JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Baptists’ Disaster Relief (DR) response is going to be quicker and deeper according to a new structure for one the most highly visible ministries in the state. Instead of a single “white hat” to manage an entire state – usually the state DR director – there are now eight additional volunteers who can operate as white hats when multiple disasters strike or time and distance make it necessary. “I can’t do it all myself,” said Dwain Carter, the Missouri Baptist … [Read more...]
HLGU’s 2013-14 budget rises
HANNIBAL – Hannibal-LaGrange University (HLGU) trustees voted to change their meeting structure, adopted a revised HLGU mission statement and approved a $21.9 million budget during their meeting March 18-19. The budget for the upcoming fiscal year assumes the same number of residential students as last year (479), but reflects going non-residential student populations and a 4.75 percent tuition increase trustees approved last November. At $21,957,416, It is a 10.3 percent increase from … [Read more...]
Burundi pastor ordained in festive ceremony
KANSAS CITY — Many Burundi parishioners were gathered March 10 at the ordination service of Burundi Pastor Dany Byamungu here at Iglesia Cristiana Palabra Viva. The congregation meets at Central Baptist Church where Pastor Omar Segovia, who recently joined the church planting staff of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC), also serves. Byamungu, 29, was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire) where he was raised by Christian parents whom he thanked during the service. Due to war, … [Read more...]
MBC to appeal ruling on Windermere
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...]
Religious liberty of child care providers threatened
JEFFERSON CITY – Church child care ministries will no longer be exempt from government regulations if a bill filed by Rep. Jeremy LaFaver, D-Waldo, becomes state law. “House Bill 493 is a threat to religious liberties,” said Kerry Messer, lobbyist for Missouri Baptist Convention’s Christian Life Commission. The question of licensing such ministries has been a recurrent effort in the Missouri General Assembly, but Messer calls HB 493 “the most direct frontal assault on church child care … [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...]
The Pole Vaulting Pastor: At age 80, he’s still clearing the bar
VERONA — Hubert Conway, pastor, Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, longed to turn 80 years old last August. His agenda was to join the 80-84 age group for the Senior Olympics, which means he has a better chance to become the national pole vault champion. Healthy through and through, he can still vault and preach with the best of them. Hubert Conway is a specimen. He takes no medicine. No pills. “Everything is fine,” he said. “I really think that I probably am as healthy as a lot of … [Read more...]
Twin Rivers helps raise missions awareness
WARRENTON — For the second time in three years, Twin Rivers Baptist Association (TRBA) held a missions conference, bringing missionaries from the United States and the world to meet, dine, and fellowship with Baptists in St. Charles, Lincoln, Montgomery and Warren counties. Director of Missions Brent Campbell said that 15 missionaries from the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and International Mission Board (IMB) participated in events across 15 churches during the On Mission … [Read more...]
Hannibal church retools to help spiritual growth
HANNIBAL – After growth that led to two building additions, attendance tapered off here at Calvary Baptist Church. “I’ve been Southern Baptist all my life,” said Jeff Anderson, Calvary pastor. “I think we too quickly measure success by buildings, budgets and baptisms. When you measure by the number of people dunked, you have the reality of false conversions.” Attendance hovered at the 400 mark in 2004 and 2005, and fell to under 300 by 2010. Attendance now is 325-350. As attendance … [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...]
Layman finds satisfaction in vibrant library ministry
ST. PETERS – For many people, a career that spans decades starts to look like the one they will retire in … or certainly not move far from in another role. For James Stull, more than 20 years of teaching experience was simply a prelude to a marketing position for a Christian library. Last fall Stull—a member at First Baptist Church, Fenton—did not return to the private school where he had taught for 20 years. Instead, he began a role as the development director for The Family Vision … [Read more...]
‘Black sheep’ pastors care for those in need
SEDALIA — Sheep are white. Shepherds know this. But some sheep are black. Shepherds at Olive Branch Baptist Church know this. Pastor Jason McClain and Associate Pastor Donnie Hayworth enjoy being called to a different type of flock in a different kind of place—a setting that is known for its rock n’ roll, bikers, tattoos, bandanas, blue jeans, and black sheep. “We wanted to reach a community of people where they’re at—where they live every day,” McClain said. “The community I’m talking … [Read more...]