JEFFERSON CITY \u2013 In what has become a January tradition in the Capital City, many of the state\u2019s government leaders gathered at Concord Baptist Church here Jan. 3 to be prayed over by Missouri Baptists.<\/p>\n
Elected and appointed officials from the three branches of state government, their staffs and families were present at the non-partisan, non-political service as Col. Gary Gilmore, a former Missouri Baptist pastor and the Missouri National Guard Joint Forces Chaplain, challenged the 99th General Assembly to be humble servants in their leadership roles.<\/p>\n
Gilmore spoke from 1 Peter 5 before he offered \u201cthe best New Year\u2019s gift I can give you, to pray on your behalf for God\u2019s wisdom and blessings.\u201d In that passage, the author implored the elders or leaders to be humble, willing, eager and good examples because \u201cGod resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.\u201d<\/p>\n
Regardless of party or position, the elected and appointed leaders are part of a sacred trust and solemn duty to shepherd well, Gilmore said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur flocks are different, but they involve mission and purpose, vision and strategy, execution and celebration,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s about governing, exhorting and stepping into the role of leadership you\u2019ve been called to and given.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou may have been elected, appointed, promoted, commissioned, invested, endorsed, or just flat out hired, but you work for the Lord God Almighty, and it\u2019s your job to take care of his people,\u201dGilmore continued. \u201cThe smartest thing you can do as a leader is align your heart with the plan and purpose of God. It\u2019s a wise leader who yields to the Spirit of God as they go about their daily tasks. I\u2019m not asking you to forfeit your role or your responsibilities, but with an accurate understanding of who you are and what your job is, I am asking you to submit to the high calling of service and to yield your heart to the Lord each and every day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jon Nelson, pastor of SOMA Community Church, prayed a special prayer for Missouri\u2019s Senate, while Bev Ehlen of the Missouri Baptist Convention Christian Life Commission asked for God\u2019s blessing over the House. Steve Betts, also of the MBC Christian Life Commission, prayed on behalf of the seven justices of the Missouri Supreme Court while MBC Executive Director John Yeats prayed for Gov. Eric Greitens, his family, and other members of the Executive branch. John Battaglia, Missouri state minister for Capitol Commission, offered the benediction.<\/p>\n
The event, sponsored by Concord Baptist Church and the Christian Life Commission, is based on the writing of the Apostle Paul to Timothy in 1 Tim. 2:1-3, \u201cFirst of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In what has become a January tradition in the Capital City, many of the state\u2019s government leaders gathered at Concord Baptist Church here Jan. 3 to be prayed over by Missouri Baptists.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":26608,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":"","_wpscp_schedule_draft_date":"","_wpscp_schedule_republish_date":"","_wpscppro_advance_schedule":false,"_wpscppro_advance_schedule_date":"","_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_selected_social_profile":[]},"categories":[47,48,17,98],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n