HUNTSVILLE, Texas (BP) – “I’ve been in prison before,” Michael Rios humbly reflects. “I came in when I was very young. I had the right ideas, I had the right intents: get out, get married, have a life.” Dressed in a white prison uniform, Rios speaks slowly but directly, his tattooed hands slowly gesturing to accentuate his words. He has been in prison longer than some of his fellow inmates have even been alive. Though Rios had the “right intents,” bad choices kept him locked up, and he is … [Read more...]
Stier: Believers must ‘dare to share’
SPRINGFIELD – There is no room for timidity when it comes to sharing the good news of Jesus. That was the message of Greg Stier, the founder of Dare 2 Share evangelism resources, during the Great Commission Conference at Ridgecrest Baptist Church here Feb. 25. Stier and his entire extended family are Christians today because someone shared the gospel with one of his uncles, quite literally on a dare. “I don’t come from a typical, religious, hymn-singing, pew-sitting family,” he said. “I … [Read more...]
Compassion: ministry’s missing link
SPRINGFIELD – Ed Stetzer believes a main reason more people are not witnessing to the lost is a lack of compassion. Stetzer, executive director for the Billy Graham Center for Evangelism at Wheaton College, indicated many people have a saving faith in Jesus Christ, and many believe those without faith should be reached, but lack their own conviction in carrying out personal evangelism. Stetzer shared Matthew 9:35-38 where Jesus told the disciples to pray to the Lord of the harvest for the … [Read more...]
‘Transformation Talks’: Apply gospel to all of life
SPRINGFIELD – A set of brief “Transformation Talks” at the Missouri Baptist Convention’s Great Commission Conference here, Feb. 24, prompted Missouri Baptists to consider how they might take gospel-transformation into their communities. Josh Branham, pastor of Fairview Baptist Church, Joplin, said that the “Transformation Talks” reminded him about the importance of developing a godly, deep compassion for those who don’t know Christ. And this compassion should drive Christians to take the … [Read more...]
Reid to GCC: ‘Share Jesus without freaking out’
SPRINGFIELD – “What freaks you out the most?” asked Alvin Reid at the MBC Great Commission conference. Reid, professor of evangelism at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He then proceeded to show the audience a series of photos of snakes he has kept as pets, including some poisonous ones. “Some people think sharing Jesus with someone would freak them out” he said. But “Witnessing is an honor” he refuted. Reid continued to share insights from his forthcoming book “Sharing … [Read more...]
Mission is to make disciples
SPRINGFIELD – While many people today disdain meetings, Ed Litton told participants of the Great Commission Conference here that Jesus set an appointment that they should all join in on with excitement. “Jesus only had one scheduled meeting, and it was the most profound, most productive meeting,” said Litton a former church planter and now pastor of Redemption Church (a.k.a., First Baptist, North Mobile, Alabama.) That appointment is what Christians often call the Great Commission – the … [Read more...]
Baptisms, outreach to military, draw church’s focus
LEESVILLE, La. (BP) -- Sherry Slaydon gave her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren a priceless gift -- the opportunity to celebrate her new life in Christ by being present at her baptism. "I pray watching their grandma proclaim her love for God was an inspiration to them," said Slaydon of her baptism that took place at East Leesville Baptist Church in Louisiana shortly before Christmas this past December. "I had people tell me I had a glow afterward … words can't describe the … [Read more...]
From dysfunctional family, Greg Stier impacts 1,000,000 teens
In this interview with Harold Hendrick, Greg Stier describes how he went from an almost unbelievably rough background to an amazing youth leader who has now shared the good news of Jesus face-to-face with 1,000,000 teens! Greg is a real life example that the living God can change, improve and make productive all of us. Greg is to be one of the outstanding leaders at the Great Commission Conference in Springfield February 23 – 25, 2017, find details at mobaptist.org Listen to other … [Read more...]
Thousands of children to exemplify love Feb. 18
JEFFERSON CITY – Children in Missouri will unite with thousands of their peers across North America on Saturday, Feb. 18, as they share God’s love in their communities on Children’s Ministry Day (CMD). The one-day missions experience was created by Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) in 2008 for children 1st-6th grade, and will be celebrated this year during Focus on WMU Week, which is Feb. 13-19. Focus on WMU Week is designed to help churches become acquainted, or reacquainted, with … [Read more...]
‘Give it to Jesus:’ 8-year-old’s Christmas CD raises $1,400 for hunger relief
TROY – Carmen Cowles didn’t think twice when her music teacher asked her if she wanted to record a Christmas CD in his home studio. The eight-year-old second grader also didn’t have to think twice when her grandmother, Cathy Irwin, asked her what she wanted to do with any proceeds that might come from selling it. “She immediately told me, ‘Give it to Jesus,’” Irwin said. So that’s what Cowles did, selling the CD to her church family at First Baptist, Troy, door to door in her … [Read more...]
Dream fulfilled: Burundi family accepts Christ
KANSAS CITY – Omar Segovia had a $50 bill burning a hole in his pocket but no one to give it to. As the Missouri Baptist Convention church planting missionary prayer-walked through a low-income neighborhood in Kansas City, he was seeking out a man he’d met earlier who might could use the cash. The problem was, Omar couldn’t remember exactly where the man lived. “As I prayer walked, I was intentionally praying for someone that I or some local church could disciple,” Segovia said. Not … [Read more...]
Refugees become friends for St. Louis Baptists
ST. LOUIS – Friendship is the focus of the new “Good Neighbor Initiative” established by the St. Louis Metro Baptist Association. The Initiative seeks to match Missouri Baptist families with refugee families new to the area. “The reality of increasing numbers of refugees,” Darren Casper, associate executive director of St. Louis Metro Association, said, “from war-torn countries with little more than the shirt on their backs, makes it important for us to connect with them in love.” When … [Read more...]
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