For some, sharing one’s faith with a stranger may sound intimidating. But during Millbrook Baptist Church’s recent prayer walk, a part of “SERVE! … For His Glory!,” participants found out otherwise.
“People realized they were witnessing by their actions — they were witnessing by just being there,” said Venecia Hubbard, Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) director for the Elmore Baptist Association church.
In honor of its 125-year anniversary WMU issued a 1–2–5 challenge to its groups across the state: one day of service, two missions connections and five acts of gratitude. “SERVE! … For His Glory!” was the service aspect of Alabama WMU’s anniversary celebration. In April, WMU groups from across the state found ways to serve their communities in recognition of the milestone anniversary.
Praying together
On April 11 at Millbrook Baptist about 35 people gathered at 9 a.m. to prayer walk their designated area of the community and prayed for the people they saw and talked to. They also gathered information for ministry opportunities for the church in the future, like ministering to the people in a nearby nursing home or sending cards to teachers in one of the area’s schools, Hubbard said.
The event went above and beyond what Hubbard expected, “It really helped us bond together as a church, seeing families praying together, and helped us connect with the community.”
In Russell Baptist Association, Karen Defenbaugh and Judie Goodson, both on the associational WMU leadership team, organized the annual Walk for Bibles at Idle Hour Park in Phenix City as part of “SERVE!”
The April 11 Walk for Bibles was on a .8-mile trail and raised money for organizations to purchase Bibles to be used in ministries not only across the state but around the world, Goodson said.
This year 55 walkers collected pledges and money from sponsors totaling $3,000.
Since its formation in 2006, Walk for Bibles has raised $47,000 including support from this year.
On its website Alabama WMU asked Alabama Baptists to “step outside the church walls and serve neighborhoods, communities, nations or (the) world for the cause of Christ” on April 11.
Other “SERVE!” projects ranged from making baked goods for a fundraiser to support a youth group to putting together welcome baskets for apartment complexes managed by Birmingham Baptist Association.
Churches that participated in “SERVE!” include Daviston Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa; First Baptist Church, Winfield; First Baptist Church, Birmingham; Beulah Baptist Church, Sterrett; Sardis Springs Baptist Church, Athens; Mount Nebo Baptist Church, Cullman; Bethel Baptist Church, Pleasant Grove; Eastern Hills Baptist Church, Montgomery; Shoal Creek Baptist Church, Deatsville; and Calvary Baptist Church, Dadeville, among others.
Candace McIntosh, Alabama WMU executive director, said, “We believe in putting action to our faith and expressing Christ’s love through service … a day of service was natural for us.”
(Caitlin Lea contributed)
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