Karen L. Willoughby

Colson Brooks learned the importance of taking just one step during the two years he spent as a Missionary Explorer for the International Mission Board.

PEMBROKE, N.C. – Two Morning Star Ministries leaders drove 2,100 miles in a 26-foot U-Haul box truck across Interstate 40 after Thanksgiving to deliver 2,000 Christmas shoeboxes and other gifts for Native American youngsters in Oklahoma, New Mexico and as far West as Flagstaff, Arizona.

HEMET, Calif. – Colon cancer crippled Kirk Beard’s walk with the Lord earlier this year. Two surgeries. Much pain. Bedridden for two months and dependent on his wife April for 24/7 care. It was hard to keep his – and her! – focus on Jesus as they had during a nearly 30-year stint in the Gospel ministry.

KEARNS, Utah – At least 149 people have been baptized this year at The Point Church, where Corey J. Hodges has been pastor since 1997. 

KENNEWICK, Wash. – The small village of Tablón, Ecuador, sits on a tabletop mountain about 12,000 feet high in the Andes. It’s 32 miles south of the equator and an hour’s drive from the capital in Quito.

BIXBY, Okla. – Two men from the Muscogee Creek Nation were honored as “Native American Trailblazers” during the recent regional meeting of the Fellowship of Native American Christians.

WESTERN U.S. – Online theological education – study without onsite interaction with other students – has become an efficient way for the Southern Baptist Convention’s six seminaries to train the next generation of leaders without students having to leave their homes or places of ministry.

OREM, Utah (BP) – People were already standing in the wintry-wet rain outside the Utah Valley University Events Center at 1:30 p.m. Sunday (Nov. 16).

DELTA, Colo. – An uncommon number of youth have become ministry leaders and missionaries from one small-town church in western Colorado. 

BOISE, Idaho – Melvin Oliva, an active Christian for many years, started studying the Bible with purpose this August.