One Mission Magazine, Spring 2009

SPRING2009

mel johnson MEET YOUR STATE MISSIONARYmel johnson MEET YOUR STATE MISSIONARY

ten years of CHILDREN’SHONOR CHOIRten years of CHILDREN’SHONOR CHOIR

CHURCH VISITSCHURCH VISITSwe are home: A MOBILECHAPEL STORYwe are home: A MOBILECHAPEL STORY

SUMMER AT SHOCCOSUMMER AT SHOCCO

In Other Words… | One Mission CalendarIn Other Words… | One Mission CalendarOne Mission is made possible by gifts of Alabama Baptists through the Cooperative Program. www.alsbom.org

CHALLENGETO BUILD IS ACALL TOPRAYER AND FAITH

CHALLENGETO BUILD IS ACALL TOPRAYER AND FAITH

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go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching themto observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. – Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

One Mission is made possible by gifts of Alabama Baptists through the Cooperative Program.

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State MissionaryExecutive Director-Treasurer

Habakkuk 3:17-19

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A Summerof Opportunities

As the summer months draw near, please considerthe many opportunities offered at Shocco Springs

Conference Center. Many Alabama Baptists and otherChristians have found renewed commitment to ourLord and His service while attending conferences,

workshops and other events at Shocco.


On pages 8-9 of this issue of One Missionmagazine, you’ll find a list of Shocco events planned byyour state missionaries and publicized by offices fromyour State Board of Missions.

The testimonies you’ll read represent barely the tipof the iceberg when it comes to the number oflives that have been changed by the power ofChrist during a visit to Shocco Springs.

We hope to see you there!

Visiting ChurchesSeveral years ago, your state missionaries

began an effort to visit every one of theapproximately 3,200 congregations affiliatedwith our State Convention. We completed one cycle andare now in the next.

The experience has been overwhelmingly positivefor our staff as well as for local churches who continuedto affirm this with positive feedback.

Your state missionarieshave all the same prayerneeds as other believers, butwe would also offer a specialprayer request for travelingmercies. Each year, we travelapproximately 750,000 miles visitingchurches and associations to helpprovide conferences, workshops,training consultations and a variety ofother ministries aimed to serve thelocal churches.

One of my own church visits was at Antioch EastBaptist Church in Greenville. Led by Pastor RonnieBoulware, this congregation has a remarkable storyfrom recent years as told on pages 4-5 of this magazine.

Children’s Honor ChoirOne of the brightest, most upbeat ministries in the

recent history of the State Board of Missions is theChildren’s Honor Choir. For the past decade, this choir

has provided many future Baptist leaders withan unforgettable and highly positive avenue forexperience in serving our Lord through musicand worship leadership — even at such ayoung age.

Pioneered by retired State MissionaryRay Burdeshaw and his wife, Jane, the choircontinues under the able leadership of KeithHibbs, the state missionary who now directs

our Office of Worship Leadership & Church Music.

In fact even in retirement, Ray and Jane continue tolead this choir. Pray for the Burdeshaws, for KeithHibbs and the many other adults who work behind the

scenes ensuring that Children’s HonorChoir will continue to be a way to honorour Lord.

Mobile ChapelsOur mobile chapel ministry continues

to be a great help to churches in time ofneed. On April 14, Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in HaleAssociation was destroyed by fire. Two days later Ivisited the pastor, Chuck Weaver, and carried with me acheck from disaster relief funds. Less than three weekslater, the church celebrated Homecoming on May 3 byworshiping in a mobile chapel on their own property.Both the check and the mobile chapel were madepossible by the generous giving of Alabama Baptists.Read more about this story of tragedy and triumph onpage 13. OM

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We as your state missionaries value our partnership with associationalmissionaries. All of our ministries exist to assist the local church in avariety of ways through Great Commission Ministries.


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Ronnie credits the congregation of Antioch East asbeing responsive to God’s leadership and describes themas ready to obey Him.

“You have a choice to stay like you are or step outin faith and do what you need to meet the need,” Ronniesaid. “We could have stayed where we were, but wefollowed the leadership of the Lord and watched Him work.”

