News

Members of University Heights Church in Springfield, Mo., have opened their doors to a refugee congregation from Burma (Myanmar) — Chin Community Church. Since April 27, the group worships each Sunday afternoon in the University Heights chapel. On May 4, UHBC members welcomed the Chin during the congregation’s annual Missions Recognition Service.

Some people have already sent their contact information to The Baptist Home corporate office in hopes of being among the first to move into an adult community in mid-Missouri. While plans for the newest TBH campus are moving forward, the first residents still will have to wait from three to five years before moving in.

Pastor, professor and author David Fitch challenged American Baptist pastors to be “with” the people they serve inside and outside the church. Fitch was the featured speaker at the 2014 Prairie Pastors Conference in Bellevue, Neb., April 28-30. Four ABC-USA regions from Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Kansas and Oklahoma joined to host the three-day conference.

The BR-KC executive board voted at a special called business meeting April 24 to disassociate with Holmeswood Baptist Church in Kansas City and Cornerstone Baptist Church in Lee’s Summit.

The Missouri Baptist Children’s Home Board of Trustees elected Russell L. Martin to be the next Children’s Home president during its April 22 meeting at the Bridgeton, Mo., headquarters.

Christians who debate the merits of burial versus cremation may miss a larger issue —- helping people deal with the reality of death, some ministers insist.

People need prayer, and they need it as an integral part of worship. That philosophy keeps access to prayer open during all worship services at Gold Hill Baptist church in Chalfont St. Peter, England.

John 17:11-23 records Jesus’ fervent prayer that his followers would be united as the Savior and the Father are. Through the disciples’ unity as they were sent out, the world would know God. Jesus still sends out his followers. Could that mission to reach the world help unite them? Yes and no, according to two theologians.

Mission efforts can bring believers together to make a difference in the world and for God’s kingdom.

Author and speaker Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove shared how medical personnel in a bomb-damaged clinic assisted Americans injured in an automobile accident in Iraq. The experience led him to open Rutba House, a ministry of hospitality, in Durham, N.C., he told attendees at the Churchnet Annual Gathering April 11-12.