Please allow me the opportunity to introduce myself. I am Lamar Duke, the new Lead Church Planting Strategist with the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions. It is a joy to be one of your Alabama Baptist state missionaries. It is also a privilege to be back in my home state.
I grew up in Cullman County and moved away 40 years ago to follow the Lord’s leadership in His ministry. I never thought He would let me come home again, but here we are. It is such a blessing! My first 25 years of ministry were spent as a pastor in Alabama, Louisiana, New Jersey and Georgia. My first pastorate was at Little River Baptist Church in Monroe County, Ala. I am a graduate of the University of Mobile and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. I have been immersed in church planting for the past 17 years – first as a planter outside Savannah, Ga., second as a director of missions in Pittsburgh, Pa., and third as the state director of missions with the Baptist Convention of New York.
It is my prayer that the things the Lord has taught me over these years of ministry will enable me to add value to the church planting efforts in the great state of Alabama and beyond. It is my passion to see the population of heaven increase and the population of hell decrease.
I am married to the love of my life, Dolly, who is also from Cullman. We have two children and six grandchildren, and are soon to have our first great-grandchild.
I have searched for good materials for years to teach what is involved when a church is interested in planting another church, from a sponsor church’s point of view. Finally, I found the “Churches Planting Churches” training. We are now bringing this training to Alabama. I believe it is the first training of its kind in the state. The full three-day training will be a part of Missions University at Shocco Springs, August 22-24. But there are four opportunities, April 24-26, to participate in an appetizer of this training regionally across Alabama, as follows:
Wednesday, April 24, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Shades Mountain Baptist Church, Vestavia Hills
Thursday, April 25, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Mount Zion Baptist Church, Huntsville
Thursday, April 25, 6-9 p.m., First Baptist Church, Montgomery
Friday, April 26, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Eastern Shore Baptist Church, Daphne
You need not make a commitment in advance to plant a church to be eligible to attend any of these trainings. They are free! These events are made possible by your gifts through the Cooperative Program. Registration is required so that we may make meal plans. To register, click here.
