WASHINGTON – Two Missouri Baptist attorneys were on the legal team presenting arguments last week at what many have called the most important religious liberty case to come before the United States Supreme Court in decades. Michael Whitehead, legal counsel for the Missouri Baptist Convention, and his son, Jonathan Whitehead, joined David Cortman, senior counsel and vice president of U.S. litigation with Alliance Defending Freedom, at the Supreme Court, April 19, where they argued that … [Read more...]
Family makes disciples across three generations
ELDON – Often, it is a blessing when a pastor’s son joins the ministry. The blessing may have been tripled for a recent revival service at Aurora Springs Baptist here. Tim Smith’s s father Bill Smith joined son Tim and grandson Caleb Smith, current co-pastors of Aurora Springs Baptist Church, in a post-Easter revival service series. Each man took a night to preach during the revival, beginning with Tim, then Bill, then Caleb. All preached from John 20 or 21. Tim preached on the theme … [Read more...]
The terrorizing torment of child abuse, neglect
From 2012 to 2014, Isidro Cruz-Basurto sodomized and molested a seven-year-old girl. When questioned by authorities, he said he was conducting private medical exams in his bedroom to test if anyone else was abusing the victim. A Jackson County jury rejected his explanation and on April 19 found Cruz-Basurto, 33, of Kansas City guilty of four counts of statutory sodomy in the first degree and two counts of child molestation in the first degree. Cruz-Basurto, who is an illegal alien, faces … [Read more...]
Judge blocks Missouri abortion restrictions
JEFFERSON CITY – An effort to make women safer and minimize abortions in Missouri has been struck down by a federal judge. U.S. District Judge Howard Sachs granted April 19 a preliminary injunction invalidating requirements for the state’s abortion clinics to meet standards for surgical centers and for their doctors to have hospital privileges. The regulations had meant that Planned Parenthood clinics – except for the one in St. Louis – could not perform abortions. As a result of … [Read more...]
Ashland Baptist sponsors ‘Run the Good Race’
ASHLAND – For its fourth year, Ashland Baptist Church here is sponsoring a “Run the Good Race,” and some of the proceeds will benefit mission work May 20. “Run the Good Race” will be a 5k run/walk and a 10k run. The United States American Track and Field certifies the runs. “A certified race lets competitive runners use their times to enter other races,” Goodsell said. Pastor Matt Goodsell said the proceeds will benefit ministry. In the past, some of the funds were raised for the local … [Read more...]
From trustee to adoptive parent: God’s plan always wins out
RICHLAND – Chris and Tammi Ferkel didn’t have any plans to adopt their new daughter, Summer. And yet, as is the case with most earthly plans, God’s plans took over. In fact, God had been laying the groundwork for Summer’s new family for multiple generations. Chris is the son of a man who was orphaned in the early 1940s. Never fostered or adopted, he grew up as a newsboy in an orphanage in St. Louis. Chris’s maternal grandmother, also an orphan, came to Missouri on a Catholic orphan train … [Read more...]
FBC Arnold ministry aims for ‘one less orphan’
ARNOLD – Adopting and fostering children is a journey. FBC Arnold has a ministry, “One Less Orphan,” to make that journey easier to navigate by providing support for parents and children. “We started this ministry to encourage couples interested in adopting or going through the process,” Lisa Jackson, leader and member of FBC Arnold, said. “Tim and I have three biological children,” Lisa added, “and we adopted a boy from China.” Tim and Lisa Jackson were surprised by some of the … [Read more...]
Church at Three Trails seeks to grow through missions
ZACATELCO, Mexico – The Church at Three Trails didn’t seek out a partnership with Iglesia Bautista Maranatha in the city of Zacatelco. God sought them out. It began last fall when pastor Brian Grout attended the Partnership Missions luncheon during the Missouri Baptist Convention’s Annual Meeting in St. Charles. There he heard of partial scholarships available if he and another church member were interested in a vision trip. A recent church “replant” that itself has planted a local … [Read more...]
Super Summer leads students to ‘Next Level’
HANNIBAL – Each year, the gospel transforms the lives of hundreds of students from across Missouri during Super Summer, a Cooperative Program-funded summer camp hosted by Hannibal-LaGrange University and designed by the Missouri Baptist Convention to draw students closer to Jesus Christ. “Super Summer is designed both for middle school and high school students,” Jason Walters, the MBC’s director of Super Summer, said. “And it’s also designed for students regardless of where they are in … [Read more...]
Children’s Home offers ways to serve kids
BRIDGETON – Foster Care through Missouri Baptist Children’s Home (MBCH) provides a temporary home for children who are unable to live in their biological parent’s home. Foster parents provide a safe home and place for children to heal until they are either reunited with their birth family or an adoptive home is found. Family Foster Care Parents provide care for children with mild-to-moderate behavioral/emotional needs. MBCH Children and Family Ministries (MBCH CFM) works as a community … [Read more...]
FBC Annapolis holds spiritual ‘rehab’ month
ANNAPOLIS – Throughout the month of April, members of the First Baptist Church here have Pastor Dan Pitcher’s permission to put aside their “Sunday Best” and dress in whatever they’d wear during a rehab counseling session. The church body, Pitchers said, is undergoing spiritual “rehab” this month—that is, a revival and evangelistic emphasis using a resource provided by the Missouri Baptist Convention during the Great Commission Conference (GCC) in Springfield earlier this year. Pitchers … [Read more...]
Lord’s Supper goes retro at KC church
KANSAS CITY – Many churches observe the Lord’s Supper in preparation for Easter, but at Northland Baptist Church here, things are going to look a little different on Good Friday as the congregation “breaks bread.” Instead of what has become tradition for many Baptists – crackers and grape juice served in silver trays – that congregation will literally sit down for a communion meal. Co-pastor Rustin Umstattd, who also teaches theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, said the … [Read more...]
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