The Wright Word
September-October 2005

Serving Together to Make an Eternal Difference

Please turn in your work requests for volunteer teams to do roofing, chain saw, mud out, or general repair for your church, pastor and staff houses, member houses, senior adults and widows. These are first come, first served and we need to know the need in order to help. We also have asked for volunteer prayer walk and evangelism teams to go out with your people. If we haven't used your church to house volunteer teams yet please let us know how many folks you can host for indoor camping¨ with access to a shower and kitchen.

Walk with Jesus Daily
An interesting word study is the word "walk" which the Apostle Paul uses 21 times. He reminds all believers to walk in faith, in the light, in the Spirit, worthy of the Lord, in wisdom, and in love. This is particularly true for pastors and other church leaders. Please do not let the urgent issues screaming for our attention replace our daily walk with the Lord through prayer and Bible study. We act and react (walk) differently when we walk in the Spirit.

Half of the Population of Mobile County is LOST
Research has shown that the current population of Mobile County is just over 400,000 people. Over 133,000 of them are not identified with any denomination, cult, or sect. By their own definition they are LOST. We estimate that 75,000 of those who are in religious groups are LOST. Our Mobile Baptist Association (MBA) churches will have to serve together to make an eternal difference in Mobile. The need is too big for any one church to meet alone.

150 Years and Going Strong
The MBA will celebrate our 150th anniversary of ministry on October 20th at First Baptist Church of Tillman's Corner. One of the reasons to have an Association of churches is to help coordinate our efforts throughout the county. The MBA strategy and Five Emphases are being designed to cooperatively reach the lost and grow believers in Christ-likeness.

Church Planting Coalitions
One proven way to reach the Lost is through new congregations. Our PROBE discovered over 40 areas in every part of the county that need new churches. Please begin the process of praying through and leading your congregation to join a church planting coalition. You have received the Church Planting Committee's brochure announcing our need for churches to join Church Planting Coalitions. We have one coalition already forming to begin an African American church in the Moffett Road area. We need 12 additional coalitions to begin our 12 other priority new church areas. Sponsors and co-sponsors from the largest and smallest of our churches are essential partners in reaching Mobile County. For a copy of the brochure, to have one of us come speak to your folks, or to sign up, please let me (dom@mobilebaptists.org) or Dr. Cutrer (tcutrer@moffettroad.org) know.

Evangelistic Ministries/Missions Committee Training on October 24
Another proven method is for every church to have a committee to help emphasize Evangelistic Ministries and Missions. You have heard from the MBA Evangelistic Ministries/Missions Committee about beginning and enhancing Evangelistic Ministries/Missions Committees in our churches. Our MBA churches will need to serve together to accomplish the goal of praying for and sharing Jesus with every person in Mobile County by 2012.

On October 24 we will conduct two Evangelistic Ministry/Missions Committee trainings, one from 9:30-11:30 a.m. and another from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the MBA office. Rev. Victor Benavides from the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and I will conduct the free training. Every church that sends a representative will receive a free copy of evangelism resources. Please try to send your chairperson and as many committee members as possible. Please let Dave know how many of your folks to expect, 661-7111 or rec@mobilebaptists.org.

Evangelistic Party Trailer (EPT) Training
We have had 63 folks from 35 churches learn how to use the Party Trailer for evangelistic events. The EPT has already been used a dozen times, involving over a thousand participants and resulting in multiple professions of faith. The next two trainings are Monday, September 26th from 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 6:30-8:30 p.m. Please let Dave know who is coming. We have already received EPT reservations for 2006, so please plan ahead so we can best accommodate everyone. Judging by the demand, it looks like we need at least one more EPT in the MBA. Please let me know if your church would like to sponsor the cost of a second EPT.

Intentional Community Evangelism Training on Oct 25
On October 25, Rev. Victor Benavides will lead an all-day training on Intentional Community Evangelism (ICE). This will be geared toward the gifted evangelists in your church who want to use their gifts in coordinated efforts to share Christ in Mobile County. We will create ICE teams for MBA that will be used here and in other NAMB sponsored events. Please let Dave know the number of folks coming from your church, rec@mobilebaptists.org.

Welcome our Missions Service Corp Prayer and Missions Mobilization Coordinator
We know that LOST people respond when we pray fervently and effectively. The Lord has answered our prayer for a Missions Service Corp (MSC) missionary to coordinate our Biblical Prayer Ministry. Rev. Bill McCracken will serve with us beginning September 1. He will also be serving with the State Board of Missions to promote Missions Mobilization. Bill retired this year after serving on church staff in media and missions for over 20 years. Bill is also an accomplished portrait artist. Visit www.namb.net/msc for more information about some of your people serving as MSC missionaries in the MBA.

One of Bro. Bill¡¦s first responsibilities will be to help enlist and train Prayer Coordinators in all of our churches. Please let Bill know the name of the Prayer Coordinator in your church, Macnmony@aol.com.

Biblical Prayer Committee Training on November 1
Bill and I will lead training at the MBA office for your Biblical Prayer Committee on November 1 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. OR 6:30-8:30 p.m. Every church that sends at least one representative will receive a free copy of the Resource Kit, A Prayer Guide for Associations and Churches, written several years ago by a former NAMB employee who now serves as your associational missionary. The kit has been endorsed by Henry Blackaby, Evelyn Christenson, and other prayer leaders. Please help us raise the bar on emphasizing Biblical Prayer in our churches.

Lottie Moon Emphases
Please begin soon to plan your church-wide Lottie Moon offering and Prayer for International Missions. Please encourage each church family to at least "take Lottie to lunch,¨ (give what it would cost to take Lottie and the family to lunch at a nice place). Please note the list on page ? of the International Mission Board (IMB) missionaries that are in the area this fall.

2005 MBA Budget
We are still in the black! The anticipated budget shortfall has been averted thanks to your faithful giving and the staff's careful spending based on income instead of budget. Please continue your faithful giving as we continue faithful stewardship of those funds.

2006 MBA Budget
The Budget and Finance Committee has been working hard on presenting a functional and balanced budget for the MBA ministry areas. You will receive your copy the first week of September for evaluation in the September Executive Committee meeting. The budget will be voted on at the MBA Annual Session on October 21.

2006 Church Budgets
As you plan your 2006 budget, please consider adding or increasing your Evangelistic Ministries line item as we look at serving together to pray for and share Jesus with every person in Mobile by 2012. Also, please continue to pray about adjusting your missions giving to increase the amount you give locally to the MBA. The LOSTNESS of our county requires some emphasis in Judea as well as Samaria and the Uttermost Parts.

Is Your Nose Itching?
My momma always said that you were having company when your nose itches. I have been able to visit 44 of our churches in these first 8 months. Please let me know how I can serve you and when would be a good time for me and our other MBA staff to visit. All of us continue to pray for you by name at least once a month.

In the Lamb,
Brother Thomas