During the past few years,encouragement came in a variety ofways to the congregation, including in

partnership with the State Board ofMissions (SBOM). Ronnie expressedappreciation for how the CooperativeProgram provided ministries from theSBOM ministries to help the localchurch.

“We had a long-range planning committee thatbegan six years ago and that looked at every aspect ofour church,” Ronnie recounted. “One of the things theyconcluded was necessary in order for us to grow wasthat we had to build. The committee made arecommendation to look closely at our building needs.”

Contact was made with State Missionary GarySwafford who was responsible for assisting churcheswith insights and resources related to church buildingand church architecture. (Editor’s Note: Buildingministries are now handled by Otis Corbitt. See belowfor contact information.)

“I already knew Ronnie Boulware as a positiveChristian leader with Kingdom vision from his previouspastorate,” Gary said. “When I heard he was moving toAntioch East, I thought, ‘Wow! This is perfect.’ The

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Ronnie Boulware, pastorof Antioch East BaptistChurch in Greenville since2005, sees the future of thesouth Alabama congregationas dynamic and growing.

“Even in the midst of theeconomic problems of ournation, our people are stillconfident and have faith toproceed,” Ronnie stated.“Our giving is up from lastyear. Whenever andwherever you follow theLord, He always providesexactly what’s needed.”

Is a Call to Prayer and Faith


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church had excellent stability andwas sitting on the front end ofgreat potential. They already hadbeen taught that ‘God hassomething great for you. You’llbe amazed at what God can do.’”

When Ronnie became pastor, a group from AntiochEast participated in the SBOM’s annual Church BuildingConference where they gathered excellent informationand returned to Greenville with an even greatercommitment to seek God’s will.

“The group did anexcellent job in planningand carrying through theplan to build the building,namely a new sanctuary,”Gary recalled. “At the sametime, the body of thechurch was being built.Their unity in fellowshipgrew along with growth innumbers.”

Ronnie related howGary recommended thechurch contact the SouthernBaptist Convention’sChurch Architectureservice, now a part ofLifeWay ChristianResources.

“The fees were a lotbetter than we could findanywhere else,” Ronniesaid. “The consultanthelped us develop a masterplan that actually stretchesover 50 years.”

Indeed such a plan wasneeded, Ronnie noted, sincechurch attendance atAntioch East was crowdingthe sanctuary.

“Our former sanctuary could seat 175 comfortably,but we were elbow to elbow every Sunday,” he said.“We knew we had to build or go to two services — andwe felt led to build.”

But even as the church began its building campaign,the nation in general and the Southeast in particularfell on uncertain times.

“This was about the time Hurricane Katrina camethrough,” Ronnie observed. “We were a little worriedabout finances.”

But he made contact with then State MissionaryJohn MacLaren — since retired — who was theSBOM’s director of Cooperative Program &Stewardship Development.

“John helped us with ‘Challenge to Build’ (CTB),”Ronnie said. “He first met with the leadership of thechurch and presented the details related to CTB. In thatmeeting of leadership, those present themselves pledged$100,000 to be given over a three-year period. The total

cost was accurately projected to be $1.2 million.”Over the next three years, the church collected

giving commitments of $490,000 and finished thebuilding process in October 2006, the same month theyheld their first service in the new sanctuary.

“Our church grew, and giving increased,” Ronniesaid. “In fact, we paid off our building in June 2008 —the entire $1.2 million. We basically more than doubledour pledges, and it was a real blessing.”

Many people in the church gave sacrificially, Ronniesaid. Sacrifice came in a variety of ways, some

unexpected.“One of our members, Fred

Harrison, was a model train collectorwho kept his collection in a separatebuilding,” Ronnie related. “Whensacrifice was taught and discussed,Fred felt the leading of God to sell histrain collection, and he gave the moneyto the building fund.”

Today the church is about to beginthe second phase of the buildingprocess to provide more educationalspace and a new fellowship hall.

“All through this, God has given usconfidence and has increased ourfaith,” Ronnie said. “Before the firstphase, the church in its entire historyhad never borrowed a dime. Thoughwe had to borrow to finish thesanctuary, the money came in, and thepeople were faithful to God.”

