Church members and pastors often receive requests from parachurch ministries asking for financial and volunteer help. Churches and individuals must practice diligent stewardship for any group they support. 

Churches need to confirm the requester’s biblical theology, church polity, financial integrity and personal accountability.  

Often, it is a disadvantage to choose parachurch ministries instead of denominational ministries. Parachurch ministries rely on churches but are NOT accountable to those churches who support them. Avoid parachurch ministries led by entrepreneurs who reject external guidelines from a church, denomination or their board. They often provide ministries that are less efficient and effective than ministries done cooperatively by denominations and churches. 

Here are seven essential guidelines before supporting a parachurch ministry or individual:

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Click on the link below for some helpful resource for Sexual Abuse Prevention:

http://www.sbc.net/churchresources/sexabuseprevention.asp

The recent documentation of extensive sexual abuse in Southern Baptist churches is shocking. For more than 20 years, the Mobile Baptist Association (MBA) has encouraged churches to perform a background check on every ministerial candidate and every worker. Consultation also advises never to have just one worker in children’s classrooms or just two from the same family.

Our MBA office makes it easier for churches by providing background checks for our churches at a nominal fee for the check. A form from the MBA would need to be submitted for the background check to be done. Lifeway also has a streamlined background check process. Visit https://www.lifeway.com/en/services/church-administration/background-checks?intcmp=SRDR-background-checks. One recent background check discovered a candidate on the Sex Offender Registry in Florida. He was immediately disqualified. The sin was forgiven, but the legal consequences remain. Another consideration for small churches is some information about juveniles under age 19 may be sealed. So past offenses may not be reported. A form for anyone under 19 would have to have parental permission and signature.  

Church leaders need to recognize the scope of the problem and take immediate steps to protect every person in the ministries of the church. This upcoming training is particularly advisable: Protecting the Children, February 26, 6:30 p.m. at the MBA office.  Click here to for more information and to register.

Visit the following link to additional resources and recommendations: https://alsbom.org/safe/.  

Dr. Ronnie Floyd, CEO and President of the SBC Executive Committee, has written a resource that will assist churches in advancing biblical stewardship. Ten Percent: A Call to Biblical Stewardship is a bible-based, theologically sound stewardship emphasis which is designed to include two resources every church can use regardless of size or location:

*   A six-week sermon series
*   A six-week curriculum for Sunday school or small groups

While the pastor preaches in the worship service that “God Is the Owner of Everything,” each of your small groups, Bible study classes and Sunday school classes teach the same. Your team of laypersons or staff can easily transfer these principles so they can be simultaneously taught to all of your students, children, and preschoolers. If you do not teach them, no one will. Everyone, at all stages of life, needs to be called to biblical stewardship.

Six Biblical Principles:

The six principles are proven. They are biblical, strategic and practical.

1.  God Is the Owner of Everything
2.  We Own Absolutely Nothing
3.  Honor God with at Least the First Ten Percent
4.  Bring the Full Ten Percent to the Church
5.  Practice Over and Above Giving
6.  Focus on the Great Commission Always

These six principles are steps to give your church members a biblical way to look at their entire lives, including the finances that God alone has entrusted to them. Each church can and should do the same.

A digital church kit is now available for FREE.

To enable congregations and pastors to better utilize this resource in the local church, we have created a digital church kit. This kit includes:

*   A pdf copy of the book which you can distribute to all in your church
*   Promotional graphics for use in your church
*   Bulletin inserts for use in your church
*   PowerPoint slides for your sermon series
*   Social media graphics to use

There is no cost to you or your church for this resource. Everything is downloadable at: SBC.net/stewardship.

Click here to view the 2021 book of reports for the Addine Maynard offering.

“Southern Baptists responded with an overwhelming majority in favor of adopting the two recommendations presented by the Sexual Abuse Task Force presented June 14 at the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting.” https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/in-its-kairos-moment-southern-baptists-approve-satf-recommendations/?fbclid=IwAR2RJdxZC7g27fR2is4EZDcO-VXRbd913agTnWcj2XXmq32siPinc0-izBQ

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Authorized and assigned by action of the 2021 Southern Baptist Convention, the Sexual Abuse Task Force now reports to the 2022 meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention the following requests and recommendations for action. On behalf of the Task Force, I move the adoption of these requests to our broader SBC family: First, with respect to Baptist polity, the Task Force addresses the following suggestions and requests to cooperating state conventions, SBC entities, and other related Baptist bodies:

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Government Street Christian School is seeking to fill a K5 position, 1st grade, and middle school math and science teacher. They prefer applicants to have earned a B.A. or B.S., or at the very least an Associate’s degree. However, for K5 and 1st, we will consider someone who has a documented experience working with young children. Above all, the applicant must be a Christian and living a confirmed Christian lifestyle. 

For those interested, please have them call our office at 251-660-7444, ext. 300, or email me at bryan.townsend@governmentstreet.org.  

Click here for Alabama’s Mandatory Reporting Law: Learning your legal obligations to reporting the signs of suspected child abuse.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, August 15, 2022
For interview requests contact: David Roach; droach229@gmail.com; 502-751-0237

Religious liberty & LGBTQ agenda draw
focus at Baptists’ meeting with Mobile mayor

MOBILE, Ala.—Mobile Southern Baptist leaders have urged Mayor Sandy Stimpson to protect religious liberty as he considers policies related to the LGBTQ community.

Six representatives from the Mobile Baptist Association (MBA) Executive Committee met with Stimpson Aug. 15, presenting him a resolution “on the LGBTQ+ agenda and religious liberty” adopted by the Executive Committee Aug. 1.

