one mission magazine, spring 2010

SPRING2010

One Mission is made possible by gifts of Alabama Baptists through the Cooperative Program. www.alsbom.org

MISSIONS INAMERICANNORTH

the greatcommission

oneone

ALABAMA

46463-1 BapCom:fall2005 newsize 5/28/10 9:39 AM

an

CA

CinPleec

hbthcCya

BtwecBcno&lepw

capsin

A

apGthuC

N

go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching themto observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. – Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

One Mission is made possible by gifts of Alabama Baptists through the Cooperative Program.

oneMission

State MissionaryExecutive Director-Treasurer

Zechariah 4:6b

the greatcommis s ion

w

NorthAmerican

Missions inAlabama

oneone

This issue of One Mission magazine seeks to share stories ofNorth American missions in Alabama. At best, any thematic

issue of this magazine can tell only a representative number ofstories, and that’s certainly the case here.


We are grateful for all who labor in local churchesand associations to impact lostness in our state as thenations are now often our next door neighbors.

CHURCH PLANTING: SUCCESSAND CHALLENGE

The story of Moffett Road BaptistChurch, Mobile, and its church plantinginitiative is a remarkable narrative.Pastor Terry Cutrer has provided stellarleadership in MRBC’s Kingdomenterprise of birthing newcongregations.

More generally, Alabama Baptistshave much to celebrate and for which tobe thankful in regards to church planting. In Alabamathere is an approximately 90 percent survival rate ofcongregations that have been resourced in some way byCooperative Program funds during the past severalyears. One estimate puts the national survival rate figureat 67 percent.

We are so grateful to AlabamaBaptists for their faithful givingthrough the Cooperative Program,which has helped enable andencourage the planting of vital newcongregations in Alabama. Your StateBoard of Missions (SBOM) considerschurch planting so vital that it's in thename of one of our offices, namelyour Office of Associational Missions& Church Planting.

State Missionary Gary Swafford provides strategicleadership on a statewide basis to help facilitate churchplanting in Alabama. He does so always in consultationwith local directors of missions and pastors.

Occasionally, someone will ask, “How manychurches has the State Board of Missions planted?” Theanswer is zero. Rather, we are grateful to be able topartner with local congregations and associations in thisstrategy that aims to reach the many unreached peoplein Alabama with the Gospel.

ACROSS ALABAMA/GOD'S PLAN FOR SHARINGWhat a blessing it has been to see the enthusiastic

and evangelistic response to Across Alabama, the firstphase of an effort to have everyone in Alabama hear theGospel by 2020. Part of God's Plan for Sharing (GPS),this statewide effort has been embraced by churches inunprecedented numbers as together we seek to shareChrist with everyone in our beloved state.

NORTH AMERICAN MISSIONARIESThis issue of the magazine also highlights 12

appointed North American missionaries and turns thespotlight on a unique ministry known as BarefootBelievers in Baldwin County. As a resort missionary,

Nate Diehl seeks to share Christ withmany of the thousands of tourists eachyear who visit Alabama's Gulf Coast,specifically in the area of Orange Beachand Gulf Shores.

Under Diehl’s leadership, theBarefoot Believers ministry helpschurch groups on mission trips to thearea effectively reach out with theGospel in a unique setting where visitorsoften receive Christ in what many wouldconsider an unexpected setting for

evangelistic sharing. But resort ministry has animpressive track record among Southern Baptists ingeneral and Alabama Baptists in particular.

We are grateful for Nate and his 11 colleagues whoare featured as appointed personnel with the NorthAmerican Mission Board (NAMB). All these 11Kingdom servants, along with more than 40 otherindividuals in our state, are jointly funded by NAMBand the SBOM as part of a cooperative agreement.

Thank you, Alabama Baptists, for supporting NorthAmerican missions – both through the CooperativeProgram and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.

PARTNERS IN EDUCATIONYour SBOM staff has its own partnership on a local

basis in Montgomery with the William R. HarrisonElementary School. For more than a decade, we havebeen privileged and blessed to minister alongside theadministration, faculty, staff and students of this schoolthat is located about a mile west of the Baptist Building.

School personnel have on many occasionsexpressed appreciation for our efforts, but your statemissions staff is likewise blessed for being able toparticipate in this local missions effort and Partners inEducation relationship.

