One of the weak arguments offered by those opposing the Missouri Religious Freedom Amendment (Senate Joint Resolution 39, SJR 39), is that there have been no cases of Christians being hurt due to their belief opposing same-sex “marriage.” Those of us supporting SJR 39 have said while that may be true, there are 14 municipalities in Missouri that have passed ordinances prohibiting discrimination against homosexuals. In some of those cases there are no religious exemptions for clergy, … [Read more...]
Resume service gets an upgrade
JEFFERSON CITY – Pastors and churches wanting to network online to seek and fill vacant ministry positions are getting help from improved resume services available to all Missouri Baptists. Effectively immediately, the existing MBC Resume Service gives way to a simpler, faster, and more effective service provided by the Southern Baptist Convention. The new website is available at sbc.net/jobs, or it may be accessed through the Missouri Baptist Convention website mobaptist.org/resume. A … [Read more...]
Springfield pastor uses his lungs to serve the Lord
SPRINGFIELD – For Justin Nelson, a lifelong love for music began when Monty Matthews – a member of the Jordanaires, the American quartet known for providing background vocals for Elvis Presley — visited Nelson’s childhood church. “He heard me singing in church that day,” Nelson said, “and he just encouraged me as a young guy to start singing for the Lord. That kind of was the catalyst for my lifelong love of music.” Soon Nelson was following Matthews’ advice, with the full support of his … [Read more...]
Maywood Baptist reaches down and out
INDEPENDENCE – The congregation of Maywood Baptist Church here understands forgiveness and members have made it the center of their ministry. “Maywood’s leaders chose to relate to our changing community on its own terms,” Bob Spradling, pastor, said. “We asked our community how we could partner with them in what was their own ‘felt’ needs.” New programs were initiated to reach the changing needs. According to Spradling, the residential neighborhoods saw an increase in rental properties, … [Read more...]
Kelley joins Branson’s long-running gospel musical
BRANSON – Some of Elizabeth Kelley’s earliest and best memories are of singing old Gospel songs with her family. “I remember going with my parents to a nursing home,” she said. “They would get to pick a hymn and we would sing it. Those songs are so special.” Now she gets to relive those memories and make new one as one of Branson’s newest performers. Kelley plays Denise Sanders, one of the roles in “Smoke on the Mountain,” a Southern Gospel musical comedy set at a small, country Baptist … [Read more...]
Affton replant aims to make disciples
AFFTON – The old, dying church on the corner of Gravois and MacKenzie was only replanted in August, but already the new congregation has taken root and began to grow as The Church at Affton. First Baptist Church of Affton, the church’s former name, was in dire straights. Despite 75 years of ministry, the church was in decline and ultimately determined the best way to glorify God and continue ministering in the community was to replant the church with a totally new identity – not just a new … [Read more...]
Multiplying Churches: An interview with Dr. Rick Hedger
JEFFERSON CITY – As catalyst (strategic leader) for Multiplying Churches for the Missouri Baptist Convention, Dr. Rick Hedger has served under the direction of Executive Director Dr. John Yeats to lead a multi-year effort to reorient the MBC staff around a restated vision and mission. The vision of the MBC missionary staff is: “Transforming lives and communities with the gospel.” The mission for all MBC missionaries is: “Cooperating with Missouri Baptists to make disciples, multiply … [Read more...]
DOM (and his camera) find beauty in God’s creation
LEBANON – Steven Strauch would be the first to tell you he’s an amateur photographer and downplay his talent behind a camera. But while the director of missions for Laclede Baptist Association does not have any formal training and merely picked up the hobby a few years ago, his skill for finding the beauty of God’s creation speaks – as the saying goes – a thousand words. Taking pictures grew out of a love of travel and the creation of a Facebook page Strauch manages called Five Tips Road … [Read more...]
Pronounced dead at 13, evangelist now calls churches to revival
LIBERTY – Scott Hamby, 13, died in July, 1985. The injuries from his bicycle and pick-up truck crash were severe: a fractured skull, head lacerations, a pelvic girdle broken in two places, seven broken ribs, a collapsed lung, two broken vertebrae, a damaged spleen and liver, and a broken thumb. More than three hours into surgery, doctors pronounced him dead and gave the news to his family. His father began phoning friends and family members. But, approximately 15 minutes later, the … [Read more...]
St. Louis churches reach out to Indonesia
LOOKING FOR 'SPIRITUAL DARKNESS IN ITALY' LINK? PLEASE CLICK HERE. INDONESIA – Missouri Baptists in St. Louis have learned the longterm benefits of going on mission with God as they’ve organized trips to the islands of Indonesia. Since 2013, Lee Perkins* has led collegiate students with St. Louis connections to Indonesia to reach their Indonesian peers for Christ. Each year, this group has expanded in size – from a handful in 2013 to more than 20 this coming summer. College students are … [Read more...]
‘Grieved’ for North St. Louis: Church brings sound doctrine to broken community
NORTH ST. LOUIS – Michael Byrd knew the Baden community in North St. Louis needed a church, but not just any church would do. It needed to have sound doctrine. and it needed to have a gospel focus. “God has grieved our hearts for Baden,” he said. “He was grieving our hearts for church planting before we even knew the lingo. We wanted to lock arms with someone who could train us in the way to go. For us, doctrinally sound and centered on the gospel, that was the SBC.” And just like that, … [Read more...]
One baby’s death impacts many lives
INDEPENDENCE — There’s no way adequately to describe how a mom feels when a baby dies within her womb. “Disheartening” is the word Krystalle Wheeler, a member at Noland Road Baptist Church here, used when sharing about what it was like to feel her daughter, Gracia, die after carrying her for nearly 24 weeks. “My womb swelled,” she said, “and her movements lessened.” “There is nothing normal about cemetery shopping for your child,” she added. “Our oldest was 3 at the time, and she picked … [Read more...]
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