Let's REALLY do Christmas this year in Montgomery!

Reaching the City for Christ..one church's endeavor

Missional Holidays: The Nations Came To Our Church For Thanksgiving Last Night!

by Alan Cross, pastor, Gateway Baptist Church

http://www.downshoredrift.com/

Every year, we have a huge Thanksgiving Dinner, the Sunday night before Thanksgiving. We bring tons of food and pack out the sanctuary, which also serves as our fellowship space. Each year, we are almost filled to capacity with our members and their friends. We eat, sing, and people share from the floor what they are thankful to God for. It is really a beautiful time as the Body of Christ is on display and we see the beauty of Christ at work.

This year, our Thanksgiving Dinner promised to be a little different. Over the past couple of years, we have been praying about how we could reach across ethnic and cultural lines and we are starting to see that happen. We are seeing African Americans and Hispanics come to our church. Our youth group has doubled in size, primarily with African American boys who are coming to Christ and being discipled. God is at work and it is amazing to see.

Also, we live in Montgomery, AL where Maxwell AFB is colocated. So, we have a lot of military personnel in our church. Every member of the Air Force will come through Maxwell at some point in their career because Air University is here. All of the schools for the Air Force are located here. This also means that international officers and their families from the nations of the world come to Maxwell each year for Air Command and Staff College. Over the past couple of years, people from our church have been adopting these families and have been spending time with them. When a lady in our church told us that she had invited about thirty of them to our Thanksgiving Dinner, I was happy, but I was also thinking, "Where are we going to fit everyone!" Our youth minister had already invited the families of the 20 or so new youth that were coming to our church. We are already usually packed for this event. I am always talking about outreach and missional living, and here was a prime example of how our church had been doing and they wanted to bring everyone together. But, we just don't have much room! My excitement over the evening was mixed with the implications of a looming disaster as people would not have seats and would bump into each other all night.

I met with my administrative assistant and we just decided that we'd make it work and we weren't going to worry about it. Somehow, it would work out, we hoped. So, we set up every table and chair that we possibly could, started serving early, and trusted God for the rest. And . . . it all worked out! Somehow, we fit everyone in, and people didn't mind sitting in corners and along the walls and down the hall. It was our largest Thanksgiving Dinner ever! People shared with one another, gave praise to God for His work in their lives, and enjoyed being together. At one point, I asked people to shout out what nation they were from. There were people there from America (obviously), Mexico, Peru, Brazil, The Philippines, The Ukraine, Germany, India, Egypt, Jordan, Bangledesh, Pakistan, China, Turkmenistan, and other countries that I cannot remember. There were people from 19 countries in all. We also had a great number of African Americans that are coming to our church now and are getting involved in our body. That is notable because we are a Southern Baptist church that was lily white just two years ago, and I understand how difficult it is for these barriers to be broken down.

Jesus was represented and the gospel was spoken by people as they shared. It was beautiful. At one point, an international officer from the Middle East stood up and said how happy he was to be here. He thanked us for inviting him and his family. He also said something very interesting: He said that he was amazed and honored to be in a place where Christians, Muslims, Hindus, and many more could come together and gather in peace. He couldn't believe it. For many of these people, this was the first time that they had been in an environment like this. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Through Him, we, as Christians, can respect and love others, even though we know that there are differences. We believe and represent that Jesus is the only way to the Father. But, unless we build relationships with people and love them, they will not hear that message. Jesus also enables us to love people different than us because we recognize that each person is made in the image of God.

In two weeks, we will have our Christmas Extravaganza. We will join together with Family Life Bible Fellowship, an African American church in our city and have a mass choir, singing, praise dance, poetry readings, and other artistic expressions of worship on display. We will celebrate our unity in Christ. We will eat lots of good food together and we will laugh, pray, and celebrate. The international officers and their families will be invited again and the place will be packed out. I can't wait!

Christmas is the celebration of the Incarnation of Christ, where Jesus took on flesh and made His dwelling among us (John 1:14). He is doing it again in churches and communities all across the world. We'll make room for Him, no matter what it takes, or at least we should. I praise God for people in our church with great imaginations and faith to believe God for great things!

