Are You Ready To Serve?

   “Each one should be ready to use whatever gift he has received to serve others,¹ faithfully² administering God's grace in its various forms”. I Peter 4:10 

Many years ago, my pastor had laid a stack of paperwork on the communion table one Sunday morning. He preached about “being ready to serve” when God calls. He told us that the stack of papers were forms to fill out for passports and if we did not have one, then we needed to come up during the invitation time, take it home and fill it out. His logic was this…if God calls you overseas for short or long term, how will you go if you are not ready? The bigger message for all of us was that we need to be equipped and be ready to serve when called.

 I would highly recommend that if you see trainings going on that have to with missions that you consider going to them and being “ready”. If you feel a drawing toward children, then if you see a tutoring or children’s ministry training coming up, go to it. If you like helping people recover after disasters, go to a DR training. If you are open to exploring areas of ministry that you don’t know about, call me and I will direct you to a training.  

One such training coming up the first part of August is a teacher training for English As A Second Language. It will be August 4-5th^th at Montgomery  Baptist Association. The cost is $35 (book and materials). This training will prepare you to be a teacher of English to foreign born people AND help you be aware of culture differences/how to share your faith, etc. It is a comprehensive learning experience that will not disappoint you. 

You do not have to have been a teacher to serve in this type of ministry!

 What you do need are these 3 things:

 1. A relationship with Christ.

2.  A heart for internationals.

3.  A willingness to learn and are able to speak English.

What do you need to do right now?

1.       Pray about it. 

2.       Email  our events coordinator, Elizabeth Kirk for registration materials at lrose@mgmbaptists.org  Call if you need it sent through regular mail. 334-271-6227. 

3.       As soon as you get materials, send form back in with payment of $35. Checks need to be made out to Montgomery Baptist Association. 

               For: ESL training. 20 Interstate Park Drive, Montgomery, AL   36109

                         SEATS ARE LIMITED. Deadline to register is: July 20^th .

 

4.       Pray and ask Christ to prepare your heart to learn and to find out where you can serve. 

If you would like more information, you can contact Lisa Rose, director of Compassion Ministries at the Montgomery Baptist Association for this and other similar trainings.

334-271-6794 

lrose@mgmbaptists.org 

Rally for the Galley 2016

Rev those engines and get ready to  have  a  heart-fulfilling  day!
The  third  annual  Rally  for  the Galley  is  coming  Saturday, August  13,  2016.    Kickstands up at 8 am in the parking lot of Heritage  Baptist Church,  1849  Perry  Hill  Road!   Bikers  who are  enthusiastic  about  ministry and  have  a  heart  for  missions, will join together for a beautiful ride  through  the  River  Region, stopping  at  designated  “rally  points.”   These rally  points  are  MBA  churches  who  are  now collecting  food  and  planning  for  the  arrival  of the motorcyclists. At each stop, riders will load the food onto a transport truck, and at the end of
the ride, they will arrive at  Harvest: A Galley of Grace,  Forest Park Ministry Center’s  Client  Choice  food
pantry, to see that the food is stocked  and  ready  for distribution.  While  there, they  will  enjoy  fellowship,
hotdogs  and  fixin’s  and  a silent auction. 

Here’s how you can help: 

•  We need sponsors to offset the costs.
•  We need nice items, gift cards, etc., for the
auction.
•  We need volunteers to help set up, cook, and
serve.
•  We need bikers who want to be the hands and
feet of Jesus!
Contact Donna McCullough at 269-5726 for details.

ESL training 2016

English As A Second Language Teacher Training 2016

August 12-13, 2016

Montgomery Baptist Association

20 Interstate Park Drive

Friday 8:30-5:00 p.m.

Saturday 8:30-12 p.m.

$30 which includes ESL manual and materials.

If you complete all 11 hours training hours, you will be certified to teach ESL through North American Mission Board, National Literacy Missions Partnership

 This is a Christian based training.

"Be dressed, ready for service and keep your lamps burning…” Luke 12:35

English As A Second Language Training SAVE THE DATE!

English As A Second Language Teacher Training 2015

 
 

When? 

August 6-7, 2015

Thursday: 9:00-5p.m.

Friday: 9:00-5p.m.

 

Where?

Gateway Baptist Church

3300 Bell Road

Montgomery, AL

 

 

You must attend all sessions in order to get certified. This is a Christian based curriculum.  

