Rooted Mission trip to São Paulo

Cristoländia drug addict recovery center.

Three years ago I received a call from the IMB about an opportunity to go to São Paulo, Brazil for a missions trip specifically for HBCU students. This has been a dream since we planted Soma and I and my wife gladly went to learn more about this opportunity. After our initial trip we were excited of all what this could mean but it took until this year before we could get our students on the trip. It has been our commitment as a church to call out the called while sending out our best and this trip was a prime example of that investment.

We took 8 students, 7 of which had never left the country before and what an adventure it was. If you have ever been on a missions trip with Soma then you know that we go to bless the missionaries and there ministries as much as we can. This was not, in any way, a vacation, we went to work and work we did. The students were placed in many very hard situations and instead of shying away the leaned in and let the Holy Spirit use them in mighty ways. I could spend time telling you all about the trip but we think it would be much better to here from the students themselves. Below are some of the students reflections about the trip.

Hello, my name is Lillian Bower and I’m a junior at Missouri Western University. This summer, I was given an opportunity to go to São Paulo Brazil for a missions trip. I’ve done mission trips within The States, but this experience changed my life. For a week we got to evangelize in the streets to the homeless and those struggling with addiction. Partnering with Cristo Lândia; we offered breakfast, lunch, showers, clean clothes, and a chance to accept Jesus Christ. It was an honor to sit, eat, pray, and serve with those who usually go unseen. I felt filled with purpose being on the ground, doing the work that many don’t want to do. My favorite part was going to the favelas, doing home evangelizing and loving on the kids. It’s amazing how you don’t have to speak the same language to connect with someone. Kindness is a universal language. I loved hearing other testimonies and getting to share mine. Being able to bond over shared experiences of how God has changed our lives, it was humbling. Whether you’re in The States or across the world, every Christian has a story. I believe sharing our stories can encourage others and bring others to Christ.

– Lilliy

The visit to São Paulo, Brazil, provided a valuable and immersive cultural experience. Engaging with local communities outside of typical tourist areas provided me with a meaningful exchange of perspectives. The opportunity to positively impact individuals ranging in age, and making them feel acknowledged was particularly fulfilling. Being able to observing the diverse journeys and circumstances of the people we encountered was very insightful. Interacting with the children and being able to connect with them on a playful level was an enriching experience. Reflecting on the trip, it became evident that it was an important pivotal moment for me in my spiritual growth, and deeper understanding of faith.

– Courtney

My experience from the Brazil mission trip was truly rewarding. It was my first international mission trip and such a memorable one! It was a blessing being able to serve the people of São Paulo along with the churches, translators, leaders, my team, and other believers. Even though there were challenges and hardships going on in people’s lives, they were still open to talking to us and open for prayer. The people, culture, and delicious foods is something I’ll never forget!My favorite part of the trip was interacting with the children in the favela. They were so happy and excited to play! Another favorite part was listening to testimonies at one of the house visits we did. I woke up every morning in awe that I was in another country, let alone another continent! I thank the Lord for being able to use me in any way, shape, and form and for working in the lives of the people of São Paulo!

– Chyler

On May 14th I took my first ever trip overseas with the Rooted college ministry. It was life changing. The people were very welcoming. So many were excited to have us and excited to get to know us. Everywhere we went, we were met with good food, smiling faces, and eagerness to work together and worship. God moved mightily. Two days in particular stand out in my mind.

The first was our second working day. We partnered with a ministry that held two worship services and gave out a free sandwich and drink at the end. First, after having orientation and going on a prayer walk at the park, we went out to eat for lunch. However, we had some complications and ended up about an hour behind. But God. After we finished, we went back to the park and began to invite people to the services. After inviting and evangelizing, we went back to the place of worship, where we proceeded to have three fully packed out services. Afterwards, many people stayed to chat with us as they ate. It was an amazing day.

The second day that stood out to me, was our last working day. We partnered with a ministry that works with children in different favelas, or neighborhoods as they are called in America. The children were wonderful to work with. They were very open and affectionate. Many wanted hugs, to hold someone’s hand or to simply just talk to us. They were also very playful and loved futball. It was another amazing day I will not forget.

My experience in Brazil was exciting, challenging, and it strengthened my faith. I want to go back next year. I will be learning Portuguese so I can speak more with the people and understand them. I also hope that I can share the gospel with others here in America more often. I don’t want to only share when I’m not in a familiar place. I want everyone to hear about Jesus, understand who He is, and understand what He’s done for the entire world.

