The Wright Word
July-August 2007

Summer outreach events

Experiencing a summer slump? July and August are excellent months to provide at least one outreach or back to school event. Require members to bring a non-member in order to attend. Provide excellent follow-up. These events can be very inexpensive, including Movie night (or afternoon), a sports clinic, day camp, concert, bicycle rodeo (obstacle course and safety class), half day tutoring in math, English, or Science, or even paintball at Camp Whispering Pines. Our evangelistic party trailers are available to those who have completed the training.  Contact Dr. Dave Hudson for more ideas and training options.

Not by works

Stan Guthrie, in his book, Missions in the Third Millennium writes that 52% of American adults believe that all good people will go to heaven, regardless of their beliefs (p.44). This is another example of human opinion replacing the truth of God’s word. Eph. 2:8-9 becomes an important verse to refute such error. The only way to spend eternity with Jesus is to ask the Holy Spirit to enter our life and transform us into Holy disciples.

Seafarer’s Ministry Update

Our MBA International Ministries continue to reach language-culture people visiting and living in Mobile. Dr. Bobby Morton and an excellent team of volunteers have been visiting the Captain and crews on ships in the port of Mobile and Theodore. We continue to host about 30 seafarers each night, three nights a week. These seafarers have been on the ships for weeks or months, so we also take them to Walmart and other stores. Visitors to the International Ministry Center have commented on the new computers, fresh paint, cleanliness of the facility, and the extensive repairs and that are being made.

Please contact Dr. Morton or me to schedule a time for your youth, senior adults, or other local ministry/missions teams to visit, work or serve in the Ministries Center. We are looking for volunteers and donations to paint the exterior of the building.

Search for a new IMC Missionary

Please be in fervent prayer for the Lord to call our new missionary director for the IMC. This missionary position is jointly funded through the MBA, the Alabama State Board of Missions and the North American Mission Board. They have already begun helping us locate and evaluate resumes. The Personnel Committee and the International Missions Committee are involved in the process. You can look at the job description at www.mobilebaptists.org.

Farewell to brother Ebenezer de Souza

Brother Ebenezer left us May 31 after serving for 14 years at the International Ministries Center. It took two people to replace him! The Executive Committee has approved our new full time MBA Building and Grounds Engineer and a new full time assistant director position who is an appointed US/C2 missionary. The additional missionary position brings NAMB supplemental funding and insurance so we are able to provide both positions with no bottom line impact to the MBA budget.

Welcome Don Haden as new Building and Grounds Engineer

Brother Don Haden has joined the MBA staff as our new Building and Grounds Engineer. He is already doing a superb job helping to repair and maintain the IMC and MBA buildings and grounds. Don is a deacon at FBC Grand Bay and a Gideon.

Families on Mission coming to Mobile Sept 29-Oct 4

The North American Mission Board has chosen Mobile as one of their four 2007 “Families on Mission” sites. This new mission option allows up to 50 families to visit and minister in the community. They will stay at CWP and help us with outreach events.

Alabama State Baptist Convention and Crossover November 9-14

Mobile will host our Baptist Partners from across the state this fall. We are beginning plans for Crossover events across the County.

Responding to the RaceWay and Thyssenkrupp steel mill

The Lord is bringing new opportunities to make an eternal difference in Mobile County. Saraland churches have already begun planning for evangelistic ministry when the Motorsports raceway is completed. We also have several MBA churches that are in position to minister to the builders and employees of the new steel mill. The opportunities are intimidating but we can respond as we continue to serve together to respond to the needs.

In the Lamb,

Bro. Thomas