by Vicki Hulsey BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (Lifeway) — For many churches, dates for Vacation Bible School (VBS) are among the first placed on the church calendar each year. Churches give VBS high priority because pastors recognize VBS as one of the most important evangelistic events for the entire church year. In some churches, a volunteer serves as the VBS director. Other churches may have a children’s ministry staff person who’s responsible for coordinating VBS. For some churches, especially … [Read more...]
Midwest Leadership Summit offers 12,000 hours of training for church leaders
by Eric Reed & Lisa Misner/The Illinois Baptist SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (BP) – Church leaders from the central states engaged 12,000 hours of training, teaching and worship at the three-day Midwest Leadership Summit meeting in Springfield, Ill., Jan. 23-25. In multiple plenary sessions led by national SBC speakers and church-planting practitioners, and in 80 breakout sessions, almost 1,000 leaders shared and received equipping for ministry in their unique Midwest settings. The biennial … [Read more...]
MODR assists in the ultimate treasure hunt in Maui
LAHAINA, Maui – When Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief teams deploy to a disaster, it’s all about providing help, hope and healing. In most cases, it means helping families prepare to recover by cutting trees off of buildings or cleaning up after a flood so they can get on with their lives. Unfortunately, the situation is much different after a fire. “In that situation, we are helping a family grieve the loss of everything they own, often including their home,” related Richard Brummitt, … [Read more...]
Fusion, IMB partner for 20 years
Program equips young adults, students for lifetime of missional living KANSAS CITY (IMB) – A 20-year partnership between the International Mission Board and Fusion, a missions program from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Spurgeon College in Kansas City, Mo., has helped students live a missional life. The two entities are excited to see this relationship grow even more in the years to come. Erik Odegard, Fusion director and assistant professor of intercultural studies, … [Read more...]
Allen addresses priority of prayer at Spring convocation, installs two endowed chairs
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (MBTS) – In the Spring Convocation service at Midwestern Seminary on Jan. 23, President Jason Allen announced the installation of two faculty members to endowed chairs and preached a sermon titled, “Too Busy Not to Pray.” Beginning the service, Allen reflected on the importance of Convocation, stating, “At the beginning of each semester, we come together to set ourselves apart and renew our commitment to the task of training men and women for the cause of Christ and for … [Read more...]
EC president/CEO candidate withdraws from search process
NASHVILLE (BP) – The chairman of the team searching for the next leader of the SBC Executive Committee (EC) has let the members know their candidate has withdrawn his name. A release from search team chair Neal Hughes was sent to EC members on Tuesday morning, Jan. 23. The group had announced Jan. 8 that they planned to bring a candidate forward at the EC’s next meeting Feb. 19. Hughes said the candidate informed the search team Monday (Jan. 22) of the decision after “much prayer, … [Read more...]
SBC Executive Committee President/CEO search team to present candidate in February
NASHVILLE (BP) – The SBC Executive Committee Presidential Search Team is set to announce its candidate to the public Feb. 18. The team announced, Jan. 8, that it plans to present the candidate Feb. 19 at the EC meeting in Nashville. “The search team arrived at this candidate after following the four-phase process [Neal] Hughes outlined in the EC’s September 2023 meeting: the invitation phase, the interview phase, the investigation phase and the introduction phase,” said a news … [Read more...]
Two study trips expand learning experiences for Midwestern Seminary students
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (MBTS) – Midwestern Seminary hosted two unique study experiences for students this fall, including a study tour to New England and a doctoral seminar in Romania. Each trip sought to expand educational horizons and surpass academic expectations for a variety of programs at the seminary. President Jason Allen commented on the importance of trips such as these two, saying, “What a delight it is to see Midwestern Seminary faculty and students travel across the country and … [Read more...]
Missouri DR sends team to help with relief efforts after Maui wildfire
LAHAINA, Maui, Hawaii – In the past, a trip to Hawaii frequently meant the start of a dream vacation. That hasn’t always been the case, though, since a massive wildfire swept through the town of Lahaina earlier this year. In response, Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief was deployed to Hawaii, Nov. 8-22, to help in one of the areas devastated by the summer wildfires that claimed at least 100 lives. Chris Houghtaling, from First Baptist Church of Blue Springs, set up the first team of 11 … [Read more...]
Infamous 1927 ‘Santa Claus Robbery’ provides go-to spiritual lesson for Texas pastor
AUSTIN, Texas (BP) – Many Central Texas natives know the story of the infamous “Santa Claus Robbery” that took place two days before Christmas 1927 in the Eastland County town of Cisco. Thomas Goodman, pastor of Hillcrest Church in Austin, was pastoring an Eastland church in the 1990s when he heard the tale of four bandits – one disguised as Santa Claus – who robbed the First National Bank of Cisco, briefly escaping with two young female hostages. The job was supposed to be “easy in, … [Read more...]
SBC EC search team making progress in search for next president/CEO
NASHVILLE (BP) – The team searching for the next leader of the SBC Executive Committee said it has moved into what it calls an investigation phase, according to a press release from the group. Neal Hughes, chairman of the SBC Executive Committee President/CEO Search Team, said the group is “following the vetting process for EC personnel as outlined by our attorneys and approved by the trustees in the recent September meeting.” According to the release, the investigative process … [Read more...]
ETS 2023 features 52 presentations from MBTS scholars, inaugural Center for Classical Theology lecture
KANSAS CITY, Mo (MBTS) – Midwestern Seminary faculty members and Ph.D. students travelled to San Antonio on Nov. 14-16 for the 75th annual Evangelical Theological Society meeting. A Midwestern Seminary record 52 meeting sessions featured seminary representatives as they presented scholarly papers, moderated sessions, and participated in panel discussions on the theme, “theological anthropology.” “I am continually encouraged by Midwestern Seminary’s presence at the Evangelical Theological … [Read more...]