Gov. Bob Riley addressed about 400 Alabama Baptists Sept. 26 during the annual Pastor-Deacon-Spouse retreat held at Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center in Talladega.
Following the retreat theme, “Answering the Call with a Servant Heart,” Riley spoke specifically about the effect deacons have had on his life.
“The people that I grew to respect more than anyone in my community were the deacons that served at First Baptist Church of Ashland, Ala.,” said Riley of the church where he grew up and has remained a member throughout his political career. “They became the example that I hope to be able to follow.”
Those deacons, Riley said, put the church, Christ and their faith ahead of everything, which left a healthy, growing church. However, there were some who did not serve in the same way. “I always thought we had some that served for other reasons,” Riley said, adding deacons not serving for the right reasons could have harmed the ministry of the church.
Noting that revival starts in the church and with the deacon board, Riley affirmed the deacons as the backbone of the church. Their leadership of the church and their support of the pastor determine the direction of the church, he said.
“The strength of your character and the strength of your belief determines what your church is going to be, not only now, but for years to come,” he said.
He challenged the deacons present to “Go back to your churches with a renewed spirit and a renewed vigor.”
Riley, who entered and departed with a standing ovation, captured the group’s attention, even after the majority of Alabama voters on Sept. 9 said no to his tax reform plan for Alabama. Riley was able to joke about the past few weeks, humorously calling the period “taxing”.
Christian stance
“Unapologetically, he’s a believer in Jesus Christ,” said Rick Lance, executive director of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM). “It’s almost like being in a foreign country and hearing someone speak English.”
Tommy Strickland, a bivocational pastor, said, “I think he was right on target with what a deacon and a pastor should be about.”
Max Croft, director of the SBOM’s discipleship and family ministries office, said pastors, deacons and their spouses also heard from other speakers dealing with servant leadership.
“The conferences were aimed at enhancing the relationship of pastors and deacons in teaming together in ministry and in providing practical help in their ministry and in providing practical help in their ministry to the needs of the church,” Croft said.
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