The Wright Word
March-April 2007

Beware the Roaring Lion

First Peter 5:8-9 reads: “Be sober! Be on the alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him, firm in the faith ….” (HCSB)

It is tragic when any believer allows temptation to give birth to sin. Satan is such a clever adversary. He knows that an easy way for us to fall into sin is to justify any behavior or attitude. He excels in working to cause leaders to fall, including pastors, teachers and missionaries. This is why the Bible provides such clear directions for integrity and righteousness. This is one reason that we have secular and spiritual laws to help protect us from the error that others have to follow the laws but we do not.  We must be ever on the alert. We need to be praying for each other by name.

Calling out the called

We have young people and adults in our churches that are being called by God into bi-vocational and full-time ministry. They are hearing the call of God and do not know how to respond. Include in your altar call and in your classroom prayers that God would call out harvesters, teachers, pastors, music leaders and missionaries. Give young people opportunities to talk about the call and how it applies to their life. Challenge believers to whisper or shout, “Here am I, send me.”

Calling out for renewal

We have young people and adults in our churches who have allowed the culture to compromise their walk with Jesus. Teach, preach and lead by example the biblical call to be holy and righteous.  In 1 Peter 3:10-11 Peter reminded his readers, “For the one who wants to love life and to see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit, and he must turn away from evil and do good. He must seek peace and pursue it,”(HCSB).

Calling the lost to accept Jesus

We have young people and adults in church and in our community who do not understand what it means to become a follower of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is moving in our churches. People are hearing the gospel. They see godly men and women who are different. They are not sure that there is more to a conversion than walking an aisle or being baptized. In our secular culture please never assume that a person understands what it means to become a Christian.

Welcome Bobby Morton as IMC Interim Director

The personnel committee unanimously called Dr. Bobby Morton to serve as the Interim Director of the International Ministries Center. Dr. Morton is the bivocational pastor of Shalom Baptist Church. He and Mary understand and love our international work. Bobby will help us continue to reach out to seafarers and the growing number of Internationals who now call Mobile home. We will continue moving forward with our International Language School and in providing culturally relevant worship and outreach to each language group in Mobile County.

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 under the staff directory for the IMC.

It is a joy to serve together to make an eternal difference in Mobile.

In the Lamb,

Bro. Thomas