“The Cooperative Program is critical for helping revitalize pastors and churches in Missouri,” said Gary Mathes, pastoral ministry strategist for the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC). “In the short time I have served in this position, I have seen how difficult it can be for pastors ministering in declining churches or struggling communities. They need resources to help them succeed. They need encouragement to inspire them to continue serving faithfully.” Mathes joined the MBC staff in … [Read more...]
Midwestern Seminary launches new Women’s Institute
KANSAS CITY – Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has launched Midwestern Women’s Institute, a program to prepare women with biblical training, encouraging fellowship and practical learning as they serve their families and churches in fulfilling the Great Commission. “Each student should have a two-fold expectation,” said Karen Allen, wife of Midwestern’s president, Jason K. Allen, and MWI director. “The first expectation is to build lasting ministry friendships,” she said, adding that … [Read more...]
A former minister’s heartfelt candor about the church where he once served
I left First Baptist Church, (FBC) Bolivar, just over three years ago. I had had enough. I was tired of inefficient committees. I was tired of worship wars. I was tired of what I perceived as passive leadership. I was tired of the infighting. I was tired…of the church. To be clear, I was not just tired of FBC; rather, I was tired of the institutional church. I grew up at a rural Baptist church in central Missouri that, while smaller, operated much like FBC, the first church I’d really … [Read more...]
Too many Missourians are experiencing hunger
Southern Baptists love to eat. I have always argued that cooking extraordinaire Paula Deen has nothing on Southern Baptist ladies. If you know me you know I am a living testimony to that delicious fact. No one can find more tasty fried chicken, more mouth-watering hash brown casserole or more lip-smacking pecan pie than at a Southern Baptist picnic where the ladies of the church have brought their cooking talents to bear on us all. But not everyone is so blessed. I’m reminded of a story my … [Read more...]
Midwestern hosts SBC historians’ who reflected on an historic moment
KANSAS CITY (BP) – One of the catalysts of the Conservative Resurgence – the Elliott controversy – was examined by three Southern Baptist historians in a panel discussion Sept. 10 at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The controversy erupted at Midwestern in 1961 when Ralph Elliott, the chair of the Old Testament department, authored a book published by Broadman Press titled The Message of Genesis. Elliott used a historical-critical method of interpretation to examine the first book … [Read more...]
Churches, MBC hold apartment complex block party
WASHINGTON – One unique distinction held by Southern Baptists is a willingness to work together through the Cooperative Program to spread the gospel. A recent block party here demonstrated how that type of cooperation works at a local level. Joe Murray pastors Great Commission Baptist Church, consisting largely of attendees from a nearby apartment complex. A half-dozen churches and organizations partnered with Murray’s congregation to hold a block party for the people in the complex Aug. … [Read more...]
Missourians glowing about Send excitement, crowds
PLANO, Texas – Missourians were among the record crowds at Prestonwood Baptist Church here, and they say the excitement and passion seen there is encouraging. “It was extraordinary,” said Rick Hedger, Missions/Evangelism/Discipleship team leader for the Missouri Baptist Convention said. “I think the Send momentum is really buildilng.” John Mark Clifton, lead pastor of Wornal Road Baptist Church in Kansas City, said the event was different from previous North American Mission Board … [Read more...]
CP slightly under budgeted goal for year
NASHVILLE (BP) – Year-to-date contributions to Southern Baptist national and international missions and ministries received by the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Executive Committee are $401,802.65, or 0.26 percent, below the year-to-date budgeted goal, and are 2.78 percent below contributions received during the same time frame last year, according to a news release from SBC Executive Committee President and Chief Executive Officer Frank S. Page. The year-to-date total represents money … [Read more...]
Bethany Church prayerwalks school halls
Forges loving partnership, could be model for other churches, schools CAPE GIRARDEAU – Who says there’s no prayer in schools? There is at Alma Schrader Elementary School in Cape Girardeau. Bethany Baptist Church here has adopted the school through a Chamber of Commerce program and that has led not only to a positive relationship between the school and church members, but allowed them to prayerwalk the halls and stop at each door before the start of school this fall. It began when the … [Read more...]
Aloha! Missourians plant new work in Hawaii
EWA BEACH, Oahu, Hawaii – The idyllic beaches with gentle ocean waves stirring the sand under palm trees don’t tell a complete Hawaiian picture. Missouri native Aaron Davis has pastored church-plant Aloha Community Church, on Ewa Beach on Oahu island in Hawaii since July, 2012, with wife Samantha, son Caleb, 10, and foster son, Kerry, 2. The initial church plant was funded, in part, by Cooperative Program gifts from the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) and Davis received his church … [Read more...]
Beverly Hillbilly ‘Elly May’ tells WMU, youth God has guided her every footstep
ST. LOUIS – Donna Douglas knows Elly May Clampett opened doors in her life, but also knows God guided her to that door. Douglas, aka Elly May in the 1960s TV hit ‘The Beverly Hillbillies,” spoke at the Jefferson Baptist Association Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) Christmas in August event Aug.17 at South County Baptist Church here and to various youth. “My heart today is to speak to churches and youth and share what God has done in my life,” Douglas said. Douglas “was born to poor folks. … [Read more...]
Jefferson Baptist Association WMU group holds Christmas in August event
ST. LOUIS – The gift for attendees at a Christmas in August event for the Jefferson Baptist Associaiton Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) event was the conference itself. The conference Aug. 17 had the theme “The story lives on,” and featured St. Louis author Brenda Poinsett and actress Donna Douglas, best known for “Elly May Clampett” on TV’s The Beverly Hillbillies. Poinsett shared from one of her two Christmas-themed books Unwrapping Martha’s Joy, which asks can Martha have a “Mary” … [Read more...]
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