ST. LOUIS – Smiles turned to laughter as Doug Mickan, associate pastor of worship and music at Faith Baptist Church in Festus, introduced his friends. Mickan was at Parkway Baptist Church in St. Louis for an Operation Christmas Child event. His friends live in a trunk and depend on him for a voice. “I have always been interested in puppets,” Mickan said, “and for my 16th birthday, my parents paid for a class at a local community college in ventriloquism.” “It was about a year before I … [Read more...]
MBC Prayer & Evangelism Conference to take place, April 27-28
SPRINGFIELD – Missouri Baptists from across the state will gather, April 27-28, for the Missouri Baptist Convention’s (MBC) 2026 Prayer and Evangelism Conference, hosted by Second Baptist Church, Springfield. The conference theme is “Called to the Harvest.” “It is my heart's desire for the Evangelism Conference to challenge, encourage, and equip Missouri Baptists to reach our state for Christ,” Rob Pochek, MBC Prayer & Evangelism team leader, told The Pathway. "According to … [Read more...]
Missouri Missions Offering tops $950,000
JEFFERSON CITY – Receipts for the 2025 Rheubin L. South Missouri Missions Offering (MMO) topped $950,000, as Missouri Baptists gave generously to state mission projects ranging from foster care to disaster relief. MMO receipts in 2025, which are disbursed in 2026, totaled $952,530, outpacing the goal of $800,000 and reaching the third-highest level since MMO was introduced in 1985. Last year’s record of $1,072,207 was aided by an estate gift of $136,000. Receipts in 2025 marked the 13th … [Read more...]
‘God preserved His Word’: Fellowship of Wildwood event highlights history of Bible
WILDWOOD, Mo. – More than 340 people packed a gym at Fellowship of Wildwood (FOW) to hear R. Brian Rickett, CEO and principal researcher of the MIKRA (Manuscript Institute for Knowledge, Research and Application) Research Laboratory, share about the journey of God’s Word through time. Rickett and his team use modern technology to discover who copied biblical scrolls, and when and where they did so. “Scripture was given to the Jewish people,” Rickett said. “In Deuteronomy 6, we see the … [Read more...]
Tichenor brings academic, philosophical perspectives to MBC apologetics network
WALNUT SHADE – Vincent Tichenor, the newest member of the Missouri Baptist Apologetics Network (MBAN), is a medical doctor with a family practice in Walnut Shade. He also works urgent care in addition to running his own practice. He brings the perspective of medical science to the defense of the Christian faith, alongside the varied expertise of his 23 fellow apologists. As people wrestle with issues such as abortion and gender identity, Tichenor brings biblical, academic, and … [Read more...]
SBU expands radiography program to meet demand
BOLIVAR (SBU) – Southwest Baptist University is proud to announce a significant expansion and curriculum enhancements for its Associate of Science in Radiography (ASR) program. Designed to address the increasing need for skilled medical imaging professionals, the program is increasing its total student capacity and streamlining the path to graduation, all while maintaining its core mission of preparing servant leaders in healthcare. To better serve the community and aspiring healthcare … [Read more...]
MBC board sets CP goal, takes action on task force report on office of pastor
JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) executive board members meeting here, March 2-3, approved 2027 goals for Cooperative Program giving and other statewide and national offerings. They also acted on an MBC Credentials Committee Task Force report on the office of the pastor that was approved by MBC messengers last fall. 2026 offering goals The board set the 2027 Cooperative Program goal at $15.15 million—an increase of $150,000 as compared to the 2026 budget goals. The … [Read more...]
Couple continues puppet ministry at FBC Plattsburg
PLATTSBURG – A husband and wife team from First Baptist, Plattsburg, has continued a puppet ministry started years ago by other church members. Aaron Gudde, Plattsburg’s youth pastor and his wife, Megan, offer the puppets for children in the Gospel Kids Wednesday night groups. More than 50 kids usually attend. Gudde recalls when puppets were used in previous years in the church, in the ministry started by Don and Dottie Davis, who have since retired. Gudde vowed to continue the … [Read more...]
FBC, Viburnum, named 2025 BHHM volunteer organization of the year
by Spencer Hutson/BHHM JEFFERSON CITY – Baptist Homes and Healthcare Ministries has announced its 2025 Volunteer Organization of the Year: First Baptist Church of Viburnum, led by Justin Perry. Across all six Baptist Homes campuses, churches and community groups play an essential role in weekly worship services, activities, Bible studies pastoral care, and a variety of campus improvement projects. Churches, associations, and local community groups consistently offer their support, … [Read more...]
HLGU Music Department Presents “Let All Creation Praise Him” Spring Choral Concert on May 1
HANNIBAL (HLGU) – Hannibal-LaGrange University (HLGU) invites the community to attend the HLGU Music Department’s Spring Choral Concert on Friday, May 1, at 7 p.m. in the Parker Theatre of the Roland Fine Arts Center. This year’s program, centered around the theme “Let All Creation Praise Him,” will feature inspiring performances by the HLGU Concert Choir and the HLGU Chamber Choir, both under the direction of Elaine Carty, Instructor of Music at HLGU. The concert will open with Let … [Read more...]
Crossroads association mission team builds houses, shares gospel in Acuña, Mexico
ACUÑA, Mexico – The Crossroads Baptist Association continued their partnership here to build houses and share the gospel. A mission team from the association traveled to Acuña, Mexico, after Christmas. According to team leader Patrick Argent, Crossroads Treasurer and pastor of a church plant of Renick Community Church, the association and a non-Baptist church assisting in the project sent 15 members, and another 17 from The Bridge Collegiate Ministry led by Scott Westfall, at the … [Read more...]
Lifepointe, Fulton, reaches next generation
FULTON – In May 2023 four people banded together to start a new church in a community room of a recreation center in Fulton. As they launched, they quickly gathered about 20 attenders. Fast forward a little over 2.5 years later and there are now 475 attending in three worship services each weekend. Lifepointe Church of Fulton has been described as one of Missouri’s fastest growing church plants by Jason Zellmer, who heads up NAMB’s Send Missouri. Lead Pastor Travis Boyt says, “It’s … [Read more...]