      Cost?  

 $30 includes teacher manual

Call 334-271-6794 for registration information or email lrose@mgmbaptist.org

Make checks payable to MBA 20 Interstate Park Drive, Montgomery, AL 36109

"The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were once foreigners. I am the LORD your God". Leviticus 19:34

 

Sponsored by Montgomery Baptist Association Church and Community Ministries

Samaritan Inn Appreciation Banquet and Fundraiser 2015

By Debbie Jones, director, MBA Samaritan Inn Ministry 

Have you had the experience of getting sick and going to the hospital while out of town? Have you or a loved one gone for treatment in a town where you did not know anyone? It is a scary concept for many people.  Samaritan Inn Ministry (SIM) serves families from outside the River Region who have a family member receiving treatment in a regional hospital. The ministry offers reduced cost short and long-term housing and partners volunteers with families to provide support, prayer and encouragement. Our ministry is one of the four cooperative ministries operating through the Montgomery Baptist Association and the support of member churches.

On Tuesday, April 14, at 6:00 p.m., Samaritan Inn Ministry will hold its annual banquet, fundraiser meal and auction. The fundraiser allows us the privilege to express our appreciation to all who supported the ministry during the past year, especially our volunteers. As our largest fundraiser for the year, an opportunity to learn more is provided to those with an interest in volunteering and/or providing financial support.

Taylor Road Baptist Church will host this year’s banquet.  Our theme, “Together, We Can...” demonstrates our purpose, as God’s people, to love and care for one another. We use this event to celebrate how God has ministered in the lives of families through SIM. During the banquet, there is a silent auction that will directly benefit our SIM families by providing a comfortable and caring stay while in Montgomery.

Billy Irvin, from Faith Radio, has graciously accepted our invite to once again serve as Master of Ceremonies. Billy is well known for his energetic personality and sense of humor. We are very blessed to have him be a part of this special night. Jason and Ashley Potvin, from Valley Grande, are excited to share how the ministry blessed them while their son was in the neo-natal unit. Melody Thomas, a Neo-natal Case Manager at Baptist South, will also be with us to express the neo-natal unit's gratitude for Samaritan Inn and how it plays a vital role for families of their patients. Jeff Dickey, Heritage Baptist Church, will provide our music. There is a possibility of some surprises that night as well! The cost to attend is $12 per person or you can host a table of six for $75.

Samaritan Inn is hopeful you will use this event to include your family, friends, co-workers, and anyone who might have an interest in Samaritan Inn Ministry. We continue to appreciate Montgomery Baptist Association churches for their prayers and support. Without you, we would not exist.

Send your R.S.V.P. and make checks payable to:

Montgomery Baptist Association  |  20 Interstate Park Drive, Montgomery, AL 36109  

Checks, please write in the memo: Samaritan Inn Banquet.

Registration deadline is Friday, April 10.

Call Montgomery Baptist Association for more information at 334-271-6794.

 

A Place for Caregivers

Here is a resource that our Montgomery Baptist Association churches and others might be interested in.  It is great and chocked full of ideas on helping caregivers take care of themselves as well as resources for their loved one. 

This site is for both parents and adult children. 

http://thecaregiverspace.org/

the ABLE Act

I am so excited because for many people who live with disability, this ACT will give them a chance to save some money and have it available for emergencies. This was signed in December by the President of the United States.

Here is a breakdown of the ABLE Act.

ABLE Act

If you have a child or know families who need this, check it out. 

On Loving Our Neighbor

On our Facebook page at Praying for Greater Montgomery, AL, I posted this thought for the week.Ponder this as you go about your week and encounter those who are "tough to love".

Great verse to meditate on this week as we continue to pray for our Greater Montgomery area. Part of loving Jesus is loving those we may not like. Look around you today. Who are those you don't like and don't want to love. That is the very person you and I need to be loving today. Meditate on this verse every day this week. 

What is God telling you through these words about loving your city/town?

"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful".
– Luke 6:32-36 (NIV)

Mixteco National Summit

Since 2008, the Montgomery Baptist Association and the Mixteco Missions Task Force have been working with churches and individuals who are ministering to this people group here in the Greater Montgomery area. There are over 1000 individuals that we know of that reside in the Montgomery area. That does not include Elmore, Autauga, Bullock and Pike County where we know there are more. The world has come to Montgomery.

Would you like to be a part of sharing Christ with them?

