BRANSON - Neil Franks, pastor, First Baptist Church, Branson, is into “The 2.” That is his rank among Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) officers right now as he serves as first vice president. That is also his smartphone identity. Thanks to an innovative app creation, Franks is The 2-Minute Pastor. “We’re not trying to become important or big,” Franks said. “We just think there’s a niche out there. There’s a gap in the market of good, biblical content in short bursts.” As of March 1 … [Read more...]
Freshwater Church, Springfield, celebrates growth
SPRINGFIELD – Multiplication is the goal for Freshwater Church, Bolivar, and the answer is church planting. In the three years since Second Baptist Church of Springfield planted the Bolivar church, they have planted nine churches with two more in progress. “God is blessing Freshwater,” JT Patton, planting pastor of Freshwater Springfield, said. “The Bolivar church looks different than a traditional church. It is a contemporary, gospel-driven church with a mission mind frame.” Within six … [Read more...]
SBU looks to future with 7-point strategic plan
BOLIVAR — Southwest Baptist University (SBU) trustees Feb. 19 approved a five-year, seven-part strategic plan with initiatives and goals for the university. The SBU Executive Cabinet, which consists of seven members plus President C. Pat Taylor, spent three days to hammer out the details of the plan that board members wound up passing. “I believe this is the best strategic plan that we’ve had in my 161/2 years at SBU,” Taylor said. “Deans and directors will begin leading their units to … [Read more...]
Church reaches youth through sports programs
SPRINGFIELD – Jeffrey Chavez admits his church plant, The Catalyst in Springfield, is not a traditional church. “Many churches start with congregations and develop ministries. We started with church ministries. It was sort of an upside-down funnel approach,” he said. “Ninety percent of our people are unchurched.” In September 2011, the church plant met in Chavez’ home, then moved to an athletic studio. It offers wrestling, track, mixed martial arts, karate, and jujitsu for youth, … [Read more...]
HLGU nursing grads net 100 percent pass rate
Hannibal – Hannibal-LaGrange University’s 35 nursing graduates for 2012 garnered a 100 percent pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The NCLEX-RN is an exam distributed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing used to ensure and regulate that only competent and licensed nurses are practicing in the healthcare arena. The Missouri state average for first-time exam takers is a 93 percent pass rate. The national average is 90 … [Read more...]
‘Having’ Sunday School or ‘using’ Sunday School
Almost every church I pass as I drive around the great state of Missouri has a sign out front that shows their schedule for worship and Sunday School. Some call it “Bible Study.” Some call it “Life Groups.” But really it is “Sunday School.” I often wonder if all these churches are having Bible study each week, why aren’t we seeing more of an impact on our communities? Why are most Sunday Schools in decline rather than growing? Why are we not seeing the lives of those attending being … [Read more...]
Tree of Life aims to give back love
KANSAS CITY – A Tree of Life grows in Kansas City. The four-year-old church plant is branching out to reach its urban neighborhood for Christ. Pastor Jerry Akins said the church focuses on serving the Lord by serving people – many of whom are scarred by life. “It’s hard for them to trust God,” he said. “If they’ve never had a man they could trust, how can they trust God? Then when they do trust God and something bad happens, they regress.” At Christmas, Tree of Life partnered with Toys … [Read more...]
SBC editors vote Hinkle BASP president-elect
OKLAHOMA CITY – Pathway Editor Don Hinkle was unanimously voted president-elect of the Baptist Association of State Publications (BASP) by Southern Baptist Convention state newspaper editors at their annual conference here Feb. 11-13. Cameron Crabtree, editor of The Northwest Baptist, Portland, Ore., is president until February 2014 when the editors next meet. Hinkle, 58, will begin his service at the conclusion of that meeting, serving a one-year term. Hinkle has been a journalist for … [Read more...]
Midwestern tops previous spring semester enrollment
KANSAS CITY – Beginning a new semester of training students to better serve the local church, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS) administrators received encouraging news Feb. 11 that more students have enrolled in classes this spring semester than any other in the school’s 56-year history. Enrollment for classes at Midwestern is up 3 percent over the school’s previous top enrollment. With the school’s online program still having a second term of enrollment upcoming, Midwestern … [Read more...]
Motorcyclist loved people, Jesus
GREENFIELD — Sunlight broke through the clouds, reflecting off the chrome of motorcycles arrayed outside Main Street Baptist Church that October day. Harley-Davidsons, Hondas, Kawasaki sport bikes and Yamaha cruisers were primed, their owners ready to show their love and deep loss for a woman who impacted their lives like no other. On Oct. 14, Belinda Esper, 40, died when the Honda motorcycle she was driving was hit head-on on U.S. Hwy 160, about half a mile west of Everton. Family and … [Read more...]
Joplin church sees surge in giving in changed culture
JOPLIN — On May 22, 2011, only five weeks after Brad Graves and his family moved to Joplin to become senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, the destructive winds of the EF5 tornado blew through the city. Since then, the winds of God’s Spirit and grace have blown through the church to accomplish some mighty things. Baptisms and giving to missions have reached milestone marks. In the last 20 months, Calvary has given $200,000 to Great Commission projects and the church has had 211 … [Read more...]
Carthage’s Cornerstone Baptist looks to the future with plant
CARTHAGE — The hope of Cornerstone Baptist Church as it gets off the ground here in its first months downtown is that something strong is being built. “I saw a statement once that a dandelion grows a lot quicker than an oak tree,” said Jim Ziler, one of three elders in the church whose sending church is South Creek, Springfield. “Hopefully we’re not a dandelion but an oak tree. I think we’ve been able to glorify Him through what we’ve done. We’ve been able to be obedient to what He’s given … [Read more...]