JEFFERSON CITY - The Executive Board of the Missouri Baptist Convention has voted to appeal a Camden County judge’s decision April 3 granting summary judgment in favor of Windermere Baptist Conference and other defendants. The Executive Board will appeal to the Southern District Court of Appeals in Springfield. The convention is seeking the return of 1300 acres of Windermere real estate, which was removed from MBC control when Windermere’s board secretly voted in 2001 to become … [Read more...]
Worldview event probes impact, spread of pluralism
JEFFERSON CITY — The 2013 Worldview Conference March 28 featured comparisons between “Paul at Mars Hill—Being a Christian in a Pluralistic Society” and the United States of America. The conference, which drew 100 people here to Memorial Baptist Church, was a joint project of the Christian Life Commission of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) and The Pathway. Andy Chambers, professor of Bible and vice president of Missouri Baptist University, laid a biblical foundation for the … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptists encouraged to plan for apologetics training
JEFFERSON CITY – Help equip your church members to defend the Christian faith by scheduling an apologetics training event in 2013. Apologetics is defined simply as a reasonable defense of the Christian faith, and it is the duty of every believer, according to Rob Phillips, who heads up a new apologetics ministry for Missouri Baptists. “The need to defend our beliefs with gentleness and respect is growing as we live in a culture increasingly more hostile – or simply complacent – towards … [Read more...]
Missouri Cooperative Program giving off to fast start in January, February
Missouri Baptists are giving more to missions through the Cooperative Program (CP) so far in 2013, according to just-released figures from the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC). In January and February, CP giving from MBC churches totaled $2.527 million, compared with $2.423 million during the same two months in 2012. That’s an increase of more than 4 percent. In addition, CP giving in the first two months of the year is running nearly 5 percent ahead of budget. Several factors are … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptists embracing Annie Armstrong Easter Offering
JEFFERSON CITY – Easter is fast approaching, and that means is it time for the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering to support the efforts of the North American Mission Board (NAMB). Missouri Baptists have set a goal for the 2013 offering of $1.75 million. The nation-wide goal is $70 million for ministry across the country, including in Missouri. “While Cooperative Program is the backbone for Missouri Baptists reaching this nation, the Annie Armstrong offering provides resources for evangelism … [Read more...]
ReFRESH: Encounter with God essential for renewal
BRANSON – Missouri Baptists met Feb. 28-March 1 for ReFRESH, a time for God’s people to come apart from the distractions and chaos of life to seek the face of God during the state evangelism/discipleship conference. Bill Elliff, directional pastor, The Summit Church, North Little Rock, Ark., said the purpose of the gathering here at First Baptist Church was to encounter God much like Moses did in the burning bush. Though it seemed like his life was wasting away, Moses still had his … [Read more...]
‘Having’ Sunday School or ‘using’ Sunday School
Almost every church I pass as I drive around the great state of Missouri has a sign out front that shows their schedule for worship and Sunday School. Some call it “Bible Study.” Some call it “Life Groups.” But really it is “Sunday School.” I often wonder if all these churches are having Bible study each week, why aren’t we seeing more of an impact on our communities? Why are most Sunday Schools in decline rather than growing? Why are we not seeing the lives of those attending being … [Read more...]
SBC editors vote Hinkle BASP president-elect
OKLAHOMA CITY – Pathway Editor Don Hinkle was unanimously voted president-elect of the Baptist Association of State Publications (BASP) by Southern Baptist Convention state newspaper editors at their annual conference here Feb. 11-13. Cameron Crabtree, editor of The Northwest Baptist, Portland, Ore., is president until February 2014 when the editors next meet. Hinkle, 58, will begin his service at the conclusion of that meeting, serving a one-year term. Hinkle has been a journalist for … [Read more...]
Baptist Building hosts stop suicide training
JEFFERSON CITY – Twenty one Missouri National Guardsmen participated in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) Feb. 2 in the Gold Room area of the Baptist Building. ASIST is a two-day course designed to help recognize and intervene to prevent the immediate risk of suicide. It provides an opportunity for service members to explore their experiences and attitudes about suicide, to have a better understanding of the needs of a person at risk of suicide and how to use suicide … [Read more...]