PRAYER AND STEWARDSHIPThe State Board of Missions will continue to

embrace and nurture our partnerships with localchurches, associations, state convention entities andSBC ministries as together we seek to impact lostnessin our local communities, across the state of Alabama,throughout North America and around the world. Prayfor me and the many others who lead these efforts thatwe will see the fields white unto harvest — in the wordsof Acts 1:8 — in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and theends of the earth.

We seek to obey Acts 1:8 as a simultaneous, notsequential, mandate. We are to be going into all theworld, all the time, at the same time. May it ever be soamong Southern Baptists! OM

emNIV)

www.alsbom.org spring 2010

3

fcf.


It’s one thing to start a new church, but three in sixyears? That’s nothing short of remarkable.

Seven years ago, Moffett Road Baptist Churchin Mobile, working through the Mobile Association,voted to start Sonrise Baptist Church after ninemonths of meeting, studying and praying. Theysupported the new work for two years until itbecame fully constituted.

A year later, Moffett Road joined with threeother churches to help start Forest Hill BaptistChurch, an African-American work two miles downthe road. It too became a self-supporting churchabout two years later. Then Moffett Road learned ofa need for a new church in Semmes. They partneredwith Sonrise, their first plant, and launchedCelebration Baptist Church, which opened its doorslast August.

“Our philosophy is an age-old one – startingnew units,” said Terry Cutrer, pastor of MoffettRoad. “There’s something about new churches.They tend to reach a lot more lost people and theyhave better baptismal ratios, so our idea was that ifwe were going to do a better job of reaching MobileCounty, we needed to start some other churches.”

As a result, Cutrer says, on any given Sunday,there will be as many people in these three churchesas there are in the Moffett Road facility, and they’rereaching people who most likely wouldn’t come toMoffett Road to worship.

Forest Hill, on the west side of Mobile, is agood example. “This community has progressivelyshifted to the African-American population,” saidJames L. Jones, pastor of Forest Hill. “(MoffettRoad) wanted to be able to reach them and Godgave them a vision to plant an African-Americanchurch in the community.”

Much like a child’s values reflect that of theirparents, the churches Moffett Road has started arecommitted to planting other churches. “A part ofour DNA is Moffett Road’s DNA,” Jones said. “Itold the church when we were about a year old thatwe were going to plant a church in five years.”

Christy Hicks Jake Duke

MOFFETTROAD:PLANTINGCHURCHES, HARVESTINGSOULS

“People tend togive more whenthere’s a vision,somethingbigger than justthemselves.”

Terry CutrerPastor, Moffett RoadBaptist Church

James L. JonesPastor, Forest Hill Baptist Church

KP

RP

46463-1 BapCom:fall2005 newsize 6/1/10 3:32 PM

Ric Camp, pastor of Sonrise, agrees. “From the very beginning, we said wewanted to be a church that plants churches. We want to be a part of helping otherchurches launch because we had been blessed so much with the same thing,” he said.

Kevin Castleberry wasn’t looking for a church planting opportunity when hecame to Celebration as their pastor, but he’s sold on the method. “Church plantingwas the New Testament method of evangelism, and for the last 2,000 years Godhas been involved in church planting,” he said. “I believe there’s something aboutthe newness of our church which has caused people to connect with us.”

And it’s not primarily members of other churches who are making theconnection. Cutrer observed, “By and large, at Celebration, Sonrise and ForestHill, the vast majority who have joined are just people coming in out of the worldeither lost or who have been disassociated from a church for a long time.”

An added benefit Cutrer has noticed is that church members are giving morethrough the Cooperative Program and special missions offerings, and he thinksthat’s because they’ve been actively involved in missions through church planting.“People tend to give more when there’s a vision, something bigger than justthemselves,” he said.

While church planting ideally starts in a local church it is by necessity acooperative effort. The Mobile Association identifies potential new church sitesthrough a strategic planning process and administers a fund to assist with buyingproperty. The State Board of Missions (SBOM) and North American MissionBoard partner in the process by helping supplement the pastor's salary and otherexpenses.

Thomas Wright, Mobile Association’s executive director of missions,appreciates the example Moffett Road is setting. “These three congregations havebeen strategically planted to provide evangelistic ministry and godly fellowship toareas that need the influence of the bride of Christ. All three are reaching andbaptizing the lost,” he said. “An added benefit is showing other churches thatreproducing is normal, natural, and necessary.”

State Missionary Gary Swafford, director of the SBOM’s Office ofAssociational Missions & Church Planting, is grateful for Moffett Road andchurches across the state who are involved in church planting. “We need all kindsof churches for all kinds of people,” he said, “and planting churches is an idealway for an Acts 1:8 church to reach its Jerusalem.”

