FERGUSON, Mo. (BP) -- Missouri Baptists gathered for prayer Aug. 13 before a fifth night of turbulent protests erupted over the shooting death of an African American teenager by a local police officer.The shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown by an unnamed Ferguson police officer on Aug. 9 garnered national attention after the teenager's death incited peaceful protests as well as several nights of upheaval in this St. Louis-area town.During the night, looters -- many of them from out of … [Read more...]
Musical group helps churches take gospel to the streets
FERGUSON – Helping young people understand the relevance of the gospel is the focus of Tony Jones, youth minister at First Baptist Church, Ferguson, and his musical group, “Surrender 2 Him.” “We’ve got outreach on our heart,” Jones said. “We want to partner with churches and create these events on their parking lots to attract the community.” Music is one of the primary attractions, and “Surrender 2 Him” has that covered. Jones and his partner Kiesh are both performers of music with a … [Read more...]
Crossroads youth live out Acts 1:8 over summer
MOBERLY – Summer is supposed to be teenagers’ time off, but for a group of students from Crossroads Baptist Association it has been go go go. Bonnie Carter has been leading the association’s student summer missions team for nine years, and this summer has led ten students from around the area on mission locally, in Branson, Omaha, Neb. and Winnipeg, Canada. Nine are high school students, and one is a collegiate summer missionary through the Missouri Baptist Convention. “I absolutely … [Read more...]
Collins is frequent flyer to Holy Land
BLUE SPRINGS – Robert Collins of Blue Springs must enjoy the Holy Land, because he’s preparing to lead his 68th trip to Israel in October. “It’s being able to introduce other people, including pastors, to Israel and the Holy Land,” Collins said, explaining why he keeps returning there. “It is the difference in reading the Bible and walking the Bible.” “Common things you hear – not to be mystical – are people having a sense of being at home. These are places you read about – the Sea of … [Read more...]
Our obedience … His abundance
Empty nesters answering God’s call to care for orphans. A church reaching out to 6,000 Filipino immigrants living in Missouri. A once-withering church now hosting a vibrant congregation. A ministry devoted to loving the poor at nine different low-income housing sites. An international student ministry reaching 90,000 foreign-born college students in Missouri. A Missouri pastor taking part in his first international mission trip. What do these ministry stories have in … [Read more...]
Grand Oaks splashes into summer
Richard Nations/contributing writer CHILLICOTHE – Grand Oaks Baptist Assembly dedicated a new swimming pool just in time for the summer camp season. The pool dedication was held May 27 as the St. Joseph Baptist Association convened their week of camp at the Grand Oaks facility. The group thanked God for the pool and reminded the youth about the work of God which went into the establishment of the camp and the pool. Eight north Missouri Baptist associations share in the ownership and … [Read more...]
Nine years after Hurricane Katrina, basketball, cheer camps spark life
FLORISSANT – Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was the backdrop for two churches to partner with Passage Community Church in St Louis to offer basketball and cheerleading camps. Bob Martin, minister of recreation and singles at Lone Oak Baptist Church in Paducah Kentucky, first met Willie Breaux, pastor of Christian Fellowship Cathedral in New Orleans, shortly after Katrina destroyed his church and his home. “We took several teams to New Orleans during the five years after Katrina,” Martin said. … [Read more...]
Why I hate drywall (and why you should, too)
Standing around with pastors during a break at an associational pastor’s conference, one pastor lamented that his church had stopped growing. When I asked why, he said that his building could only hold so many people. When I asked him why a little thing like drywall would prohibit growth, it was like scales fell off his eyes. “Reaching people for Jesus doesn’t depend on our building size!” he almost shouted. An International Mission Board missionary once challenged me to add up all … [Read more...]
MBC expands international ministry in Kansas City
KANSAS CITY – The Missouri Baptist Convention’s (MBC) Multiethnic Church Planting Center expanded its ministry to internationals within the state of Missouri during an MBC assessment of potential ministers here, June 27. The assessment forms part of Missouri Baptist efforts to make disciples of the nearly 250,000 men and women who have come to Missouri from around the world. The MBC’s church planting team assesses every potential Missouri Baptist church planter to help them find their … [Read more...]
U Church trusts God to transform community
KANSAS CITY – When vacant houses are widespread in a community, it’s detrimental to that community. Empty houses breed vandalism, prostitution, drug activity and other bad elements to an otherwise nice neighborhood. “We saw the vacant house epidemic and knew it was the biggest need, so we did something about it,” said Gary Cornelius Jones, pastor at The U Church in southeast Kansas City and member of the Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board. The church partnered with a private … [Read more...]
Decade of Missouri baptism data mixed
JEFFERSON CITY – Ten years of baptism reporting by Missouri Baptist churches revealed some bright spots in the midst of overall declines. “Some tend to think that children are all that are being reached for Christ in Missouri,” said Mark Snowden, Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Evangelism/Discipleship Strategist. “This report gives us reason to celebrate otherwise. At nearly 55 percent, children make up a big chunk, but it’s not overwhelming.” Data from the Annual Church Profile … [Read more...]
Call to prayer Aug. 21
Pastors and church leaders, please accept my personal invitation to a Heartland Prayer Summit Aug. 21. Our facilitators are SBC President Ronnie Floyd and OneCry leader Bill Elliff. We are meeting at Crossway Baptist Church in Springfield from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Included is a light lunch. There is no cost for the event other than to arrive with an anxious heart to call out to the Lord. We do need you to register online or by calling Betty Benz Pulliam at 573.636.0400 ext. 302. I … [Read more...]
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