Challenge to Build is still a vital,excellent strategy for churches seekinghelp with capital fundraising, says StateMissionary Jim Swedenburg who hasled the Office of Cooperative Program& Stewardship Development sinceJanuary 2007.

“With CTB, many churches willraise anywhere from 1 to 2-1/2 times oftheir annual budget receipts,” Jim

notes. “A Challenge to Build consultant — who receivesa fee from the church based on the number of residentmembers — helps the church over a three-year period.”

Churches that attempt to raise capital funds withoutsuch a consultant usually only raise half as much, Jim

says, adding that CTB aims to keep spiritual priorities inorder.

“CTB is a spiritualemphasis out of which thefundraising grows, not theother way around,” Jimdeclares. “It starts with prayer,

very much dealing with the Holy Spirit and the spirit of the people.”

For more information about church architecture andbuilding-related issues, please contact State MissionaryOtis Corbitt at 1-800-264-1225, ext. 332,[email protected]. OM

spring 2009


When Kelsey Moorewas a child, she was shy and couldn’t imagine singingin front of people. Now, she says, “I’m in charge of ouryouth praise and worship ministry, the ‘front-man’ of aChristian rock band, and am comfortable playing infront of several hundred people at a time.” What causedthe change? “Being involved in Children’s Honor Choirgave me a lot of confidence in sharing my gifts withothers,” Moore says.

Moore is just one of the hundreds of people whoselives have been enriched by Children’s Honor Choir,which celebrated ten years of ministry in March.Highlighting the occasion was a concert at First BaptistChurch, Montgomery, by a combined choir of currentmembers and alumni from the last ten years.

In 1999 Ray Burdeshaw, thendirector of the office of worshipleadership and church music of theState Board of Missions, had the ideato create a choir of auditioned 4ththrough 6th graders from AlabamaBaptist churches. Since its inception,

the choir has been directed byBurdeshaw’s wife, Jane, andaccompanied by Deb Anderson,organist at Elkdale Baptist Church in Selma.

Auditions take place in the fall, rehearsals are heldin January and February, and the students go on tour,usually somewhere in Alabama, in March. Thecompetition can be tough – this year, 400 childrenauditioned and 170 were selected.

Keith Hibbs was an associate in the office ofworship leadership and church music and is nowdirector. He recalls, “One of the primary reasons westarted the choir was to give students a high qualitymusical experience that was spiritual and relational.”

He thought the relationship aspect would be a nicebyproduct but now, looking back through the lens of thepast ten years, realizes it’s become a main feature. Justask Lindsay Cleveland and Whitney Head.

Lindsay was raised in a small church andremembers the opportunities Children’s Honor Choirgave her to sing with a large choir and “to do many

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things besides sing – play handbells and otherinstruments, learn sign language, and even dance. “AtHonor Choir Lindsay became friends with Whitney.Now they’re roommates at Samford University whereLindsay is a music education major and Whitney isstudying church music. Theyboth credit Honor Choir withhelping them discover their loveof music and leading to theircareer choice.

Hibbs notes that Children’sHonor Choir ministers to localchurches by providing anincreased level of enthusiasm,energy and expertise to theirchildren’s choir ministries. Inaddition it’s also an outreach tool,as the children, their parents andleaders serve as positiveambassadors for the State Board ofMissions at hotels and othervenues around the state.

The ministry isinnovative as well.

“We don’tknow of any other state that does it,”Hibbs says. “We are developingtomorrow’s worship leaders today.”

For more information about Children’sHonor Choir, contact State MissionaryKaren Gosselin, 1-800-264-1225, ext. 318,[email protected]. To view additionalphotos and video clips from the concert,visit www.alsbom.org/chc-tour. OM


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Keith Hibbs

gOne of the primary reasons we started the choir was

to give students a high quality musical experiencethat was spiritual and relational. – Keith Hibbs

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Summer atSh|cc|

After thePastor/DeaconSpouse Retreat, I have a reneweddesire to reclaimthe de-churched.— GainesHouse, Gordo

African-American Church Strategic Planning has been awonderful experience for us. It showed us how to serveGod, how to treat others while serving Him and how toget our youth involved in the services of the church. — Terrance and Jacqueline Gaines, Parrish

