Alabamians honored for literacy missions work

Alabamians honored for literacy missions work

Richard Alford of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM) is rarely without words, but when he realized he was being honored for his work in literacy missions, he was speechless.
   
Alford, an associate in the SBOM office of associational missions and church planting, was recognized by the SBOM’s literacy missions ministries office during its annual statewide training Oct. 6–8, held at Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center in Talladega. He was noted for his contributions to literacy and other ministries and for establishing the Pat Alford Literacy Missions Endowment Fund in memory of his wife.
   
She was involved in literacy missions for 15 years as a tutor for children and youth through their church — First Baptist Church, Montgomery.After her death, Alford set up the fund through The Baptist Foundation of Alabama because “(Literacy missions) is systemic to society and systemic to the proclamation of the gospel. 
   
“If people cannot read and write, they cannot read the Bible.” said Alford, who has also tutored children and youth at First, Montgomery, as well as promotes literacy missions.
   
It was the Pat Alford fund that spurred Gena Heatherly, SBOM state literacy missions coordinator, to honor Alford and present him with a certificate of recognition, she said.
   
The literacy missions office also remembered the late Mildred Blankenship of Birmingham for her pioneer work in Alabama literacy missions and in literacy missions in North America.
   
Blankenship helped start literacy missions in Alabama in 1959. Soon after, she was called by the Home Mission Board (now the North American Mission Board) to be the first director of literacy missions for the United States and Canada. She served in this position from 1962–1989. After her retirement, Blankenship moved back to Birmingham and joined First Baptist Church, Center Point, in Birmingham Baptist Association and volunteered in literacy missions until her death in July.
   
Blankenship’s brother, Paul, also a member of First, Center Point, accepted the certificate of recognition. “During her 27 years with the Home Mission Board, she knew exactly that was what the Lord wanted her to do.”