Cutrer can’t underestimate the importance of being involved in churchplanting. For him, starting churches was not just a “nice option,” he said. “It was atthe very core of Moffett Road Baptist Church’s future, of how close we were goingto stay to God and how much we were going to see God work here.” OM

Churches Birthed, Churches Assisted by SBOM and NAMB

During the past several years, because of a joint funding agreement between the Alabama Baptist StateBoard of Missions (SBOM) and the North American Mission Board (NAMB), the Alabama Baptistcongregations listed below received assistance as new churches started in our state. The help to thesechurches was given in the form of a grant to assist new churches and/or assistance with the pastor's salary.

Thanks to all Alabama Baptists who gave generously through the Cooperative Program and to the AnnieArmstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions. Because of you, these churches were assisted intheir beginning months and years. Today they continue to reach people for Christ throughout Alabama. OM

ASSOCIATION CHURCH LOCATION ETHNICITYAutauga First Posey Cross Roads Prattville AngloBessemer Mountainview McCalla Anglo

The Church at Ross Station Bessemer AngloBirmingham Agape Pinson African-Amer.

Christ For the Nations Birmingham African-Amer.Iglesia Cristiana Agape Birmingham LanguageLiving Faith Birmingham African-Amer.New Beginnings Birmingham African-Amer.

toen,

st

Kevin CastleberryPastor, Celebration Baptist Church

Ric CampPastor, Sonrise Baptist Church

continued on page 6


onemissionthegreatcommissiononemissionthegreatcommissiononemissiontheg

Birmingham, cont. People's Church at Oak Mountain Hoover AngloRehobeth Birmingham African-Amer.

Calhoun CrossRoads Wellington AngloChilton Primera Iglesia Hispania Clanton LanguageChoctaw New LIfe Gilbertown AngloCoffee Lighthouse Bible Enterprise African-Amer.

Church on the Circle Enterprise AngloColumbia Dothan Country Fellowship Dothan Anglo

St. James Dothan African-Amer.East Liberty Cornerstone Cusseta AngloElmore Hispanic Mission of Riverside Heights Tallassee Language

Journey Church Millbrook AngloEscambia New Beginnings Flomaton AngloEtowah Cross Creek Hokes Bluff Anglo

Heritage Southside AngloPrimera Iglesia Bautista Mission Gadsden Language

Friendship Crossroads Warrior AngloHispanic Mission Oneonta LanguageTrinity Hayden Anglo

Limestone First Hispanic Mission Athens LanguageMadison Celebration New Market Anglo

Christ Community Huntsville African-Amer.Cornerstone Boaz AngloKorean First Madison Huntsville LanguageLegacy Huntsville AngloThe Fellowship of Faith Huntsville African-Amer.The Well Huntsville Anglo

Marion Mission Primera Iglesia Bautista Hamilton LanguageMarshall Cowboy Church Albertville Anglo

Faith Rock Arab AngloGrace Grant AngloLa Primera Iglesia Bautista Albertville LanguageLifepoint Albertville AngloSolid Rock Albertville AngloTrading Post Woodville AngloVictory Guntersville Anglo

Mobile Bay Baptist Grand Bay AngloCelebration Semmes AngloForest Hills Mobile African-Amer.Shalom Mobile AngloSonrise Mobile Anglo

Montgomery Mission Hispana Bautista de Eastern Hills Montgomery LanguageAll Nations Montgomery Language

Morgan Agape Decatur African-Amer.Light of Life Decatur AngloUnity Decatur Anglo

North Jefferson High Point Warrior AngloNew Beginnings Graysville Anglo

Pickens Covenant of Peace Ethelsville African-Amer.Pine Barren Christian Way Camden African-Amer.Russell Beaver Creek Phenix City AngloSalem Troy Pocosin Troy African-Amer.

