The Mobile Baptist

March - May 2018
Volume 21 Issue 1

MBA Office Closing:
May 28, 2018 - Memorial Day

Stay informed of news and events within the MBA by clicking here and signing up for the weekly email News Alerts.

Associational Missions Week of Prayer and Impact Mobile Associational Missions Offering May 20-27, 2018

Cooperative missions is an important Southern Baptist distinctive that is often not understood in our pews. Please invite one of the MBA staff to set up a display in your church, or to speak anytime during the year.

The Impact Mobile offering provides an opportunity for churches that may not have financially supported cooperative missions in their Jerusalem as much as they would have liked. It also assists those churches who use regular special offerings as their primary means to raise missions support. We are grateful for the churches that provide a portion of their missions tithe through the budget, and understand those churches may choose not to promote this offering. This is an “above the tithe” missions offering to assist the ministries and emphases of the MBA to make an eternal difference in Mobile County. Your sacrificial missions tithes allow us to provide MBA sponsored trainings and consultations to dozens of pastors, staff and members about every aspect of growing, maintaining and managing a church. Please consider participating in the “Impact Mobile Associational Missions Offering.”

Visit mobilebaptists.org/mba-impact-offering-materials for more information and to download promotional materials.

Day of Prayer fort he Mobile International Community March 12, 2018

Day of Prayer for the
Mobile International Community

Monday, March 12, 2018
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
International Ministries Center

Prayer is the start of missions. Through prayer, we gain a heart for missions and the capacity to reach the 72 nations that live in Mobile County. March 12, 2018, 11:30 a.m. at the International Ministries Center, will begin a one year season of prayer for the International Community living in Mobile County. Join us for a time of prayer and flag raising ceremony. Come enjoy roasted pork loin, rice, green beans, roll, tea, cake and banana pudding. Please make reservations for lunch and bring $5 p/person to help subsidize the cost.

We no longer have to get on an airplane to reach the world. We only need to look at our County and see the 68 language/people groups living among us. The Father has brought them to us to help them know true love and forgiveness. Prayer is the first step in them knowing Jesus Christ.

Mobile Baptist churches are asked to consider adopting one of these people groups. Your adoption of a people group means your church will pray for that nationality for one year. Churches are encouraged to be creative and think of unique ways to keep the adopted people group in prayer.

For a visual reminder, churches are also asked to consider purchasing two flags of the adopted nation. One flag is to be placed in a prominent place in the church building. The second flag will be hung at the International Ministries Center.

Visit mobilebaptists.org/day-of-prayer-for-internationals for more information.

CLICK HERE to download a Country/People Group Profile and/or adopt a Country/People Group and make reservations for the Day of Prayer.

Sponsorship Brochure

Donations, Sponsors & Team Registration Form

Executive Committee Meeting April 16, 2018

Join us

Monday, April 16, 2018
11:30 a.m.
Government Street Baptist Church

for the Executive Committee meeting.

Please bring $5 p/person for lunch.

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.

***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.

WMU/Women's Ministry Annual Celebration April 26, 2018

WMU/Women's Ministry Annual Celebration

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Look for more details to come soon.

Alabama Association of Baptist Secretaries 56th Annual Conference March 11-14, 2018

56th Annual Conference Alabama Association of Baptist Secretaries
March 11-14, 2018
Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center

Visit alabamabaptistsecretaries.com for more information and to register.

8 Reasons to attend in 2018 from those who attended in 2017:

Great reminder we are in it together - for Jesus!
The conference was a blessing to me both professionally and personally.
Every conference I have attended has given me “my need” as God led me through them.
The Holy Spirit was present throughout the conference, and I am going home refreshed and full of joy!
This was a very refreshing conference; God ministered to me on many levels.
It was easy to make some new friends.
My first time - very informative and enjoyable.
Well planned and organized - this is an amazing organization!

Secretaries/Ministry Assistants Luncheon May 15, 2018

Attention! Calling all MBA Secretaries and Ministry Assistants...