The resolution notes that Stimpson “recently appointed two individuals as LGBTQ+ liaisons” to the city, citing an AL.com article. “Liaisons who were appointed to advise officials in other cities later were given the authority to enforce ordinances and levy fines on any groups who refused to celebrate pro-LGBTQ+ ordinances and activity,” according to the resolution.

The resolution “implores” public officials “to protect religious liberty by rejecting any attempts to compromise the longstanding Judeo-Christian and biblical convictions of the majority of our citizens.”

MBA Moderator Scott Griffith, pastor of Cypress Shores Baptist Church, was among the leaders who met with Stimpson. “Our ethnically diverse group of pastors had a cordial meeting with the mayor,” he said. “We assured him of our support for any efforts to protect Mobile residents’ liberty to hold and live out biblical convictions regarding human sexuality.”

The MBA representatives who met with Stimpson were Griffith; Vice Moderator Kevin Cobb, pastor of West Mobile Baptist Church; former moderator Mack Morris, retired pastor of Woodridge Baptist Church; former moderator Charlie York, pastor of Highpoint Baptist Church in Eight Mile; MBA executive director Thomas Wright; and David Roach, pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church in Saraland.

The Mobile Baptist leaders also proposed to Stimpson a city ordinance that would prohibit “any adverse action” against individuals who have “acted in accordance with a religious, moral, scientific, or philosophical belief” that marriage is “the union of one man and one woman.”

The MBA comprises 114 churches in Mobile County that cooperate with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). The SBC’s confession of faith defines marriage as “the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime.” It adds that Christians should oppose “all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography.”

The full text of the resolution is linked here: 

http://mobilebaptists.org/images/stories/Resolution%20on%20Mobile%20LGBTQ%2B%208.1%20%28003%29.pdf

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FBC Grand Bay is prayerfully searching for our next Minister of Music/Worship Pastor. This is a bi-vocational position in a well-established SBC church who seeks to win our community to Jesus, is committed to authentic worship and believes that our music program plays a big part in each. Potential candidates should be versed in a blended style of worship that includes directing a choir and leading a praise team with a desire to build out a music program across all ages that is Christ centered. It may be noted that this position could grow into a FT position. 

Interested applicants should send a complete resume’ with references to P.O.Box 326 Grand Bay,AL 36541 attention Senior Pastor. For additional information you may call the church office at 251-865-4734.

FBC Grand Bay is prayerfully seeking a Director of Children’s Ministry/Children’s Pastor. This is a part-time position in a well-established SBC church with a heart for the children of our church and community. We believe that our children’s ministry is vital to building community in the church and making a Kingdom impact. Potential candidates should have a heart for Children ministry with a strong spirit led desire to build out a sustainable children’s ministry, be capable of building a volunteer base with some experience in teaching/directing in children’s department.

Interested applicants should send a complete resume’ with references to P.O.Box 326 Grand Bay,AL 36541 attention Senior Pastor. For additional information you may call the church office at 251-865-4734.

Executive Committee Meeting

Monday, April 10, 2023

11:30 a.m.

Government Street Baptist Church

A meal will be available for $5 p/person.

Every MBA church member is welcome. Every senior pastor is a member of the Executive Committee. Join us to help communicate why churches support Associational Missions.

• Future Focus Committee update on the sale of the International Ministries Center building
• Update from Camp Whispering Pines
• Ministry reports and training options

***Our Executive Committee has overall responsibility for the directions, strategy, and processes of the MBA. It is composed of the general officers of the Association, the Executive Officer of each of the several Associational programs, the Chair of each standing committee, the pastors of the churches, and one lay member of each church in the Association having a membership of up to and including 1,000, and one additional member for each additional 1,000 members or fraction thereof, providing that no church shall have more than a total of four members.

SUPPORT COLLEGIATE MISSIONS

Join with us to support BCM collegiate missions with a BBQ Dinner and a Baked Goods Auction that will feature some of the best bakers Mobile Baptist Churches have to offer! This year “Dinner on the Grounds” will be Friday, April 14 from 6:00 p.m. –  9:00 p.m. at the Baptist Student Center.

PASTORS, MINISTERS, AND MEN’S MINISTRIES LEADERS- WE NEED YOU!
Will you prepare some BBQ for this event? You can grill, smoke, or BBQ any meat of your choice. Smoke a Boston Butt, grill some burgers or chicken or BBQ some ribs. We also need you to invite as many of your church members to come and enjoy this great night of fellowship and missions support. Will you help us support collegiate missions? If you would, please contact Campus Minister Jerrod Brown to reserve a spot (jbrown@alsbom.org).

BAKERS- WE NEED YOU!
Will you prepare one of your famous cakes for this event? We know that every church has those great bakers who make their special desserts that everyone loves. Would you share those delicious creations with us to support collegiate missions? All we ask is that you prepare your famous baked goods, packaged it on a disposable plate or pan, and invite as many of your church members to come and bid on your dessert! Will you help us support collegiate missions? If you would, please contact Campus Minister Jerrod Brown to reserve a spot (jbrown@alsbom.org).

MINISTRY FRIENDS, PARTNERS AND ALUMNI- WE NEED YOU!
Will you purchase tickets for this event (even if you cannot attend)? We would love to have you with us for this event. Your ticket purchase will help support collegiate missions. If you would, please contact Campus Minister Jerrod Brown (jbrown@alsbom.org) for details on tickets and how to purchase them.

Airport Boulevard Baptist Church currently has openings for a receptionist and a financial secretary. Both of these are part time positions with hours of 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Contact Gerald Gattis, Chair, Personnel Committee, g71gattis@gmail.com