Our President Elect

This was written on Lysa TerKeurst's blog this morning…she heads up Proverbs 31 ministries Dare I Say... This is the day for new things in America. Some of us rejoice with the coming new and some of us fell asleep last night weeping for what that new may mean for this country. Either way, it is the reality. And I refuse for that reality to stifle my sense of possibility. Now is the time for Christians to live the message of Christ. Maybe, more than ever before, we will be invited outside our comfort zones where living what we believe won't be easy. And dare I say, that may be the best thing that has happened to Christians in a very long time.It's one thing to hold fast to traditional principles, but a completely different thing to act whole-heartedly upon them.It's easy to say abortion is wrong, but hard to walk beside and support that woman who chooses life. It's easy to think we should help the poor, but hard to write that check from our own bank accounts to do so. It's easy to point out wrongs in other people, but hard to examine the many places we ourselves fall so short. It's easy to point out problems, but hard to sacrifice our time to be part of the solution.But, that's exactly what being a Christian is supposed to propel us to do. With grace and gentleness and humble spirits, we are to be more than a band of people labeled as conservatives. We are to actively be Christ's hands and feet in this world.Jesus never called us to the comfortable life. He called us follow him through whatever life hands us. Jesus never waited for the circumstances of the times to line up in his favor. He called us to follow him and be light in the darkness.Jesus never bad mouthed the leaders of the day or demanded they change their policies. He called us to follow him and live out the truth through our right choices. And in following Jesus, an air of excited expectancy will be breathed fresh in our souls.In Obama's speech last night he said, "As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, We are not enemies, but friends...though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection." Now is the time to be representatives of truth to all those around us. May we Christians be seen not as those who continue to strain against the unity of our country, but as followers of Jesus, those who help create it.Now is the time... today is the day... to follow Jesus like never before.

NOVEMBER MISSIONS

Montgomery Baptist Association Family Promise Week November 9-16th Eastdale Baptist Church Montgomery Baptist Association will be hosting homeless families at Eastdale Baptist Church in November. We are partnering with Family Promise Ministry of Montgomery to provide a weeks housing and meals for families in their program. Family Promise is a non-profit, non-denominational, nationwide ministry that helps homeless families get on their feet through mentoring. The program is from 6-12 weeks. Churches in Montgomery provide housing at their churches 4 times a year for one week at a time. I am proud to have our Association participate in this ministry of long term solutions.

picture courtesy of NY Times

If you think your church would like to sponsor meal, contact me at 271-6794 or email me at lrose@mgmbaptist.org This would entail, bringing the meal cooked to the church, providing drinks, etc and a few folks staying for the meal to visit with the families. There will be no more than 14 individuals staying at Eastdale that week. Check out the website at: http://www.familypromisemontgomery.org/

Gateway Reaching Out in the Neighborhood!

