Baptist

Don Wideman is a grateful man who, these days, concentrates on family and an adult Sunday School class at First Baptist Church in North Kansas City, Mo.

Former Missouri Woman’s Missionary Union President Barbara Bray died Jan. 15 at John Knox Village Care Center in Lee’s Summit, Mo.

Paul Gibson on Jan. 1 became the new executive minister of Great Rivers Region of American Bap­tist Churches, headquartered in Springfield, Ill.

Susan Gillies never envisioned that God’s call to ministry would mean becoming the first woman to lead American Baptists, even temporarily. She also may be the first layperson to “sit in the chair” as American Baptist Churches USA executive minister, she said.

William Carl Hunker was born in Lakeview, Ore., on April 24, 1916, to Harry C. Hunker and Louise A. Bosworth. He served as a missionary, church planter, pastor, seminary professor and seminary president, as well as mentor to hundreds of his students and congregants.

The issue of human trafficking occasionally makes national headlines, such as during Super Bowl weekend. But for the millions of people caught in it, trafficking is a daily reality.

Southwest Baptist University broke ground Dec. 18 on a project to expand and renovate the Bolivar campus’ Gene Taylor National Free Enterprise Center, which houses the Robert W. Plaster College of Business and Computer Science and the department of history and political science.

Actor, director and author Kevin Sorbo focused on faith, freedom and hope in his keynote address to more than 500 attendees at Hannibal-LaGrange University’s Annual Booster Banquet Nov. 20 in the Mabee Sports Complex.

Missouri Baptist University dedicated its new Spartan Field and Field House Nov. 3.

University Heights Baptist Church in Springfield, Mo., celebrated Baptist Heritage Day Nov. 1 with the executive secretary of the Baptist World Alliance (center) as the special guest.