 Come to this first annual Mixteco National Summit and learn about the culture and ways that are relevant to them as you share Christ with them. It is being sponsored by the Montgomery Baptist Association, the Montgomery Mixteco Missions Task Force and the SBC International Mission Board. ALL Christian churches are invited. 

We need to know ASAP to be able to provide meals for everyone. It will be Thursday night, January 15-Saturday afternoon, January 17th. Call Lisa Rose at 334-271-6794 or email for more details and a schedule at lrose@mgmbaptist.org

NEED TO HEAR from you by Friday, January 9th.

Facebook Event:   https://www.facebook.com/events/556666804438788/

The WORLD is HERE.....

The world is HERE in the Greater Montgomery area:

Some of you know about the Mixteco people group that have migrated to Alabama and specifically Central Alabama. I have shared about it here and on my personal page. The Baptists are doing some great work here in many different ways to reach this"unreached" people group for the Lord, including partnering with the International Mission Board of the SBC. We are excited because it has taken about 4-5 years to find out who they are, where they are and how to reach them for Christ.

This past year, our Mixteco Task Force here in Montgomery has gone interdenominational by adding Cornerstone Bible Church to its group. We are thrilled to have them on board as well. Would you and your church like to have a seat on this task force? Call Lisa Rose and talk to her about it! So many blessing to have through getting to know this wonderfully, hard working people group.

One of our task force members has felt a call to "live" with the people here in one of the neighborhoods in Montgomery and be "little Christ" to those who live there. She has made great inroads and built trust among this people and needs our prayer support. She has begun learning this dialect(not Spanish) and is now helping translate. We have to be very careful about too much information given out because of trust issues and we want to protect the dignity of the people.
Some cool things are happening for the Kingdom though and so let me share what has been going on so you can better pray for this people group.

1. There are at least a 1000 people who are the Mixtec Indian Tribe that live in our area(maybe more). Their first language is NOT Spanish but an oral language called Mixteco, which has about 50 dialects within it. We have identified one of the dialects is prevalent here in the Montgomery area.
2. They mostly come from the mountains of southern Mexico in Guerrero and Oaxaca. They are "country" people.
 3. They are very hard workers. Most of those who are here are not only providing for their families here but also grandparents or loved ones in Mexico that are ailing or older. Very committed folks to family and work.
4. Most were "trafficked" into the states and were enslaved and abused for the time they were "under" the coyotes "rule". Amazing stories from some on being "freed" and being able to find their way here to Alabama.
5. There are some cultural things that are important to know but in getting to know their culture, you will understand how best to minister.
6. Forest Park Ministry, Community of Hope,Yarborough Street Baptist, Ridgecrest Baptist, Cornerstone Bible and Montgomery Baptist Association Church and Community Ministries have come together to form a Task Force to form a Task Force to reach this "unreached people group" for Christ ministering in unique and non traditional ways. We all have been working for about 4-5 years and are making some inroads by building trust and being invested.

Here are some things that are needed:
1. Pray-ers- We are going to start a Monday night prayer group and need some committed folks to PRAY for this people group and for those who are "on the field". Time and place to be announced.
2. MEN in the Mixteco people are really into soccer and basketball and have formed teams here in Montgomery. We need men who are willing to play soccer and basketball with them in order to have the opportunity to share Christ with them.
3. WOMEN-we are starting a women's BS that will need to have an interpreter(which we have). Any leaders will have to be trained on working with these women and what they need. AND...doing Bible Study differently than you are used to doing it.
4. CHILDREN-Tutors for a new after school tutoring ministry at Hopper Gardens. Tutors will be trained to minister and tutor the kids. We will also need some "child care" for the women's group that will be meeting.
5. Financial supporters for rent(at Hopper Gardens), tutoring supplies AND for Jesus films in their native tongue.
These are FIVE things that you can be involved in if you feel led. I am challenging you to PRAY and seek the Lord and ask for ways you can be involved in leading people to the Lord in this indigenous people group and how YOU can support what is already going on.

ANY Christian church can be involved as long as you are willing to learn and minister in new and exciting ways.

The world has come to the River Region and we get the privilege of helping share Christ with them without even having to go out of the country!!

Contact Lisa Rose at 334-271-6794 OR email me at lrose@mgmbaptist.org

"The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God". Leviticus 19:34
"He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done." Proverbs 19:17