From Drew Burton at Gateway Baptist Church: "I am very excited about what God is doing in the lives of our students. Several people in our congregation have been faithfully praying for our students over the last five years. I believe we are currently seeing God answer many of these prayers. One of the things I am most excited about is how our students are coming alive by serving others. I am a firm believer that the “lab experience” of fleshing out our walk with Christ teaches us things that we can never learn in the classroom about God’s character and our relationship with him. I am seeing our students serve as a catalyst in our church for stepping into community ministry, something that we have been praying would happen for many years. Starting Sunday, Sept. 7th, we will begin hosting the Bell Road Kid’s Club at Gateway. This will happen every Sunday from 4:30-6:00 pm as a ministry for students in the four neighborhoods surrounding our church. We will have games, crafts, snacks, stories, etc. each week for the kids. Our students will meet at 4:00 for prayer and training before the neighborhood kids arrive. We are preparing for two tracks (older kids and younger kids) as we are inviting k-12 grades to join us. Our students are ready to lead out in this ministry and we have been preparing for the first Club meeting by passing out flyers in the neighborhood, forming teams for each area of responsibility and asking God to guide us in this effort. There are five groups in our church in addition to the youth group that have expressed interest in partnering with us in this effort so we will be coordinating with them as we proceed. Anyone else that is interested in assisting in anyway with this ministry, please contact me. This is a very fluid thing. We don’t know how God will grow it, change it, shape it, mold it, redirect it . . . we simply don’t have all the answers but we are stepping out by faith into what we believe he is putting in front of us. We will trust him for the results." “The Gateway Baptist Kids Club has been a great opportunity to interact with youth and children from the surrounding neighborhoods. At the club we play games, have snacks, and try to get to know each other better. Every week Drew gives a Bible lesson for the older kids, and one of the youth girls gives a Bible lesson for the younger kids. I have had a great time assisting with this, and I have also made some friends. I am seeing God work through this club, in fact there were FOUR guys who accepted Christ during the club last week!! I praise God for the work He has done and I am praying that He will continue to work through this ministry.” Dorothy Morris “I decided to get involved with the kids club because I wanted to start investing in the lives of the youth. I was very excited to get to spend time with them as well as get to know some new kids that come in from the neighborhood. The kids, mostly aged from 8-18, are all good-natured children with a lot they seem to look forward to in life. However, I can see how some of them have very little direction. The kids club is something they see as a safe, laid back place they can come and enjoy the company of their friends as well as have a good time with different activities. We’re working on developing relationships with them, and hopefully opening opportunities to share Christ’s love with them. These kids are all so full of life and ready to develop, but in many cases they are so distracted by their everyday lives that they don’t seem to truly realize their need. They need truth and direction from the One who has the plan for their lives. I hope to continue to earn their trust and have opportunities to share with them the love of Christ that we all so desperately need.” Rebecca Thomas

Yarborough Street Baptist Church Homecoming!

Yarborough Street Baptist is on the move. Bringing kids in from the neighborhood and reaching them through ongoing relationships will change not only their lives, but their families as well.

Pray for Cliff, the staff and members as they "seek the peace of the city" through reaching their neighborhood.

9-11-01

This week commemorates the 7th anniversary of the attacks on NY, DC and PA. Please continue to be in prayer for families who are continuing to grieve their loved ones. So many are still in a stronghold of grief and fear. Please take some time that day to pray for them and honor the Lord through being kind to others who may think differently than you....

www.dearallofyou.com/sacredheart

Using the Gifts and Talents Christ Gives Us to Serve Him....One story

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn5oyytSchI Prison Entrepreneur Program n Houston TX

Ministry Centers RE OPEN August 4th!

July has been a month of sprucing up on a lot of things at the Baptist Centers. The yards have been worked on, walls are being painted, food is being restocked, clothes are being straightened.

In another way, procedures and policies have been spruced up too. Volunteers have been re-trained on working with people in poverty and new procedures have been put in place to assure that every guest that comes to the centers are treated with respect, dignity and God’s love. We are excited that when we re-open on Monday, August 4th for ministry that folks who come through the doors of our centers will experience more than just the services that we offer. They will experience God’s love in a way that can help them rethink their lives. Your prayers are certainly coveted as this new phase of ministry starts at the centers.

There will be Open Houses on Sunday, August 10th from 3-5pm at each center. Every church member in Montgomery Baptist Association is invited to come through, take a tour of the center and get acquainted with our volunteers and new staff. Refreshments will be served.

Find your assigned center below and come and visit! We look forward to seeing you there.

Valley Park Ministry Center
3820 Woodley Road
Assigned Churches:
Bethel, Catoma, Eastern Hills, Gateway, Friendship, Hunter Station, McGehee Road, Pike Road, Pine Level, Pinedale, Ridgecrest, Sampey Memorial, Snowdoun, Valley Park


Forest Park Ministry Center
2026 E. 4th Street
Assigned Churches:
Cloverdale, Dalraida, Eastdale, Eastmont, Heritage, Lakeview, LaPine, Memorial Heights, Mt Zion, Pintlala, Southlawn, St James Holt Crossing, Thorington Road, Westside

Backyard Bible Clubs

Summer Workers Sarah Swedenberg and Jennifer Bush have taught Backyard Bible Clubs in two neighborhoods so far....
Jennifer Bush teaches kids in the a neighborhood for Ridgecrest Baptist Church about Jesus!
Sarah Swedenberg teaches kids across the road in a subdivision from our Victory Baptist Church.

