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The
Wright Word
December-February 2008
Responding to
Secularism
Since the first century, the secularists have never given up. Once again
they want us to purchase holiday trees and holiday cards so they remove any
influence of Christianity from the culture. Don’t let them do it! Write your
favorite stores encouraging them to acknowledge Christmas and greet each other
with Merry CHRISTmas.
Do You Have a
Church Growth Strategy for 2008?
Acts 2:47 shows the first century church grew day to day. Church GROWTH
requires a plan for growth and hard WORK from EVERY member, EVERY day!
A PLAN FOR GROWTH
begins by honestly evaluating the church’s strengths and weaknesses. Answer the
question, what kind of people (age, education, culture) will be comfortable
attending our church? What do we need to change to grow and reach our community?
Second, agree where
you want the church to be in five years and ten years. It is frightening to
realize that any church in the MBA can be dead and gone in ten years if we do
not maintain a biblical plan for growth and renewal. We need to desire to grow
as big as we CAN be, not just as big as USED to be. The church exists to reach
those who are not members yet in addition to growing the members it has already.
Third, create the
goals, events and make the changes required to get to where you need to be. The
five MBA emphases are each important for healthy consistent growth. Please
encourage your leaders to attend our Prayer and Evangelistic Ministry training
options. Become involved in the Church Planting, Church Development, and
Partnership Missions options. Let us help you lead and participate in effective
church growth.
Welcome New MBA
Member Churches
The annual session voted Ebenezer Baptist Church under full membership.
Please send welcome greetings to Pastor Rudolf Overstreet and that growing,
vibrant congregation.
Please also welcome
Pastor Arthur Barker and Grace in Life International Church under watch care of
the MBA.
These two new
African American congregations bring the number of MBA churches to 109 and the
number of African American churches to ten. Praise the Lord our Association is
growing in praying for and sharing Jesus with everyone in Mobile County.
Visit
www.mobilebaptists.org
Kelly is now updating our web page each week. Please let us know what
kind of information and communication you would like to see on the pages. Come
take a look!
Join the
Mailing List for Weekly Email News Alerts
Email Kelly Jones,
rec@mobilebaptists.org , if you would like to be added to our weekly email
news alerts.
CWP Katrina
Repairs Continue
We are getting very close to completing the new hotel at Camp Whispering
Pines (
www.campwhisperingpines.com). We have been building only as we have the
donations and we have spent all of the money that has been given to date. Please
consider a Christmas donation to the hotel fund as we continue repairing Katrina
damage. While folks are off for the holidays, please consider bringing
individuals or a skilled team to mud, paint, hang doors, lay tile, and install
electrical and plumbing fixtures. Please contact Thomas, 661-7111, or Matt,
866-7868, for more information and current needs.
Updated Guide
for New Staff and New Member Churches
We have updated an introductory guide to the ministry, resources,
strategy, and staff of the Association. Please visit the webpage and download a
copy for your new staff members or for pastor friends that are interested in
joining the MBA.
Missions
Service Corp Staff Positions Available
We are praying for the Lord to send Missions Service Corp Missionaries to
assist with Church Planting, create an MBA School of Theology, consult with
African American Congregations, and Coordinate MBA Disaster Relief.
Funding
Cooperative Missions
Cor. 16:1-4 shows Paul encouraging the early churches to budget
cooperatively to meet needs. It is definitely biblical for churches to give
financially to Associational and Cooperative Missions! Research shows that
churches that model the “tithe” to Cooperative Missions help their members to
learn to tithe.
Thank you to those
churches that have increased their percentage giving and total giving to
Associational Missions. May your tribe increase! As we move to the end of the
year please consider catch up giving if your church has missed some payments. We
work very hard to be excellent stewards of your gifts. You can be assured that
your gifts are being applied to the MBA budget and its ministries.
It is marvelous to
see the Lord working through our churches
In the Lamb,
Bro. Thomas
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