MOBERLY – Eight ministers pooled together their youth budgets to bring a “Fearless Student Ministry Night” Oct. 26 that drew around 250 sixth through twelfth grade students. Jason Kramer, associate pastor of Sturgeon Baptist here, one of the eight coordinating youth pastors, said extra chairs had to be set in the Moberly Municipal Auditorium for the concert, which featured Christian hip-hop artist DaMac and speaker Joshua Hedger, director of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s … [Read more...]
Tensions prompt Missouri Baptists to action
FERGUSON – The shooting of 18-year-old African American Michael Brown by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9 ignited racial tensions and weeks of sometimes violent protests in Ferguson, Mo., earlier this fall. But Stoney Shaw, pastor of the local First Baptist Church, never imagined that protestors would wreak so much havoc after a grand jury announced their decision, Nov. 24, not to indict Wilson. “Ferguson,” Shaw said, “can never go back to the way it was.” Although … [Read more...]
Pastor still preaching, inspiring after 64 years
MAYWOOD – The Rev. Dale Norfolk, who was once chaplain for the Missouri Senate for 26 years, preached his first sermon at age 17. He’s celebrating his 64th year in the ministry this month, and he shows no signs of wanting to leave the pulpit. “I can still preach as well as before and really don’t have any plans to retire,” the 81-year-old Norfolk said. “I’m not planning on giving up preaching until I can’t do it anymore.” Norfolk, a life-long member of the Southern Baptist Convention, is … [Read more...]
Mo. missionaries brew a method to reach Indonesia
Editor’s note: Names have been changed for security. INDONESIA – When God pricked the hearts of Missouri missionaries Jim and Marcia to minister in Indonesia, they didn’t expect to be in the coffee business. “Indonesia is a country of creative access,” Jim said. “Visas are not granted for missionaries. It is illegal for active evangelism or proselytizing. So, we spent our first year in southern Sumatra learning how to live in the country and to get a foreign visa.” Coffee proved to be … [Read more...]
A year after typhoon, Filipino island thriving
GIBITNGIL, the Philippines – What a difference a year – and a lot of Baptist sweat – make. Twelve months ago, nearly 100 kids scampered from a collapsing classroom as Typhoon Haiyan (called Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines) tore their school apart. They rode out the storm for hours crammed into in an unfinished concrete bathroom as winds topped 200 mph and 50-foot waves battered the rocky beach below. One year later, however, the island’s school classrooms are rebuilt and instead of … [Read more...]
Real Encounter stunts bring 64 to Christ
RUSSELLVILLE – Brad Bennett and other members of Real Encounter flew through the air with the greatest of ease, but it wasn’t on a trapeze. It was on a bicycle. Real Encounter is a ministry of professional athletes in the area of moto stunts, street bike stunts and BMX stunts. This year, Real Encounter earned a standing ovation from the judges on “America’s Got Talent.” According to the team, “the extreme stunt show is our platform, but Jesus Christ has center-stage in our lives as … [Read more...]
Ferguson prayer summit calls for revival
FERGUSON – As snowflakes swirled outside and rumors of potential grand jury actions swirled across town, a hundred Missouri Baptists gathered for a prayer summit at First Baptist here to pray for the community, the state and the nation. The prayer time was led by North American Mission Board’s Gary Frost and Arkansas pastor Bill Elliff. They led the crowd in a time of repentance, worship and intercession for themselves, and revival in their churches, their communities and beyond. They also … [Read more...]
Rhea: Sing Psalm 103 in your life
OSAGE BEACH – Sometimes before you can talk to God and others, you need to talk to yourself. That was the gist behind the Convention Sermon at the 2014 Missouri Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, preached by Richie Rhea. Rhea, pastor of First Baptist Church, Troy, preached the sermon based on Psalm 103, which begins, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!” “The Lord created us for conversation,” Rhea said. “He wants us to have conversations as we share … [Read more...]
Partnership Missions luncheon focuses on Mexico, N.Y.
RICHARD NATIONS/contributing writer OSAGE BEACH – MBC Partnership Missions lunch attendees heard reports from a pastor in Puebla, Mexico, and a church planter in upstate New York. Stirring stories of fields wide open for spiritual harvest captivated the hearts of Missouri Baptists. Sergio Rebollar Oropeza, the president of the Puebla/Tlaxcala Regional Baptist Convention of Mexico, spoke of the gratitude that the churches in his region of southern Mexico feel for the partnership that … [Read more...]
Live in fear or in faith, Yeats tells ministry wives
OSAGE BEACH – Strawberry salads with crumbled feta cheese were placed on tables to greet the women as they entered the Crystal Ballroom at Tan-Tar-A Resort. Candlelight flickered as part of the centerpiece and a framed keepsake message served as a reminder of what Christ calls His followers to do: “In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Matt 5:16). The 2014 Ministry Wives Luncheon was held on Oct. 28 … [Read more...]
FURNACE: 2015 Evangelism Conference
SPRINGFIELD – The Missouri Baptist Convention’s (MBC) 2015 state evangelism and discipleship conference will challenge church leaders to remain faithful to God and to His call despite hardship. Springfield’s Ridgecrest Baptist Church will host the conference, called “Furnace,” Feb. 5-6, 2015. Ridgecrest can hold up to 1,000 people. The conference theme is inspired by the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the book of Daniel – a story that International Mission Board (IMB) … [Read more...]
Yeats: Holy Spirit needed among Missouri Baptists
Dr. John Yeats - 2014 MBC Annual Meeting Executive Director's Address. OSAGE BEACH – Missouri Baptists must despair of themselves and pray that God would fill them with His Spirit, Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Executive Director John Yeats said during his address at the 2014 annual meeting here at Tan-Tar-A Resort, Oct. 27. “Listen, our Heavenly Father yearns to have His churches comprised of believers who are filled with the Holy Spirit,” Yeats said. “His purpose is to give the Holy … [Read more...]
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