Shocco is a perfect setting for a retreat. Thanks, AlabamaBaptists! — Sulynn Creswell, Camden Baptist Church

At the Alabama Disciple Making Institute, I was deeply moved for the need ofgreater prayer discipline. God always touches my heart when I’m at Shocco. — James Preachers, director of missions, Sardis Baptist Association

II’ve been preaching 42 years. The Sunday School Leadership Conferencewas very good, informative and helpful. — Mike Glenn, Union Grove

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AAt the Fall Senior Adult Retreat, the sermon by Phil Winningham was awesome. I have never felt a stronger presence of the Holy Spirit than during this sermon. — Roy Hill, Valley


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www.alsbom.org

June 1-3 Student Life Youth Camp #14-7 Student Life Youth Camp #25-6 Lay Renewal Training8-12 Student Life Youth Camp #312-15 Student Life Youth Camp #415-19 Student Life Youth Camp #528-7/4 Camp Shocco for the Deaf

July 6-9 RA/Challenger Camp #19-11 Lad & Dad RA Camp #113-17 Mix45613-17 ReMix16-18 Lad & RA Camp #216-18 Lad & Mom RA Camp17-18 Children's Choir Summit20-23 RA/Challenger Camp #223-25 Lad & Dad RA Camp #324-26 WMU & Women's Leadership

Equipping & Enrichment31-8/1 Sunday School Leader Training I

August 7-8 Sunday School Leader Training II27-29 Missions University28-29 Men's Ministries, Challenger/RA

Leadership Training Conference

REGISTRATION: For Student Life camps, call 1-800-718-2267. For RA Camps, call 1-800-264-1225, ext. 227. For all other Shocco events, call 1-800-280-1105.

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From the minute we arrived at WMU Leadership Training, I felt excited. God’s presence is on theface of so many people who work here and those who are visiting. — Cissy Childs, Phenix City

bShocco Springs is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited. During the Human RelationsConference, my heart was touched by so many things that were said and done and by thebeautiful fellowship of the people from different nationalities. The love of Jesus was shownamong His people. — Tanya Gates, Valley

www.alsbom.org

At the Fall Senior Adult Retreat, the small groupmeetings were intimate and very special.

— Nancy Scroggins, Mobile


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Not longafter RickLance cameto the StateBoard ofMissions asa state missionary and executivedirector, he set a goal for the SBOMstaff that had never been achieved inAlabama or any other stateconvention.

The aim was simplebut ambitious: Visit eachof the 3,200-pluschurches affiliated withthe Alabama BaptistState Convention over aperiod of several years.

“In talking with colleagues whowere leaders of other stateconventions, I found some had triedsuch an effort but, for one reason oranother, weren’t successful,” Lancerecounted. “Still we saw anopportunity to meet Alabama Baptistleaders in their local church settingsand to thank them in person forsupporting missions through theCooperative Program.”

The first round of church visitswas completed between 2001 and2006 after state missionariescontacted and visited virtually all ofthe 3,200-plus churches. A secondcycle began in 2007 and will becompleted by 2013, Lance stated.

As the SBOM staff ofapproximately 50-60 statemissionaries deploy each year tovisit 10-15 churches each, they areasked to contact the church’s pastorand the local director of missionsprior to visiting.

“We don’t ask to speak duringthe service or be listed in the orderof service,” Lance explained.“We’re just there to worship withthe local church, shake a few hands,thank the church for supportingmissions and treat the pastor and hisfamily to a meal in a localrestaurant, which serves as avaluable time of networking andfellowship.”

With the church visits effort nowin its ninth year, state andassociational missionaries wereasked recently to reflect on theimpact and benefits of the visits.

Mike McLemore, executivedirector of the Birmingham BaptistAssociation, credited the visits asone factor for the good spirit withinthe Alabama Baptist family.

“These visits by our statemissionaries have been a positiveexperience,” McLemore observed. “Ibelieve these visits havestrengthened the relationships withour pastors and churches and are oneof the reasons we have the strongspirit of cooperation that exists

within our state convention.”Jerry Grandstaff, director of

missions of the Columbia BaptistAssociation, described the visits as“nothing but positive. Dr. Lance andour state missionaries have bridged agap, brought a greater awareness ofand a personal touch to our churcheswhen it comes to the purpose andvalue of cooperative missions.”

