Almost every church I pass as I drive around the great state of Missouri has a sign out front that shows their schedule for worship and Sunday School. Some call it “Bible Study.” Some call it “Life Groups.” But really it is “Sunday School.” I often wonder if all these churches are having Bible study each week, why aren’t we seeing more of an impact on our communities? Why are most Sunday Schools in decline rather than growing? Why are we not seeing the lives of those attending being … [Read more...]
Tree of Life aims to give back love
KANSAS CITY – A Tree of Life grows in Kansas City. The four-year-old church plant is branching out to reach its urban neighborhood for Christ. Pastor Jerry Akins said the church focuses on serving the Lord by serving people – many of whom are scarred by life. “It’s hard for them to trust God,” he said. “If they’ve never had a man they could trust, how can they trust God? Then when they do trust God and something bad happens, they regress.” At Christmas, Tree of Life partnered with Toys … [Read more...]
Motorcyclist loved people, Jesus
GREENFIELD — Sunlight broke through the clouds, reflecting off the chrome of motorcycles arrayed outside Main Street Baptist Church that October day. Harley-Davidsons, Hondas, Kawasaki sport bikes and Yamaha cruisers were primed, their owners ready to show their love and deep loss for a woman who impacted their lives like no other. On Oct. 14, Belinda Esper, 40, died when the Honda motorcycle she was driving was hit head-on on U.S. Hwy 160, about half a mile west of Everton. Family and … [Read more...]
Joplin church sees surge in giving in changed culture
JOPLIN — On May 22, 2011, only five weeks after Brad Graves and his family moved to Joplin to become senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, the destructive winds of the EF5 tornado blew through the city. Since then, the winds of God’s Spirit and grace have blown through the church to accomplish some mighty things. Baptisms and giving to missions have reached milestone marks. In the last 20 months, Calvary has given $200,000 to Great Commission projects and the church has had 211 … [Read more...]
Carthage’s Cornerstone Baptist looks to the future with plant
CARTHAGE — The hope of Cornerstone Baptist Church as it gets off the ground here in its first months downtown is that something strong is being built. “I saw a statement once that a dandelion grows a lot quicker than an oak tree,” said Jim Ziler, one of three elders in the church whose sending church is South Creek, Springfield. “Hopefully we’re not a dandelion but an oak tree. I think we’ve been able to glorify Him through what we’ve done. We’ve been able to be obedient to what He’s given … [Read more...]
North County churches show heart for the homeless
FERGUSON – Several churches joined together to give a Valentine to the homeless in North County St. Louis. On Feb. 9, I Heart North County, an organization formed by Passage Community Church, Trinity Nazarene and North Church and now working with several individuals and groups, held a Valentine personal care collection party at First Baptist Church, Ferguson. “I Heart North County was approached by a representative of the Ferguson-Florissant school district,” said Kylanne Rosenberger, … [Read more...]
Farley challenges DOMs on rural church ministry
LAKE OZARK — About 40 directors of missions from across Missouri gathered here Jan. 29-31 to discuss small and rural church dynamics with Gary Farley, DOM at Pickens Baptist Association in Carrollton, Ala. Farley, an author, rural sociologist and missions strategist, gave the Missouri DOMs several points to consider as they work with smaller membership churches. The DOMs were meeting for their semi-annual meeting with Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) leaders. Farley is a contributing … [Read more...]