ST. LOUIS (BP) – Nik Ripken almost abandoned hope when he first arrived in Somalia 25 years ago. Ripken, then a young International Mission Board (IMB) missionary, had caught a ride with the Red Cross in a small plane carrying relief supplies across the border between Kenya and its war-ravaged neighbor. What he saw shook him to the core. He met parents who asked for burial cloths for the children they'd lost rather than food and water for themselves and saw soldiers passing out narcotics … [Read more...]
‘Check your faith at the church door’
MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a set of anti-terrorism laws, July 7, that included severe restrictions on evangelism. These measures, set to go into effect, July 20, will compel Russian believers to check their faith at the church door. According to the new law, people cannot evangelize beyond the four walls of registered churches. Evangelism in public areas, in homes, and online are prohibited. Foreigners who violate the law could be deported, and Russian citizens … [Read more...]
Missions effectiveness examined by SBC leaders
ST. LOUIS (BP) – Entity leaders discussed ways to be more effective in global missions during one of 18 Cooperative Program panel discussions held June 13-15 in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in St. Louis. The videotaped discussion took place at one side of the America Center’s exhibit hall with Jon Akin, pastor of Fairview Baptist Church near Nashville moderating. Responding to his questions were Frank S. Page, president of the SBC’s Executive … [Read more...]
Crossover projects bring thousands to St. Louis
BADEN – Stretching from north county St. Louis almost halfway to Cape Girardeau and from Union to East St. Louis, Missourians turned out in force on the hottest day of the year for Crossover, the evangelistic push preceding the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting. Nearly 4,000 volunteers – many from Missouri – took part in more than 8,000 gospel conversations at 85 events around the metro area. 556 people accepted Christ as a result of those conversations. Coordinated through the … [Read more...]
Missourians share why they attended the SBC annual meeting
ST. LOUIS – Several messengers to the SBC Annual Meeting shared they value the cooperation and joint missional efforts highlighted at the annual convention of Southern Baptists held every June. Kyle Bridgeman, associate pastor of First Baptist Church Maysville, said: “I attend the SBC and state convention because I believe it is an opportunity to be a part of deciding how Baptists can reach our world for Christ. The primary reason for pastors to attend is to be strengthened by fellowship … [Read more...]
WMU highlights missional discipleship
ST. LOUIS (BP) – Wanda S. Lee, executive director of national WMU, thanked Southern Baptists for partnering through missions education to equip the next generation of missionaries, an endeavor she described as more critical than ever before in an increasingly postmodern world. Lee noted to messengers June 15 at the SBC annual meeting: “It is our desire to partner with every Southern Baptist church in discipling preschoolers, children, youth and adults by engaging them in meaningful … [Read more...]
Lottie Moon offering a record setting $165.8M
RICHMOND, Va. (BP) – Southern Baptists provided resounding support through the 2015 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. Finalized in early June, the 2015 Lottie Moon offering totaled $165.8 million – the highest total in the 127-year history of the offering. The offering surpassed the previous all-time record of $154 million in 2013 by $11.8 million. “Southern Baptists have exhibited their commitment to God’s mission through these gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas … [Read more...]
‘Forgotten’ mark young couple’s ministry
Article by Kathie Chute, Gateway Seminary SACATON, Ariz. (BP) – As soon as Eric Gibbs stepped onto the Tohono O’odham Nation, one of the largest Native American reservations in the country, he felt a love for the people there. “After seeing the needs of that community, I knew my time in Arizona would be more than just a week,” Gibbs said of the short-term mission trip he took as a college student, a trip he didn’t think much about beforehand. Gibbs returned home to finish his degree and … [Read more...]
St. Louis Apostles Church works to bridge racial divide
ST. LOUIS – Delmar Boulevard, also known as The Delmar Divide, crosses St. Louis from east to west and features million-dollar mansions directly to the south and poverty-stricken areas to its north. The neighborhood is also racially divided; south of Delmar is 70 percent white and north of Delmar is 98 percent black. But Missouri Baptist Convention Church Planter Todd Genteman believes that God can unite people divided by such natural barriers. That’s why Genteman, pastor of Apostles … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptists multiply church at home, globally
JEFFERSON CITY – In the fall of 2013, five members from Norfleet Baptist Church of Kansas City set out to East Africa in their first effort to reach a people group thirsty for the gospel. Since that time, church members have reach hundreds of people and have helped to plant five churches in the region. When they return this fall, they expect to witness 200 baptisms. “It’s a Gideon thing for us to do this,” said Scott Flippin, pastor of the congregation of roughly 65. But, through the grace … [Read more...]
A transformed life: Springfield woman saved from life of drugs, adultery
SPRINGFIELD – Transformed by the power of the Gospel, a former Jehovah’s Witness with a history of abortion, drugs, and adultery, now lives to see that same power transform the lives of others. Jessie McDaris of Springfield recently shared her story with the desire that more people would experience the life-changing love of Christ. McDaris spent her early childhood years in a devout Jehovah’s Witness family. Following the teaching of the church, the family did not celebrate birthdays or … [Read more...]
Odessa shows love in mission effort
ODESSA – First Baptist Church here ramped up its efforts to transform lives within their community this spring. For several years, First Odessa has had a passion for missions. For three years, they have sent a team to Nicaragua. For six years, they’ve been to Brazil. A mission team of 90 will go to Minneapolis in July. Yet Mission Pastor David Vailes said that some people in the community, as well as in the church, expressed concern that they were not doing enough to reach people with the … [Read more...]
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