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...]
MBTS prepares hub for I-29/49 corridor project
John L. Inman III/contributing writer KANSAS CITY — Ideas are still flowing after a Nov. 16 collaboration meeting here at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS) over the Interstate 29/49 Corridor Project. Representatives from five Baptist state conventions plus those from MBTS attended to look at reaching a largely unreached area. One of the key MBTS leaders involved with the project is Rodney Harrison, vice president for institutional effectiveness who will be a key in activating … [Read more...]
ACLU withdraws objection to Franklin County prayer
UNION — After filing suit against the Franklin County Commission last summer for declaring that prayers offered before meetings instituted a government-forced religion, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has now withdrawn legal action to stop these invocations. “I think it is good they dropped the lawsuit,” said Jim Plymale, director of missions for the Franklin County Baptist Association. “Now there will be no further legal expenses or clouds over the County Commission in this … [Read more...]
North County churches show heart for the homeless
FERGUSON – Several churches joined together to give a Valentine to the homeless in North County St. Louis. On Feb. 9, I Heart North County, an organization formed by Passage Community Church, Trinity Nazarene and North Church and now working with several individuals and groups, held a Valentine personal care collection party at First Baptist Church, Ferguson. “I Heart North County was approached by a representative of the Ferguson-Florissant school district,” said Kylanne Rosenberger, … [Read more...]
Tax credit bill passes House
JEFFERSON CITY – Pregnancy resource centers (PRCs) and several other charitable entities will benefit from tax credits if a proposed bill continues to smoothly make its way through the legislative process. House Bill 87 (HB 87), sponsored by Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Springfield, won 149-2 approval Feb. 7 in the House of Representatives and was sent to the Senate. The bill would allow taxpayers to claim credits against their state income taxes for contributions they make to those … [Read more...]
Baptist Building hosts stop suicide training
JEFFERSON CITY – Twenty one Missouri National Guardsmen participated in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) Feb. 2 in the Gold Room area of the Baptist Building. ASIST is a two-day course designed to help recognize and intervene to prevent the immediate risk of suicide. It provides an opportunity for service members to explore their experiences and attitudes about suicide, to have a better understanding of the needs of a person at risk of suicide and how to use suicide … [Read more...]