In fact, Lance periodicallyreminds SBOM staff that, inaddition to promoting the support ofmissions through the CooperativeProgram, it’s vital to express strongsupport for associational missionsand gratitude for the ministries ofDOMs as well.

State Missionary Mike Nuss,director of the Collegiate & StudentMinistries Office, affirmed the visitsas “the best way to connect withpastors and congregations and toknow firsthand how a statemissionary can be of help andservice to that pastor, church or localassociation.”

Others offering commentsrecently about church visitsincluded:

— GARY FARLEY, director ofmissions, Pickens BaptistAssociation: The second round ofchurch visits seems to be havinggreater success than the first.Initially some met these visits withreservations. This time it is like avisit from an honored and welcomecolleague.

— EDDY GARNER, director ofmissions, Colbert-Lauderdale BaptistAssociation: State Missionary DavidSumner made a church visit at

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Happy Valley BaptistChurch where the pastor,Andy Corbett, mentioned heneeded some help withSunday Schoolorganization. Within a fewweeks, State MissionaryDaniel Edmonds (director of SundaySchool) made the trip to ourassociation to meet with Andy andhelp him deal with his SundaySchool questions.

— STATE MISSIONARY STEVESTEPHENS, associate, GlobalMissions Office: Finding thrivingchurches in out-of-the-way placeshas been a blessing. Even thoughthey were considered small churchesand difficult to drive to, they hadlots of children and youth.

— STATE MISSIONARY MIKEJACKSON, director, Discipleship &Family Ministries Office: Churchvisits have enabled me to get toknow many across Alabama and toexperience the uniqueness of whowe are as Alabama Baptists. I havehad the joy of being in churchesfrom our major cities to some of ourmost rural settings. It has deepenedmy appreciation for the way we doministry as a part of the SBOM andthrough the Cooperative Program.

— STATE MISSIONARY JEFFHAMMACK, coordinator, ComputerServices: More times than not I havefound my church visits turn into a

ministry of encouragementwell- received by the churchleadership. I am often, Ibelieve, the more blessed bythose visits. It’s nice to setfoot in churches all overAlabama to worship,

fellowship and pray with otherSouthern Baptists in Alabama.

— STATE MISSIONARYJAMEY PRUETT, associate,Associational Missions & ChurchPlanting Office: I have never had anegative experience doing churchvisits. It always encourages me tomeet a pastor who is faithfullyserving the Lord. Furthermore, Ireally enjoy meeting different peoplein different contexts living out acommon faith. Without fail, I comeaway from church visits beingencouraged.

— STATE MISSIONARY KEITHHIBBS, director, Worship Leadership& Church Music Office: Churchvisits are a great opportunity for meto put faces on those who givethrough the Cooperative Program tosupport my ministry.

— STATE MISSIONARY LEEWRIGHT, coordinator, ChurchCompensation Services: I am alwaysamazed by the variety of Baptistchurches I observe making churchvisits… . But it is so much morethan musical styles. These are anouter reflection of different church

personalities and giftedness and the

different people groups they reachthroughout the state. I enjoywonderful worship experiences ineach church and enjoy buildingfriendships across the state.

— GEORGE THOMPSON,director of missions, Judson BaptistAssociation: Response from ourchurches include remarks such as,“Our state missionaries are alwayshigh-caliber people,” “They alwayshave so much to offer” and “Someof our people are new Baptists, andtheir visits offer an opportunity toexplain our relationship to the StateBoard of Missions.”

— BILL WALLACE, director ofmissions, Cahaba BaptistAssociation: Church visits from statemissionaries are positive events thatall our people need. It helps themput a face on state missionaries.

For a more complete listing oftestimonies from state andassociational missionaries, pleasego online towww.alsbom.org/churchvisits. OM


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ONA wise farmer once gave the following instruction

to his grandson: “The things you do around this houseand for this house and in this house, them’s chores.Young man, the work is out in the field!”