Summer Workers are Here! Yea!

Hey all! Welcome to:
Chelsea West, North Greenville University-hometown, Spartenburg, SC
Beth Stough, Faulkner University, hometown-Montgomery, Yarborough Street Baptist
Chelsea and Beth will be working at Community of Hope doing Backyard Bible Clubs and other fun things with kids in public housing as well as working with the children at Hope Community Church.

Jennifer Bush , North Greenville University-hometown, Montgomery Dalraida Baptist
Sarah Swedenburg, Troy State University-hometown, Montgomery, AL, Ridgecrest Baptist
Jen and Sarah will be working with our Regional Baptist Centers and doing Backyard Bible Clubs in different locations around the city!

Be sure and add these young ladies to your prayer lists as they serve our city this summer!

Lisa

Poverty and Children

65% of Montgomery Public School children live in poverty.

Chew on that......

"If you neglect the cries of the poor, your own cries for help will not be heard." Proverbs 21:13

May is National Foster Care Awareness Month

Please join those who are foster parents and advocates in participating in a Prayer Vigil Week for children in foster care.

Check out the prayer guide materials for your church or an individual at:

www.icareaboutorphans.org

and for more generic information:

www.fostercaremonth.org

As Christians,we are called to care for widows and orphans. There are about 140 millions orphans in the world with 513,000 children in foster care in the United States.

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.........." James 1:27

Thanks for your concern...

Lisa C. Rose

Director of Church and Community Ministries

Montgomery Baptist Church

Golf Tournament to Support Samaritan Inn

MBA GOLF TOURNAMENT

Lagoon Park Golf Course
Thursday , May 1, 2008
$50.00 (per team member)
Lunch - 12:00 a.m.
Door Prizes - 1:00 p.m.
Tee Time - 1:30 p.m.
Benefiting:
Samaritan Inn Ministry
A ministry of the churches of the Montgomery Baptist Association

Go to www.mgmbaptist.org for details on registration!


2007 MBA Baptist Men's Golf Tournament

Check it out!

Check out the event that Eastmont hosted to raise funds for the River Region Chaplain Service!

Thanks to all who came out and supported our chaplains!

http://www.riverregionchaplains.org/

Lisa

REMINDER: Samaritan Inn Fundraiser through Food World Stores

The 2008 Regions Charity Classic, presented by Bruno’s, has given local Bruno’s and Food World stores the opportunity to select a community charity as benefactor of the in-store Golf Ball Promotion. For a seven-week period, April 2 – May 18, shoppers will have the opportunity to donate to Samaritan Inn Ministry. Store locations supporting Samaritan Inn Ministry include: Food World 2020 East South Blvd., Montgomery Food World 4896 U.S. Hwy. 231, Wetumpka Food World 1860 East Main St., Prattville Food World 3543 Alabama Hwy.14, Millbrook PLEASE ADD TO YOUR BULLETINS/NEWSLETTERS/WEBSITES You will have the opportunity to donate at checkout. A paper golf ball imprinted with “Samaritan Inn Ministry” will be scanned, and your donation will be added to your bill. This year, one store per Bruno’s district (there are five) raising the most money will be matched up to $5,000 by the Regions Charity Foundation. We will receive 100 percent of the funds raised in the stores that have designated Samaritan Inn Ministry as their charity of choice. The 2007 Regions Charity Classic, presented by Bruno’s, donated more than $688,000 to charitable organizations in Alabama. Over its 16-year history, the tournament has donated almost $10 million to Alabama charities. With your help, local neighbors and friends will become more aware of giving back to our community.

Martin Luther King...We Remember

A Hero for All People...A Fellow Traveler for those who are Believers!



Today marks the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr's assasination. Someone who took a stand for what was right.

No he was not perfect...he was very human but he stood up when many fellow Christians did not...

No he wasn't always right....he made mistakes like all of us but he said what he thought the Lord was telling him to say. He stood for those who did not have a voice.

