God's Appointed Moments..2012 Toy Sale Report

275 families shopped

Over 1000 children served

140 volunteers serving

Largest toy collection in the last four years

Many parents told their stories/were prayed for/gospel shared

 

Here is an example of the many volunteer stories from that day! Be Blessed!

From Judy Lovelady, member of Pinedale Baptist Church

“I shared with my church on Sunday that when I was asked to work in the Café, I thought I would just be serving cookies and drinks. Didn’t take me long to realize that God put me in that work area for a reason. In the beginning I felt that maybe I was out of my comfort zone but God showed me differently. After talking to many wonderful and heartfelt moms/grandmothers and even care givers, it was at the end of the day that I noticed a mother sitting by herself. I begin to talk with her and ask her if she had found some items for her children. She told me yes, but there was a distinct sound in her voice that nudged me to stay and talk more. I ask her about her children and their ages. She had 4 and she had concerns for her baby and the 2 youngest girls. The baby a boy had recently been sent to UAB where they discovered that he had a heart defect and they immediately did open heart surgery. They then discovered in testing the other 3 that 2 those girls had the same heart problems that required surgery as well.  WOW… did this blow me away!!!

I begin to tell her I could understand just a small portion of her heart feelings because 31 years ago I also had a baby boy diagnosed with a heart defect that required open heart surgery at UAB. She looked at me and said “God sent you to me for I haven’t been able to talk to anyone that could even begin to understand what my heart feels.    I told her that I could understand the concerns and fears she had.  I told her that many times I had to remind myself that where there is life, there is HOPE and I had to allow God to take care of this situation.  I have never lost those concerns nor fears even 31 years later but I still had faith and hope and I believed that God was always in control taking care of His/my child. Each year that went by, my faith grew stronger and stronger.  Even though none of us are promised tomorrow God still blesses us even when we are at our lowest ebb.

I prayed with her and following our prayer she looked at me and said, “You DO understand and for that I am thankful for you being here with me today”.  I told her that 31 years ago I had wished for a mother to come my way so that I could have talked with her and she could have opened my eyes to HOPE.  The mother was even more amazed when I told her that my baby boy had worked all day Friday at the Toy Sale and until lunch that Saturday.  I hated she didn’t get to meet him. She told me this as she left.  “God is so good, He has not only been a blessing to me today He has given you a gift for 31 years”.  I could see Hope in her eyes because of what God had done in our son’s life. She wanted my churches info and name. I wrote it down and told her if she ever needed me, to contact the church and I would be there,  but in the meantime... I would be praying for her and her children.  God knows this mother and her children’s need and my prayer for her is that something I said to her will remain in her heart but if nothing else, the words that God spoke through me WILL give her Hope this Christmas. 

Olive Tree Ministries of Alabama

Did you know that Olive Tree Ministries of Alabama has officially started in Lowndes County? Along with Montgomery Baptist Association churches, several other denominations have come together to fight poverty, racism and lack of education in this county. This county is about 31% pop. below the poverty level. Partnering with the Lowndes County BOE to provide tutoring and holding Operation Inasmuch Mission Days(revitalizing homes of seniors)this ministry will make a difference. Black and white churches are working together this Fall also to begin forging friendships with each other and bridging the racial gap.
Would you pray for the Olive Tree Ministries of AL?

 Pray for resources, volunteers and open hearts as they live as disciples of Christ in this county.
Isaiah 55:11 says: "So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty,but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. 

Pray for the right words for each of these volunteers that will be bring streams of living water to refresh the people of Lowndes County!

 

       Igniting Passion Among Believers in Montgomery Alabama 

Montgomery Baptist Association Key Leader Conference

ALL MBA-CCM volunteers have a special invitation to this event! 

Call Jennifer at 334-271-6794  

for more information and registration!

School Uniform Drive at Forest Park Ministry

"I needed clothes and you clothed me"...Matthew 25:36a

Collecting IN GOOD CONDITION school uniforms and accessories at Forest Park Ministry Center. NEED khaki's (any color that was used for school)and uniform tops for ANY school in the Montgomery area. In very good condition shoes are welcome as well.

 We will be collecting through August 1, 2012

PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL:

Director, Donna McCullough, to arrange drop off time.

