‘Weakened witness’ stayed on mission to the very end
CHIFUNGA, Malawi (BP) -- Paul Koonce was weak and exhausted. Barely able to stand, it took two assistants to get him from the truck and into Avant Baptist Church at Chifunga in Malawi, Africa. Though unable to get in and out of the rickety chair on his own, he still sat up straighter and grew stronger as he began to preach to the people gathering on the dirt floor. Through Koonce's favorite Chichewa interpreter, he began to tell the story of Job. As the director of missions for Washington-Osage Baptist Association based in Bartlesville, Okla., Koonce had led 20 trips to the tiny eastern Africa nation. Along with pastors and students in the association, he helped plant 85 Baptist churches there, and saw thousands come to faith Christ. ...
Mo. religious liberty bill dies in committee
JEFFERSON CITY (BP) -- Missourians will not get the opportunity to vote on a religious liberty bill to protect people from being penalized for their religious beliefs on marriage. The House of Representatives' Emerging Issues Committee on Wednesday (April 27) voted 6-6 on Senate Joint Resolution 39 (SJR 39), thus ending its chances of making it out of committee to the full House, and ultimately, the citizens of Missouri. See related ...
Ferguson, Mo., church hosts prayer summit
FERGUSON, Mo. (BP) -- As rumors of potential grand jury action swirled across Ferguson, Mo., a hundred Baptists met for a prayer summit at First Baptist Church to pray for the community, the state and the nation. The prayer summit was led by the North American Mission Board's Gary Frost and Arkansas pastor Bill Elliff.