Life Bridge Troy AngloShelby Clearwater Birmingham Anglo

Celebration Birmingham AngloChelsea Village Birmingham AngloCrossway Pelham African-Amer.Hope Community Helena AngloLighthouse Harpersville AngloMountain Valley Montevallo AngloMountainview Chelsea AngloNew Direction Montevallo African-Amer.New Life Calera AngloNorth Shelby Vietnamese Birmingham LanguagePerimeter Point Alabaster AngloSeven Springs Calera AngloSouth Chelsea Helena AngloSunrise Alabaster Anglo

Tuscaloosa New LIfe Centreville AngloNorthside Berry AngloNorth River Tuscaloosa AngloFilipino Globe Mission Brent LanguagePraise Cottondale AngloSouthridge Duncanville AngloThe Lighthouse Tuscaloosa Anglo

Tuskegee Lee Journey Church Auburn AngloNorth Ridge Auburn Anglo

West Cullman Crosshaven Hanceville AngloNew Freedom Cullman Language

Winston Primera Iglesia Bautista Mission Haleyville Language

continued from page 5

tpoatpAdASGsmedSMAemAeieeot

w


missionthegreatcommissiononemissionthegreatcommission

Alabama Baptists coveredthe state withprayer, copiesof the Gospeland invitationsto church aspart of AcrossAlabamaduring March.According toSammyGilbreath,statemissionary andevangelismdirector for theState Board ofMissions,Alabama Baptists requestedenough materials to reachmore than 980,000 homes inAlabama. “The Across Alabamaevangelism effort has beenincredible,” Gilbreath said. “Theexcitement is beyondexplanation, but the anticipationof having this state seeded withthe Gospel is another joy all by

itself. This seeding will produceharvests for months to come.”

Across Alabama is the first plannedemphasis in GPS (God’s Plan for Sharing), a10-year effort to have every believer sharingand everyone hearing the Gospel by 2020.Following the prayerwalking and Gospeldistribution, evangelistic worship serviceswere held in churches across the state onEaster Sunday. In the weeks since, churcheshave been following up with those who visitedby making personal contacts and visits.

Participating in Across Alabama hasencouraged many churches to conduct similarevangelistic efforts in the future. “There isgrowing excitement now from churches thatplan to do this again related to their VBS inearly summer,” Gilbreath said. “This willprovide another way to get the Gospel out andinvite people to participate in a local VBS wherewe know we have more decisions for Christ thanany other evangelism event.”

Future GPS-related evangelistic emphases arescheduled for 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020.

For more information about GPS and AcrossAlabama, visit www.GreatCommissionGPS.com. OM

Seeding the State with the GospelACROS

S

ALABAMA

The Great Commission

www.alsbom.org

7

spring 2010


8

woneMission

Twelve missionaries,appointed by the North AmericanMission Board (NAMB), servethroughout the state assistingAlabama Baptist churches andassociations in fulfilling the GreatCommission.

Under a cooperativeagreement, the State Board ofMissions and NAMB providejoint funding for these GreatCommission servants, thanks togifts of Alabama Baptists throughthe Cooperative Program and theAnnie Armstrong Easter Offering.

Pray that as needs are metand the Gospel is shared thatthese missionaries will continueto reach people for Christthroughout our state. OM

Nate DiehlBaldwin

AssociationResort Missionary

Sammy CampbellBirmingham AreaChurch Planting/Afr. Amer.

Cary Hanks has beenliterally a God-send forHispanic work in centralAlabama. He has done atremendous job of beinga catalyst for new workamong Spanish-speakingpeoples. He has builtrelationships withindividuals, helped initiateparticular works, investedhimself in Bible studies,worked on churchplanting and gotten atraining institute up andrunning so the nativeSpanish speakers canbecome prepared toserve in their churches.— HUGH RICHARDSON,associational missionary,Shelby Baptist Association

God’s hand is uponRamon Rivas.Hundreds ofHispanics have cometo Christ as Saviorunder his personalwitness. Hundredsmore have beenwon to Christ bythose that Ramonhas discipled. TenHispanic-speakingchurches have beenplanted throughnorthwest Alabama.— MARK GALLUPS,associationalmissionary, MarionBaptist Association

WhdidwointeenlEnggrohashascomthemoproto cas uRobrelacoominexeMa

APPOINTEDNAMBMISSIONARIES: ON MISSIONWITH THE GREATCOMMISSION

Cary HanksCentral AlabamaChurch Planting/Hispanic

Ramon RivasNorthwest Alabama

Church Planting/Hispanic


9

spring 2010www.alsbom.org

John GunterSouth Alabama


John YiMontgomery Area

Church Planting/Asian

Joycelyn CarrellRussell Association

Baptist Center Director

Grace McGrawBirminghamAssociation

Baptist Center Missionary

John Thomas is atrue asset in everyway for ourchurches and thegood folks of ourcounty. Heoversees our twoservice centers thatprovide assistanceto the needy bygiving food,clothing and utilityaid. He is thecoordinator for 25-30 World Changersprojects that wehost every July.John’s leadershipfor VBSpreparation, churchplanting, summermissionaries andmany other tasksare evidence of hisvalue to all of us.— SID NICHOLS,director of missions,Calhoun BaptistAssociation