A person with a heart for missions understands thatthe chores of Christian living in and around the house ofGod prepare and equip us for a work that takes placeout in the fields.

My Christian journey began in 1971 as a directresult of a church plant from a core group meeting in arented tire store in Guntersville. Creek Path BaptistChurch was the church God used during my early yearsof discipleship, and her growth and influence continuesto impact our world for Christ.

In later years, God opened yet another door ofexperience pointing me in the direction of missions.Stowers Hill Baptist Church became grounds for growth and complete surrender to the Lordship ofChrist. Through encouragement of my church family,the Etowah Baptist Association and state conventionsupport, I became directly involved with inner cityministry through the EBA mission center.

Lay leadership opportunities in youth, SundaySchool and deacon ministry in the local churchcontinued the building process. Through this richexperience of change and investment from scores ofGod’s people, my hearing and heeding God’s call intothe preaching ministry became an easy progression.

From the first message until now, God has given methe privilege of preaching His Word around the globeand witnessing the miracle of salvation time and timeagain. From volunteer ministry to state missionary, mylife continues to be blessed by God.

Through the Office of Global Missions, disasterrelief has become one of many great tools used to bringpeople to Christ. Though we do not seek crisis, whencrisis comes, it is wonderful to offer the hope ofsalvation to those who may feel hopeless. Ourconvention’s ability to respond is due, in no small part, to some 20 years of effective leadership fromTommy Puckett.

What a blessing it is to serve as your statemissionary in light of his example and the extensivededication of 5,181 faithful volunteers who compriseAlabama’s disaster relief ministry.

Because of gifts made possible from churchesthrough the Cooperative Program, we can be assured ofcontinued support for the “the work that is in the field.”

To contact Mel, call 1-800-264-1225, ext. 389,[email protected]. Other biographical details areavailable online at www.alsbom.org/mjohnson. OM

MEET YOUR STATE MISSIONARY

MEL JOHNSON



On the night of April 14,Pleasant Hill Baptist Church inrural Hale County wascompletely destroyed by fire.On May 3 – after only two Sundays – thechurch worshipped together under one roofon their own property. How that happened is

a vivid example of the Cooperative Program at work. The day after the fire, Bill Wallace, Hale

Association director of missions, and State MissionaryMel Johnson met with Chuck Weaver, pastor of PleasantHill, and several members. Consulting with StateMissionary Ron Parnell, they began making plans for a mobile chapel to be delivered to the property as soonas possible.

The next day, State Missionary and ExecutiveDirector Rick Lance visited Weaver to provideencouragement and see the destruction firsthand. Whilethere, Lance delivered a check – made possible by giftsof Alabama Baptists through the Cooperative Programand funds designated by Alabama Baptists for disasterrelief – to Bill Wallace to give to the church for them touse as they saw fit. Bill presented the check to Weaveron April 19.

While he appreciated the check, Chuck – whocomes out of an independent Baptist background and isin his first pastorate – admits that he didn’t realize thefull impact of the gift until the next day when anothercheck arrived in the mail. “It was from a lady on a fixedincome living in a nursing home,” Chuck recalls, “and Ithought ‘you know, that’s the widow’s mite.’” That’swhen the Lord taught Chuck a lesson.

“The Lord told me, ‘Chuck, where do you think themoney came from the State Board gave to you? It came

from widows’ mites. I can gather people together thatwill help so many more people through theCooperative Program than we can do on our own.’

“I guess on that day I became a Southern Baptist. Isaw firsthand what the Cooperative Program does.”The rest of the story? A brand new mobile chapel,

made possible by Cooperative Program gifts, wasdelivered on April 29. Church members spent the nextfew days building a deck, working on electrical andplumbing issues and preparing it for use, and then thechurch held Sunday School and worshipped in themobile chapel on May 3 – appropriately Homecoming.

“People have told me timeand time again what a blessing itis to have our own place toworship and not have to gosomewhere else,” Chuck said.“That’s what having the chapelmeans to Pleasant Hill BaptistChurch. We are home.”

And the Cooperative Program will continue tosupport Pleasant Hill, as the church is receivingassistance in planning their new building plus thepossibility of volunteer construction crews through theState Board.

