HOW-TO: Know whether God has called you to be a missionary

Editor’s Note: The following was written by John D. Massey, dean of the Roy J. Fish School of Evangelism and Missions at The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. This article originally appeared in the spring 2020 issue of Southwestern News (pg. 25). God has called all believers without exception to engage the Great Commission, making disciples of all…

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Dark Shadows & Bright Promises: The ‘missionary vision and passion’ planted in Brazil by the ‘first Southwesterner’ continues to grow

Editor’s Note: The following feature story originally appeared in the spring 2020 issue of Southwestern News (pgs. 46-55). The events recounted herein took place before the outbreak of COVID-19.  “I think this verse characterizes my grandparents’ journey to and ministry in Brazil,” AnneLu Bagby remarked. She held up an unused children’s coloring book page she had…

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Pioneer Builders: The Bagbys took the Gospel to Brazil—139 years later, the entire country is changed

Editor’s Note: The following article originally appeared in the spring 2020 issue of Southwestern News (pgs. 48-54) alongside a larger feature about mission work in Brazil.  In terms of pioneer mission work, Buck and Anne Bagby are to Brazil what Lottie Moon is to China. The first Baptist missionaries to Brazil, arriving in Rio de Janeiro in 1881,…

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HOW-TO: Teach a New Song to a Congregation

Editor’s Note: The following was written by Nathan Burggraff, assistant professor of music theory at The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. This article originally appeared in the spring 2020 issue of Southwestern News (pg. 27). One hurdle that contemporary church­es have in teaching new songs to their con­gregations is the lack of a musical score from which church…

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The Neighborhood, the State, the Nation, the World: The concentric reach of one South Texas church making disciples who make disciples

Editor’s Note: The following feature story originally appeared in the spring 2020 issue of Southwestern News (pgs. 28-33). The mission efforts recounted herein took place before COVID-19 restrictions limited community involvement.  “We’re from West Conroe Baptist Church. We’d like to pay for your groceries today.” Stop at any grocery store in Conroe, Texas, and you may hear…

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