CONWAY – If you would have slipped into the worship service Crossing Over SBC held in the Conway Community Center in mid-March as a visitor, you might have told friends afterward that the church had gone to the dogs. Technically, you would have been correct. Sherry Reeves attended the church for the first time that day, and she brought her Yorkshire Terrier, named Rocky, because she didn’t want to leave him home. But there’s more to the story – so much more. Lynndon Welch, a Missouri … [Read more...]
Churches urged to consider marriage policy
JEFFERSON CITY – With the U.S. Supreme Court weighing the issue of gay marriage and the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act, now is a good time for Missouri Baptist churches to develop policies that clearly define their biblical stance on marriage. That’s the advice of Michael K. Whitehead, the Missouri Baptist Convention’s (MBC) chief legal advisor and principal of Whitehead Law Firm LLC in Kansas City. “Southern Baptist churches around the country are considering ways to … [Read more...]
Grant Beach neighborhood outreach proves to be a plus
SPRINGFIELD — The Grant Beach neighborhood north of here is coming alive thanks to the work of the Holy Spirit and the faithful obedience of members from Redeemer Church. Making disciples was the goal. Those disciples are to worship Jesus, connect with people, and serve the city. With that in mind, nearly 500 flyers were printed and distributed in the neighborhood. Flyers also went out through Weaver Elementary School where the core group had been meeting for six months. Prayer was … [Read more...]
Tower Grove Baptist intends to stay faithful with school
ST. LOUIS — As a river finds its source at the top of the mountain so Tower Grove Baptist Church has founded a city on a hill. That city is Tower Grove Christian School (TGCS), depositing springs of everlasting life into the culture flowing from the heart of St Louis. TGCS was founded in 1978 to serve family members of the church. It has since become a mission field housing close to 300 students, of which less than 50 percent are professing Christians. The school motto is “Teaching truth, … [Read more...]
Builders help with fellowship hall
EWING – More than a dozen Missouri Baptist Builders from the Macon and Fulton areas framed a needed fellowship hall for Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in rural northeast Missouri in early April. The Fulton team arrived April 1, finding a concrete slab north of the sanctuary building poured in November 2012. The Macon group arrived April 2. They left April 5, with the 1,500 square foot addition framed, minus roof, windows and doors. Phyllis Rogers, wife of church pastor Jesse Rogers, said the … [Read more...]
Because you give, there are cowboy churches…
CUBA — “I will not start a church plant unless they agree to give at least 10 percent of their undesignated offerings through the Cooperative Program,” states former rodeo champion and now pastor David Kenyon of Deer Creek Church here. His story is layered with evidence of God’s sovereign orchestration of life’s circumstances and events. Also known as Missouri’s “Horse Whisperer,” Kenyon (see ad on adjacent page) lives with his bride of 20 years on a small farm in Moniteau County. He … [Read more...]
Crossway to host evangelism-discipleship event next spring
SPRINGFIELD — The 2014 State Evangelism-Discipleship Conference will be held Jan. 27-28 here at Crossway Baptist Church. Crossway’s Worship Center seats up to 1,500 people, with 1,000 on the main floor before an upward slanted area in the back which is not a balcony. The host pastor is Eddie Bumpers, who will also be giving the convention sermon this year for the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) annual meeting. “We are extremely pleased with the facility,” said MBC … [Read more...]
Pike County pulls together for Christian school
CURRYVILLE – The Pike County Christian School is helping some students who might otherwise fall through educational and spiritual cracks. For the last four years, the Christian school has met four days a week from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the former Curryville School. For three years before, they met in the Peno Baptist Church. Frank Welch is co-pastor of the church, director of missions of the Salt River Baptist Association, and administrator of the Christian school. The association office … [Read more...]
How one Missouri church is seeking partnership in Mexico
PUEBLA, Mexico – Jason Walters wants his church to carry out the Great Commission by identifying its Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and ends of the earth. The student pastor of Canaan Baptist Church in St. Louis has taken mission teams to the United Kingdom and the Dominican Republic, and his church already partners with other churches in Iowa and West Africa. But when Walters and senior pastor Daniel Carr heard about the vision being cast by 60 churches in the Puebla/Tlaxcala region of … [Read more...]
100: churches: Mexico-Missouri partnership has 2020 vision
PUEBLA, Mexico – Angel Gonzalez hopes to provide counseling, legal advice, and English as a Second Language to his neighbors in the community of La Luna. Abednego Tamariz has a heart for the indigenous Nahuas people of San Miguel and is sharing the love of Christ with many who are enslaved by alcoholism, drug addiction, and domestic violence. Mauro Lara is grieved over six communities within driving distance of his home in the city of Puebla that have little or no evangelistic … [Read more...]
Because you give, a St. Louis church plant sprouts
Editor’s note: Kenny Petty spent time in prison before Jesus released him from a life of crime. He’s now on mission in the eighth most dangerous city in North America. The Cooperative Program (CP) helps fund his urban church. ST. LOUIS – Kenny Petty is a St. Louis original. The pastor-elder of TheGateSTL is a product of the city judged the eighth most dangerous place to live in North America. While today he walks the city’s urban streets sharing the love of Christ, he once walked these … [Read more...]
Burundi pastor ordained in festive ceremony
KANSAS CITY — Many Burundi parishioners were gathered March 10 at the ordination service of Burundi Pastor Dany Byamungu here at Iglesia Cristiana Palabra Viva. The congregation meets at Central Baptist Church where Pastor Omar Segovia, who recently joined the church planting staff of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC), also serves. Byamungu, 29, was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire) where he was raised by Christian parents whom he thanked during the service. Due to war, … [Read more...]