Thrills. Different people find them in different ways, from different places, according to different personalities and various likes, dislikes and individual pain tolerances. Personally, I get a real charge from an all-day trip to the mall. I get a real “charge.” – Get it? … Never mind. Anyway, if you offered my husband a choice between going to the mall and being covered in poison ivy, you might as well go ahead and pass him the calamine. He said the other day—in a perfectly serious … [Read more...]
The Apologist’s Tool Kit now available
Thank you, Missouri Baptists, for enthusiastically supporting the MBC’s new apologetics ministry. Over the last year, I have been privileged to speak or lead workshops in many churches across the state to help Christians “earnestly contend for the faith” (Jude 3). Topics have ranged from “How do I know the Bible is true?” to “What do false prophets have in common?” As many of you know, apologetics simply is “a reasonable defense of the Christian faith.” For followers of Jesus there has … [Read more...]
Pastor, family make return to Congo for mission work
KINSHASA, Congo – It is a dark, occult-like world, but a Missouri pastor and his family took the message of Jesus’ love to the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo during a recent mission trip. First Baptist, LaBelle, Pastor James Renot and family took a two-week trip in June to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, a place where they served as International Mission Board (IMB) missionaries from 2005-07. Now, few missionaries are there, with even IMB pulling out. “The obstacles … [Read more...]
Praying for the persecuted church
Umar Mulinde grew up in a strict Muslim home in Uganda. His grandfather was an imam (religious leader), and Umar was trained in Islamic thought, which went unchallenged until he left home for college. One Sunday Umar visited a church for the first time and was so impressed with the gospel that he surrendered his life to Christ. Three Muslim friends saw him leave the church and attacked him. He assumed the beatings would stop. He was wrong. In time, Umar preached in a church that … [Read more...]
On Kirk Cameron’s ‘Unstoppable’ faith
KANSAS CITY (BP) — I’m not sure I could take the slings and arrows Kirk Cameron has had to dodge or endure. Cameron is famous and talented but add devotion to your Christian walk and there’s a huge target on your back. The star of the sitcom “Growing Pains,” the “Left Behind” apocalyptic series, the breakthrough faith-based drama “Fireproof” and the insightful documentary “Monumental” is paying a price for his gifts and resolve. Although I’d already interviewed Cameron three times, during … [Read more...]
Freshwater Church gives birth to ‘twins’
JEFFERSON CITY – Freshwater Church in Bolivar birthed two new churches on Sept. 8. One was in Jefferson City, the other in Springfield. Freshwater Church, Jefferson City, officially launched by meeting at a Lutheran high school near Wardsville. Joshua Hartley was called as planter/pastor in June. Freshwater Church, Springfield, was launched at Ed V. Williams Elementary School. It is led by Planter/Pastor J. T. Patton. Their mother church, Freshwater Church, Bolivar, is pastored by … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptists catch NAMB’s Send Kansas City vision
Eva Wilson/Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists KANSAS CITY – As the hot August sun beat down outside, a group in the basement of the stately stone church building here enjoyed Cuban food for lunch and heard testimonies of how God is at work. The Multiethnic Church Planting Center, housed in the former Presbyterian church building at 217 Benton Blvd., was one of the stops on the first “Catch the Vision” tour held Aug. 27-28. The tour was part of Send Kansas City, an effort to … [Read more...]
Portable baptisteries see use for church plants
ST. LOUIS – Two portable baptisteries have been provided for use in Kansas City and St Louis by joint funding from the North American Mission Board and the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC). Rick Hedger, MBC partnership missions strategist, provided the funds to support the church planting underway. “The need to support SEND Kansas City and SEND St. Louis church planting strategies was my motivation for providing them,” said Hedger. “Baptism is the first step of obedience in … [Read more...]
“CORE” to feature evangelism, urban ministry leaders
KANSAS CITY – Robert E. Coleman, the author of The Master Plan of Evangelism, and Atlanta pastor Dhati Lewis will headline the “CORE” sessions of the Missouri Baptist Convention’s annual meeting, Oct. 29. Matt Kearns, leadership development team leader at the convention, hopes that the “CORE” conference will “inspire, challenge and encourage” Missouri Southern Baptists for “the glory of God and the growth of the Kingdom.” Robert Coleman, he said, is a “leading voice and role model” for … [Read more...]
Because you give … every pastor has a friend
“The Cooperative Program is critical for helping revitalize pastors and churches in Missouri,” said Gary Mathes, pastoral ministry strategist for the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC). “In the short time I have served in this position, I have seen how difficult it can be for pastors ministering in declining churches or struggling communities. They need resources to help them succeed. They need encouragement to inspire them to continue serving faithfully.” Mathes joined the MBC staff in … [Read more...]
October: A great time to bless our pastors
Several decades ago a movement started to use October as a month to bless your pastor and/or staff members. According to Ephesians 4, a pastor’s role is to equip people in the church and encourage church members to reach their godly potential. This is both the most satisfying and daunting task you could ever imagine. A pastor can lead the flock of God but he cannot make the sheep consume all that God has for them. That is the role of the great motivator, the Holy Spirit. There are days in … [Read more...]
Churches, MBC hold apartment complex block party
WASHINGTON – One unique distinction held by Southern Baptists is a willingness to work together through the Cooperative Program to spread the gospel. A recent block party here demonstrated how that type of cooperation works at a local level. Joe Murray pastors Great Commission Baptist Church, consisting largely of attendees from a nearby apartment complex. A half-dozen churches and organizations partnered with Murray’s congregation to hold a block party for the people in the complex Aug. … [Read more...]
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