The Mobile Baptist

March - May 2019
Volume 22 Issue 1

MBA Office Closing:
May 27, 2019 - Memorial Day

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

Sexual Abuse in Southern Baptist Churches and the Need for Background Checks

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/.  

Day of Prayer for the Mobile International Community March 11, 2019

Visit imc.mobilebaptists.org to download a country/people group profile and adopt a country/people group.

Flag specifications: 

• two 3’ x 5’ flags

• Polyester

• double stitched

Visit flagsexpress.com or call 262-783-4800.

Volunteer Port Chaplains Needed for International Ministries

7th Annual International Ministries Benefit Golf Tournament June 22, 2019

Sponsorship Brochure

Donations, Sponsors & Team Registration Form

Executive Committee Meeting April 8, 2019

Executive Committee Meeting

Monday, April 8, 2019
11:30 a.m.
Government Street Baptist Church

Lunch 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.

• Camp Whispering Pines update

• International Ministries update

• Church Development update

• Metro Mobile Baptist Campus Ministries update

***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.

Secretaries/Ministry Assistants Events

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 7, 2019
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 2 at mobilebaptists.org/register-for-training-opportunities or by contacting the MBA office.

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

Church Development Training Opportunities and Events

Click here to register for a training event.

RA Racer Tournament

Saturday, March 16, 2019

Car check-in: 2:30 p.m.
Race begins: 3:00 p.m.

Government Street Baptist Church

The 2019 Associational RA Racer Tournament is open for all RA’s, 1st through 6th grades.

Partcipants must register for the tournament NO LATER THAN MONDAY, MARCH 11. To register, call 661-7111 or email with the racer participant’s name, age, grade, and church.

This, and other like events, are made possible by donations to Associational Missions.

 ________________________

Incorporation, Policies and Constitution and Bylaws

Tuesday, March 19, 2019
6:30 p.m.
MBA office (616 Azalea Road)

This conference deals with what incorporation is, procedures to developing bylaws and policies and what should be contained in these documents. State missionary Lee Wright will lead this conference.

Please pre-register at mobilebaptists.org/register-for-training-opportunities by Thursday, March 14 for this FREE training event.

Please note: if not enough participants are pre-registered, the event is subject to cancellation.

This, and other like events, are made possible by donations to Associational Missions and the Cooperative Program.

 _______________________

Bible Drill and Speakers Tournament

Thursday, April 4, 2019

Cottage Hill Baptist Church

TIME: will be assigned upon pre-registration

Pre-registration required

ATTENTION Bible Drill Leader: please send (via email, mail, or call) a list of participants who qualify for, and want to participate in, the Associational Drill. Include your name and contact information. For each participant include:  

• Name (how they want it to appear on a certificate)

• Grade

• Version/translation of the Bible used

    *King James Version (2014)     *English Standard Version      *Christian Standard Bible

For more information visit alsbom.org/bibledrill then “Resources” then “Bible Translation Information.“

Contact the Associational Office via email, or 661-7111, by Monday, April 1 to pre-register participants and receive flight times.

 _______________________________________________

VBS Clinic

Tuesday, April 30, 2019
6:30 p.m.
Dauphin Way Baptist Church

“Throw on your camera strap and buckle your seatbelt. VBS 2019 takes you on a wild adventure—with elephants and egrets, polar bears and penguins, cockatoos and crocodiles. As you seek out exotic animals, you’ll also find snapshots of real-life encounters with Jesus in Scripture. Kids go from bewildered to believing as they get In The Wild at this summer’s VBS.” - lifeway.com/vbs

This clinic is for ALL VBS workers!

Classes provided for:

• Pastors/Evangelism

• VBS Directors

• Older Children - Grades 5-6

• Middle Children - Grades 3-4

• Younger Children - Grades 1-2

• Older Preschool - 3’s - Kindergarten/K-5

• Crafts

• Music

• Recreation & Snacks

• Missions & Back Yard Bible Club

This, and other like events, are made possible by donations to Associational Missions and the Cooperative Program.

WMU/Women's Ministry Annual Celebration April 25, 2019

WMU/Women's Ministry Annual Celebration

Unshakable Pursuit

Thursday, April 25, 2019
6:00 p.m.
First Baptist Church Grand Bay

featuring speaker Claren Dease
Claren, former IMB missionary to Uruguay, now serves as WMU Director in Pickens Ferry Baptist Association where her husband is the Director of Missions.

Look for more details to come soon.

Metro Mobile Baptist Campus Ministries Dinner on the Grounds BBQ Cook Off & Cake Auction April 26, 2019

SUPPORT COLLEGIATE MISSIONS

Join with us to support Baptist Campus Ministries (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 2019." 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 2019.”

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.

If we can offer any help, please let us know. We are available to do specialized training in collegiate ministry, lead ministry team trainings, or simply consult with your team concerning collegiate ministry issues or ideas.

Thanks for all you do to reach, grow and send collegians here in Mobile County!

Rev. Jerrod Brown
Senior Campus Minister
jbrown@alsbom.org

Beth Gardner
Campus Minister
egardner@alsbom.org

Camp Whispering Pines

Veritas Youth Camp - June 17-21, 2019

Momentum Kids Camp - July 15-18, 2019

__________________________________________________________________

Camp Whispering Pines is accepting applications for several positions.
Please call the camp for more information, 251-866-7868.

______________________________

Start the year off right at Camp Whispering Pines.

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

The Wright Word March - May 2019

Wright Word
March to May 2019
Brother Thomas Wright, Associational Missionary
Emphasizing Biblical Prayer, Evangelistic Ministries, Church Development, Church Planting, Partnership Missions

Godliness
Paul refers to godliness (eusebeia) in 1 Timothy 3:16, 4:8, and 6:6. He also offered a strong warning in 2 Tim. 3:5 that has significant contemporary application, “having a form of godliness but denying its power…” (NIV).

Godliness refers to the transformed nature that only comes through the indwelling Holy Spirit. The godly person recognizes a total dependence on God, which is different from the external change demanded by false religion. The resulting internal reverence and piety is radically different from the secular world.

The term “godliness” has been hijacked by Satan to diminish its importance. On one extreme, false religions are teaching people they are god. The other extreme ridicules those who are trying to live consistent, biblically based lives. A new year’s conviction to godliness serves the Kingdom well.

Clean Audit
We received a clean audit report from Smith Buckalew auditors. They affirmed our processes and procedures for excellent, efficient and accountable money management. 

Camp Whispering Pines (CWP) Plan for Self-Sufficiency
We already see significant progress from the April 2018 approval to move CWP toward financial self-sufficiency. CWP reports the new dorm is in place, the new meeting space is underway and we approved a balanced 2019 MBA budget. Each CWP director for the last 14 years has helped us move toward financial self-sufficiency. Steady progress over those years has allowed us, with confidence, to anticipate complete financial self-sufficiency by 2023.

Read More

Click here for the January 2019 Receipts Report

Click here for the Calendar of Events

Mobile Baptist Association Emphasizing:

• Biblical Prayer

• Evangelistic Ministries

• Church Development

• Church Planting

• Partnership Missions