In less than two weeks, on November 14-15, a family reunion approaches as Alabama Baptists gather at Whitesburg Baptist Church in Huntsville for the annual meeting of our State Convention.
This will be a time of inspiration, worship celebration, the proclamation of God’s Word, making strategic decisions and hearing ministry reports about how God is working through Alabama Baptists.
Much more about this special time may be found by going online to alsbom.org/convention.
The Disaster Relief 100% Promise
During the past several weeks, many have demonstrated once again their heart for ministry and generosity through giving to Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief. All funds have been and are being sent to help those impacted by the recent hurricanes.
Please know that 100 percent of all funds designated to Hurricane Relief is used entirely to help people whose lives have often been decimated by the storms. None of these funds are used for any kind of salaries, overhead or administrative costs.
While some nonprofits and charities of necessity and by practice use a percentage of donations for these type of expenses, Southern Baptists are different. Indeed, gifts through the Cooperative Program have already provided the ministry infrastructure that allows your State Board of Missions to take the point in deploying Alabama Baptist volunteers, disaster relief funds and other DR resources to places hit so hard by the hurricanes.
If you or your Alabama Baptist church would like to donate, please send a check payable to: State Board of Missions, P.O. Box 11870, Montgomery, AL 36111-0870, for: “Hurricane Relief,” or go online to SBDR.org/HurricaneRelief.
Myers-Mallory State Missions Offering
Last year, Alabama Baptists were so generous during the inaugural year of our state missions offering. More than $900,000 was given, and our goal this year is $1 million with a “Hallelujah Goal” of $1.2 million.
Even as many churches and individuals have responded generously already, I am hoping for a generous and good response as we near the end of this calendar year.
The Myers-Mallory State Missions Offering supports five strategic priorities:
• Along with Cooperative Program, Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union relies on a significant percentage of its annual support from the Myers-Mallory offering. Alabama WMU is definitely on a mission with the Great Commission alongside Alabama Baptist churches and the State Board of Missions.
• Disaster Relief provides ongoing support for the training of volunteers, maintenance, and acquisition of much-needed disaster relief equipment, and laying vital groundwork for a prompt and strong response when needed. As noted above, none of the funds for this or the strategic priorities listed below are used for overhead, salaries or other administrative costs but used entirely to prepare Alabama Baptists for quick response and deployment when natural disasters strike.
• Alabama Partnership Missions seeks to connect Alabama Baptist churches and individuals with Alabama-connected missionaries across the U.S. and around the world.
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• Church Planting efforts of Alabama Baptists work closely with local Baptist associations across our state to plant new churches that are reaching people with the Gospel, led by God-called leaders, and networked with mentors and prayer partners who can provide support and insights as a church grows to maturity.
• Church Revitalization is a key need across the Southern Baptist Convention, including in Alabama. Many of our state convention’s churches, though declining or plateaued, are being helped toward revitalization with a network of coaches who work alongside pastors through encouragement, prayer, and counsel.
For more information about the Myers-Mallory State Missions Offering, please go online to myers-mallory.org. For more information about the Cooperative Program, please contact State Missionary Jim Swedenburg at 1-800-264-1225, ext. 283, or (334) 613-2283, jswedenburg@alsbom.org.
I hope to see you in Huntsville in just a few more days!
by Dogwood