Berg named head of Alabama Baptist Historical Commission

Lonette Berg has been named the new executive director of the Alabama Baptist Historical Commission (ABHC), effective Jan. 1, 2007.
   
Berg — a member of Shades Crest Baptist Church, Hoover, in Birmingham Baptist Association — will fill the shoes of retiring Executive Director Frances Hamilton, who has served in the position for more than 13 years.
   
Special assistant to Hamilton since 2003, Berg has worked alongside Hamilton cataloguing and researching the history of Alabama’s Baptist churches and has helped countless churches celebrate special anniversaries.
   
“That is one of the most enjoyable parts of our ministry, to get to worship with churches and celebrate with them,” said Berg, who has an undergraduate degree in history from Samford University in Birmingham and a law degree from Samford’s Cumberland School of Law.
   
Hamilton said Berg is committed to serving Alabama Baptists and her love for them and history is a quality that will serve her well in her new position. “I look forward to seeing the excellent work that will be done by Lonette and the ABHC in days to come.”
   
“I have known Lonette for a number of years. [She] is compassionate and caring, qualities that are so important in working with people,” Hamilton said. “She has a delightful personality and sense of humor, and I believe that Alabama Baptists will enjoy working with her.”
   
Berg previously served as one of the 16 volunteer ABHC commissioners from 1998 to 2003. The commissioners, representing the 12 districts of Alabama Baptists, function similarly to a board of directors and regularly represent the ABHC in churches. She was named chair of the commissioners in 2002 and served in that position until she was hired as special assistant to the executive director. 
   
Gary Farley, director of missions (DOM) for Pickens Baptist Association and chair of the ABHC search committee, said Berg’s history with the ABHC and her understanding of the program made her the “wise choice.”
   
“Plus, as a trained attorney, she has a lot of skills as far as doing research and being well organized,” he added. “She’s young and can serve in that role for a good, long while.”
   
Jim Jackson, DOM for Elmore Baptist Association and chair of the ABHC commissioners, calls Berg’s awareness of new techniques “high tech, high touch.”
   
“She recognizes the need to move forward with technology,” he said. “She’s upgraded (the ABHC’s) computers and our digital facility … but she still has touch — the ability to communicate with people and work with people.”
   
Berg, who loves history in general, said she loves the ABHC just as much. “When I came to work here, I just fell in love with it, and I love coming to work every day.
   
“Alabama Baptists are so much fun,” she said. “It’s so delightful to hear their stories. When you talk with people who are interested in their church’s history, they have a passion and it’s contagious. That is something I look forward to.”
   
Berg plans to continue the current ministries of the ABHC, while being aware of new ways to record the state’s Baptist history.
   
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to serve Alabama Baptists and our Lord Jesus Christ, because He works through us, and we want to preserve the memory of the work He’s done,” she said.