News

For the past 15 years, Alan Bean has found himself involved in some of the biggest criminal justice controversies in Texas and Louisiana.

Dwight Clifford Clark, 84, died Jan. 31 at his home in Independence, Mo., with his wife by his side.

The United States locks up more people in prison — in raw numbers and in percentage of the population — than any other nation in the world. With so many people in prison — or formerly in prison, is prison a mission field?

The William Jewell College Board of Trustees has named Elizabeth MacLeod Walls as the 15th president of the college. She will succeed David Sallee, who will retire July 31 after serving as president since 2000. Her appointment is effective July 1.

The Gateway Arch represented the westward expansion of the United States. For thousands of people from around the world, the Arch also welcomes them to their new home in the way the Statue of Liberty did for earlier generations of refugees.

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.

An ecumenical group of Mid-Missouri clergy found inspiration in the birth story of Jesus as they gathered at the state capitol in December to speak out for Middle Eastern refugees today who are fleeing murderous violence.

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.