JOPLIN – Baptismal waters have been stirring in Missouri. The 1,909 churches that make up the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) recorded 10,364 baptisms last year, according to information provided by churches in the Annual Church Profile (ACP). Though only 83.3 percent of churches submitted an ACP a report, it is the most accurate gauge of church activities available. Though 2012’s 10,364 baptisms is slightly higher than the previous two years, it still reflects a downward trend of … [Read more...]
Despite tragedy, pastor, family draws strength from Christ
CLARKSVILLE - Ron Kunzweiler, bivocational pastor of two churches, is aware of God’s answer to prayer, including a prayer to be a circuit rider. “I prayed to God that if it was His plan,” Kunzeweiler said, “that I wanted to be a circuit rider.” Kunzweiler pastors Dover Baptist Church in Clarksville and Friendship Baptist Church in Bowling Green, a distance of about 14 miles. “Dover is a small farm church,” he said, “we just celebrated our 150-year anniversary. The building is almost as … [Read more...]
Church at Bevo: Reaching the world here at home
ST. LOUIS – St. Louis has become an extremely diverse city in many ways, but especially considering the thousands of refugees that arrive in St. Louis each year. For example, there are more Bosnians per capita in St. Louis than anywhere else in the world outside of Bosnia. Darren Casper, lead pastor of the Church at Bevo, decided to plant the church in South City St. Louis after prayer walking the streets there about seven years ago. From the Middle East to Nepal and Burma, this area of … [Read more...]
FBC Troy takes “Generational Missions” project
WEST AFRICA – Going “on mission” with the gospel for many Missouri churches often means a weekend project or week-long trip with a partner church. However, First Baptist Church Troy began going on mission 3-1/2 years ago in a work that will last a generation. First Troy’s commitment to a “generational missions” program involves a 40-year focus on a community in western Africa. The village of about 1,000 is “completely Muslim,” according to First Baptist’s pastor Richie Rhea. For its … [Read more...]
Branson’s Myer keeps witness foremost
BRANSON – Still wearing the casual business attire he wore for an earlier meeting, Chris Myer, vice president of marketing for Branson’s acclaimed Myer Hotels, made his way down the aisle of the crowded airplane. He heaved his computer bag into the storage bin above and took his seat between a woman who looked like she was asleep and a man with a silver ponytail tucked under a doo rag and a package of cigarettes poking out of his front pocket. Myer smiled at the man and offered his … [Read more...]
Excelsior Springs church hosts area law enforcement summit
EXCELSIOR SPRINGS – Pisgah Baptist Church here held a summit for area law enforcement command staff on March 15. Pastor Doug Richey, also a chaplain for the Missouri Highway Patrol, coordinated the event which was held at the historic Elms Hotel and Spa. The guest speaker was Capt. Steve Lambert of the Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Virginia State Police. Lambert used scenarios from past investigations to demonstrate the need for agency interaction and trust between fellow officers in … [Read more...]
Leaders seek holier city as targeted prayer arises
ST. LOUIS – Recently prayer warriors met in four locations in St. Louis to pray for the city. “We have a burden for the region,” Ed Moncada, international student strategist for the Missouri Baptist Convention, said. “We are serious about praying for the transforming of the city. We want to see St. Louis experience genuine revival and spiritual renewal.” Prayer walkers met in the Maplewood area, the downtown St. Louis area, the Crestwood area, and in Northeast Florissant area. “We didn’t … [Read more...]
Legacy launches next generation plant
KANSAS CITY — On Easter Sunday, March 31, Legacy Church, located at 8641 North Oak Trafficway here, officially launched as a second generation church plant sponsored by Fellowship of Grace Church. Fellowship itself was sponsored by another Kansas City church, Northland Baptist. Kevin Barnes is the pastor of Legacy (www.legacykc.org) and said it has been quite a process for him and his family becoming church planters. “I was a youth pastor at Heaston Community Church, El Reno, Okla., and … [Read more...]
Morley Baptist puts hands, feet in motion
MORLEY— Handprints and footprints of all sizes fill one of the central walls inside Morley Baptist Church. Pastor David Thompson said the prints, which belong to members of his congregation, serve as a reminder of both the church body’s collective commitment and as a challenge to each individual. “Every time you walk to the classrooms or to the gym you have to pass this awesome wall,” he said. “Those prints are literally our hands and feet and that’s what we want to be … we want to be the … [Read more...]
Church vision becomes ‘driving engine’ at MBTS
KANSAS CITY – During its April 29 meeting Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS) trustees enthusiastically passed a “for the Church” resolution that codifies the vision of its president, Jason Allen. The resolution spells out a “renewed and steadfast commitment to serving the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).” It also identifies Allen as the visionary whose work is to be celebrated and affirmed as “for the Church” begins to see the seminary’s energies and resources … [Read more...]
Missouri’s John Edwards sowing seeds on Main St.
FORT WORTH, Texas – Known as the Main Street of America, Historic Route 66 meandered across the western U.S. from Chicago to Los Angeles. Small towns popped up along the popular highway in the ‘20s and ‘30s as truckers and vacationers cruised the open road. Church planter and Southwestern Seminary graduate John Edwards uses the highway’s heritage as a way to connect Harvest Hill Baptist Church with the community of Strafford, which lies just a stone’s throw from Springfield, the Birthplace … [Read more...]
Missouri moves deeper into orality way of life
JEFFERSON CITY – After a Truth That Sticks (Bible storying) class, some participants form an advanced evangelistic accountability group that calls each other monthly. “MO.O.N. (Missouri Orality Network) is a way for learning to continue after the TruthSticks workshop,” said Mark Snowden, evangelism/discipleship strategist for the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC). Snowden said a second MOON acronym tells what is covered: • Making disciples – “We share how we’re using Bible storying in our … [Read more...]