ST. LOUIS – The gift for attendees at a Christmas in August event for the Jefferson Baptist Associaiton Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) event was the conference itself. The conference Aug. 17 had the theme “The story lives on,” and featured St. Louis author Brenda Poinsett and actress Donna Douglas, best known for “Elly May Clampett” on TV’s The Beverly Hillbillies. Poinsett shared from one of her two Christmas-themed books Unwrapping Martha’s Joy, which asks can Martha have a “Mary” … [Read more...]
MBC discusses mediation with agencies, insurers
Leaders of the Missouri Baptist Convention have been approached about a possible mediation with four agencies that broke from the convention more than a decade ago – an effort that, if successful, would end all litigation. We welcome every effort to settle these cases out of court and are talking with the mediators in good faith... Two mediators selected by Church Mutual Insurance Company, the insurer for the Missouri Baptist Foundation and Windermere Baptist Conference Center, recently … [Read more...]
Midwestern Seminary announces Center for Church Planting launch; Hedger named director
Midwestern Seminary President Jason Allen announced the launch of The Midwestern Seminary Center for Church Planting on Sept. 16, and named a noted North American Mission Board church planter as its leader. According to Allen, the Center for Church Planting will serve as a hub and a catalyst for church planting in Kansas City and the Midwest, partnering with NAMB as well as the Missouri and Kansas-Nebraska state conventions. “In that Kansas City is one of NAMB’s designated Send Cities, … [Read more...]
MBC legal counsel answers questions on lawsuits
JEFFERSON CITY -- Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) chief legal counsel Michael Whitehead was recently interviewed via email by the News Tribune of Jefferson City for a story marking the 11th anniversary of the MBC taking legal action against five breakaway agencies. The story was published in the Sunday morning (Aug. 11) edition of the News Tribune. Seven questions were submitted to Whitehead for the story by News Tribune reporter Bob Watson. The same seven questions were posed to … [Read more...]
Three saved through MBCH ministries
BRIDGETON – Trustees of Missouri Baptist Children’s Home (MBCH) heard reports of ministry success and three salvations at their quarterly board meeting July 23 here. “I’ve told you many times before that this report is a bunch of numbers,” Russell Martin, MBCH vice president and treasurer, said, “but they also represent real people and children that have been touched for the cause of Christ.” Sixty-four youth have been served in MBCH therapeutic group homes so far this year, while 29 … [Read more...]
MBCH benefits from Strawberry Festival
ARNOLD – Although the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home (MBCH) lost one layer of a roof during the May 31 tornado which hit north St. Louis County, it didn’t interfere with the 122nd Strawberry Festival. The Festival was held June 1 at First Baptist Church here. “This is the second year that we’ve been able to hold the Strawberry Festival at First Church, Arnold,” said Bob Springate, MBCH vice president, public relations and development. “On weather days like these, it becomes an abundant … [Read more...]
MBC’s Yeats named MBTS’ Alum of the Year
HOUSTON – Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS) honored Missouri Baptists’ executive director June 12 when it gave John Yeats the Alumnus of the Year award during the alumni luncheon at the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) annual meeting. Yeats earned his doctorate of ministry from the seminary in 2006. “It was a very easy decision to honor John Yeats,” said MBTS President Jason Allen. “Thank you for your faithful to our students and to this institution as we together exist for … [Read more...]
Trustees: MBTS academic expansion ready
KANSAS CITY (BP) – Implementation of expanded academic offerings at both the college and seminary levels at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS) was announced during the April 29 trustee meeting at the Kansas City campus. Midwestern will now offer four new dual-major programs for undergraduates, three new master of divinity concentrations and a professional doctoral degree in counseling, which had been approved in previous trustee meetings. MBTS President Jason Allen said months … [Read more...]
Southwest Baptist graduates record class of 497
BOLIVAR – With 497 graduates, Southwest Baptist University’s (SBU) May 2013 graduating class was the largest in the university’s 135-year history. The commencement ceremony also included the annual presentation of three prestigious awards: two Life Beautiful Awards and Orien B. Hendrex Distinguished Teacher Award. The 2013 recipients of the Life Beautiful Award are Minda Cox and Josiah Phipps, both of Bolivar. Cox graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in Christian ministry. She was … [Read more...]
SBU sets budget goal of $53.8 million
BOLIVAR – The trend of record-setting budgets at Southwest Baptist University (SBU) is continuing with the May 7 establishment of a $53.7 million goal by trustees for the 2013-2014 academic year. SBU President C. Pat Taylor in 17 years has seen a dramatic increase in costs starting from an original budget of around $22 million to last year’s $51.2 million goal. Enrollment growth has been just as robust as evidenced by a record number of 497 graduates with diplomas in the May 18 … [Read more...]
Church vision becomes ‘driving engine’ at MBTS
KANSAS CITY – During its April 29 meeting Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS) trustees enthusiastically passed a “for the Church” resolution that codifies the vision of its president, Jason Allen. The resolution spells out a “renewed and steadfast commitment to serving the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).” It also identifies Allen as the visionary whose work is to be celebrated and affirmed as “for the Church” begins to see the seminary’s energies and resources … [Read more...]
MBCH gearing up for summer camp
BRIDGETON – Trustees appealed for help to send children to camp and received a clean audit report at their April 23 board meeting of the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home (MBCH) at their main campus here. The agency, which works with on average 600 children and 250 families any given day, is also planning its sixth annual camp for students in its care July 8-12 at Camp Palestine in Chilhowee, south of Warrensburg. It costs $200 per student to attend camp, and the MBCH board asked for … [Read more...]