OZARK (TBH) – The Baptist Home corporate office announced, Feb. 19, that Sonya Newton has been selected to act as the new administrator for its Ozark campus. She assumed the position on Jan. 1, 2020, following the retirement of Vera Cline. Newton comes to The Baptist Home with 29 years of healthcare experience, including serving as long-term care administrator and hospice director for facilities in Springfield, Missouri, and surrounding areas. While serving as the Director of Operations … [Read more...]

KANSAS CITY – Noting the growing administrative needs in Academic Services and overall growth at Midwestern Seminary and Spurgeon College, President Jason Allen announced changes in the school’s organizational structure that will provide “greater administrative effectiveness, overall balance, and continued organizational health.” In doing so, Allen named Thor Madsen as dean of doctoral studies and academic initiatives, Rodney Harrison to the position of dean, academic strategy and … [Read more...]

NASHVILLE (BP) – The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee voted Feb. 18 to create a study task force to "review the past and present activities" of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC). The ERLC is tasked with helping churches understand the moral demands of the Gospel and public policy as well as promoting religious liberty on behalf of Southern Baptists. The Executive Committee action comes in response to "ongoing concerns" cited by EC members, state leaders … [Read more...]

KIRKSVILLE – The Truman State University’s Baptist Student Union (BSU) celebrated the baptism of a new sister in Christ at Hamilton Street Baptist Church, Jan. 5, where campus missionary Greg Xander and some of his students attend. Ashley’s journey to Christ began two years ago during her freshman year. Shortly after winter break, she came to the BSU’s Thursday night worship gathering. After she’d been coming for a few weeks, Xander asked if she went to church. She said she considered the … [Read more...]

MAYSVILLE – The sermon at First Baptist Church Dec. 8 was in Russian, translated for the congregation by a former IMB missionary. Brother Vasya Vimovoi spoke about growing up in post-Chernobyl Belarus and how his family had been impacted by support from Missouri Baptists as part of a 1994-99 missions partnership. He is the son of Ivan Vimovoi, pastor of Krasnapolie Baptist Church, who was befriended by former Maysville pastor Rodney Dorr. Dorr has been serving in recent years at First … [Read more...]

KRAKOW, Poland (BP) — I had no idea what All Saints Day celebrated. Two years ago my wife and I moved to Poland, a traditionally Catholic country. As night fell on November 1, the soft glow of thousands of candles spread over nearly silent crowd walking or standing near the graves of their loved ones and ancestors. We joined a historical tour that took us to one of Kraków’s largest cemeteries. We stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the locals among the booths selling candles and flowers. … [Read more...]

KANSAS CITY – Days before it was to take effect, a federal judge on Aug. 27 temporarily blocked a Missouri ban on abortion after eight weeks of pregnancy. Missouri’s Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed an appeal of the decision Sept. 5. U.S. District Judge Howard Sachs blocked the law for the time being, pending a legal challenge from Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union. The abortion provider and the ACLU filed their suit arguing that the Missouri Stands for the … [Read more...]

MARSHALL – The students starting classes this week at Missouri Valley College aren’t just starting a new semester with new classes. They also have a chance to be a part of the newest Missouri Baptist collegiate ministry. A long-time student pastor, Scott Westfall has been on the campus for a few weeks now and said he is ready to build relationships and point Missouri Valley’s 1,500 students to Jesus. “Since I’ve been here, I’ve met with people all day long,” he said. “I’m trying to … [Read more...]

ELDON – Dan Duckworth, a 1978 Southwest Baptist University alumnus, and his wife, Marylin, saw a need to help feed people in the community where Dan has pastored since 1977 at Rocky Mount Baptist Church here. A food pantry that began in the basement of the small rural church 22 years ago now has its own 6,400-square-foot facility. Visions Unlimited Food Pantry works with the Food Bank for Northeast and Central Missouri in Columbia to distribute food within a four-county area to about … [Read more...]

ST. LOUIS – Missouri Baptist University (MBU) trustees approved an institutional consultant to examine the school’s mission and approved revised bylaws during their May 23 meeting here. The Missouri Baptist Convention and has requested its entities bring their governing documents in line with the convention’s. Over the past several years, the various entities have been at different stages of that process. May 23, trustees at MBU worked through the updates for the school’s articles of … [Read more...]