ROLLA – Last February, Steven Betts, pastor of Fort Wyman Baptist Church here, was desperate to see growth in his congregation. “As I was putting on my shoes getting ready for church,” he said, “I paused for a second and prayed, ‘Lord, bring me a family today.’” God answered his prayer, and went far beyond Betts’s expectations. Fort Wyman’s children’s ministry was down to three kids – two of them Betts’s – when this new couple moving from a Southern Baptist Church in Joplin showed up … [Read more...]
Baptismal pool ‘full of cobwebs’ no more; After years of no use, Edgar Springs fills baptistry once again
EDGAR SPRINGS – Dean Switzer isn’t sure how long Edgar Springs Baptist Church has gone without a baptism, but he’s only been there as pastor for the past three years. “I hadn’t pushed anything,” Switzer said. ”I’ve been getting to know the people, but this past year I’ve started pushing a little harder, and asking people – especially the men – to step up.” And people have begun stepping up. A couple joined the church three months ago and saw their granddaughter saved. She wanted to be … [Read more...]
The Lesters lead worship as Lewis County churches partner for drive-in service
EWING — The COVID-19 recommendation was for churches not to meet in groups larger than ten. Most churches were canceling worship services on March 22nd or broadcasting worship on the Internet. For many this was a hard thing to do. Jon Lester, a member of the St. Louis area southern gospel group, The Lesters, proposed to Lewis County area churches that they hold a “drive-in” worship service. They obtained a low-power FM transmitter to broadcast the service to car radios in the parking … [Read more...]
Drive-in style service brings Fulton church together
FULTON – Churches are scrambling to find ways to maintain community and continue corporate worship even though they can’t gather inside church building in any significant numbers. Many are shifting to live streaming online, but Ebenezer Baptist Church here has another solution: come to church, but stay in your car. They call it Drive-In Church. “We are in a country setting and our parking lot is in the midst of many beautiful shade trees,” said Pastor Mike Hibbard. “Ebenezer worshippers … [Read more...]
Church comes home in Kansas City
KANSAS CITY – New churches start in homes and sometime seek a “church” building. Christ Fellowship intentionally stays as a network of home churches. Christ Fellowship has five home congregations in North Kansas City, Liberty, Weston, Parkville, and Kearney. Each is led by a pastor/elder. “I pastored in Orlando (years ago) and there I wrote out a plan almost exactly like what we’re doing now,” said Jim Elliff, one of the elders. “All our elders are seen as equals. Any one of us can … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptist pastors honored for work with black community in St. Louis area
ST. LOUIS – Unity is an important focus for St. Louis pastors and their congregations. Two pastors, Bill Friese, senior pastor, Oak Hill Fishers of Men in Ferguson, and Jim Walker, lead pastor, Hazelwood Baptist, were recognized for their leadership in the community. Friese is also Second Vice Chair on the Missouri Baptist Foundation board of trustees. Dr. Sam Page, St. Louis County Executive, presented the Betty L. Thompson Lifetime Achievement Award to the pastors. The award is named … [Read more...]
Emmaus Church equips young pastors
KANSAS CITY – On the front of the marquee at Screenland Armour Theatre, you’ll find a list of what movies are showing that week. But on Sundays, you’ll quickly discover that the main attraction isn’t about popcorn and entertainment. For Emmaus Church in Kansas City, that meets at the theater, the focus is on worship, the Gospel and impacting the world by training and equipping future pastors and ministry leaders. At the start of this year, a group of 17 men entered the church’s pastoral … [Read more...]
Church treasurer marks 61 years of service
WILDWOOD – The finance committee counting money at her kitchen table is just one of Mary Jett’s memories from her 61 years of service as church treasurer of First Baptist Church of Ellisville. Jett is a charter member of the church established in 1959. “They asked me to be the treasurer when I was home with two small children,” she said. “I had worked at a bank so I believe they thought I would be good at it. This was a way for me to serve and stay at home.” “Mary has faithfully served as … [Read more...]
A friendship formed through ministry: Born the same year as CP, 94-year-old women invest lives to serve local church through WMU
SPRINGFIELD – At 94, Anna Mae Barclay and Loene Ensor, are reminiscing about the ministries they’ve shared together since beginning their friendship in February of 1966. Glynn Ensor, Loene’s husband of 62 years, became the seventh pastor of Golden Avenue Baptist Church in Springfield, where Anna Mae was a charter member since the opening of its doors in 1950. The two became well acquainted very quickly. Anna Mae called Loene at midnight every Saturday night after she got off work, to … [Read more...]
Fellowship Greenwood men urged to be ‘close and clean’
GREENWOOD – It was about as manly a Saturday night as could be in the southern Kansas City community. A couple hundred men gathered and ate nachos. Less than 48 hours before the Chiefs would win the Super Bowl, the majority were sporting red and gold jerseys or hoodies. They were also there to worship and further develop a lifestyle defined by a clean heart and a close walk with Jesus. Fellowship Greenwood hosted its 6th annual men’s conference here Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. Speakers John Mark … [Read more...]
FBC Warsaw votes unanimously for revitalization
WARSAW – Though he’d only been filling in at the pulpit for less than a month, First Baptist Church, Warsaw (FBCW) unanimously voted to call Pastor Tom Renfro to be their interim while they continued their pastor search. “It’s amazing how fast my wife, Cindy, and I built a rapport and were able to connect to them,” said Renfro, who has served bi-vocationally for years and recently retired early from his position as a college professor. “They offered me the interim position and I said I was … [Read more...]
Costephens leaving Ferguson for Navy chaplaincy
FERGUSON – After serving four years as pastor of First Baptist Church in Ferguson, Pastor Joe Costephens is entering the U.S. Navy as a chaplain. He will be entering as a lieutenant, and after training he will be attached to a Marine unit. He grew up in the North County region of St. Louis, part of the First Baptist Church, Ferguson. After seminary he and his wife, Sarah, planted a church in 2009 called Passage Community Church in nearby Florissant. In 2015 that church merged with First … [Read more...]
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