Ed Ables has a strong passion for this work fromhis years of experience as missionary and pastor.He directs and serves as lead teacher for theHispanic Institute which prepares students forministry. Ed's duties include guiding newwork/church planting, assisting coalition churchesin developing Hispanic missions awareness andguiding pastors and laypersons in leadershiptraining. — GARY CARDWELL, associationalmissions director, Etowah Baptist Association

Joycelyn Carrell came to Russell Baptist Associationover 30 years ago and has given excellent leadershipas our community minister. She has developed fooddistribution for so many in our area. Joycelyn teachesand provides classes in many areas for students andadults. She is loved and respected by our associationand our community. — WAYNE BURNS, director ofmissions, Russell Baptist Association

While in Madison Association, John Yidid a great job in establishing andworking with several Korean andinternational congregations and inenlisting leadership and startingEnglish as a Second Language (ESL)groups in several of the churches. Hehas been a good employee. Rob Peavyhas done a great job as church andcommunity ministries leader overthese past eight years. He has led in amost successful World Changersprogram and has led local volunteersto complete projects through the yearas unfinished by the World Changers.Rob has done an outstanding jobrelating to local organizations incoordinating efforts of communityministries. — HAROLD SELLERS,executive director of missions,Madison Baptist Association

Ed AblesNortheast Alabama


John ThomasCalhoun

AssociationMinistry Evangelism

Ricky MilfordCoosa RiverAssociation

Church Planting/Deaf

Rob PeavyMadison

AssociationMinistry Evangelism


w

When most people look atAlabama's Gulf Coast, they seebeautiful beaches and lush golfcourses. What Nate and AliciaDiehl see is a huge mission field.

And rightly so. More than 1.3 million people visitthe Alabama Gulf Coast every year1, making it an ideallocation for sowing seeds of the Gospel. While much of the work occurs during summer, ministry takes place year-round, including spring break, Shrimpfest in October and ministry to snowbirds throughout thewinter.

“It's an exciting place to serve,” said Nate Diehl,who, along with his wife Alicia, directs BarefootBelievers, the resort ministry of Baldwin BaptistAssociation. “We get the opportunity to both reachpeople for Christ and also to encourage believers.”

Resort ministry is an integral partof Baldwin Association's strategy tofulfill the Great Commission, saidRick Barnhart, director of missions forthe association. He noted, “As a resultof the day camps in just one of the RVparks last summer, four young peoplecame to know Christ,” plus at leastnine more decisions were recordedfrom other summer activities. Diehladded that at least 27 professions offaith were made at the last twoShrimpfests.

The ministry is coordinated through the BaldwinBaptist Association and funded jointly by the State

Board of Missions and the North American MissionBoard, making it truly a cooperative effort. ManyAlabama Baptist churches are actively involved in theministry, assisting with worship services, providingresources and volunteering time at special events.

For the past two years, a senior adult team fromFirst Baptist Church of Alabaster has participated inShrimpfest, offering crafts activities for children andstaffing a prayer request table. “It's given our senioradults confidence to say, ‘I can go on a mission trip, Ican speak and witness for the Lord, I can tell then whatHe's done for me, I can pray for them,’” said MikeByars, the church’s minister of senior adults andpastoral care.

Summer is especially busy, and the ministry reliesheavily on summer missionaries and volunteer missionteams from around the country. Ministry activities ofteninclude leading worship services at condominiums andcampgrounds, distributing water and Scripture on thebeach, planning and hosting family nights at RV parksand operating day camps and Backyard Bible Clubs.

Barnhart noted that if it were not for churches' giftsthrough the Cooperative Program and to the AnnieArmstrong Easter Offering for North AmericanMissions, “we would not be able to accomplish thesethings.”

Vacationers aren't the only ones impacted by theministry. It affects the missionaries also. “This is amission experience that has changed my life forever. I will forever see people differently,” said JenniferWhite, who served as a summer missionary in GulfShores in 2009. “When I go back home, I need to keep that fire and keep sharing the Word like I've been doing here.” OM

12008-2009 Visitor Profile, Alabama Gulf Coast Convention& Visitors Bureau, prepared by Evans-Klages, Inc.

