INDEPENDENCE – The congregation of Maywood Baptist Church here understands forgiveness and members have made it the center of their ministry. “Maywood’s leaders chose to relate to our changing community on its own terms,” Bob Spradling, pastor, said. “We asked our community how we could partner with them in what was their own ‘felt’ needs.” New programs were initiated to reach the changing needs. According to Spradling, the residential neighborhoods saw an increase in rental properties, … [Read more...]
Kelley joins Branson’s long-running gospel musical
BRANSON – Some of Elizabeth Kelley’s earliest and best memories are of singing old Gospel songs with her family. “I remember going with my parents to a nursing home,” she said. “They would get to pick a hymn and we would sing it. Those songs are so special.” Now she gets to relive those memories and make new one as one of Branson’s newest performers. Kelley plays Denise Sanders, one of the roles in “Smoke on the Mountain,” a Southern Gospel musical comedy set at a small, country Baptist … [Read more...]
Hundreds rally in support of SJR 39
JEFFERSON CITY – Filling every square-foot of the Capitol Rotunda and with many looking on from the balconies above, more than 300 people swarmed Missouri’s State House, April 19, in defense of religious liberty and in support of the Senate Joint Resolution 39 (SJR 39). Standing ovations punctuated the rally as various leaders and lawmakers defended SJR 39, also known as the Missouri Religious Freedom Amendment, and urged the crowd to tell their elected leaders to pass SJR 39 without … [Read more...]
Demand for MBCH services rising
BRIDGETON – Booming business for the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home means that more children are experiencing a crisis at home, but if someone has to take care of children in need, MBCH is happy to be a safe, positive Christian landing zone. Trustees for MBCH met Jan. 26 at the main campus here to review 2015 and plan for the future. The Children’s Home’s Children and Family Ministries (CFM) saw requests for therapeutic group homes skyrocket in 2015, totalling 470. This is more than … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptists send 1,247 relief buckets to Africa
JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Baptists filled 1,247 Baptist Global Response buckets packed with supplies during 2015, and the majority of those have gone to Mozambique, Togo, Burkina Faso, and Ivory Coast, with the latest shipment currently being prepared to go to Cape Town, West Africa. Prior to the emphasis in 2015, Missouri Baptists had a part in sending about 300 buckets for this project. Since 2013, more than 8,800 buckets have been filled and sent to Africa from all over the United … [Read more...]
Affton replant aims to make disciples
AFFTON – The old, dying church on the corner of Gravois and MacKenzie was only replanted in August, but already the new congregation has taken root and began to grow as The Church at Affton. First Baptist Church of Affton, the church’s former name, was in dire straights. Despite 75 years of ministry, the church was in decline and ultimately determined the best way to glorify God and continue ministering in the community was to replant the church with a totally new identity – not just a new … [Read more...]
Multiplying Churches: An interview with Dr. Rick Hedger
JEFFERSON CITY – As catalyst (strategic leader) for Multiplying Churches for the Missouri Baptist Convention, Dr. Rick Hedger has served under the direction of Executive Director Dr. John Yeats to lead a multi-year effort to reorient the MBC staff around a restated vision and mission. The vision of the MBC missionary staff is: “Transforming lives and communities with the gospel.” The mission for all MBC missionaries is: “Cooperating with Missouri Baptists to make disciples, multiply … [Read more...]
Generous tip leads to salvation, baptism
LEBANON – It was initially meant as a random act of kindness, but the $1,000 tip First Baptist Church, Lebanon gave Robert Marsh on a $10.74 pizza on Christmas Eve started a conversation that ultimately led to his conversion and baptism. A video posted to the church’s Facebook page that has been viewed more than 13,000 times tells the story (Search for “FBC Lebanon” in Facebook’s search bar to watch the video). “What’s the biggest tip you’ve ever received?” Matt Taylor, pastor of First … [Read more...]
DOM (and his camera) find beauty in God’s creation
LEBANON – Steven Strauch would be the first to tell you he’s an amateur photographer and downplay his talent behind a camera. But while the director of missions for Laclede Baptist Association does not have any formal training and merely picked up the hobby a few years ago, his skill for finding the beauty of God’s creation speaks – as the saying goes – a thousand words. Taking pictures grew out of a love of travel and the creation of a Facebook page Strauch manages called Five Tips Road … [Read more...]
Pronounced dead at 13, evangelist now calls churches to revival
LIBERTY – Scott Hamby, 13, died in July, 1985. The injuries from his bicycle and pick-up truck crash were severe: a fractured skull, head lacerations, a pelvic girdle broken in two places, seven broken ribs, a collapsed lung, two broken vertebrae, a damaged spleen and liver, and a broken thumb. More than three hours into surgery, doctors pronounced him dead and gave the news to his family. His father began phoning friends and family members. But, approximately 15 minutes later, the … [Read more...]
Major religious freedom rally, April 19
JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Director John Yeats and leaders of most of Missouri’s largest denominations will be featured speakers at the Missouri Religious Freedom Rally set for 2 p.m., April 19 at the State Capitol. Several other notable speakers will be featured along with musical guests. The event is being held as a prelude to a critical vote by the House of Representatives on the Missouri Religious Freedom Amendment (SJR 39). “We are asking people to come in … [Read more...]
MBC churches anticipate CP Sunday, April 10
JEFFERSON CITY – What do your tithes and offerings do? Through the Cooperative Program, they start new churches, feed the hungry, advance Christian education, provide disaster relief, promote evangelism, keep roughly 9,000 full-time missionaries in the field … and much more. April 10 is Cooperative Program Day for the 50,000 churches and church-type missions of the Southern Baptist Convention. It is a day to celebrate the unique funding process that Southern Baptists have used since 1925 … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 175
- 176
- 177
- 178
- 179
- …
- 256
- Next Page »