Mobile Baptist Association

Please include the news and opportunities presented here in your bulletins, church newsletters, or on your bulletin boards.

MBA NEWS ALERTS

• MBA IS COMMITTED TO YOU AND YOUR CHURCH - UPDATED 3.30.2020

• CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PANDEMIC AND RESOURCES FOR CHURCHES UPDATED 3.30.2020

• EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING APRIL 13, 2020 VIA ZOOM

• POSTPONED ASSOCIATIONAL BIBLE DRILL AND SPEAKERS TOURNAMENT APRIL 16, 2020

• INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE SCHOOL TEMPORARILY CLOSED AND  DISC GOLF FUNDRAISER APRIL 17, 2020

• DISASTER RELIEF TRAINING MAY 2, 2020

• GOING BEYOND SIMULCAST WITH PRISCILLA SHIRER APRIL 25, 2020

• CAMP WHISPERING PINES NEWS AND EVENTS INCLUDING WELCOME "POUNDINGS FOR THE TUCKERS"

• TASK FORCE STUDY OF MBA CHURCH DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY

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The MBA continues to monitor conditions and recommendations during this  pandemic. As information and resources become available, we are doing our best to get them to you via mobilebaptists.org/coronavirus, facebook.com/mobilebaptistassociation and twitter.com @mobilebaptists.

The MBA office staff are still working, but reducing hours in the office to Monday - Thursday from 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. We will work remotely if the city is placed under a shelter in place restriction. We are here to serve you.

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Updated 3.30.2020 - All events listed on this website are subject to change due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Follow us on facebook/mobilebaptistassociation and these weekly email news alerts for daily, sometimes hourly, updates and observations on how to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Resources:

coronavirus.gov

cdc.gov/COVID-19

Alabama Department of  Public Health

alsbom.org/coronavirus

epa.gov/coronavirus - information on disinfectants and other resources

lifeway.com/coronavirus

Mobile County Health Department

The Office of Alabama Governor, Kay Ivey

• Governor Ivey's current State Public Health Order issued March 27, 2020

• The latest order also prohibits any non-work related gathering of 10 or more people or any gathering that can’t maintain 6-foot distance between people. This latest order is set to be in effect until at least April 17.  Click here to read the full order.

whitehouse.gov

• March 29, 2020 update from the White House - "Therefore, we will be extending our guidelines to April 30th to slow the spread." Click here for the full statement.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)- United Way 211 Guide (Southwest Alabama Area)

• This is a Resource Guide to help you during and after the pandemic. This guide is subject to change as information comes into the 2-1-1 resource center. This guide is compiled By Lifelines Counseling Services.

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Coronavirus Resources for You and Your Church:

In these new and uncharted waters, we are all looking for resources to aid us in ministering to our church families. LifeWay is hoping to help you do that, especially as so many churches will not be gathering together for a few weeks. In order to make it as easy as possible for you, LifeWay has compiled all of our Free COVID-19 resources onto one webpage. Here is the link to the page: lifeway.com/coronavirus


Church, Family Resources Made Available In Response To COVID-19

Online Resources for Small Groups


COVID-19 & Teaching Remotely if your Church Isn’t Meeting

Check out this linked article that includes several ways of online methods to reach church members, as well as several FREE digital training and teaching materials from LifeWay for adults and kids.

Ken Braddy - Encouraging & Equipping Sunday School & Small Groups

Ken Braddy Jr. is LifeWay's Director of Sunday School, Manager of LifeWay Christian Resource's Adult Ongoing Bible Studies & Adult Trainers, education pastor 20+ years, author, conference leader, and blogger. 

Click on this link which include studies from Explore the Bible, Bible Studies for Life, and The Gospel Project.

Free Bible Study Resources:

LifeWay provides a Kids-At-Home resource for families to use for Sunday School / Bible Study - accessible at http://digitalpass.lifeway.com/, and they have also added LifeWay Preschoolers-At-Home.

LifeWay Kids at Home which allows parents to log-in and have access to Bible Studies For Life’s Lesson Video, Missions Video, Gospel Presentation Video, and an Activity Page and Parents’ Conversation Page.

Free Access to Online Sunday School Curriculum Now Available: The Gospel Project, Explore the Bible, and Bible Studies for Life, available for all four age groups (Preschool, Kids, Students, and Adults) in a digital format for your use. Lead  classes remotely with this material (or for you to give access and/or activity pages to your church families). - https://curriculum.lifeway.com/

 


Free Training Tools - lifeway.com/coronavirus


Using an Online Platform for Church Services:

How to Facebook Live - Even smaller membership churches can provide an online worship service during the upcoming weeks of virus precautions. How to Facebook Live (for any size church)

3Circle Church willing to assist other churches with broadcasting sermons online:
We are FOR the local church, as partners in the Gospel! If you are a church leader, who does not have access to necessary equipment for recording/broadcasting your sermons online, let us know by emailing info@3circlechurch.com. We would love to help you! https://www.3circlechurch.com/updates

How to continue giving:

Mailing a tithe check to the church is a simple solution if an online giving option is not available. Visit alsbom.org/coronavirus for resources regarding online giving.

