SPRINGFIELD – Conference leaders at “Furnace,” the Missouri Baptist Convention’s 2015 state evangelism and discipleship conference, encouraged church leaders from around the state to remain faithful amid hardship and opposition, Feb. 5-6. During the morning session of “Furnace,” Feb. 6, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Jason Allen preached from the biblical account that inspired the conference theme—namely, the story of Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and the fiery … [Read more...]
Breakouts give practical twist to Furnace
SPRINGFIELD – Sixteen breakout session leaders during the Furnace Conference Feb. 5 and 6 helped attendees put into the content from the main session into a plan for reaching the lost. Victor Benavides led sessions on servant evangelism events. “The way to find how to reach people is to talk to people,” he said. “Every servanthood evangelism project is a mini mission trip.” Charles Billingsly, worship pastor at Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Va. and worship leader for the … [Read more...]
High flying tricks, stunts draw large crowd
AURORA – More than 1,800 students and adults packed Aurora High School’s Houn’ Dawg Gymnasium Feb. 4, and this time it wasn’t because of a Big 8 Conference varsity match-up. “Brad Bennett and his Real Encounter team do a great job with the whole program and about halfway through, when Brad gives his testimony and an invitation, we saw 128 decisions and 102 professions of faith,” said Wade Rogers, senior pastor at First Baptist Church Aurora and church coordinator for the event. The event … [Read more...]
Dorcas-like faith at FBC Browning
They may not be part of the biggest congregation in the Missouri Baptist Convention, but the WMU ladies of rural First Baptist Church, Browning, are making the love of Christ felt in a big way in a faraway land. The ladies, part of the approximately 40 worshippers who attend the church in Linn County in north-central Missouri, have made more than 600 “pillow case” dresses for orphans in Haiti. They work in partnership with Red Bridge Baptist Church in Kansas City, which distributes the … [Read more...]
Record crowd attends MBC Legislative Prayer Service
JEFFERSON CITY – Hope remains for Missouri and for the United States even in perilous times, Hannibal-LaGrange University President Anthony Allen told civic and church leaders from around the state during the 10th annual Legislative Prayer Breakfast and Service, Jan. 7. More than 200 people gathered at Concord Baptist Church here for the event, which is sponsored by the Christian Life Commission (CLC) of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC). Following a prayer breakfast, guests gathered … [Read more...]
Servant evangelism: ‘Crazy love’ lights up Missouri
Reports are coming in from churches lighting up their communities for Jesus! Darron Edwards serves as pastor of United Believers Church in Kansas City. They conducted “Transformers” evangelism training in April. “Mothers Like You,” was a prayer breakfast conducted on the Saturday before Mother’s Day. There were 21 women that made a commitment to return to church. In June, the church distributed more than 1,100 water bottles in 10 strategic locations. In July and August, they conducted VBS … [Read more...]
CP, Lottie Moon, Annie, MMO exceed 2014 goals
JEFFERSON CITY – For the second year in a row, Missouri Baptists have outstripped their goals for the Cooperative Program (CP), Lottie Moon, Annie Armstrong and the Rheubin L. South Missouri Missions Offering (MMO). In 2013, Missouri Baptists exceeded their CP goal for the first time in 13 years, giving approximately $11,000 more than a goal of approximately $14.6 million. In 2014, they exceeded a $14.5 million goal by approximately $300,000—an excess in giving that the Missouri Baptist … [Read more...]
Rural church quadruples Lottie giving, bumps up CP
MORGAN – When the members of Morgan Baptist Church here increased their goal for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering to $2,500 in 2014, they thought it would be a healthy challenge for a church that welcomes only 50 people to its Sunday morning service each week. When the church exceeded its goal, contributing nearly $10,500 to Lottie Moon for the 2014 Christmas offering, they were “dumbfounded.” “The church treasurer had to count the money three times,” Pastor Tim Howe said. Before … [Read more...]
Marching with MLK
FERGUSON – Stoney Shaw was just an idealistic seminary student, the white son of Florida sharecroppers who grew up alongside the black children whose families worked those same fields. But his experience with racism, protests and a chance encounter with Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1967 would shape him into a man uniquely equipped to pastor a church like First Baptist Church of Ferguson, a town now known internationally – fairly or not – as a hotbed of racial unrest and violence. “We grew … [Read more...]
Canote Family expands music ministry to include focus on missions
CLARK – Following God in ministry means sometimes a change of focus. This is a lesson Chris and Susan Canote and their 10 children continue to learn. The Canotes belong to Perche Baptist in northern Boone County, and for three years he pastored Harrisburg Baptist, resigning to direct the non-profit, family-launched Evident Ministries (www.evidentministries.org). More than a dozen years ago, the couple performed southern gospel music for a revival pastor. As children were added to the … [Read more...]
Servanthood evangelism is the norm for Ferguson church
FERGUSON – Long before a police shooting, protests and a grand jury decision put Ferguson in the national spotlight, the First Baptist Church here had been sharing Christ’s love by serving the community. “God has opened door after door for ministry,” Ron Becker, associate pastor, said. “We have forged partnerships with many groups in the community over the years.” FBC Ferguson is known in the area for programming for children. “We average about 80 children on Wednesday night for … [Read more...]
Pierce City church gives 375 children new shoes
PIERCE CITY – Earlier this fall, members from the First Baptist Church here fitted shoes on the feet of 375 children, as well as nearly 50 teachers and staff members, from the Pierce City Elementary School. By partnering with the rural development branch of Convoy of Hope in Springfield, the church was not only able to provide shoes for children in the community, but they also found a renewed sense of purpose. “It has really given the church a mission again,” said Pastor Ryan McMillian, … [Read more...]
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