WASILLA, Alaska – The north Missouri mission team stepped out of the Anchorage, Alaska airport into much cooler weather and spectacular scenery as they prepared to ride in church vans 45 minutes north to the town of Wasilla. They were preparing to work for a week with the Cottonwood Creek Cowboy Church, a mission of Fairview Loop Baptist Church in late June. The group constructed a horse corral for the cowboy church to use to hold horse expos and they blazed some trails through some … [Read more...]
MBC church planter networks to reach Japanese
ST. LOUIS – A network is defined as an association providing mutual assistance and helpful information based on a common interest. Jesus is the common interest for Missouri Baptist Church Planter Yoshi Ubukata, pastor of Japanese International Harvest Church which meets at The Rock Church, and the Japanese Christian Fellowship Network (JCFN). “We work with the Japanese Christian Fellowship Network,” Yoshi said. “The network helps us here and in Japan with Christians returning home. The … [Read more...]
FBC Laddonia aims to be church without walls
LADDONIA – To paraphrase an adage, First Baptist Church here has found the mission field, and it is among them. On July 15-17, some 15 church members plus another five from Texas County Baptist Association had service projects in Laddonia and nearby Martinsburg. Pastor Chris Atkinson said Community Action was contacted for people needing help. That weekend, the group in two teams painted one house and partially re-roofed another home. That Saturday night the movie Woodlawn was shown in … [Read more...]
St. Louis Association calls, equips churches to love refugees
ST. LOUIS – Nearly 20 years ago, Missouri Baptists here missed an opportunity to reach the nations, but the St. Louis Metro Baptist Association is preparing for a second chance at gospel impact. Beginning in the mid-1990s, thousands of Bosnians—many of them Muslims—fled for refuge to St. Louis after the collapse of former Yugoslavia. Today, tens of thousands of Bosnians live in the area, making St. Louis the home for the most Bosnians worldwide, outside of their native homeland. Today, … [Read more...]
Hannibal-area ministry leads addicts to gospel freedom
Perhaps the deeper the depths of sin, the better the appreciation for redemption through Jesus. James Bridges, pastor Living Way Christian Fellowship in Hannibal, has a heart for those in various addictions, especially drugs and alcohol. He knows first hand what it is like to be delivered. “I’m an ex-addict. I’ve been clean 13 years. I’ve been in prison five times for a total of 10 years,” Bridges said. “I was saved and delivered in 2003. God put a burden on my heart to reach out to … [Read more...]
Executive board sets $14.8M budget
BRIDGETON – Meeting at the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home here, the Missouri Baptist Convention’s (MBC) executive board approved its 2017 budget, based on an overall $14.8 million Cooperative Program (CP) goal for the year. According to the proposed 2017 CP goal, 5 percent of the funds collected through CP is set aside in a “shared expenses” category, which is allocated for annuity protections and The Pathway. This has been part of the allocation since 2012. From the remaining funds, … [Read more...]
‘Weakened witness’ stayed on mission to the very end
EDITOR’S NOTE: Paul Koonce, who is featured in this story, is the father of Pathway Assistant Editor Brian Koonce. CHIFUNGA, Malawi – Paul Koonce was weak and exhausted. Barely able to stand, it took two assistants to get him from the truck and into Avant Baptist Church at Chifunga in Malawi, Africa. Though unable to get in and out of the rickety chair on his own, he still sat up straighter and grew stronger as he began to preach to the people gathering on the dirt floor. Through Charles, … [Read more...]
Mo. Baptist volunteers needed to share faith during state fair
SEDALIA – In the heat and humidity of an August afternoon, a tent with fans and cool shade is an inviting prospect by itself during the Missouri state fair. Coupled with an opportunity to sign up for a freezer and 100 pounds of beef, chicken and pork, it seems even more welcoming. Baptist volunteers offer to enter visitors in a drawing in exchange for three minutes of their time. The fair visitor (perhaps tentatively) comes into the tent and a friendly Missouri Baptist tells them how they … [Read more...]
Dallas County DOM going strong at 90
DALLAS COUNTY – Age doesn’t stop the Dallas County DOM from serving. Some people are amazed that Russell Adams is still in active ministry at age 90. Perhaps no one is more surprised than Adams himself. Adams is Director of Missions for the Dallas County Association of Southern Baptists, and he oversees its 14 churches. “It’s a mystery to me. The doctor said ‘according to your (health) tests, there is no reason you shouldn’t feel good. I have no plans to retire unless the Lord says so. … [Read more...]
KC ministry reaches trafficking victims
KANSAS CITY – Christine McDonald knew she needed help, but once again the system failed her. She didn’t have insurance and the pimp had her ID. “They also said they wouldn’t admit me to the treatment center unless I was obviously addicted to alcohol,” she said. “But I didn’t drink. I was addicted to crack cocaine and had been arrested multiple times for prostitution, but I didn’t drink. My mother was a drunk and I swore I would never be like my mother.” So, after being denied at the … [Read more...]
Missouri pastor ignites prayer response at county courthouse
LEWISTOWN – Many pastors encouraged their flocks to pray during the National Day of Prayer, May 7. Ted Middleton, pastor of First Baptist Church here ratcheted up the call to prayer with a bold newspaper ad that challenged Christians’ faith. A full-page ad in the April 23 edition of The Press-News Journal in Lewis County pointedly challenged local Christians to stand in faith. “Do you believe in God? Prove it,” the ad reads. It then gives details of the time and place for Lewis County … [Read more...]
Laclede jail ministry sees fruit, one inmate at a time
LEBANON – “James,” an inmate at the Laclede County Jail wasn’t impressed when Sam Price and Steve Strauch would pass through security to visit his pod for a Bible Study. He has since changed his tune. “It’s the Word that does the drawing,” Strauch said. Strauch, the director of missions for Laclede Baptist Association and Price, the pastor of Wood Street Baptist Church in Lebanon both make weekly visits to the Laclede County Jail. Price has been ministering there for years, and Strauch … [Read more...]