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.

“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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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: 

https://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.

Register here: https://mobilebaptists.org/register-for-training-opportunities/

Youth Pastor Opening Announcement
Highpoint Baptist Church of Eight Mile, Alabama
Bi-vocational
Group: Youth and Children
2421 Lott Rd
Eight Mile, Alabama 36613
https://highpointbc.org/

Job Description Summary

Under the teachable direction of the Senior Pastor, the Youth Pastor will coordinate all children and youth programs – Children’s Church, Bible Study, Youth Revival, Youth Counselors, and Youth Advisory Council. He is responsible for leading the Ministry to a positive and spiritual program aimed at assisting young people (children and youth students) of the Church to a Christian worldview and Christ-centered.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Provide adequate Bible Studies from Christian Education Ministry, in addition to that presented by the Children and Youth Fulfillment Hour (Sunday School) Department; and provide supervision for all children and youth outreach activities.

Plans, coordinates, and supervises well-balanced Christian recreational activities in conjunction with the Recreation/Sports Ministry Director with the goal of helping the children and youth in their overall spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental development.

Work with the Senior Pastor in planning and promoting Children and Youth Revivals and special projects as needed. He will serve as an ex-officio member of all teams or committees and activities of the Children and Youth Department.

• Lead Children and Youth Ministry Teams made up of volunteers and parents.
• Train and equip volunteers to serve in the Children and Youth Ministry as small group leaders.
• Create, develop, and coordinate a Children and Youth worship team.
• Build relationships with Children and Youth and Ministry teams.
• Be recommended to the church after selection and approval by the Senior Pastor, Church
• Leadership, and Personnel Committee.

Send resume addressed to Youth Pastor Search Team to dbet23@aol.com or the church.

Register online here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdz8rBL1_7Pe-J-jPfvgWcZ4U8bfgiQyAhcbiBbmdcdQ1m5AA/viewform?fbclid=IwAR3ZDTdkD2cmZpXYPPE__I35UDsTEbReBWa-nnNrcWwjDm6pLepqijPTQPk

Mobile Baptists have a unique opportunity to partner with the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (ALSBOM) in March 2024. The MBA will host the inauguration of local simultaneous outreach events we are calling “Making a Difference Mobile.” That title mimics the 2024 State Convention theme and will continue as a yearly event in cities across Alabama.

The partnership will allow us to receive a limited number of grants for churches to provide outreach events any weekend during March 2024. The events will lead to your harvest events on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024.

We are still inventing the logistics. Pastors soon will receive a letter explaining the process and including the link to an online application form. The completed form will be due by October 5, 2023. David Gill, Jerrod Brown, Gerald Burch and I, Thomas Wright happily will help you complete the application and chat about evangelistic ministry options. We encourage regional events with multiple churches collaborating.  Be creative with an outreach event you have always wanted to lead your people to use. Reach out to your community, local schools, first responders and ethnic groups. Include sports or professional-themed clinics, banquets, block parties, prayer walking and evangelistic ministry.

The online form, when it is ready, will be completed by the pastor or their assigned leader. Information needed includes: describe the type of event and date, list the other churches collaborating, request the training needed to prepare, other resources needed, a proposed budget including grant amount and any volunteer teams needed from across the state. The intent is to provide matching grants but each application will be evaluated as to need. Churches in good standing will receive priority approval.

Our MBA Missions/Evangelism committee and moderators will join ALSBOM missionaries to review the applications and award the grants by the end of October 2023.  That timeline allows each church four months to prepare specifically for their March event.

Churches of course can conduct any event at any time they choose. The application process is to coordinate limited resources available for Making a Difference Mobile.

College Park Baptist Church is in search of a worship leader to serve in the following capacity:

-demonstrates a strong faith and allegiance to God

-develops, directs, and oversees music ministries of the church

-plans and directs worship services, utilizing a blended approach of both traditional and contemporary styles of worship music

-has reasonable experience as a worship leader

-has working knowledge of current technology

-plans events that will create community and contribute to growth

-performs other duties in support of the Senior Pastor

Please send resumes to cpbcworshipleadersearch@gmail.com.

Executive Committee Meeting

Monday, July 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.

• Application process for simultaneous outreach event grants for March 2024
• Call to prayer for the sale of the International Ministries Center facility
• 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.

Come join us, the Scott Dawson Evangelistic Association, July 21^st and 22^nd at the Pensacola Bay Center for UNITE: Gulf Coast!!

Check out www.unitemvmnt.com to get more info on how you can attend this FREE EVENT, and how your church can get involved.

We can’t wait to see you there!!

Josh Whitt
Director of Evangelism
400 Office Park Drive, Ste 150
Birmingham, AL 35223
800.869.8738 / 205.833.9163 (office)

jwhitt@scottdawson.org
www.scottdawson.org