RESORT MINISTRIES barefoot believersbarefoot believers

10

VAT

eMthw

teaahs

reclec

fmsre

dinm

mwArewBtoc

MS

D

oneMission


11


n

ss

VOLUNTEERS SPRING INTOACTION FOLLOWINGTORNADOES

Several tornadoes struck Alabama on Saturdayevening, April 25, causing extensive damage inMarshall, DeKalb and Walker Counties. By dawnthe next morning, assessment and response teamswere on site to provide assistance to victims.

In the days following, cleanup and recoveryteams and feeding teams (along with chaplaincyand administration personnel) from severalassociations were hard at work in the areas,helping residents put their lives back together whilesharing with them the hope found in Jesus Christ.

By the first week in May, more than 300 disasterrelief volunteers had been put to work. The teams hadcompleted 92 jobs, served more than 20,000 meals andled at least 14 people to the Lord through 137 ministrycontacts of prayer and counseling for victims.

Several churches opened their doors for ministryfollowing the storms. First Baptist Church, Geraldine,made its building available to the community as ashelter as well as to the Red Cross and state disasterrelief teams as a headquarters for work in its town.

Similarly First Baptist Church, Albertville, became adisaster relief headquarters for Alabama Baptists servingin the area, hosting feeding and chainsaw crews formuch of the week following the storm.

On April 29, the disaster relief headquarters wasmoved to Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Albertville,which also housed the Red Cross. LifePoint Church,Albertville, led efforts in feeding the primarily Hispanicresidents of Westgate Mobile Home Park in Albertville,while Cowboy Church, Albertville, with the help of FirstBaptist Church, Boaz, provided hundreds of meals dailyto other Albertville residents. (The Alabama Baptistcontributed to this report.)

ALABAMABAPTISTS ADOPTJACMEL, HAITI,FOR RELIEFWORK

Following a trip to Haitito assess needs, State

Missionary Mel Johnson, disaster relief strategist for theState Board of Missions, announced that Alabama

Baptists have adopted the area of Jacmel for relief work.Jacmel is about 2-1/2 hours from Port-au-Prince. TheGlobal Missions Office has posted several Haiti reliefprojects on the State Board’s website for AlabamaBaptists to consider. The projects cover a variety ofareas, including construction, prayerwalking, medicalmissions, water purification, women’s and children’sministries, and evangelism. As assessments continue tobe made, more projects will be posted.

To learn about the available projects, visitwww.alsbom.org/haiti or contact Ministry AssistantAngie Williams, [email protected], or 1-800-264-1225, ext. 373. The web page also provides informationabout how to make donations to help in the relief effort.

ALABAMABAPTISTS SEND8,300BUCKETS OFHOPE TO HAITI

In March, Alabama Baptists donated more than8,300 Buckets of Hope at nine collection points aroundthe state. Those buckets will provide approximately250,000 meals for Haitians devastated by the January 12earthquake. Attached to each bucket is a label inEnglish, Creole and French that tells Haitians that thebuckets are a “gift of love from Southern Baptists.”More than 132,000 buckets were collected nationwideand are being sent to Haiti in staggered shipments overseveral months. OM

Disaster Relief News


12

oneMission w

Lance looked down the road from the BaptistBuilding and saw a school where needs existed andwhere the school’s leadership expressed a positiveopenness to a relationship through the local Partners inEducation organization.

A partnership was formed between the SBOM staffand W. R. Harrison Elementary School, located a milewest of the Baptist Building in Montgomery, and since1999, the State Board’s Executive Committee hasannually reaffirmed the partnership.

Emily Walker, Harrison’s principal since 2004,describes the partnership as “exceedingly wonderful,”and Lance calls it “delightful and productive.” He adds,“Dr. Walker and her faculty have become a part of ourBoard family.”

After Rick Lance moved to his new ministrypost as state missionary and executive director in1998, he began thinking about ways the StateBoard of Missions (SBOM) staff might engagewith its local community in hands-on ministryand a positive witness. He didn’t have to go far.

Christy Hicks Jake Duke

Eaw

opc

acfr

rlies

faleaf

WBta

pctiis

Epcfin

th

PROUD TO PARTNER10 Years of Partnership withMontgomery’s W. R.Harrison

Elementary School


13


Emily Walker, Harrison’s principal since 2004, describes the partnershipas “exceedingly wonderful,” and Lance calls it “delightful andwonderful.”

