Pastor's Blog: Support for a Missions Partner
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One of the new realities in missions is the need for strong partnerships. This approach to the Great Commission has always been a hallmark of Baptists, but never more so than in recent years. And of course the logic is simple: We can do so much more together than we can do apart. Even for churches that have a strong missional heritage like ours this principle still holds true.
You may have noticed that over the course of the year we often have our partners present in a Sunday morning worship service where they give a report of the good work they’re doing and how much they value our support. These presentations are important because of how they help us to put a name to a missions face and enable us to feel a more personal connection to their ministry.
This Sunday evening our church will have yet another opportunity to encourage one of our key missions partners as we host the Fall Gathering of Alabama CBF. This organization is our local connection to the national organization and is the primary resource for CBF ministries in our state, such as the Together for Hope initiative in Perry County. Alabama CBF sees MBBC as one of its most strategic partners, and for that reason chose to host their fall meeting at our church.
One of the most important ways we can support the gathering is through our presence. While there will be a couple of training options in the afternoon hour, the main activity will be a worship experience in our Sanctuary, where our Sanctuary Choir will join with other choirs from other Alabama CBF to provide the music. The sermon will be given by Dr. Barry Howard, former pastor at FBC/Pensacola, FL, as well as Brookwood Baptist Church here in Mountain Brook. A native Alabamian, Barry is no stranger to MBBC, having been with us for several Holy Week services in past years. Barry is a good friend and I know you will enjoy hearing him.
As you know, our church’s Sanctuary is commodious. Because of our two-service schedule each Sunday it taxes our own ability to make it not appear uncomfortably empty. One concern I have is that unless our church has a strong turnout for this gathering, there won’t be enough attendees from other churches to fill the space. That’s why I am inviting you to join with me in attending this service this Sunday, October 21, at 6:45 p.m. If you would like more information on the gathering and all of the opportunities associated with it, go to www.alabamacbf.org/fall-gathering.
I’ve often said that MBBC is a “flagship church.” By that I mean that others see us as a pace-setting congregation, which sets the bar for other like-minded congregations. This coming Sunday provides us yet another opportunity to live into that perception and in the process to encourage an important missions partner who helps us fulfill our own mission of “Loving God and Living with Grace and Generosity.”
“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:4-5).