He was my hero. His life gives me courage to take a stand when I see an injustice.
He was someone who I admired for taking a stand for the poor and oppressed.




Whether you agree with all that he said or did...he remained as true as any human can to the call out of Isaiah 58:

" I'll tell what it really means to worship the Lord. Remove the chains of prisoners who are chained unjustly. Free those who are abused. Share your food with everyone who is hungry. Share your home with the poor and homeless. Give clothes to those in need. Don't turn away your relatives. Then, your light will shine...and you will quickly be healed.

(Contemporary English Version)





Be at peace with one another......

Lisa Rose,
Director, Church and Community Ministries

You Can Help Samaritan Inn When You Buy Groceries!

Check it out..............

For a six-week period, April 1 – May 9, 2008, Bruno’s/Food World customers shopping at select stores in the River Region will have an opportunity to donate to Samaritan Inn Ministries of the Montgomery Baptist Association. Signs will be posted in-store to indicate that Samaritan Inn Ministries is the selected benefactor.

Customers will be asked at check-out if they would like to donate. Paper golf balls imprinted with Samaritan Inn Ministries will be available and with a quick scan of a bar code a donation will be added to the customer’s total bill.

This year, one store in each of Bruno’s/Food World five districts raising the most money will be matched up to $5,000 by the Region’s Charity Foundation.

Bruno’s will host a check presentation ceremony in June (date tba).

The stores supporting Samaritan Inn Ministries are:

Food World 2020 East South Blvd., Montgomery,
Food World 4896 U.S. Hwy. 231, Wetumpka,
Food World 1860 East Main St., Prattville,
Food World 3543 Alabama Hwy.14, Millbrook

Elaine Morgan is the SI Director. If you are interested in volunteering,

Email Elaine efm60@earthlink.net

Easter

Lord,

Help all of us to really understand the depth of your love for us this Easter and let this time of celebration and remembrance remind us of what you did for us,....for this world and live that GIFT you gave us!

A Prayer for Lenten Reflection

Robert W. Guffey, Jr.

O Lord
We stand with You before the tomb
of Lazarus and proclaim with You
ROLL BACK THE STONE
We yearn for the rightness of the return
of One who was dead but now lives
ROLL BACK THE STONE
We pray to hear your call,
to be your beloved also
that we might awaken, arise
to the newness of our salvation
to life eternal, to love that
no matter the darkness
never lets us go.
ROLL BACK THE STONE.
Amen.

For Those Who Helped Lee and Mary Akin

THE SOUTHEASTERN LIVESTOCK EXPOSITION RODEO WELCOMES LEE AND MARY AKIN TO THE 51ST ANNUAL SLE RODEO

THANK YOU to Montgomery and surrounding counties for your generous contributions, donations, cards and prayers for Lee and Mary Akin. Lee Akin, “Top 10” Professional Bull Rider of Weatherford, Oklahoma, was injured last March when the bull he was riding during the 50th Anniversary SLE Rodeo stepped on his head. Due to the traumatic head injury, Lee stayed in NSICU at Baptist Medical Center South for two months.

During March and April of 2007, the Southeastern Livestock Exposition, Alabama Cattlemen’s Association along with countless people in the River Region generously provided cards, food, diapers, clothes and toys for their then 5 month old daughter Jada, babysitting, a car for Mary to use while in Montgomery, prayers and so much more.

In Alabama, almost $30,000 was collected for Lee and Mary to help defray the medical and travel expenses incurred by his long recovery. Lee and Mary are very appreciative for everyone’s time, caring and contributions and especially your prayers.

Lee and Mary are attending this years SLE Rodeo to say “THANK YOU”. So come out to this year’s “51st Annual SLE Rodeo” to welcome, meet and support Lee and Mary Akin. Lee and Mary will be available 30 minutes prior to each Rodeo performance (March 6, 7 & 8) at the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association booth inside the Garrett Coliseum to meet the community that was so helpful and supportive of them.

Tickets for the 51st SLE Rodeo are available by calling 1-888-2-RODEO-2 or available at the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association building in downtown Montgomery at 201 S. Bainbridge Street, Garrett Coliseum or http://www.ticketmaster.com/.