Staff membershave beenpersonallyinvolved in thepartnership in avariety of ways.They haveparticipated intutoring

opportunities, reading initiatives, campus beautificationprojects and special assemblies. They have donatedclassroom supplies and sponsored an essay contest.

Each year, the staff conducts a Christmas party at the school in the form of two half-hour assemblies,complete with caroling, goodie bags and a visit from Santa.

Dessert auctions and other fundraisers are heldregularly with the proceeds going to purchase items like reading materials, video cameras, computerequipment, academic incentive ribbons and buttons forstudents, and even a popcorn machine for special events.

The SBOM staff has also provided special guests for assemblies over the years, including Miss Alabamaand the Zambian Vocal Group. High on the list, at least for the faculty and staff, are the weekly snacks and occasional lunches the State Board staff provides for them.

But the most important element of the partnership,Walker says, is prayer. The school is on the StateBoard’s daily prayer list, and many staff members havetaken part in prayerwalks on the campus.

“We are so proud to have this kind ofpartnership with such wonderful, dedicated,committed Christians,” Walker declared. “In thistime of shortages, loss of funding and budget cuts, itis such a blessing.”

Being one of Harrison Elementary’s Partners inEducation fits right into one of the State Board’spurposes to make a positive difference in thecommunity, while also allowing them to be a modelfor churches around the state of how they can beinvolved with their local schools.

In addition, Alabama WMU has participated inthe partnership alongside SBOM staff.

Like any true partnership, the benefits flow bothways. “The students are special to us,” Lance said.“They have worshipped with us and led us in worshipon several occasions. I am grateful for this opportunityfor us to interact in such positive ways.”

That interaction has taken many forms. For instance,the Harrison Honor Choir has sung for several StateBoard staff events, students have spoken in chapelservices and student art has been displayed at the Baptist Building.

The partnership has also allowed local churches toassist the school. On a recent Saturday, 100 youth andtheir leaders from East Memorial Baptist Church inPrattville spent four hours at Harrison, beautifying thecampus as part of a DiscipleNow service project. Theyworked in flower beds, painted, pressure washed, fixedbikes that had been donated to the school, cleaned outstorage rooms, picked up trash on the grounds andscrubbed the school sign in front of the school, whilelearning the value of serving others.

Shirley Browder, the school’s literacy coach, hascoordinated the partnership for Harrison from thebeginning. After 38 years teaching (14 at Harrison), sheis retiring this month and she’ll be missed not only bythe school but by the State Board staff.

“I really do not have words to express theimportance of the partnership and what it has done forthis school and for me as a person,” Browder stated.“You have truly given of yourselves to enrich the livesof our children, parents and teachers.” OM


14

JU3-7-9-

1114

141518202021

212224

2730

JU45-5-9-9-12

1212

121215

151516

19

14

oneMission w

DA

VIS

DA

VIS I often refer to my ministry journey as an Abrahamic

story. I secured a job after college with the City ofMontgomery finance department. When God called me intothe ministry, I had to decide whether to keep the job or goto seminary. I chose Southern Baptist TheologicalSeminary, Louisville, Ky.

I left my job and found myself in this strange city. There was nohousing on campus. I slept on the floor of a classmate for three weeks.But I trusted God to make a way.

Later I found an apartment that a soldier, activated to an overseasassignment, left along with three rooms of furnishing and accessories.

After two years in seminary, I was called to serve as pastor of amission church in Tompkinsville, Ky., sponsored by a white Baptistcongregation. I served there eight years.

In retrospect, the ministry there was on a small scale of what would happen on a larger scale later in my ministries in Selma and with the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.

The journey of my life ministries has taken on three areas: 1) racial reconciliation among all ethnic groups, 2) African-American church leadership and training with churches, associations and conventions, involving

Vacation Bible School and a variety ofworkshops, and 3) African-American churchplanting and development.

Remarkably the number of African-American congregationsaffiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention increased fromnine to 73 during the past 12 years.

During my ministry at the State Board of Missions, I’ve had the privilege of coordinating the Inter-Baptist Fellowship Committee,which in earlier years was led and nurtured by men such as H. O.Hester and Billy Nutt.

Each year, the committee along with the State Board of Missionssponsors the annual Human Relations Conference at Shocco Springs.The event once focused on issues between blacks and whites.

During recent years, I’ve led the effort to expand the variety ofethnic groups involved each year. Today there are 12 regionalsubcommittees throughout the state that work toward racialreconciliation among all groups.

