WALNUT SHADE – Vincent Tichenor, the newest member of the Missouri Baptist Apologetics Network (MBAN), is a medical doctor with a family practice in Walnut Shade. He also works urgent care in addition to running his own practice. He brings the perspective of medical science to the defense of the Christian faith, alongside the varied expertise of his 23 fellow apologists. As people wrestle with issues such as abortion and gender identity, Tichenor brings biblical, academic, and … [Read more...]
Protesting: How should churches respond?
EDITOR'S NOTE: Read the latest about the aftermath of the unexpected protest inside a church in St. Paul, Minn., here: "Bills criminalizing protests during worship services proceed through states" The Evangelical world was shocked on Jan. 18, 2026, when a group of roughly 30 protestors invaded Cities Church in St. Paul, Minn., during a worship service. While Christians aren’t surprised when unbelievers sin, we were shocked to see the sacred space of religious worship attacked so blatantly. … [Read more...]
MBC’s Phillips sees third apologetics book translated into Iran’s Farsi language
JEFFERSON CITY – When Rob Phillips began writing books to help Christians defend their faith he never foresaw some of his titles being translated into Farsi, the modern Persian language of Iran. Following the publication last year of his first book into Farsi, a second is being finalized for publication, and a third – What Every Christian Should Know About the Return of Jesus – is being translated from English. The Apologist’s Tool Kit was Phillips’ first book to be translated and … [Read more...]
How should we respond when failure no longer surprises us?
EDITOR'S NOTE: Jeremy Plymale serves as pastor of Cross Haven Church in O'Fallon, Mo. Moral failure among pastors has become tragically familiar. What is perhaps most revealing is not that it continues to happen – Scripture already assumes the ongoing presence of sin – but that we still seem surprised when it does. Each new story is treated as an unthinkable collapse rather than a sober reminder of how fragile our assumptions about spiritual health can be. We are quick to express shock, … [Read more...]
Church of England abandons pursuit of spiritual blessings for same-sex couples
LONDON (BP) – The Church of England has abandoned a three-year effort to establish church blessings for same-sex couples after voting in early 2023 to pursue such ceremonies, the church reported. The Anglican denomination continues to reject gay marriage, a decision it affirmed in 2023 while instead voting to pursue blessings. The vote to end the pursuit closed three years of work in the broader Living in Love and Faith (LLF) initiative regarding identity, sexuality, relationships and … [Read more...]
Most churchgoers regularly confess sin, according to Lifeway Research
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (Lifeway Religion) — Most churchgoers try to avoid sin before it happens and seek to confess it afterward. For many, confession is a regular part of their faith. The joint action of obeying God and denying self is one of eight signposts that seek to measure characteristics evident in believers progressing in spiritual maturity in Lifeway Research’s State of Discipleship study. On a scale of 0 to 100, the average U.S. Protestant churchgoer scores 75.1 on this signpost, … [Read more...]
Key truths about heaven
This is another in a series of excerpts from What Every Christian Should Know About the Return of Jesus, released by High Street Press and available at Amazon.com. The New Testament reveals many truths about the so-called intermediate state – the time between physical death and future resurrection. Followers of Jesus enjoy face-to-face fellowship with him in heaven while we eagerly anticipate the day we accompany him in his triumphant and glorious return to earth. Let’s consider several … [Read more...]
Lifeway Research finds fewer than 1 in 3 churchgoers read the Bible daily
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (Lifeway Research) — Most churchgoers place a high value on the Bible, but only about a third commit to reading it every day. The Lifeway Research State of Discipleship study found Bible engagement to be one among eight signposts measuring distinct characteristics for believers progressing in their spiritual maturity. On a scale of 0 to 100, the average churchgoer scores 69.8 on Bible engagement, placing it fifth among the signposts. Among U.S. Protestant churchgoers, … [Read more...]
New MBC Apologetics Network member helps reconcile science with theology
SPARTA – Are the fields of science and theology compatible or are they diametrically in opposition to each other? That’s a question with which many wrestle. Jeffrey Maskrod is immersed in science with his training and occupation. And he believes much of the two disciplines can be reconciled and complement each other. Maskrod is a scientist, working for the 3-M Corporation in Springfield. His role as a quality engineer is to lead a group to analyze materials used in the aerospace and … [Read more...]
The renewal of all things
This is another in a series of excerpts from What Every Christian Should Know About the Return of Jesus, released by High Street Press and available at Amazon.com. Works of art suffer the ravages of time. Museum curators and patrons go to great lengths to preserve masterpieces left in their care. When we see Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night, or Michelangelo’s David, we appreciate the care with which these timeless treasures have been handled. At the same time, some classic paintings … [Read more...]
‘We’re going to save lives’: Sen. Schnelting, MBC’s Fowler discuss 2026 pro-life ballot measure
EDITOR’S NOTE: Sanctity of Life Sunday is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 18. JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Executive Director Wes Fowler sat down with state Senator Adam Schnelting (R-St. Charles) on Jan. 7 for a public dialogue about a Missouri ballot initiative that will aim this fall to restore pro-life protections to the state’s Constitution. The dialogue took place at Concord Baptist Church in Jefferson City. In 2019, Schnelting amended a pro-life bill, adding a … [Read more...]
Christmas carol recounts tragedy, encourages us to protect the innocents
EDITOR’S NOTE: John Francis is the minister of worship at Parkway Baptist Church, St. Louis, and an adjunct professor of music and worship at Missouri Baptist University. He also produces a weekly podcast, titled “The Monday Morning Worship Leader.” “Coventry Carol” is an odd little carol. Written by Robert Croo in the sixteenth century, it is found in less than twenty hymnals published within the last 100 years. In fact, to use a pun, it is almost as it were “sent to Coventry” as it … [Read more...]
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