Thank you for your support and promotion of the SLE Rodeo.

See you at the RODEO!

Sincerely,
Debbie

2008 Poverty Guidelines

2008 HHS Poverty Guidelines Persons in Family or Household 48 Contiguous States and D.C.

Family of 1 $10,400 Family of 2 14,000 Family of 3 17,600 Family of 4 21,200 Family of 5 24,800 Family of 6 28,400 Family of 7 32,000 Family of 8 35,600 For each additional person, add 3,600

The poverty guidelines apply to both aged and non-aged units. The guidelines have never had an aged/non-aged distinction; only the Census Bureau (statistical) poverty thresholds have separate figures for aged and non-aged one-person and two-person units.

SOURCE: Federal Register, Vol. 73, No. 15, January 23, 2008, pp. 3971–3972

What is the solution here? This chart means that you have to make below that income level to qualify for most supplemental services. Can a family of four REALLY live on that approximately $21,000??? Things to Ponder...

Great Love in the Small Things!

Highland Gardens Baptist Church partnered with Vaughn Forest Baptist to honor teachers and faculty at Highland Gardens Elementary School on Valentines Day by taking cookies to the school.

"This is a small way of saying thank you for all the the hard work that they do", commented WMU director, Louise Russell. Today, as I visited with some of the leadership of this small, struggling church, I am amazed that in small ways, God can do great things!

Thank you Highland Gardens and Vaughn Forest for caring for teachers and showing Gods love in a tangible way!

MBA Poverty Training

Understanding Poverty in Our Communities

Monday, February 4th,

10a.m.

Valley Park Baptist Church

Pastors and Staff are invited

there will be a tour of the ministry center afterwards

ALL LIFE IS PRECIOUS IN THE EYES OF THE LORD. "We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty." Mother Teresa

From www.volunteermatch.org

NEWSRELEASE:
Call to Action
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
Monday, January 21, is the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, and once again we are all asked to make it a "day on" by committing to community service. Celebrate the true spirit of a man who said that anyone can be a hero, because anyone can volunteer to serve!


The King Day of Service was signed into law in 1987, and since 1994 Americans have been asked by Congress to use this day to get out and serve in the community. Dr. King himself was an incredible model for service. Between 1957 and 1968, he appeared before crowds over 2,500 hundred times to speak out against injustice. For his commitment, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize when he was only 35-years-old -- the youngest recipient ever.

Start your Day of Service planning at MLKDay.gov, where VolunteerMatch has partnered with the Corporation for National & Community Service to power a search engine for Day of Service opportunities.

Today there are more than 4,600 Day of Service volunteer opportunities at MLKDay.gov, and you can get involved with everything from MLK Day parades to mural painting and street clean-ups.

Take a moment today to learn about the Day of Service at MLKDay.gov, and then find a place to get out and serve on January 21. And don’t forget that VolunteerMatch is our favorite resource, year-round, for anyone who has ever had a dream.
***************************************************************************

Our five ministries are always in need of volunteers: For ongoing ways to volunteer, call Lisa at 334-271-6794 or email lrose@mgmbaptist.org.

Forest Park Ministry will be open for 1/2 a day on Monday January 21. Call Leatha Sturgeon at 269-5726 for more information...

Check out www.servantevangelism.com for more information on how your family can do some simple things to minister to others.

Understanding Poverty Seminar
Thursday, January 31, 2008
First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall

Speaker: Louise Kneese
Louise is a retired special ed teacher and coach, she has done extensive volunteer work with organizations that help people in poverty and has become a consultant to teach churches and other non profits how to help those in poverty in a way that is life giving.

Sponsored by STEP Foundation and First Baptist Community Ministries

$15 registration
Call Susan Byars 334-262-3141 to register

This seminar will help you and your church understand where people in poverty are coming from and how to best help them get on track to take care of themselves and their family.

Happy New Year! Welcome back to MBACCM blog!! There will be articles and upcoming events to be posted soon! Be ready for some exciting things happening in the MBA! Lisa Rose lrose@mgmbaptist.org