For those churches that are needing an online giving platform, but do not have a website to host one at this time, LifeWay Generosity is providing a No-Cost Custom Page for every church that would like one. Each church’s page will be able to receive credit card and debit card payments. (There is no set-up fee nor monthly fee, though the credit card processing fee will still apply.) To sign up for this service, go to https://lifewaygenerosity.com/coronavirus. You will need your church’s name, address, and checking account information to be able to receive funds into your account.

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Should our church meet or not?

Governor Ivey's current State Public Health Order issued March 27, 2020

The latest order also prohibits any non-work related gathering of 10 or more people or any gathering that can’t maintain 6-foot distance between people. This latest order is set to be in effect until at least April 17.  Click here to read the full order.

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It is up to each church’s discretion as to whether or not they continue to meet in person during the next few weeks. Visit coronavirus.gov for the latest guidelines. Keep in mind government guidelines say no more than groups of 10 with social distancing of 6 feet between people.

Read more

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Executive Committee Meeting


Monday, April 13, 2020

Noon - 1:00 p.m.
via Zoom (online meeting)

We will hold the meeting via the online medium, Zoom. A link will be made available for you to join in, via your device.


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 will have an important update on the sale of the International Ministries Center/building

• Reports from the ministry areas on how we are proceeding in spite of the economic and social limitations

• Meet Jimmy Tucker, new Camp Director and hear the significant challenges that met his arrival

* Membership Committee recommendation to welcome a congregation into watchcare

* Report and recommendation from the Budget and  Finance Committee

* To be voted on

***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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International Language School

Temporarily Closed

 

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the decision was made to close the ILS in efforts to protect the students and teachers. The plan at this time is to resume classes on Monday, April 13. Other changes will be communicated as the situation demands.

 

Disc Golf Fundraiser


Friday, April 17, 2020

Morning time to be determined


University of Mobile

ils.mobilebaptists.org

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Mobile Baptist Association plans to  provide

Disaster Relief Training in the areas of Childcare and Shower/Laundry on
May 2, 2020
at Airport Boulevard Baptist Church.


Please make plans to attend if you are interested in these classes, with the understanding that plans may change.Register at https://alsbom-gm.org/quick_reg.cfm. The MBA continues to monitor conditions and recommendations as the current crisis unfolds.

Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief are
offering all training classes at the State DR Center in Prattville. The dates and times are online. Go to sbdr.org/events for details and registration. You will also see training opportunities all over the state, which you are welcome to attend.

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

 

Serving Christ by Serving Others,
Serving Others by Sharing Christ

Welcome “Poundings” for the Tuckers

The new Camp Whispering Pines (CWP) Director and his family have arrived. Jimmy, Ashley, Jolea and George have moved into the CWP staff house and begun ministry.

Please join in welcoming them with a “Pounding.” Gift cards to Amazon, Target or Walmart are preferred. Future publicity will include registry links.

There are two opportunities to attend:

The MBA Personnel Committee (JT Wright, chair) will host a “Pounding” on Sunday, April 19, 2020, from 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the MBA office. Light refreshments will be served. Please RSVP via kjones@mobilebaptists.org or 251-661-7111.

The Camp Committee (Mike Bedford, chair) will host a second “Pounding” on Sunday, April 26, 2020, from 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Camp Whispering Pines. A tour of the refurbished staff house will follow. Please RSVP to beverlycwp@gmail.com or 251-866-7868.

Please RSVP via kjones@mobilebaptists.org or 251-661-7111; or beverlycwp@gmail.com, 251-866-7868.


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Looking forward to an amazing summer. Our youth camp, VERITAS, is June 15-19; and our kids camp, MOMENTUM, is July 13-16. Visit campwhisperingpines.com for more information. Don't wait to sign up or you may miss out.

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Looking forward to our Girls Mission Camp, June 22-June 26, sponsored by the Mobile Baptist WMU. It is open to All Girls who have completed grades 1-6. Visit campwhisperingpines.com to register or just give us a call. It's going to be a great week of worship, bible study, meet the missionary and a whole lot of fun activities.

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As you may know, Chuck Davis has served faithfully for 30 years and is retiring from the Mobile Baptist Association as the Church Development Director. A Task Force is in the process of recreating the job description for the position for the future. Your feedback through this short survey would be very helpful.

Click here for the survey