Take a Break and Join us for the Mobile Baptist
Secretaries and Ministry Assistants Luncheon

Tuesday, May 15, 2018
11:45 a.m.
MBA Office

The luncheon is a great time of fellowship and encouragement as secretaries from across the association (both current and retired) gather together. Enjoy great food and door prizes too!

RESERVATIONS:

• The catered meal is $8 and is payable at the door.

• Please make reservations by Thursday, May 10 by visiting "training opportunities" at mobilebaptists.org or by contacting the MBA office.

• Please note: payment for reservations must be received even if you are unable to attend the event.

The Personnel Committee and Personnel Management March 6, 2018

Click here for more events including Bible Drill and VBS Clinic

Camp Whispering Pines

Come home to YOUR
Camp Whispering Pines!
(251)866-7868
campwhisperingpines.com

Serving Christ by Serving Others,
Serving Others by Sharing Christ

2018 Camp Dates

• Hoopla Day Camp
Completed Grades K5-6, June 4-8

• Big Adventure Kids Camp
Completed Grades 1-6, June 11-14

• Veritas Youth Camp
Completed Grades 6-12, June 18-23

• Girls Mission Camp
Completed Grades 1-6, June 25-29

• Momentum Kids Camp
Completed Grades 1-6, July 16-19

For more information and registration visit campwhisperingpines.com or call 251-866-7868.

Paint Ball Guns Needed

Camp Whispering Pines needs new paint ball guns and is asking for donations. The approximate cost is $175 per gun. Paint ball is a big part of their program.

Metro Mobile Baptist Campus Ministries Dinner on the Grounds April 13, 2018

“DINNER ON THE GROUNDS”
BBQ COOK-OFF & CAKE AUCTION
________________________________

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2018 / TICKETS: $10 / 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM / BAPTIST CAMPUS MINISTRIES building on the USA campus - 5904 Old Shell Road, Mobile

SUPPORT COLLEGIATE MISSIONS
Join us to support BCM collegiate missions with a BBQ Cook-Off between our local Mobile Baptist Pastors, Ministers and Men’s Ministry leaders. A Cake Auction will feature some of the best cakes Mobile Baptist Churches have to offer!

The Pastor, Minister or Men’s Ministry leader with the most votes for their BBQ will receive the Title of "Mobile's Best Baptist BBQ Master 2018". Delicious cakes will be auctioned off to the highest bidder, so come prepared to buy your favorite cake! The Baker of the cake that sells for the highest amount will be declared “Mobile’s Baptist Baking Champion 2018”.

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. All we ask is that you prepare enough for 50 small (bite-size) tasting servings. We also need you to invite as many of your church members to come and vote for your BBQ to win! 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 cakes that everyone loves. Would you share those delicious cakes with us to support collegiate missions? All we ask is that you prepare your famous cake, package it on a disposable plate or pan, and invite as many of your church members to come and bid on your cake! 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 online.

The Wright Word March - May 2018

Trust and Obey
Believers are reminded in Proverbs 3:5 to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding” (CSB). The enemy seeks daily to undermine our trust in God. From Genesis to Revelation Satan causes us to question the love, goodness and faithfulness of our Creator. The results are many. The unbeliever has been convinced he/she cannot trust in Jesus for their salvation. The believer will cease to pray “because it doesn’t do any good.” Others forsake the church because the focus becomes the fickleness of man instead of the faithfulness of God. Be wary. We can trust God. We are reminded in Roman 5:8, “God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (CSB).

Constitution and Bylaws (C&BL) Updates
Several issues in 2017 emphasize the importance of an updated C&BL. The updated document should include clear guidelines for membership, business meetings and for the facility to relate to SBC/MBA. Smaller membership congregations are being targeted by unethical independent and other denominations to lose their facilities. Please do not wait until there is a problem to discover the C&BL is outdated and weak.

IMPORTANT Changes to Minister Compensation
EVERY church financial officer/treasurer/bookkeeper needs to investigate important changes in 2018 from the IRS about ministerial salary and reimbursements. The IRS guidelines, not the minister’s preference, must be followed.

Click here for the Calendar of Events

Mobile Baptist Association Emphasizing:

• Biblical Prayer

• Evangelistic Ministries

• Church Development

• Church Planting

• Partnership Missions