334-269-5726

forestparkministry@yahoo.c​om

Tomorrow(May 10th)we will celebrate another year of Conversational English School which meets at First Baptist Church Montgomery, AL every Thursday. Approximately, 275 students met every week from over 50 countries to learn English, learn American culture and hear about God. Many have become dear friends who have been with us for several years. Many have just started. We are proud of our students and wish those who are leaving to go home many blessings! For those who will return in the Fall, we wish you a wonderful summer and will see you back in the Fall!

Are you interested in teaching next Fall or starting an ESL class of your own? Training will be:

Conversational English Training

Wednesday, August 1, 2012 5-9p.m.

Thursday, August 2, 2012  8:30-4:30p.m.

Friday, August 3, 2012 8:30-4:30p.m.

Cost is $30

If you want to be certified, you must attend the whole training.

Reply to lrose@mgmbaptist.org for a registration form.

Golf and Jesus!

Come out next Thursday and play golf
with your friends to raise money

for

Samaritan Inn Ministry

and

Community of Hope Inc.

It will be a day of fun, fellowship and raising money for the Kingdom!

Today, we found out that a family in one of the apartment complexes tragically lost their two boys to a drowning at a pool. One of our churches, who has been reaching out there stepped up to help the family. They have established a fund to help with funeral costs. This church has been investing in the lives of families in this complex and although these kids had only been a time or two, this church stepped right up and reached out. Pray for Pastor Mike and others at Ridgecrest Baptist Church as they minister to this family.

Ridgecrest Baptist Church has set up fund to help the family with funeral costs.


Checks need to be made to: Ridgecrest Baptist Church for Garcia Boys Fund. Mail checks to: 5260 Vaughn Road Montgomery, AL 36117 
Call the church for more information if you need it. 334-277-0011

Reaching the Nations in Montgomery

Those of us who have grown up in church have been taught about “foreign missions” and “going” and “praying for our missionaries…over there.” Well times have changed, and instead of always going, we have the opportunity right here to “do foreign missions.” You don’t need a passport to reach people in Montgomery; you just need a servant’s heart and a willing spirit! It is no accident that God has brought people from over 50 countries to the Greater Montgomery area. He wants us to be that helper He talks about in scripture. “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong." Leviticus 19:33

We are very blessed to have an “unreached people group” here in Montgomery. They are the Mixteco Indians from Mexico who speak a different language other than Spanish; it is an oral language called Mixteco. They have different cultural ways, but like us, they love their families and are hard workers. They are here because someone told them there was a better life. My ancestor, Walsingham Chilson, came here about 1650 to escape religious oppression. He brought his family here to begin a new life. It was rough. He had to labor and do everything he could to provide for his family. He also wanted a more excellent life than what they had in England. The same is true today. Montgomery has become the host to this people group, the Mixteco’s. So, not only as citizens of this great country, but more importantly, citizens of the Kingdom of God, we are to reach out and minister to this group as well as others who have come here for a “better life”. Why don’t we show them the TRUE better life, which is life in Christ? Will you be a part of that? Scripture says: “Treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you and you shall love him as yourself.” Leviticus 19:34

Anna stepped out of her comfort zone of dependence on a husband who was abusing and isolating her and turned him in. She now has to restart her life. A church in the area is reaching out to her through worship, loving on her and her kids and teaching her English. She needs English to be able to survive and is learning to navigate this city. A simple act of teaching someone how to speak the local language can have a huge effect on their future.

There are churches here that are already reaching out to this people group, but we would like YOU to join us! We have a Mixteco Task Force among our churches and ministries. Ridgecrest, Eastern Hills, Yarbrough Street, Community of Hope and Forest Park Ministry are all represented on this task force and reaching this people group, but we need more who will take an interest. YOUR church can participate in many ways to reach this people group. We will be exploring ways to connect with their families in their homeland and develop an Acts 1:8 strategy for reaching this people group.

Contact Lisa Rose for more information on what you or your church would want to do to "join God in what He is doing" in Montgomery.

Lisa Rose lrose@mgmbaptist.org or 334-271-6794

Alabama Gives Day...February 2, 2012

Alabama Gives Day is coming up....MBA Church and Community Ministries has signed up to participate. You can access our link at:
http://algives.razoo.com/story/Mba-Community-Ministries

We need your support! Please check it out and pass it on to your friends!

Lisa Rose, director
Church and Community Ministries