A Faith That Works

A Faith That Works

It was almost an aside remark. Outgoing Alabama Baptist State Convention President Joe Godfrey declared, “I am not talking about good works producing salvation. But I am talking about a faith that works.”
Godfrey’s comment was part of an emphasis in his presidential address urging Alabama Baptists to make their faith relevant to the world around them. But that remark — a faith that works — captured the overriding emphasis of the 182nd annual convention of Alabama Baptists meeting at Eastmont Baptist Church in Montgomery.

The theme of the gathering was “Intentional Evangelism,” which state evangelism director Sammy Gilbreath defined as “doing evangelism on purpose.” All Alabama Baptists would certainly agree that “doing evangelism on purpose” demonstrates a faith that works.

Tuesday evening a former crack cocaine addict captivated the audience with his music and with his life story. Music evangelist Calvin Hunt of Brooklyn, N.Y., shared how he went from living in a doghouse to living in God’s house. Hunt, who has been part of a Dove Award-winning choir, said it was because a congregation loved him and prayed him into the church. That is a faith that works.

Through video, a former prison inmate told messengers how a prison ministry sponsored by Alabama Baptists helped transform his life. Now he works in a responsible position in central Alabama and is active in a church. His life was re­directed because of a faith that works.

During the Wednesday morning session Michael Jefferson, a tall, red-headed college student, told how a foster parent family on the Decatur campus of the Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries loved him through thick and thin for more than seven years. Now, as a young man about to graduate from college, he paid tribute to a faith that works — the faith of foster parents and the faith of all Alabama Baptists who help make possible the ministries of the Children’s Homes.

Frequently during the four sessions of the annual meeting, messengers heard about Baptist disaster relief efforts following Hurricane Ivan. More than 1,200 people performed hands-on ministries. More than 550,000 meals were served. More than $350,000 was given to underwrite relief efforts. That certainly is a faith that works.
Ivy Kastner, a Judson College junior, shared how financial support through the Board of Aid scholarship program sponsored by Alabama Baptists helped make it possible for her to continue her college education as she prepares for full-time Christian service. Again, faith that works made the money possible.

Even the resolutions referenced faith that works. Messengers urged individual Baptists and churches to be involved in the education of the children of Alabama. Partnerships with schools through such things as tutoring programs and prayer walks were just a couple of ways mentioned.

Messengers were able to celebrate faith that works because Alabama Baptists are working together in the Lord’s kingdom. We are not distracted from the primary focus. That does not mean that all Alabama Baptists agree. We do not. That was illustrated when an amendment to the convention budget was offered from the floor to provide financial support to the Baptist World Alliance. The amendment was rejected but no one was prevented from speaking on the issue.

One of the secrets of Alabama Baptists working together is that churches and individuals of varying stripes are allowed to participate. Messengers are free to offer motions and resolutions. Debate is open and free. Members of churches of varying persuasions serve on convention committees and as directors and trustees of convention entities. We are all members of the Alabama Baptist family, even if we are not identical in every way.

The only troubling note from the recent meeting was participation. For the second consecutive year, Alabama Baptists set a modern-day record for low attendance.  The 1,051 messengers registered is the lowest total in more than 50 years.  Messengers came from 483 churches, which is only 15 percent of the state’s 3,233 cooperating Baptist churches.

To maintain the vitality of our convention, more participation will be needed in the annual meeting in coming years. As Baptists, we should be just as eager to celebrate how Alabama Baptists live out their faith in good works as we are in some controversial issue or contested election.