The Wright Word
November-December 2005
In Luke 18:1, Jesus reminds his followers that “men always ought
to pray and not lose heart” (NKJV). It is easy to allow the things screaming for
our attention to steal away our daily time of prayer and Bible study.
Christians, particularly leaders, should never go to bed without doing something
eternal.
150th Celebration a Great Success
Thank you to those who made time in their busy schedules to support our MBA
Annual Meeting. Ask anyone who was there to describe the prevailing sense of
unity and anticipation for the future. Comments included: “Felt more like a
revival than a business meeting,” “We are excited about the future of the MBA,”
“I didn’t know the association does all that,” “Made me want to help get our
church more involved in the great things we are doing together in the County.”
Thank you to FBC Tillman’s Corner and Pastor Greg Pouncey for the superb job
hosting the meeting and providing the excellent meals. Thank you to the Annual
Meeting Committee, chair Roy Stebbins and staff liaison Chuck Davis for crafting
the day’s events.
Want to Host the ‘06, ‘07, or ‘08 Annual Meeting?
The Planning Committee is looking for host churches so we can begin planning
these Annual Meetings and inviting speakers. Please let me know if we can meet
at your place as we continue to work creatively toward inspirational and
information Annual Meetings for these dates: October 19, 2006, October 18, 2007,
and October 16, 2008.
Annual Report
Take a look at the MBA Annual Session reports to see the extent and variety of
ministries that you make possible through the MBA. Did you know:
that we had already had over 215 decisions at Camp Whispering Pines before it was closed due to storm damage?
that our International Language School has over 165 Mobile County students registered to study English in a Christian environment and hear the gospel?
that the International Ministries Center has hosted over 2000 seafarers?
that we commissioned our first coalition of churches to begin an African American Church in the Moffett Road area?
that we have prioritized 13 of the 42 areas that need new churches in Mobile County?
that the MBA is building a second evangelistic party trailer to help churches provide evangelism events in the community?
that we elected a new Prayer Committee?
DOM
Annual Report
Please take a look at the first pages of the blue section of the book of reports
for a copy of my report. Contact the Associational Office, 661-7111, to get your
copy of the book of reports.
Hurricane Katrina Report
Rick Lance, Executive Director for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions
commented in our Annual Session that “Your associational staff sets a gold
standard for associations across Alabama and the Gulf Coast. They have worked
tirelessly to help churches and pastors recover from Katrina.” Please be sure to
let Chuck, Carol and Dave know how much you appreciate their extra long hours on
behalf of our churches. The MBA is blessed to have James and Janette Petty as
Campers on Mission Volunteers. They have helped us process more than 2000
volunteers for roofing, sheetrock, mud out and chainsaw work in Mobile County.
This has been a massive effort to discover, assess, and respond to the damages
in 101 of our 104 churches, dozens of church staff homes, and all three MBA
facilities. Multiple churches have done an incredible job hosting volunteer
teams for the MBA: College Park, Georgetown, Government Street, FBC Grand Bay,
FBC Irvington, FBC Semmes, Sage Avenue, Shiloh, FBC St Elmo, West Mobile, and
Friendship.
How Can You Help in Ongoing Katrina Relief? When you have a team of volunteers
ready to serve, please call Brother James at the MBA office with a date you are
available and the type of project you are willing to undertake. He will usually
assign your team about two days before the date they are available. The priority
assignments change daily based on the number of volunteers, their skill levels,
and availability of materials. Priority needs at the moment are roofers
(comfortable on up to 6/12 roofs), sheet rock hangers and finishers. We still
are periodically finding needs for chain saw work and mud out.
We Need Your Updated Work Requests
Please contact the Associational Office to receive a work request form. This
will help us keep up with work projects that still need to be done in your
church, your pastor’s house or your staff member’s houses. We will assign
available volunteer teams to make any needed repairs and help you save labor
costs. We do not always hear back from the volunteer teams that are sent out so
we do not know if they completed your assignment or not. We have numerous teams
that want to come, please allow them the blessing of helping restore our
churches and staff homes.
Getting Ready for Next Time
Please enlist a Disaster Relief Coordinator in your church and let us know who
it is. Please send interested people to MBA Disaster Relief Training. Please
build and host the needed trailers for our MBA Disaster Relief Fleet. Please
consider preparing your church facilities for the next event: add a generator,
showers, and space for indoor camping so you can serve immediately as a comfort
station, distribution center, evacuee shelter or host volunteer teams coming in
to help. Please provide the MBA office with your cell phone number so we can
contact you to assess damage and respond ASAP.
We are working on getting a generator and shutters at the MBA office so we will
be open immediately to receive your damage reports/work requests. The MBA office
will begin immediately to coordinate untrained but skilled volunteers to help
churches and staff members get back to ministry as soon as possible. The MBA
office will also help coordinate shipments of materials to churches that will
serve as comfort stations, distribution centers, feeding centers, and hosting
volunteer groups if we know how to help you.
Electronic Versions of Newsletter and Announcements?
Please email rec@mobilebaptists.org
if you would like to be added to an electronic version of the newsletter and
receive periodic announcements about our ministers’ meetings and training
opportunities.
Adopt-A-Church
The North American Mission Board created a process for churches to adopt a
church impacted by Hurricane Katrina. More than 1500 churches responded
nationwide and over 200 requested to help churches in Mobile County. That means
that every MBA church can accept a partner church and still leave room for some
churches to accept several partners. The State Board of Missions did a
tremendous job with the first wave of assignments. The assignment process moved
to the MBA office last week.
Many of these churches are willing to help us with evangelistic ministry in our
communities in addition to construction help. They can send teams to help you
minister to the families impacted in your community. I believe that every MBA
church would benefit from a partner church to work alongside your people in
backyard Bible clubs, prayer walks, door to door outreach, and refurbishing
aging facilities. Many of our churches will experience significant financial
struggles as members spend limited funds on repairs and direct ministry. Some
partners are willing to help financially. Every MBA church needs to be
conducting needs surveys in the community to let Mobile County know that we are
here to help physically and spiritually. Please let Brother James or I know if
you do not have a partner and want one.
In the Lamb,
Brother Thomas