“Our widows’ mites can go so much further whenput in the hands of a group of people who are goodstewards with it and use it for things like this,” Chuckadded. “Thank you, Alabama Baptists.”

To download a video version of this story, visitwww.alsbom.tv.

For more information about the mobile chapelministry, contact State Missionary Ron Parnell, 1-800-264-1225, ext. 234, [email protected]. OM

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Web Sites From Your StateBoard of MissionsWWW.ALSBOM.ORGthe main State Board of MissionsWeb siteWWW.RICKLANCE.COMblog by Executive Director Rick LanceWWW.PREACHINGPOINT.COMresource-rich Web site for preachersWWW.PRAYINGBRIDGE.COMpray for and post prayer requestsWWW.ALSBOM.TVvideo resources from the State Board of MissionsWWW.THESTUDENTHUB.ORGCollegiate & Student Ministriesinformation

Keys to Follow-up forVacation Bible SchoolDURING VBS:

1. Information cards onenrollees should be filled outcompletely (printed if possible).

2. Provide pupils withinformation about the church and itsministries to be carried home.

3. Identify families who have nochurch home.

4. Plan to do follow-up as a partof the overall VBS plan.DURING THE WEEK OF ORIMMEDIATELY AFTER VBS:

1. In making follow-up visits,wear a name tag and have freshbreath. The first impression is mostimportant.

2. If possible, have VBSworkers make the first contact withfamilies of children in theirdepartment the week of VacationBible School. If not all the children,certainly those who are prospectsshould be visited.

3. Every child and workershould receive a note from thepastor following VBS. A postcard orprinted letter will do. The morepersonal the note is made, the better.

4. Follow up visits must bemade within three weeks of VBS ifthey are to be the best kind of visit.

5. If a church is using FAITHEvangelism Strategy, FAITH teamscan help with follow-up visits. IfFAITH teams are not active in thesummer, consider a FAITH FamilyOutreach, inviting all FAITH trainedleaders to come that one night tofollow up with VBS prospects.

For more information, pleasecontact State Missionary JamesBlakeney at 1-800-264-1225, ext.286, [email protected].

Avenues for MissionsInvolvement— Missions Mobilization projects.

Two broad categories of groupmission opportunities: (a) Pre-packaged experiences forstudents, including LifeWay’sM-fuge, Mission Serve, StudentLife Mission Camps and WorldChangers, (b) Self-directedexperiences for all age groups.

— Baptist Convention of Michiganprojects

— Guatemala National BaptistConvention (GT) missionprojects

— Ukraine Baptist Union/IMBprojects

For more information, go online towww.alsbom.org/global or call 1-800-264-1225: Ministry AssistantsSheron Poole, ext. 298,[email protected] or VirginiaGardner, ext. 238,[email protected]. OM

GLOBALMISSIONS

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wOrds…in other words…wOrds…in other wOrds…

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CALENDARCALENDARLOOKING AHEAD

J U N E4-7 Student Life Youth Camp #2, Shocco5-6 Lay Renewal Training, Shocco8-12 Girls’ Missions Camp, WorldSong8-12 Student Life Youth Camp #3, Shocco12-15 Student Life Youth Camp #4, Shocco15-19 Girls’ Missions Camp, WorldSong15-19 Student Life Youth Camp #5, Shocco16-20 Student Life at the Beach, Christian Life

Church, Orange Beach18 Basics of Social Security/Medicare, Baptist

Building, Montgomery19-20 Mom & Daughter Missions Camps,

WorldSong20-24 Student Life at the Beach, Christian Life

Church, Orange Beach21 Father’s Day21 Baptist Men’s Day21-22 WMU Missions Celebration, Louisville,

Kentucky22-26 Youth Girls’ Missions Camp, WorldSong23-24 Southern Baptist Convention, Louisville,

Kentucky25-27 RA/Challenger/Lad & Dad Camp, Marshall

Baptist Camp, Guntersville28 Citzenship and Religious Liberty Sunday28-7/14 Camp Shocco for the Deaf, Shocco30 Church Policies, Baptist Building,

