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The Mobile Baptist
March - May 2021
Volume 24 Issue 1
MBA Office Closing:
May 31 - Memorial Day
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Stay informed of news and events within the MBA by clicking here and signing up for the weekly email News Alerts.
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Ministers Conference Resumes Weekly Meetings
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The Ministers Conference has resumed weekly meetings as of January 25, 2021. All ministers are invited for a time of fellowship, devotion, and prayer. The meetings are every Monday, 10:30 a.m. at the MBA office (616 Azalea Road). Although the meetings are currently at the MBA office, the anticipation is to return to Government Street Baptist Church. Lunch is not served during the meetings. Safety precautions are in place such as masks and social distancing. If you woud like to be on the mailing list for the Ministers Conference, please email Vaughan Gardner, 1vaughangardner@gmail.com.
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Disaster Relief Training March 4-6, 2021
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Disaster Relief Training
March 4-6, 2021
Airport Boulevard Baptist Church
Certification options include:
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- Chaplaincy
- Chainsaw
- Cleanup/Recovery/Mud-out
- Shower/Laundry
- Administration
- Temporary Child Care
New volunteers may choose any option with the requirement of ISBIDR (Involving Southern Baptists in Disaster Relief). Current volunteers may take a refresher course in their current certification, or choose to cross-train in another area in order to be more readily able to serve and deploy.
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After this past year, we are painfully aware of how many people are needed to respond to the devastating effects of a hurricane, and we experienced it twice in one year!
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Executive Committee Meeting April 12, 2021
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Executive Committee Meeting
West Mobile Baptist Church
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7501 Airport Boulevard, 36608
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Social distancing and other precautions will be in place.
Participants need to wear masks.
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Or join in via Zoom if you cannot meet in person.
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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.
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- Future Focus Committee update
- Reports from the ministry areas
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***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.
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WMU/Women's Ministry Annual Celebration April 29, 2021
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WMU/Women's Ministry Annual Celebration
Thursday, April 29, 2021
6:30 p.m.
The location is TBD, but there will be in person and virtual options.
A time of sharing and celebration of what God is doing
in missions through churches.
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Look for more information to come soon.
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Secretaries/Ministry Assistants Luncheon May 13, 2021
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International Ministries News and Events
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Thank you for faithfully praying for our International Churches. As you pray for our International pastors, pray for the new pastor of Vietnamese Obedience Baptist Church, Pastor Hung Jason Bedell. Pray for him, his family, and for the church. Pastor Bedell has a vision to lead Vietnamese Obedience Baptist Church in being part of planting Vietnamese churches on the Gulf Coast. Continue to pray for the International Baptist Church (Korean) as they continue their search for a pastor.
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Under God’s leadership, we believe that we will see a Spanish language Church started in Mobile to reach the approximately 11,000-15,000 Spanish speakers. In order to call our Spanish Church Planter and to lead in beginning a Hispanic work this year, we still need to increase our financial support and provide temporary housing. Let me encourage each of our MBA Churches to faithfully and earnestly pray for the possibilities of a new Hispanic church.
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International Language School (ILS)
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The ILS plans to offer two five-week mini-terms from March - May 2021. These will be free Conversation Cafe classes. The goal is to utilize these free classes as a means of developing deeper relationships and share the love of Christ with Internationals in Mobile. Pray for the ILS! Seek the LORD about how you can serve. Teachers, administrative assistants, and hosts/hostesses are needed.
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The Seafarers’ Ministry continues to visit ships moored at the 41 different berths that make up the sprawling Port of Mobile. The goal is to minister to and share Christ with the international crews of the 1,600+ ships that come to Mobile yearly. God is answering our prayers for at least one Port Chaplain for each day of the week; so now, we are asking God to give us two Port Chaplains for each day of the week. Please contact me for more information.
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Week of Prayer for Mobile International Ministries, March 15-21
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This year the Week of Prayer for Mobile International Ministries is March 15-21, 2021. I am available to speak at your church regarding out prayer needs, but we also plan to have a PowerPoint Presentation and a short video available for your use. The Week of Prayer will begin at the Ministers Conference, Monday, March 15. Please commit to pray daily for International Ministries. Call or email for additional information.
