Authentic Baptists add ‘positive flavor’ to world, Crumpler says

Carolyn Crumpler, former executive director of national Woman’s Missionary Union, shared her thoughts on an authentic Baptist with nearly 70 Mainstream Alabama Baptists (MAB) meeting at Shades Crest Baptist Church, Hoover, Nov. 14. 
   
As Jesus was compassionate toward the people He served, so too are authentic Baptists called to have compassion for the needy and the lost, Crumpler explained. Authentic Baptists are also positive, focusing on that which they should do instead of what they shouldn’t, as well as looking to be missionaries in the world in which they live, she said.
   
As the salt of the earth, Baptist Christians “become useless when we lose the positive flavor we ought to have as authentic Baptists.”
   
Authentic Baptists are also inclusive, Crumpler said. They are committed to Christ, neighborly, forgiving, strong in Christ and free. “We have the freedom to do what we know that we ought to do. Our freedom is in Christ who also gives us strength to do the right thing in the right way at the right time.” 
   
In business matters, treasurer Carolyn Casey, a member of Heritage Baptist Church in Heflin, reported a positive year-end balance of $10,694.92 as of Oct. 31. And all officers were re-elected: President — John Casey, Heritage Baptist; vice president — Laura Hargrave, First Baptist Church, Auburn; treasurer — Carolyn Casey; and secretary — Elizabeth Deason, wife of Mel Deason, MAB executive director. The Deasons are members of Shades Crest Baptist. 
   
The group also recognized its new newsletter editor, Deborah McDaniel of First Baptist Church, Huntsville. As editor, McDaniel oversees the bimonthly production of The Mainstream Baptist, which has a circulation of about 7,700. (TAB)