Do you believe that the virgin Mary is the mother of God? Baptists have prudently avoided describing Mary in this way, since the biblical writers never call her the “mother of God” and since this description has too often led to an idolatrous adoration of Mary. Nevertheless, this question goes to the heart of what we celebrate during the Christmas season – namely, the birth of Jesus Christ, who was both fully God and fully man. Let me explain. In the first five centuries following … [Read more...]
Saeed Abedini’s wife testifies before Congress
WASHINGTON (BP) – Less than two weeks before Christmas, Naghmeh Abedini testified before Congress on behalf of her husband, U.S. citizen and pastor Saeed Abedini, who has been imprisoned in Iran since last June because of his Christian faith. “My husband is suffering because he is a Christian,” Abedini said when she addressed a subcommittee hearing of the House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee on Dec. 12. “He is suffering because he is an American. Yet, his own government … [Read more...]
Executive Board modifies church planting policy
JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Executive Board members unanimously approved a new, comprehensive church-planting strategy, designed to foster the multiplication of new churches that will reach the lost throughout Missouri. According to the Dec. 10 recommendation, the MBC will open statewide training centers “in order to become more responsive to church planting opportunities.” It states, “We are creating regional networks and simplifying the assessment and training … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptist Convention defines church planting code of conduct
JEFFERSON CITY – Church planters who desire to cooperate with the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) must maintain a high standard of conduct, MBC Executive Board members insisted during a recent meeting. According to a recommendation approved by the board Dec. 10, church planters “must go through a separate, thorough MBC assessment process including credit and criminal background checks; must affirm the Baptist Faith & Message 2000; and must sign an MBC code of conduct that commits, … [Read more...]
Conference will call churches to action
Editor’s Note: * denotes name changed for security. SPRINGFIELD – The Missouri Baptist Convention’s (MBC) 2014 state evangelism and discipleship conference will encourage church leaders as they sow the gospel amid hardship and tears. Springfield’s Crossway Baptist Church will host the event, called the Sowing in Tears conference, Jan. 27-28. The conference theme is based on Ps. 126:5-6: “Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy. Though one goes along weeping, carrying the … [Read more...]
Strategos training enhances church security
FULTON – Pastors and lay leaders from churches throughout the state of Missouri gathered at First Baptist Church, Fulton, for a security training event presented by Strategos International, Nov. 19. Missouri-based Strategos International has trained more than 7,500 law enforcement, military, church, school, security and business professionals since its establishment in 2002. During the recent training session in Fulton, Strategos president Vaughn Baker – who is also a lay leader at … [Read more...]
August Gate reaches St. Louis through servanthood
ST. LOUIS – Volunteers from August Gate Church here cleaned nearly 30 alleyways in the neighborhoods surrounding their building, Oct. 26, in an attempt to transform St. Louis’ sixth ward through the gospel. The team of 70 people who helped during this outreach event not only cleaned alleys, but they also welcomed neighbors to a block party near the church filled with games and food. According to Noah Oldham, lead pastor of August Gate Church, the alleyways in the community, which … [Read more...]
Missouri leaders: ENDA threatens religious liberty
WASHINGTON – In a move that many believe could jeopardize religious liberty, the United States Senate passed legislation that will protect homosexual and transgendered individuals from discrimination under federal employment law. According to the bill, employers cannot discriminate against employees or potential employees on the basis of “sexual orientation” or “gender identity,” which were added alongside the protected classifications of race, color, national origin, gender, age and … [Read more...]
Billy Graham video leads to 30 professing in faith: Including family of deceased LU football player
JEFFERSON CITY – One day after Lincoln University’s (LU) football team defeated Oklahoma’s Northeastern State University, 42-33, some team members scored a greater win when they professed faith in Christ after watching My Hope America with Billy Graham here during a service at Calvary Baptist Church. During the Nov. 10 service, 30 people surrendered their lives to Christ, including seven family members of deceased LU football player Gabriel Soto. Additionally, during this service, 14 … [Read more...]
Yeats urges pastors to promote CP, confront culture
KANSAS CITY – Missouri Baptists made a “grave mistake” when they allowed the state convention to take the lead role in promoting the Cooperative Program, Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) executive director John Yeats said during his address at the 2013 annual meeting in Kansas City, Oct. 28. This grave mistake took shape in the 1980s and 1990s, and “it is time it had a funeral,” Yeats said. “From the outset, the key promoters, the key educators, the key leaders for Baptist … [Read more...]
Bumpers: Messengers thirst for God’s power
KANSAS CITY – Eddie Bumpers urged messengers and guests at the Missouri Baptist Convention’s annual meeting, Oct. 29, to thirst for and seek after the power of God in their lives and ministries. “We need to experience the power of God in our ministries and in our lives and in our families and in our convention,” Bumpers said, calling messengers to consider the example of Elisha in 2 Kings 2:1-9. “Here in the Old Testament, we meet a man by the name of Elisha, who was used by God in a … [Read more...]
Little Bonne Femme affirms inerrancy, cooperation
COLUMBIA – The Little Bonne Femme Association affirmed the inerrancy of Scripture and their cooperation with the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) and the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) during their annual meeting at Calvary Baptist Church, Columbia, Sept. 15. The decision could strengthen an association in need of renewal, said Larry Lewis, interim pastor at Calvary Baptist, Columbia, and president of the association. “The Little Bonne Femme Association has continued to lose … [Read more...]
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