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Introduction to International Ministries
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I would love to have five minutes to tell your church and/or church small groups about the ministry and needs of International Ministries. Call me at the MBA Office, 251-661-7111, or on my cell, 251-378-1116. You may also contact me via email, gburch@mobilebaptists.org.
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Director of International Ministries and Church Planting
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Mobile Baptist Association
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Camp Whispering Pines is available for all your groups, small and large. Contact us today at 251-866-7868.
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All Who Are Thirsty
retreat for all adults
March 19-21, 2021
$100 per person
Deadline to register is March 5.
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This is a different kind of retreat with multiple sessions, multiple speakers, and times of worship. There will be good food, fellowship, and a call for a deeper walk with the Lord. We all experience times of dryness in our lives and times of great thirst. This may be just the thing for you. Register today: campwhisperingpines.com/all-who-are-thirsty
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Summer 2021 Camps Open to ALL
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Seeking Full-Time Camp Director
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Camp Whispering Pines, a 265 bed ministry of Mobile Baptist Association in Citronelle, AL is accepting resumes for Camp Director. Seeking a gifted administrator who is committed to evangelistic ministry, preferably with SBC seminary degree and minimum three years camp management experience. Visit campwhisperingpines.com for job description, candidate requirements and additional information. Email resumes before April 30, 2021 to mrbedford@bellsouth.net.
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Camp Relief Fund Update
$39,654 received as of February 8, 2021.
Goal: $112,000.
Give online at campwhisperingpines.com.
This Camp Relief Fund is essential for the camp to survive.
THANK YOU to all who have given thus far.
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Your Help is Needed
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Camp Whispering Pines needs volunteers to help with lawn care, cleaning and maintenance.
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CWP is also in need of someone who can donate the fixing of the walk in freezer.
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CWP is located at 7740 Union Street, Citronelle, 36522. Please call Beverly at 251-866-7868.
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Metro Mobile Baptist Campus Ministries
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Metro Mobile Baptist Campus Ministries has been hard at work despite the many challenges and changes to ways of doing ministry because of the pandemic. Campus ministers, Jerrod and Beth keep up with many of their students in bible study groups through online platforms.
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Baptist Campus Ministries exists to reach, grow and send collegians and to help our churches do the same. We are here to help you, support you, consult with you, strategize with you and partner with you.
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Let's take the Gospel to the campus together!
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The Wright Word March - May 2021
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Wright Word March - May 2021
Thomas Wright, Associational Missionary
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Emphasizing Biblical Prayer, Evangelistic Ministries, Church Development, Church Planting, Partnership Missions
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A Year of Change
2020 brought many inconvenient and sad changes. It also brought remarkable opportunities and needed adaptation for worship and Bible study. We mourn the recent loss of pastors Bill Whitfield, Chad Massey and Fred Wolfe. Their families, friends and congregations need our prayer support as they struggle with grieving and transition during pandemic limitations.
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It is good to rest in what is unchanging. Our Creator God is faithful (Ps. 119:90). He loves us so much He sent His Son Jesus to die for us while we were yet sinners (Jn 3:16, Rom. 5:8). We can minister, teach and worship in spite of a pandemic or persecution (throughout Acts).
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The enemy of our soul is Satan. His tactic since creation has been to undermine trust in the Creator God (Gen. 3). God is still faithful and we can trust Him. We have to be careful not to impose on Him our timeline and our preferences. We can trust His timeline and His preferences.
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EMERGENCY CWP Relief Fund to Offset Crippling Pandemic Losses
Thank you to the 21 churches and 35 individuals that helped raise $38,273 to keep Camp Whispering Pines (CWP) open through January. Please continue to pass the word. Even with upcoming events, we anticipate needing another $60,000 subsidy to remain open until summer income begins in May.
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Ten Percent: A Call to Biblical Stewardship FREE Resource
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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:
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* A six-week sermon series
* A six-week curriculum for Sunday school or small groups
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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.
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The six principles are proven. They are biblical, strategic and practical.
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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
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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.
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A digital church kit is now available for FREE.
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To enable congregations and pastors to better utilize this resource in the local church, we have created a digital church kit. This kit includes:
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* 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
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There is no cost to you or your church for this resource. Everything is downloadable at: SBC.net/stewardship.
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May All Who Come Behind Us Find Us Faithful Musical Event April 7, 2021
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Mobile Baptist Association Emphasizing:
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