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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.

Although sometimes portrayed as a problem found in other nations, human trafficking also occurs in large numbers in the United States. The FBI includes St. Louis as one of the top 20 trafficking cities in the U.S., and governmental groups have also identified Kansas City as a trafficking hub. In addition to efforts to prevent trafficking and prosecute those responsible, Baptists see a need for ministry to survivors of trafficking.

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.

On the second Sunday of Advent, the lawn of Highland Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., will be covered with wooden crosses like one sees in a military cemetery. Each cross — about 75 of them — will represent one person in the community killed in violence during the year.

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

On the first Sunday of Advent, First Baptist Church of Lee’s Summit, Mo., experiences what Randy Buffington calls “controlled chaos.”

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.

R. Alan Culpepper (left) praised former seminary staff colleague Molly Marshall (right) as a visionary leader during a 10th anniversary celebration of her presidency of Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Shawnee, Kan., Nov. 12.