WALDRON — At first, it might seem that Alice Chastain, member of First Baptist Church, Polo who serves on the Missouri Baptist Executive Board, is taking the “soaring with eagles” in Isa. 40:31 too literally. At the end of June, this grandmother and great-grandmother jumped from an airplane. She liked it so much, she did it again, two weeks later. “I don’t know why but it is something I’ve always wanted to do,” Chastain said. “It was on my bucket list.” Chastain has four sons, 13 … [Read more...]
17 injured after bus skids, hits trees at youth camp
CHATSWORTH, Ga. – A bus load of youth on a rain-slickened mountain road in Georgia is a recipe for a miracle and that is what First Baptist Church of St. Charles got. The youth were in Georgia to attend youth camp at Global Youth Ministry Camp. There were 24 people on the bus including youth and adults. As the bus headed downhill after the July 17 night service taking the campers back to their rooms, the bus hit a tree. “The environment was the major factor causing the bus accident,” Jerry … [Read more...]
FBC Norwood recovering from church shooting
NORWOOD – Three days after church-goers left their pews mid-sermon to tackle a gunman armed with a .357 magnum revolver, they returned to their seats at First Baptist Church for Bible Study and to talk through the experience with Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Disaster Relief (DR) chaplains. Many were quiet at first, but by the end of the evening most of the 25 people present began to open up about the traumatic events of July 21 that left the congregation shaken but thankfully … [Read more...]
UPDATE: Gunman tackled after opening fire in Sunday morning worship
NORWOOD – A man is in custody after witnesses say he opened fire during the morning worship service at First Baptist Church here. One man injured his shoulder in the process of tackling the alleged gunman, though witnesses confirmed to The Pathway there were no other injuries. Pastor Stephen Fugitt was about halfway through his morning sermon July 21 when a man entered the church and fired between two and three shots. Fugitt told The Pathway the church has had previous contact with the … [Read more...]
Tough guy shares God’s love with those he trains
BOGOTA, Colombia – Sgt. Rod Land, Missouri State Highway Patrol, has gone on annual mission trips for several years, but it wasn’t until he visited El Salvador as a police trainer that he realized his true heart for missions was for other officers. In December of 2012, he was able to put that calling into practice in the country of Colombia. In addition to his career as a state trooper, Land serves as an instructor for Strategos International of Grandview, a company that provides security … [Read more...]
Pastors grateful for break in routine, mb125
Many of the pastors attending the mb125 conference were grateful for an opportunity to attend the event sponsored by the Missouri Baptist Convention. “It was really good. It was spiritually uplifting,” said Chris Aery, pastor of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in Calhoun, whose Sunday attendance hovers between 40 and 50 people. “I like how it was mid-week so I could preach on Sunday. I really enjoyed the session. The price was wonderful, and it opened my eyes to what Lifeway (Christian … [Read more...]
Focus on smaller churches with mb125
Dan Steinbeck/contributing writer BRANSON – Pastors and their families ministering to the large number of rural and smaller churches across the state were the focus of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC)-sponsored mb125 Conference held here June 18-20. Pastors got reduced registration costs, which covered the motel and most meals, free time with family, books, and door prizes. Why the effort? “That’s the majority of who we (MBC-affiliated churches) are. Some pastors benefit from … [Read more...]
MBC Churches’ Baptisms top 10,000
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,”