SUSAN MIRES/contributing writer KANSAS CITY – Young men creatively combined the contemporary and the traditional to share eternal truths during the annual meeting of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC), Oct. 28-30. Wearing a baggy brown sweater and a stocking hat, David Bowden stood alone on stage. He spoke into the microphone. “In the beginning, there were words.” The audience sat in rapt attention as he recited a rapid-fire poem extolling the truth and beauty of the … [Read more...]
Pastor’s conference lifts up Christ Jesus
KANSAS CITY – Fullness in life and ministry come only through knowing Christ, two Southern Baptist seminary professors said when asked why ministers should sacrifice a full day for a conference on “seeing and savoring the Son of God.” “We can’t minister if we’re not full of God,” said Thomas Schreiner, professor of New Testament interpretation and associate dean of Scripture and interpretation at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. “The greatest good in life … [Read more...]
First Camdenton calls Baker as new pastor
CAMDENTON – First Baptist Church here has called a former Missourian as its new pastor. Kirk Baker, who served on the Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board from 2005-2009 prior to moving to Calvary Baptist Church, Idaho Falls, Idaho, and also served as president of the Idaho/Utah State Convention. While serving as chairperson of the 2020 Vision Team, he oversaw the complete restructure of their convention. Ken Martin has been serving as transitional pastor for the past 18 … [Read more...]
Missourians break the missionary mold: CP is godsend, CPA-turned-missionary says
SANTIAGO, Chile – David Stow does not fit the stereotypical mold of a missionary, yet his role as team leader over the International Mission Board’s (IMB) office of overseas finance in Chile allows him to see the impact that all Southern Baptists can make around the world. “Fifteen years ago, I thought missionaries were preachers and people who were outgoing evangelists,” David said. He described himself, on the other hand, as an introvert who grew up attending North Star Baptist Church, … [Read more...]
Springfield couple abandons American dream to follow God wherever He leads
SPRINGFIELD – Kody and Erin Brandt were among 65 new missionaries appointed during the International Mission Board’s Aug. 28 service at Liberty Baptist Church in Hampton, Va. During the service, the IMB appointed two families and another individual with ties to Missouri. And like 27 of the other new appointees, the Brandts served overseas before accepting their new, career assignment in Malawi, Africa. The Aug. 28 appointment service, Kody said, was “absolutely amazing. It was probably … [Read more...]
Springfield natives seek the ‘lost sheep’ of Udmurtia, bring hope to those in need
Editor’s note: * denotes that the names have been changed for security. IZHEVSK, Russia – A drought covered the Russian republic of Udmurtia in 2010, compelling villagers in the area to call upon an Orthodox priest to bless their land. Seeing no sign of rain in the days that followed, the villagers then sacrificed a goose, cutting off its head and letting its blood spill over the ground. The next day it briefly rained, affirming the villagers’ pagan sacrifice but failing to bring relief … [Read more...]
Old church celebrates new life during anniversary
Bethany Bashioum/Democrat Missourian HARRISONVILLE – He’s a man on a mission. Pleasant Ridge Church senior pastor Malachi O’Brien, 30, wants new life to be breathed through his rural Harrisonville congregation. The gathering is the second-oldest church in the area with ties to the Southern Baptist Convention. “I want to be at a place where God works and is changing lives,” he says. The church recently celebrated it’s 145th anniversary on Sept. 15, but the journey hasn’t been … [Read more...]
God uses cancer diagnosis for His glory
POPLAR BLUFF – “Stage IV cancer” usually strikes fear into patients’ hearts, but for Debbie Medley, the diagnosis brought about new hope, new life and new purpose. Medley, a member of Second Baptist Church, Poplar Bluff, has inoperable metastatic breast cancer. There were no tumors, no symptoms and no warnings when her doctor gave her the diagnosis in 2008. The prognosis was that she had 2-4 years to live. But in the five years since then, God has used her health – or lack of it – to … [Read more...]
MBCH camp yields eight salvations
BRIDGETON – Trustees approved a modestly larger budget for 2014, but it was reports of 18 professions of faith through Missouri Baptist Children’s Home (MBCH) ministries that were the highlight of the MBCH trustee meeting Oct. 8 here. Of those 18 salvations, eight were during the MBCH camp this July at Camp Palestine in Chilhowee, south of Warrensburg. Twelve more rededicated their lives to Christ. MBCH staff and volunteers worked with 36 boys and 36 girls from various MBCH ministries … [Read more...]
80-year-old pastor leads 104 inmates to Christ
LEBANON – Since January, 80-year-old Samuel Price has led 104 inmates in Laclede County Jail to profess faith in Jesus Christ, and a car wreck south of Camdenton, has not dampened his evangelistic fervor. Price, who serves as pastor of Wood Street Baptist Church, Lebanon, has practiced jail ministry for nearly four years. Since that time, sex offenders and murderers have been among the inmates who have surrendered their lives to Christ. One inmate, who was raised in Buddhism, was charged … [Read more...]
From DR to Baptist Builders, layman does it all for the Lord
INDEPENDENCE – If you need a helping hand, Leighton Clemons is your man. Whether it’s getting down on his hands and knees to help you haul the mud of out of a flooded basement or pulling wire on a newly finished church auditorium the 75-year-old member of Country Meadows Baptist Church in Independence is one of the most active in two of the hardest working organizations in Missouri Baptist life: Baptist Builders and Disaster Relief (DR). For a man in two of the most servant-based … [Read more...]
Missouri CP giving ahead of last year
JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Baptists are giving more to missions through the Cooperative Program so far in 2013, according to just-released figures from the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC). For the first nine months of the year, CP giving from MBC churches totaled $10.7 million, compared with $10.59 million for the same period last year, an increase of 1 percent. CP giving during the same period is running 2.7 percent behind budget, however. “Missouri Baptists are staying faithful … [Read more...]
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