JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Baptist leaders and church members were among a crowd of religious liberty defenders who gathered at the state capitol, Feb. 23, to support a Missouri Senate resolution that protects religious organizations and individuals from being penalized for their biblical beliefs about marriage. Senate Joint Resolution 39 (SJR-39), sponsored by Senator Bob Onder of Lake St. Louis, was taken up on the Missouri Senate floor March 7, and if it passes through both the Senate … [Read more...]
Late-breaking developments on Religious Freedom Bill
JEFFERSON CITY – Debate on Senate Joint Resolution 39 (SJR 39), otherwise called the Missouri Religious Freedom Amendment, began suddenly at 4:00 p.m., March 7, in the Missouri Senate. The timing of the debate caught opponents by surprise and unprepared. Speed has been an important component of Amendment supporters’ strategy. One observer commented, “I’ve never seen a bill move this fast.” The Democrats are expected to filibuster, and it is unknown what strategy might be employed by the … [Read more...]
Missouri Religious Freedom: What is Senate Joint Resolution 39?
Early this morning, the Missouri Senate passed a bill that will protect people of any faith from being penalized because of their religious beliefs about marriage. President Pro Tem of the Senate Ron Richard broke a 39-hour long filibuster of Senate Joint Resolution 39 (SJR 39), otherwise called the Missouri Religious Freedom Amendment, by calling for the previous question. In accordance with Senate rules, members of the Senate then took a 7 a.m. roll call, and SJR 39 passed its … [Read more...]
Hillcrest, Lebanon, expands ministry space
LEBANON – A vision over a decade in the making now stands completed here in Lebanon. With the help of an army of Constructors for Christ, Hillcrest Baptist Church recently finished and dedicated its new Family Life Center, an over 10,000 square-foot facility including classrooms, a commercial kitchen, and a gym. Members of Hillcrest Baptist had long known that the church could use additional ministry space, particularly for recreational activities and special events. Over the last ten … [Read more...]
Glasses ministy helps Mexico hear – and see – gospel
CHIAPAS, Mexico – At 98 years old, Domingo Lopez had never laid eyes on a foreigner. But, thanks to Concord Baptist Church in Jefferson City, when he finally did meet them at one of four eyeglasses clinics in the southern state of Chiapas, he could see them clearly. Lopez was one of hundreds ministered to through an eyeglasses clinic put on by Concord, the latest of 19 such mission trips over the past six years that began when Larry Merry was part of a medical missions trip and realized he … [Read more...]
Evangelist Adrian has heart for sharing gospel with others
BROOKEFIELD – One of the newest members of the Fellowship of Missouri Baptist Evangelists is Ron Adrian. But long before he joined the group, he was sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. “I’ve been with the Fellowship about a year, but I’ve been doing evangelism for a lot of years. I’ve been a pastor for a lot of years and evangelism has been a part of it all the time,” Adrian said. “Now I’ve gone into regular evangelism.” For about two years, when Adrian moved to Springfield after … [Read more...]
Worldview Conference set for HLGU, April 14
HANNIBAL – The U.S. Supreme Court’s redefinition of marriage last year is only the latest symptom of the crisis of the American family—a crisis that experts from across the nation will address during the Missouri Baptist Convention’s Worldview Conference, April 14, 2016. Alongside the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to redefine marriage to include the union of same-sex couples, Missouri Baptists must address other family crises as they carry the gospel to their communities. Divorce rates are … [Read more...]
Acts 1:8 is basis for Canaan Baptist’s mission
ST. LOUIS – Canaan Baptist Church in St. Louis not only set Acts 1:8 as a mission focus verse, but the church with a Sunday attendance average of 575 practices this. Pastor Daniel Carr said the verse challenges believers to reach Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth. For Canaan, four major projects comprise the Jerusalem segment. “We’ve identified our Jerusalem as the greater St. Louis area. First, We did an Easter egg drop from a helicopter. We did this for … [Read more...]
Water in a dry, thirsty land
KANSAS CITY – In the fall of 2013, five members from Norfleet Baptist Church here set out to East Africa in their first effort to reach a people group thirsty for the living water of the gospel. Since that time church members have reached hundreds of people and have helped to plant five churches. When they return this fall, they expect to witness 200 baptisms. “It’s a Gideon thing for us to do this,” said Scott Flippin, pastor of the small congregation in Southeast Kansas City. With … [Read more...]
Religious freedom battle about to heat up
Last summer Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Executive Director John Yeats asked me to organize a statewide effort to strengthen Missouri’s religious freedom laws following the U.S. Supreme Court decision that redefined marriage. For four months I had the privilege of leading discussions about the matter with lawmakers, State Capitol staffers and First Amendment scholars and attorneys. I am pleased to say that through hard work and much prayer a bill has been crafted and is being sponsored … [Read more...]
First Baptist Lebanon ‘glazes over’ donut debacle
LEBANON – Forget the worship wars, unwavering biblical stances on changing social issues or King James vs. more modern Bible translations; First Baptist Church here found itself in the creamy center of the most Baptist of Baptist controversies: donut loyalty. First Baptist Church here jumped at the opportunity to host Hurts Donut, a Springfield-based donut chain, for a one-time, food truck donut sale in the church’s parking lot Feb. 4. It was a simple plan that got more complicated than … [Read more...]
New booklet on MBC reorientation now available
JEFFERSON CITY – A new booklet explaining the reorientation of the MBC staff is now available as a free downloadable file at mobaptist.org/transform. “Reorient: The Vision, Mission & Values of the MBC Missionary Staff” begins with a message from Executive Director John Yeats. “The vision of the MBC staff is both simple and compelling: Transforming lives and communities with the gospel,” he writes. “The mission of the MBC staff explains how your state missionaries strive toward this … [Read more...]
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