KIDDER—The Lord has made a difference in Larry Griffey’s life that can be measured – in pounds, inches and shirt sizes. Griffey, a member of Kidder Baptist Church, has gone from a size 60 pants to a size 38, losing nearly 250 pounds in the past year and a half. It has been a time of transformation not only for his body, but also for his spirit. “I look at everything different now,” he said. “Things are so much clearer.” About two years ago, Griffey’s weight was at a peak of 480 pounds – … [Read more...]
Churches key in Joplin’s recovery
JOPLIN – City leaders estimate that it will be three to five years before Joplin has fully recovered from the May 22, 2011 tornado that killed 161 people and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses. One of those leaders, Steve Patterson, the director of missions for Joplin’s Spring River Baptist Association says Christians and the Church have a major role to play in that recovery. “The quiet little story is that Christians have made a huge impact,” he said. “I don’t see lots of … [Read more...]
Unpack the boxes
The movers arrived on Thursday. They brought all the boxes into our house. Now, every box must be opened and a determination must be made about the contents. When you have amassed a lifetime of items and memories, moving makes for long days and late evenings. The goal is to have everything in every box appropriately set. As we were putting the finishing touches on my study, we discovered one more box. “What’s in that box?” At this stage of the game, I’m thinking I don’t want to know what … [Read more...]
Upward influence stays strong in Lamar
LAMAR – January marked the start of Grace Place’s 14th Upward Basketball and Cheerleading season, and so far every year has been a huge success. “Before a season starts, we always pray for one soul and that’s it,” said Ray Ramage, Grace Place’s Upward League director. “Of course, the Lord has blessed us with more than that, but we’ve always said that if we could reach one soul for Christ every season, then it’s all worth it.” Grace Place is one of approximately 2,400 churches across the … [Read more...]
Layman makes a difference through radio ministry
ARNOLD—Many items can be used as a courtesy gift, but a gallon of ice cream isn’t usually at the top of the list. Even so, Ron Lowry, director of Connect Ministry at First Baptist Church, Arnold, and JOY 99.1 FM board member, shared a gallon of ice cream 15 years ago with the morning hosts at the Christian radio station, WCBW (the predecessor of JOY FM). “I was driving along and I heard Greg and Sandi talking about ice cream,” Lowry said. “I felt like I should drop in on them at the … [Read more...]
No other name but the name of Jesus
I said I’d never do it. But I did it. And actually, I’ve been somewhere near the worst of them all. I said I’d never be one of those moms who went through the whole list of her kids’ names before hitting on the right one. But at least once a week the entire time my kids have been growing up I would want to say something to one of them, and it was suddenly a roll call. I’d hit every name on my five-kid list and sometimes even throw in a couple of my own siblings and a stray cousin or two. … [Read more...]
Prairie Grove makes partnership with Missouri Guard practical
COLUMBIA – Prairie Grove Baptist Church here has always considered itself a military-friendly church, so it was ready to join in the “Partners in Care” program with the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) and the Missouri Army National Guard (MONG). Pastor Sam Timbrook said that the church’s location on Interstate 70 makes it easily accessible to military families going to Columbia for medical care and other needs. MONG Chaplain Col. Gary Gilmore was invited to speak at Prairie Home as part … [Read more...]
Guard, MBC move ahead in partnership
JEFFERSON CITY - Col. Gary Gilmore can hardly contain his excitement about the prospects of Missouri Baptists ministering to soldiers as part of its “Partners in Care” agreement with the Missouri National Guard (MONG). A partnership agreement between the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) and the Guard matches soldiers’ needs with available faith-based resources in their home communities. Gilmore, a former Missouri Baptist pastor, serves as the Guard’s Joint Force Chaplain Chief in the … [Read more...]
Hedger: Help on horizon for Africa
JEFFERSON CITY—Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Partnership Missions Specialist Rick Hedger said he feels “very good” about the foundation that has been built in the Western Gateway Cluster of the Sub-Saharan Affinity Group of eight West African nations. Four Missouri Baptist churches are involved as engaging churches, where they are directly serving as missionaries to a people group. Others are involved on a level where they are helping existing International Mission Board (IMB) … [Read more...]
Layman makes a difference through radio ministry
ARNOLD—Many items can be used as a courtesy gift, but a gallon of ice cream isn’t usually at the top of the list. Even so, Ron Lowry, director of Connect Ministry at First Baptist Church, Arnold, and JOY 99.1 FM board member, shared a gallon of ice cream 15 years ago with the morning hosts at the Christian radio station, WCBW (the predecessor of JOY FM). “I was driving along and I heard Greg and Sandi talking about ice cream,” Lowry said. “I felt like I should drop in on them at the … [Read more...]
Yeats stresses need for biblical worldview
JEFFERSON CITY—In his 17-minute keynote address to those gathered for the 8th annual Prayer Service for State Government Leaders, John Yeats, the new executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC), urged citizens to pray for those who are in authority. Yeats said obeying I Timothy 2:1-4 can lead people into a lifestyle of prayer that would help produce quiet and peaceable lives in communities that are under the jurisdictional authority of elected officials. His Jan. 4 message … [Read more...]
Government leaders thankful for prayers in their behalf
JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri’s government leaders have expressed their appreciation for specific prayers offered on their behalf on Jan.4, the opening day of the 2012 General Assembly. “It’s very easy to get our focus on the problems,” said Sen. Bob Dixon of Springfield adding, “It’s a lot easier to solve problems if we get our focus on the Solver.” The event was held at Concord Baptist Church and sponsored by Missouri Baptist Convention’s (MBC) Christian Life Commission, The Pathway, and … [Read more...]
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