
When one regards the season of Christmas, silence is not naturally a theme that comes to mind. The classic hymn, “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence,” is a bit of a dark horse. It has a Baptist presence only in the last two hymnals (1991 edition, no. 80, and the 2008 edition as no. 178) but not before then. Honestly, it probably isn’t largely sung, and it is even written in a minor key. This does not have that cinnamon-smelling, candy-cane colored Christmas confection of a boisterous … [Read more...]
Working together to reach the multitudes
The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) was founded in 1845 with the intention of “combining and directing the energies of the whole denomination in one sacred effort, for the propagation of the Gospel.” From its inception, the heartbeat of the SBC has been about reaching as many people as possible with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and this one sacred effort has fueled millions to collaborate and cooperate so that people will have access to the Gospel all across the globe. Though … [Read more...]
You can make a difference in state mission partnerships
Several years ago I was invited to join a small group of men to help lead the annual church planters retreat in Montana. I was apprehensive because our church did not have the resources to help fund the retreat in a significant way. Beyond that, I was not sure I had any particular wisdom or expertise to offer, since I was not a church planter. As I flew home after the first year much of my apprehension had disappeared. What I came to realize is that state-to-state partnerships have less to … [Read more...]
Engaging with MBCH to serve, grow
MBCH is committed to serving God by responding to the needs of children, youth and families to make a lasting difference in their lives. The mission of MBCH is an honorable mission and one that our entire ministry strives to fulfill as we carry out our work each day. If you re-read our mission statement in the first sentence, you will notice that it does not say that we seek to fulfill our mission all by ourselves or apart from the local church. In fact, we believe that we are to engage … [Read more...]
MBCH helps churches protect the vulnerable
by Angie Gentry, FRD/TFC Supervisor, MBCH Children and Family Ministries When church leaders and parents learn that one in ten children are sexually abused before they turn eighteen and ninety percent of children are abused by someone they know and trust, the safety of children becomes a top priority for churches everywhere, yet many churches do not have a plan in place to ensure the safety of their children. MBCH Children and Family Ministries can help churches across the state to … [Read more...]
The power of a personal invitation
I felt my call to vocational ministry back in 2005 during a revival service at Union Hill Baptist Church in Holts Summit, Mo. Shortly after that, I began looking at colleges to attend in order to begin the preparation process for this calling and I was connected to Dr. Tom Hufty who, at the time, served as Vice President at Hannibal-LaGrange College (now University). I’ll never forget my first discussion with him as I was explaining my call to pastoral ministry and how he looked me in … [Read more...]
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