Associational life, ministries important for Alabama Baptist churches

The associational structure organizing Alabama Baptist churches is a timeless 187-year-old story of the power of local churches outfitted for Christian ministry by pooling their resources.
   
Alabama Baptists will recognize the work of Baptist associations in Alabama with a special week May 19–25 and with a day of prayer on May 25.
   
Pre-dating the founding of the Alabama Baptist State Convention by about seven years, the first association of Baptist churches in Alabama was founded in 1816. It was the Beckbe Baptist Association, later renamed the Bethlehem Baptist Association.
   
Demonstrating the cohesive attitude of the associations, Bethlehem’s 25 churches and the 13 churches of the Pine Barren association work closely together, sharing the same director of missions, Ladell Blanton. He has held the position for four years.
   
“I don’t think being the oldest association (Bethlehem) in the state really affects the way we do missions now, except that we know that we have a rich heritage to carry on,” he said. “There was a time when the association covered some areas from Montgomery down toward the Gulf Coast, so there have been a number of churches that have been a part of the Bethlehem association over the years.”
   
The two associations have jointly sponsored two missions trips each summer for the last three years and for the last 15 years one annual missions trip. This June they journey to Monticello, Ky., to construct churches, conduct backyard Bible clubs and lead workshops. About 75 people are expected to go. In July the two associations will combine to travel to New Mexico to conduct Vacation Bible School for a Navajo Indian church.  
   
With 100 percent participation from the churches, the two associations sponsored “On-Missions,” a missions education and inspirational event the first weekend in April. In its fifth year, the event promoted missions and gave local church members direct contact with missionaries. It involved a missions fair, a banquet, a rally with a processional of flags, a chance to meet one-on-one with missionaries and a workshop. On the Sunday during the event 40 missionaries spoke during Sunday Schools or worship services at the 38 churches in the two associations.
   
Another value of the association is that it loans out various items, which enable ministry, to churches. Among them are vans, video projectors, slide projectors and other hardware and media materials that many churches could not afford on their own. Recently the association purchased a sound system that churches can borrow.
   
There are 75 Alabama Baptist associations, with most mirroring the counties in the state. In some cases, churches in two counties combine to form one association. 
   
Baptists choose to form into associations to have fellowship, doctrinal harmony, group training, mutual missions and ministry projects, according to Steve Cloues, an associate in the associational and cooperative missions office of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.
   
Cloues said the directors of missions who lead the various associations are usually former pastors, although some have been ministers of education and others laymen. Pete Phillips was the only layman director of missions for Alabama Baptists when he retired April 1.
   
“Most are 50 or older, providing the maturity and experience to help pastors and church leaders,” Cloues said.
   
He noted that faithfulness to the Great Commission, a vision for missions and fostering cooperation among churches are key ingredients that make Alabama Baptist associations successful.
   
David Patty, director of missions for Sand Mountain Baptist Association, said he prefers the title of ‘associational missionary’ because it better describes how he serves the 28 churches from Jackson and DeKalb counties that comprise the association.
   
Most of the churches are rural, so having an association may be more vital to their ability to do missions and other ministry than in places where large city churches have many resources on their own.
   
Patty, who has been director of missions there for two and a half years, said the association’s focus is on Acts 1:8. This unfolds through local evangelistic rallies, local classes to help those who minister, state and national missions trips and international missions trips.
   
“We’re leaving [May 12] on a missions trip to Albania,” he said. The group includes 12 people besides himself. They will be ministering in and near the cities of Corfu and Sarande, assisting International Mission Board missionary Mike Bebout.
   
“I’ve been very pleased with the response. Eleven of the people have never been on an international missions trip, so I know the excitement that a trip like this can bring,” he said.
   
A trip like this would probably have not been possible for any one of the churches, although church members use some of their own skills and resources to help.
   
A group from one of the churches donated handmade blankets to the missions team. These blankets will be given to senior citizens at a senior adult facility in an area where the building has no heat.
   
The group going to Albania will minister in an orphanage, a school and a hospital. They plan to carry medicines to assist the people there.
   
“By going to Albania, we’re focusing on the ‘to the uttermost parts of the world,’” referring to Acts 8, but we don’t want to neglect any local or national ministry opportunity. We like a balanced approach,” he said.
   
Another way the association helps the people and churches is through classes. Sand Mountain has 35 lay people, pastors and Sunday School teachers enrolled in a Samford University extension course that is taught at the association office.