All across the front of the worship center, the people stood. This rural church, which 14 months ago was pastored by a dual-income pastor, had seven mission projects on the church calendar for July. Those projects included an international outreach, disaster relief response, Vacation Bible School, and children and youth camps. It was a wonderful experience to pray for them. Wait! The word “wonderful” is too inadequate. Let’s try, “Powerful!” Was it powerful because these wonderful … [Read more...]
Praise Him!
“While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.” – Psalms 146:2 What we are told by society and what the Bible says often do not match. For years, teachers and parents have been told to praise children. The Bible tells us that we should praise God. A parent should be able to know when and how to praise. Children need to learn that gifts and abilities ultimately come from God, not self. There are some undesired outcomes associated with … [Read more...]
Change children’s lives by sending them to camp
Before moving into my current role at MBCH Foundation I worked as a Regional Representative for northeast Missouri and the St. Louis metro area. I loved being on the road every day and meeting with Missouri Baptist Children’s Home (MBCH) supporters from all walks of life. During this time two things came to stand out to me: first, MBCH is blessed to have incredibly generous and genuinely Christ following supporters, and second, our local Missouri Baptist church leadership are unsung … [Read more...]
‘The harvest is plentiful …’
“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” Matthew 9:37 I was overwhelmed by the response. Last fall the Board of Trustees for the Missouri Baptist Foundation decided they wanted to demonstrate their commitment to Christian higher education and to the students. (We are so blessed to have three great Baptist Universities in our state, each led by a capable Christian scholar/administrator; plus, we have the unique benefit of an SBC Seminary in Missouri as well, and one that is … [Read more...]
God, creation and the day men walked on the moon
While enjoying a late-night snack on July 20, 1969, as a 15-year-old I joined 600 million other earthlings in watching the incredible telecast of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walking on the moon. It occurred at a time in history similar to ones in which we live today. The Vietnam War was tearing at our nation, the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy triggered riots as cities burned and the erotic revolution activated much of today’s sexual controversies. But for a brief … [Read more...]
Wearing Jesus – let’s wade on in
Has it ever happened to you? You’re out shopping and find a great outfit. On the hanger? Perfection. But in the dressing room? Oh my. You see it from an entirely different angle. I’m not sure how to say it, but it seems in recent years, my angles have swerved in a not-so-good direction. Dis-angular. Is that a thing? Is fish-tailing something that can happen to body angles? I was so disconcerted after my last trip to the dressing room that I came home and accidentally wrote a poem. I think … [Read more...]
The indwelling Holy Spirit
This is the eighth in a series of excerpts from the new MBC resource, What Every Christian Should Know About Salvation, available at mobaptist.org/apologetics. Followers of Jesus take comfort in knowing that the Holy Spirit indwells us. That is, the third person of the Godhead has taken up permanent residence in our human spirits, from which He engages in the lifelong ministry of conforming us to the image of Christ. While regeneration is the work of the Holy Spirit that brings sinners … [Read more...]
FOURTH OF JULY: Let us pray
EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a first-person article by Ronnie Floyd, president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee and author of "How to Pray: Developing an Intimate Relationship with God." NASHVILLE (BP) – July 4, as the day we set aside to celebrate America's independence, is but one of 365 days that are crucial for our country's future. Each day, we must join in prayer for America. Our nation is in dire need of a new, fresh touch of God. Sin is abounding in a … [Read more...]
FOURTH OF JULY: Chaplains, fog of war, flow of life
EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a first-person article by Chaplain (MG) Doug Carver, USA-Retired, executive director of chaplaincy for the North American Mission Board. The article is adapted from his address honoring veterans on the opening day of the June 11-12 Southern Baptist Convention in Birmingham, Ala. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP) – Seventy-five years ago, in June 1944, after the largest amphibious landing in history, U.S. and Allied forces began their offensive push from the blood-soaked … [Read more...]
Seven winners!
While at the Southern Baptist Convention, the National Hockey League Stanley Cup playoffs were underway. Unless you were in “airplane mode,” you know that the St. Louis Blues decisively triumphed! A big win for the team. A great win for St. Louis area supporters. The rest of the “Show-Me” state celebrates the winners. As I write, I’m on the plane from Birmingham. I began reflecting/evaluating about the past few days of SBC activity. I must confess that responsibilities as the recording … [Read more...]
A summer of pro-life lawsuits, MONA and intersectionality
While Gov. Mike Parson and members of the Missouri General Assembly deserve much praise in their steadfast opposition to relicensing the controversial Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Louis, one name that does not garner near the accolades deserved is that of Dr. Randall Williams, director of the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), which issues the licenses for all health care facilities in Missouri. Williams, a man of deep faith, is an Ob-Gyn with more than 30 years of … [Read more...]
Shall we help pastors held captive by sin?
Pastors and ministers across Missouri are being held captive by something that is destroying them from the inside out. No one is immune – small town preachers, megachurch pastors, seminary teachers and convention leaders have been affected and publicly named. Our churches and conventions are suffering the consequences. These men have something in common with a man I met a few years ago. When I met him, he was unemployed with little prospect of a good job. He was divorced, estranged from … [Read more...]
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