Birmingham Baptist Association (BBA) has built a beautiful legacy in 175 years, said Mike McLemore, BBA executive director.
"But as we look out over the beautiful view of Birmingham, we know it can be made more beautiful if more people come to know Jesus as Savior," he told the crowd present at an anniversary celebration held at The Club in Birmingham April 3.
The event, "Celebrating our Partnerships," honored all of the Baptist and civic organizations that partner with BBA in reaching the greater Birmingham area.
More than 500 people were present for the event, which was sponsored by Baptist Health System (BHS) and the second of three events planned for the anniversary year.
The first event, held at Lakeside Baptist Church, Birmingham, Jan. 31 was "Celebrating Our Ministries," and the last event, to be held Sept. 14 at Samford University in Birmingham, will be "Celebrating Our Heritage." This event will be a worship service thanking God for the blessings of 175 years of partnership.
"Partnerships enable us to see far greater accomplishments than we can do apart," said Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) and keynote speaker for the April 3 event. "If our future is going to be bright, it’s because we say there is a common cause, a common call above our own agendas."
BBA is the biggest association in the SBC and a strong leader, said Page, who also serves as pastor of First Baptist Church, Taylors, S.C. "God bless you as we join together to do the work."
BBA accounts for one tenth of the Baptist church membership in the state and one seventh of the state’s Cooperative Program giving, said Rick Lance, executive director of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.
"You are the pacesetters across the landscape of this convention," Lance said. "We are laborers together with Christ — we can’t do it alone."
During the event, Shane Spees, BHS chief executive officer, gave a report on the history of the partnership between BHS and BBA. Both organizations have a long history, with BBA beginning even before the city of Birmingham. The association was founded as the Canaan Association of United Baptists and served the area for nearly 60 years before changing its name to match the new city.
Page told the crowd that his prayer is that, in accordance with BBA’s rich legacy, the association will "come to know more and more in the days ahead what God can do through us when we work together." (TAB)
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