MontgomeryJ U L Y1-6 RockSolid Tour4 Independence Day6-9 RA/Challenger Camp #1, Shocco6-10 Girls/Youth Girls’ Mission Camp, WorldSong9-11 Lad & Dad RA Camp #1, Shocco10-11 Mom & Daughter Missions Camp,

WorldSong12-15 Children’s Missions Mini Camp, WorldSong13-17 Mix456, Shocco13-17 ReMix, Shocco13-17 Super Summer Alabama Youth Leadership,

Samford University, Birmingham14 Church Financial Issues, Baptist Building,

Montgomery15-17 Girls’ Missions Mini Camp, WorldSong16 Church Financial Issues, Silverhill First16-18 Lad & Dad RA Camp #2, Shocco16-18 Lad & Mom RA Camp, Shocco17-18 Children’s Choir Summit, Shocco17-18 Youth Evangelism Conference, Samford

University, Birmingham20-23 RA/Challenger Camp #2, Shocco20-24 Girls’ Missions Camp, WorldSong21 When & How to Add a Staff Member, Baptist

Building, Montgomery21 Church Financial Issues, Madison First21-24 Leader Lab, Baptist Building, Montgomery23 Church Financial Issues, Calvary, Dothan

23-25 Lad & Dad RA Camp #3, Shocco23-25 Crusader RA & Dad Ropes Course Camp,

Shocco24-26 WMU & Women’s Leadership Equipping &

Enrichment, Shocco 26 Read The Alabama Baptist Sunday27-31 Girls’ Missions Camp, WorldSong28 Church Financial Issues, Woodward Avenue,

Muscle Shoals30 Church Financial Issues, Pelham First31-8/1 Sunday School Leader Training I, ShoccoA U G U S T1-5 Collegiate Week, Ridgecrest, North Carolina2 Social Issues Sunday6 Becoming a Missional Church, Westmeade,

Decatur7-8 Baptist Men’s State Softball Tournament,

Lagoon and Fain Parks, Montgomery7-8 Sunday School Leader Training II, Shocco11 Church Financial Issues, Opelika First11 WMU Regional Leadership Training,

Birmingham First11 Being the Sunday School Leader God Wants,

Northport BC, Northport13 Church Financial Issues, Calhoun Association

Office, Anniston15 North Regional Sunday School Leader

Training, Lindsay Lane, Athens15 South Regional Sunday School Leader

Training, Dauphin Way, Mobile18 Church Financial Issues, Northport BC,

Northport18 WMU Regional Leadership Training,

Evergreen BC, Evergreen20 Church Financial Issues, Andalusia First20 Enhancing Your Image: Buildings and

Grounds, Baptist Building, Montgomery20 Leadership Greatness, Baptist Building,

Montgomery20 Being the Sunday School Leader God Wants,

Opelika First25 Church Financial Issues, North Mobile First,

Saraland25 Being the Sunday School Leader God Wants,

Ino, Kinston27 Church Financial Issues, Huffman,

Birmingham27 Being the Sunday School Leader God Wants,

Cloverdale, Dothan27-28 Missions University, Shocco28-29 Men’s Ministries, Challenger/RA Leadership

Training Conference, Shocco29 Mid-State Regional Sunday School Leader

Training, Montgomery First

spring 2009

Events at the Baptist Building in Montgomery are at 2001 E. South Blvd.

To access more information about these events,visit www.alsbom.org and click on Upcoming Events.

s…s…onemissionSPRING09 5/22/09 4:13 PM Page 15

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDMontgomery, AL

Permit No. 441

Alabama Baptist ConventionSTATE BOARD OF MISSIONS

RICK LANCE Executive Director-TreasurerP.O. Box 11870 • Montgomery, AL 36111-0870

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Speakers: Robert Smith • Ed Newton • Chris Brooks

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This conference is made possible by gifts from Alabama Baptist churches through the Cooperative Program.

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dge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. – 2 Corinthians 4:6 NIVshine yec09shineyouthevangelismconferenceJULY 17-18, 2009Pete Hanna CenterSamford University

For registration, cost, schedule and lodging information go to www.thestudenthub.org orcontact Angelle Saba at 800.264.1225, ext. 275,[email protected].


Documents

One Mission Magazine, Spring 2009