– Gloria

We assisted the local churches of Saõ Paulo, Brazil with their daily work such as feeding the homeless, letting them take showers, and playing with children from the favelas. My favorite part was worshipping with the churches and trying the locals’ food which were really tasty. I saw God moving in places where no hope and broken souls lived. He was breathing life in people where others would let them continue on their path of death. It truly was a amazing experience.

– Whitney

My first time out the country was my mission trip to Brazil. This Mission trip allowed me to understand the Lord’s patience and his grace. Being a part of a collegiate team of people that are strong in their faith and walk and able to help spread his word is a huge blessing. I kept reminding myself it’s bigger than me, everything I do for the Lord is bigger than all of us. Being able to spread his word no matter the language barrier or the difficulties allowed me to see the spiritual gifts he put into my life. I love brazil, the culture the food and more. I would love to go there again. Over the trip it allowed me to wonder if the Lord is calling me to missions. Vai Palmeries 💪🏽

– Brian

My time in Brazil was fun, but also challenging. Seeing the culture and hearing the language It was lovely. What I love most though was the love that was everywhere. It was beautiful while also being there though the thing I struggled with most was my focus and even though I struggled with that, I remember the mission at hand which was to extend the hand of ministry. Also growing closer to God and getting better at sharing my testimony. Now that’s I’m back I feel that I did that but I know I still have room to grow.

– Renayjah

Stepping Forward with God’s Divine GPS: Breaking Free from Past Shackles

Have you ever questioned the direction of your life’s journey? Perhaps it’s time to hit pause, connect with God’s GPS, and explore the series “God’s Divine Directions.” Drawing an analogy from my car’s GPS revelation, where the destination appears only when I’m near, we unravel a profound truth about God’s GPS system. Proverbs 16:9 (NIV) sets the foundation, emphasizing that while we plan our course, it is the Lord who determines our steps.

“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.”

– Proverbs 16:9 (ESV)

The journey unfolds step by step, and today, we delve into the importance of forward steps on this divine path.

Begin with recognizing the similarity between earthly GPS and God’s divine guidance. Proverbs 16:9 serves as our guiding scripture, illuminating the concept that, with God’s GPS, the destination remains a mystery until we faithfully follow each step. Much like the screen of my car’s GPS, which reveals short distances before the final destination, God leads us through incremental steps.

In Philippians 3:12-13 and Exodus 14:12, 15-16, we confront a pivotal question: Are we actively taking forward steps spiritually in our lives? Stagnation or regression may indicate a need to align ourselves with the insights from these scriptures.

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,”

-Philippians 3:12–13 (ESV)

“Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness… The LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. [16] Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground.

– Exodus 14:12, 15-16 (ESV)

A critical impediment to forward steps is being anchored in the past. Paul’s wisdom in Philippians urges us to forget what lies behind and reach forward to what lies ahead. While reminiscing is natural, true liberation lies in embracing the present and taking that essential step forward. There is a reason that the rear-view mirror is smaller than your windshield.

Diving into the transformative power of forgiveness as a key to breaking free from the past. Matthew 18:21-22 emphasizes forgiveness, challenging us to break the chains holding us back. Whether it’s forgiving others or ourselves, this section encourages us to recognize that forgiveness is the key to stepping forward into a brighter future.

Standing still won’t reveal the full extent of God’s greatness. The Israelites had to continue to move forward to witness the extraordinary wonders God has in store and reveals God’s greatness in unexpected ways.

Acknowledging that not all steps are equal, especially in the spiritual realm, we explore the strain and effort required. Every step towards God demands leaving comfort zones and straining to move forward. Paul’s experiences echo in our understanding that spiritual steps forward often require everything we have.

Are you willing to do that today?

2023 YEAR END LETTER

Dear Soma Family,

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

– Proverbs 19:21

No one really knows how a journey will end as they take the first step. Life is full of unexpected roadblocks, detours, and hidden blessings—and this year has seen all three in abundance. Honestly, how many of your plans made it to the finish line this year? The end of the year is a good time to pull over and consider the road behind us as we prepare to navigate the road ahead. 2023 is ending, and how different this year turned out to be from what we expected when it began.

Though these past months have been tough, I am thankful to God for how he has worked in and through our congregation. We have seen church members work valiantly to keep us connected through worship gatherings services and Gospel Community meals/ study. We have ministered to our community through Affordable Christmas project, serving Lincoln University students, staff and administration while also serving our local elementary school Moreau Heights and in favelas in Brazil. We have also learned to pray together better than ever.

Many people are struggling financially this year, so I do not want to pressure you to give if you are unable — in fact, if you need help, we invite you to contact our Elders to explore ways we might assist you — but if you are in a position to give right now, I encourage you to consider Soma in your year-end giving plans. You can give in-person or online at somajc.org.

