DURHAM – This is a story of a birth celebrated in December. No, not that birth, the Savior, but an adoption with providential seasonal timing. When John and Lindsey Bedsworth were engaged in Aug. 2015, they began planning a family and married four months later. “We thought we’d have one child of our own and adopt one or two. There were difficulties. We tried having children for three years unsuccessfully, and invitro fertilization failed in May 2018,” said John, Durham Baptist’s pastor … [Read more...]
Christmas concert goes to prison
JEFFERSON CITY – Roughly 150 prison inmates at the Jefferson City Correctional Center (JCCC) celebrated Christmas with a “Festival of Light” concert performed by the orchestra and choir from Concord Baptist Church here, Dec. 16. “One of my goals here is to help the worship ministry become more missional,” Brad Newbold, music pastor at Concord Baptist Church, told The Pathway. While he had been seeking a global mission opportunity for the music ministry, God was working behind the scenes to … [Read more...]
Rural Rock Springs reaps growth after years of prayer
LICKING – As the Lord spoke to him and the weight of conviction mounted on his heart, John Jordan white-knuckled the pew in front of him and fervently prayed. On that day—August 29, 1999, Jordan prayed for deliverance and he submitted his life to Christ… but he didn’t stop there. “I remember it so clearly,” he said. “I walked up the aisle and I was with the pastor and he said, ‘Do you want to pray?’ And I said yes. I knew what was missing because I had grown up in and out of church. I … [Read more...]
‘I Love My Church’ lets members take ownership in church’s upkeep
HUNTSVILLE – It’s a simple idea, but taking ownership of small, bite-sized projects has helped members of First Baptist Church, here complete a long list of neglected projects in and around their building. “We call it ‘I Love My Church Tuesdays,’” said John Rhodes, First Baptist’s pastor. Church trustees saw a list of projects that would have been cost-prohibitive to contract out, and instead asked church members to pitch in. They took a picture of each need and asked members to choose … [Read more...]
MBC annual meeting offering to benefit new church plant in Reeds Spring
REEDS SPRING – An offering collected during the MBC annual meeting netted $4,148.80 to help with the construction of a building for a new church plant in Reeds Spring. The First Baptist Church of Kimberling City, seven miles down the road, is sponsoring the new church along with assistance from Tri-County Baptist Association. The MBC Executive Board report included the proposal for the offering on Tuesday morning of the convention meeting. There was a church named First Baptist of … [Read more...]
Member of Tuskegee Airmen honored at Holts Summit church
HOLTS SUMMIT – The Cedar Grove Baptist Church here celebrated Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11, with not only one, but two, World War II veterans in attendance. They welcomed, as a special guest, Tipton native James Shipley, who served as a mechanic with the famous Tuskegee Airmen during the war. The Tuskegee Airmen were the nation’s first African American military pilots and their crew, forming the United States Air Force’s 332nd Fighter Group and the 447th Bombardment Group. Shipley joined … [Read more...]
‘The Badge and the Bond of Marriage’ – Springhill Baptist Church invests in marriages of local law enforcement officers
SPRINGFIELD – Twenty-five officers from six Springfield-area law enforcement agencies had a chance to invest in their marriages, Oct. 11, when Springhill Baptist Church here hosted a one-evening marriage retreat called “The Badge and the Bond of Marriage.” “Ultimately, our goal was for them to know that they are not alone and that there are churches in our community that love them and are praying for them,” Pastor Jared Proctor told The Pathway. “We just want them to know that someone is … [Read more...]
Church plant setting down deep roots eight years after tornado destroys Joplin
JOPLIN – Missouri Baptist pastor Rodney Rambo was a church planting intern eight years ago when an EF-5 tornado destroyed a huge swath of the Southwest Missouri city. “We hunkered down in an apartment building,” he said. “Then we spent the night digging and looking for church members.” He then spent about two years working in disaster relief ministry in the city. Rambo attended a FEMA meeting as the city began the process of recovering. A FEMA worker said, “Ten years from now one out … [Read more...]
Church merger ensures gospel witness
MAPLEWOOD – A group of believers in Maplewood has a vision for the future. This congregation is the new merger of Maplewood Baptist Church and Mid-Cities Church, to be renamed Mid-Cities Church at Maplewood. “We voted to come together,” Nate Edmondson, lead pastor of Mid-Cities, said, “after a transition team made a recommendation for us to join together.” Mid-Cities Church was a young plant meeting upstairs in the Maplewood Baptist Church gym while the Maplewood Baptist Church was … [Read more...]
Renovate SEMO creates replanting, revitalization leadership residencies
CAPE GIRARDEAU – Leading a church can be a challenge even in ideal circumstances. That goes double (or triple, or ten-fold) for a congregation that may need to take a hard look at itself and determine if revitalization or replanting might be the best way to glorify God. Renovate SEMO is a concerted effort by Cape Girardeau Baptist Association to help guide pastors through that process with a residency program. “Not only do we want to be coming alongside churches to see that … [Read more...]
Norfleet Baptist opens doors to Russian fellowship
KANSAS CITY – Norfleet Baptist Church felt invisible. “We have canvassed the neighborhoods many times,” said pastor Scott Flippin. “We have hung door hangers, gospel tracts, and invitations to church on their doors. We have rung doorbells and shared the gospel. We have prayer walked. We’ve put flyers out in the elementary schools. We’ve adopted local families at Christmas. We’ve hosted Trunk or Treats, Easter Egg Hunts, Movie Nights and Vacation Bible School, but we felt invisible. Nobody … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptist churches partner to plant Northland en Español
KANSAS CITY – The members of two families in north Kansas City have already come to faith in Christ because of a new partnership between two Missouri Baptist churches eager to reach the Hispanic community here. Primera Iglesia Bautista (First Baptist Church), Independence, partnered with Northland Baptist Church to begin another Hispanic congregation called Northland en Español. According to MBC church planter Luis Sanchez, the need for multiplying Baptist churches among Hispanics in the … [Read more...]
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