“Dr. Yeats, I have 237 pastors-less churches on my list.” As I rode down the elevator, the administrative assistant for MBC’s pastoral ministries shared with me this disheartening news. It broke my heart to hear that one out of eight Baptist churches in the heartland are without a shepherd to lead the congregation. I thought, “That is too many pastors-less churches.” As I reflected on the number, the thought of these men of God, who experienced forced termination or resigned out of … [Read more...]
Missouri pastor ignites prayer response at county courthouse
LEWISTOWN – Many pastors encouraged their flocks to pray during the National Day of Prayer, May 7. Ted Middleton, pastor of First Baptist Church here ratcheted up the call to prayer with a bold newspaper ad that challenged Christians’ faith. A full-page ad in the April 23 edition of The Press-News Journal in Lewis County pointedly challenged local Christians to stand in faith. “Do you believe in God? Prove it,” the ad reads. It then gives details of the time and place for Lewis County … [Read more...]
Cadet pastor grasps God’s love for the world
PUEBLA, Mexico – Several years before leading his congregation to partner with a church in the Mexican state of Puebla, Pastor John Jones stood on the streets of a Sri Lankan city named Candy—a city popular among Buddhist pilgrims because of a large temple purportedly containing Buddha’s tooth. Some passersby on the streets of Candy spoke English, Jones recalled. But no matter what he said to them, they replied with the same question. “Have you been to the temple yet?” they asked. “Have … [Read more...]
First Puxico sees nearly 260 profess faith
TEHUECAN, Puebla, Mexico – Even the best plans are no match for the variables that pop up during a mission trip. But for First Baptist, Puxico, and their experience with partnership missions in Puebla, Mexico, sometimes God’s plans are better. The 13-member team from Missouri arrived in Tehuecan expecting to work with a local pastor the church had partnered with before, only to find that he had left the local convention and the Puxico team high and dry. “When God shuts one door He often … [Read more...]
Missourian keeps Beach Reachers on the road
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. – Not many people can spend Spring Break in one of the party hotspots of the world and never wiggle toes in the sand or wade out into the surf, but Denise Banderman did just that. She spent two full weeks as part of LifeWay’s volunteer event staff for Beach Reach, a ministry aimed at partying college students that descend on the beach each year. Banderman, a member of Stonebridge Community Church in Jefferson City, has been working with Beach Reach since 2003. This … [Read more...]
Church planted in heart of South Callaway County
MOKANE – Martin Stukenborg doesn’t necessarily pray that the South Callaway High School Bull Dogs win on the ball field, but he thanks God that they’ve had good seasons in recent years. “Their sports teams have been very successful,” he said. “That’s drawn the community together.” Events that build unity are important for a community stretched across miles, comprised of several towns from Steadman, Portland and Tebbits to Mokane, Hams Prairie and Reform, as well as other rural settlements … [Read more...]
MBTS enrollment, doctrinal base strengthened
KANSAS CITY (BP) – Trustees of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary celebrated strong enrollment growth, strengthened the institution’s doctrinal statements and toured the campus construction and renovation project currently in progress during their April 13-14 meeting at the Kansas City campus. The trustees also elected new board officers, re-elected and promoted faculty members, and approved revisions to the seminary’s faculty handbook and trustee policy manual. During his … [Read more...]
Board recommends budget increase
JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Executive Board members proposed a 2016 Cooperative Program (CP) goal of more than $14.8 million during its meeting at the Baptist building here, April 13-14. During their meeting, the board also approved the use of an “underspend” of 2014 CP funds and the use of remaining funds gained from the MBC’s partial settlement with the Missouri Baptist Foundation. They also amended a 2014 motion concerning the liquidation of a portion of the MBC’s … [Read more...]
Hedger to re-nominate Yeats as SBC recording secretary
COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP) – Joshua Hedger, a pastor and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary administrator, will nominate John L. Yeats for a 19th term as recording secretary of the Southern Baptist Convention at the June 16-17 annual meeting in Columbus, Ohio. As executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention since 2011, Yeats has demonstrated leadership and invested in pastors' lives, said Hedger, pastor of preaching and vision at Emmaus Church in the Kansas City, Mo., area and … [Read more...]
The Lesters hit milestone in music ministry
ST. LOUIS – One might think after 90 years it would be time to stop. But for the Lester Family of St. Louis, stopping isn’t an option. This is the 90th year the family has performed Christian concerts and recorded gospel albums. The Lesters may be the longest continuous running music group of any genre, anywhere in the world—although this has not yet been confirmed by the Guinness Book of World Records—according to Brian Lester, 62, a third generation performer and the group’s manager. “I … [Read more...]
WMU celebration calls for surrender, sacrifice, service
ST. CHARLES – A challenge set the stage for the 2015 WMU Missions Celebration and Annual Meeting held at First Baptist Church here, April 10-11. Cherri Crump, Missouri WMU president, issued the challenge in her welcome to the 360 plus participants. “We want to challenge you to go deeper,” she said, “deeper into your commitment and into your faith.” The theme for the 91st Annual Meeting was designed to accomplish that goal: “All for You: Surrender, Sacrifice, Serve.” Wanda Lee, National … [Read more...]
Pathway staff pulls in 7 awards
JEFFERSON CITY – Going up against media outlets like Christianity Today and agencies like the International Mission Board, the staff of The Pathway recently brought home seven awards for journalism excellence. The Evangelical Press Association (EPA) and the Baptist Communicators Association (BCA) both announced the winners of their annual competitions, and The Pathway took home awards for its design, writing and web site. The competitors in BCA include other denominational newspapers, as … [Read more...]
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