These last few years has been hard for our church financially. Many people have given faithfully, and we have been helped by fundraising efforts from our Elders, but we are still running behind our budget. So, any extra amount you might give at this time will be a big help.

More than anything, please continue to uphold our church in your prayers. Post-Covid we have had members of the congregation in a multitude of life stages and as they come to mind, please mention them in prayer to the Lord. These have been difficult times for all of us, and we all need each other’s support. Continue to be expectant and patient as we move into the new year. Join me in seeking God’s face in prayer (more on that in the coming days).

I’m not sure how many of your plans crashed and burned this year. Many of my friends feel like 2023 was a hard year—a year that lacked momentum, even so, plans are different from purpose. Plans involve getting to a desired destination in life—purpose is about destiny. The beautiful thing about God’s providence is that it unites our plans (even the bad ones) to His purpose for us and we know His purpose is to conform us to the image of His Son as He prepares us for an eternity of solid, unending joy (Romans 8:28-30).

While there are many worthwhile ministries to which many of us give, we encourage you to make your local church, the bride of Christ, a priority in your giving. This might be a chance to renew your monthly tithe, or to give a special year-end gift. Those in our church who give generously would all tell you that there is great joy in giving. May you experience his joy and contentment as you give back to God the first fruits of what he has given you!

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Jon C. Nelson, on behalf of the elders

How should Christians approach Halloween (or any other holiday)?

Halloween can be a polarizing time of year for Christians. Some Christians believe that Halloween is inherently evil while others believe that it is harmless. Some churches prohibit their members from celebrating Halloween, some churches offer fun Halloween night alternatives (Reformation Nights, Fall Festivals, etc.), some churches encourage their members to “redeem” Halloween.

[Read more…]

on the untimely passing of Don Hinkle

As many of you know Don Hinkle, founding editor of the Missouri Baptist Conventions “Pathway”, stepped into the presence of Jesus yesterday. Recently, he had planned to transition away from the Pathway at the end of the year, yet his transition came early and to a much better position. The day his transition was announced I had the opportunity to say “Thank you” for his years of service and express my excitement of his next venture. If you knew Don you knew that he cared deeply about serving churches and consistently helped Baptist across the nation to to articulate a biblical worldview in all aspects of life.

Whenever we would visit would talk about everything from Jesus, politics, sports, bowties and the state of journalism amongst other things. Under his leadership Missouri Baptist experienced many years of Kingdom service. While I am sad to see him pass, I know he is in heaven reunited with his sweet Bernadette and walking the Streets of Gold! Nevertheless, I have hope that I will see them both again in glory as we worship at the Throne of the Lamb, but for now we grieve, knowing that the Lord gives and the Lord takes away.

Thank you, Don Hinkle, for your friendship, leadership, love for the Kingdom of God
, and commitment to Southern Baptists.

Exciting Building Update

We have received many questions and inquiries people that are curious of the outcome of the vote for the Concord Baptist Church Association building, affectionately known as Soma. We first and foremost want to thank you so much for your prayers over the last few years. As you well know we have asked for ownership of this building for the better half of a decade. Unfortunately our efforts to gain ownership have been rebuffed multiple times.

Recently the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC), unbeknownst to us, approached our association with the idea of a swap. MBC Offered a wing of their building in downtown Jefferson City for ownership of the associational offices. A very similar swap was made 20 years ago when MBC gave this property to our association to do ministry at Lincoln University. Through financial analysis our association has estimated that it will save the association approximately $200,000 in the swap and it was presented to the large association to be voted on at the meeting on Sunday.

This last Sunday our Elder Kevin and Mrs. Terry attended the bi-annual associational meeting which was held at Freshwater church. The vote on the building was one of many things that needed to be dealt with this last Sunday, as the vote came up there was a light discussion and then the near unanimous vote to deed the building back to MBC! To be honest I received this text a few minutes before I had to step into a pulpit and preach for the third time on Sunday. And I can barely contain myself and excitement and was over come to tears. This is a momentous occasion for Soma and also for our association. In the next few weeks you will receive updates giving you specifics on what we’re going to be doing to move forward.

I can already hear many of you asking the question “what’s our next steps?“ Over the next few weeks we will be assessing the building to specifically know what needs to be done in the upcoming months. We will be communicating with you any and all moves that the association will be making and that we will be making and when construction will begin on the building. Please make sure that you follow these newsletters and our blog to keep up to date. Thank you so much for your prayers over the last few years. This is a step in the right direction but it’s not the end goal and please know we have so much work to do. I’m excited for what’s next for our convention, our association and our church.