The Bible teaches that the practice of Christians loving one another is not an option. Indeed it is our Lord’s command (John 13:34)as all Christians are called in unity to be the body of Christ (Eph. 4:25, 4:1-6, Col. 1:8). OM

MEET YOUR STATE MISSIONARY

RONALD DAVIS


15

2 01 0 CALENDARLOOKING AHEAD

JUNE9-12 Children in Action Missions Camp (girls &

boys completing 2nd-6th grades), WorldSong11-14 Student Life Youth Camp #4, Shocco14-18 Girls’ Missions Camp (girls completing

3rd-6th grades), WorldSong14-18 Student Life Youth Camp #5, Shocco15-16 Southern Baptist Convention, Orlando, Fla.18-19 Mom & Daughter Missions Camp, WorldSong20 Father’s Day20 Baptist Men’s Day21-24 Christian Women’s Job Corps/Christian Men’s

Job Corps Coordinator Training, Baptist Building, Montgomery

21-25 Girls’/Youth Girls’ Missions Camp, WorldSong22 Church Policies, Baptist Building, Montgomery24-26 Lad & Dad, RA/Challenger Camp, Marshall

Baptist Association Camp, Guntersville27 Citizenship & Religious Liberty Sunday30-7/5 RockSolid Tour

JULY4 Independence Day5-9 Girls’/Youth Girls’ Missions Camp, WorldSong5-10 Camp Shocco for the Deaf, Shocco9-10 Children’s Choir Summit, Shocco9-10 Mom & Daughter Missions Camp, WorldSong12-14 Girls’ Missions Mini Camp (girls completing

2nd-6th grades), WorldSong12-15 RA/Challenger Camp #1, Shocco12-16 Super Summer Alabama, Samford University,

Birmingham12-16 ReMix Worship Arts Camp, Shocco12-16 Mix456 Worship Arts Camp, Shocco15-17 Crusader RA & Dad Ropes Course Camp #1,

Shocco15-17 Lad & Dad RA Camp #1, Shocco15-17 Mom & Me Missions Mini Camp, WorldSong16-17 Youth Evangelism Conference (YEC), Pete

Hanna Center, Samford University, Birmingham

19-23 Girls’ Missions Camp (girls completing 3rd-6th grades), WorldSong

20-23 Leader Lab, Baptist Building, Montgomery

22-24 Lad & Day RA Camp #2, Shocco22-24 Lad & Mom RA Camp, Shocco23-24 WMU & Women’s Leadership Equipping and

Enrichment, Shocco25 Read The Alabama Baptist Sunday 26-28 Dad & Me Missions Mini Camp, WorldSong26-29 RA/Challenger Camp #2, Shocco29-31 Lad & Dad RA Camp #3, Shocco29-31 Crusader RA & Dad Ropes Course Camp #2,

Shocco

AUGUST1 Social Issues Sunday3 Communicating Truth and Building

Community, Northside, Selma6-7 Baptist Men’s State Softball Tournament,

Lagoon & Fain Parks, Montgomery6-7 Sunday School Leader Training I, Shocco7 Marksmanship Challenge, Southern

Sportsman Lodge, Tyler8-13 Collegiate Week, Glorieta, New Mexico13-14 Sunday School Leader Training II, Shocco17 Enhancing Your Church’s Image: Building and

Grounds, Baptist Building, Montgomery17 Communicating Truth and Building

Community, Pleasant Grove, Moulton19 Gulf Coast Essential Church Conference,

Fairhope First19 Communicating Truth and Building

Community, Opelika First21 Making the Sunday School Connection

Regional Conferences, Lindsay Lane, Athens; Dauphin Way, Mobile

24 Communicating Truth and BuildingCommunity, Ino, Kinston

26-28 Missions University, Shocco28 Making the Sunday School Connection

Regional Conference, Trussville First

spring 2010

Events at the Baptist Building in Montgomery are at 2001 E. South Blvd.

To access more information about these events, visitwww.alsbom.org and click on Upcoming Events.

www.alsbom.org

o

d


Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDMontgomery, AL

Permit No. 441

Alabama Baptist ConventionSTATE BOARD OF MISSIONS

RICK LANCE Executive Director-TreasurerP.O. Box 11870 • Montgomery, AL 36111-0870


one mission magazine, spring 2010

Documents

alabama baptistshave

gifts of alabama baptists

state board of missions

unreached peoplein alabama

mission magazine

church plantinginitiative

beloved state

local congregations