By Gary Fenton
Chair, board of directors, The Alabama Baptist
At 25 years old, I graduated seminary on a Friday and stepped into my first full-time church pastorate on Sunday. Until that moment, I had only served two years as a part-time pastor of a congregation that only expected me to be there on Sundays.
The church I was going to was deeply divided, as three months earlier the congregation had dismissed its pastor by a vote of 53% to 47%.
During my first week, several members stopped by to give me advice. I do not remember all the advice, but one nugget of wisdom stands out to me.
“Make sure the heating and air conditioning unit is always working, and keep the church informed about what God is doing in the life of the church,” the gentleman said. “When we know what God is doing, we won’t worry much about what each other is doing.”
Understanding Baptists
Now half a century later, I realize that gentleman understood Baptists. We need to be physically comfortable, and we need to know what God is doing.
I have been in Alabama for more than 30 years, and for much of that time I have served on the board of directors of The Alabama Baptist, Inc. (also known as TAB Media Group).
I have served under three editors, each with different skill sets and personalities.
- Hudson Baggett knew everyone in the state and made people feel like he was their best friend.
- Bob Terry was a scholar and an excellent wordsmith.
- Jennifer Rash has a contagious personality which is displayed through her writing and speaking style.
Each have led the state Baptist paper differently, but they all have played an invaluable role in keeping us informed as to what God is doing among His people.
While some state Baptist conventions are deeply divided — and a few even have two competing conventions — Alabama has a high degree of unity. I am convinced that our outstanding editors have contributed greatly to the unity in our state.
Through the dedicated and focused work of TAB Media Group’s editors, we have avoided much of the dissension by keeping Baptists in Alabama informed as to what God is doing among His people.
We may think state Baptist publications are primarily reporting on what denominational entities and leaders are doing so Baptists can then hold them accountable. There is validity to that view of Baptist journalism.
TAB’s broad coverage
However, Baptists in Alabama deserve and want to know more than what our leaders are doing. We want to know what God is doing in our state, nation and world among His people.
While we have countless forms of news and information sources to stay informed about many dimensions of life, it’s only through The Alabama Baptist that we learn how God is working through Baptists.
Our hope is the result of knowing and hearing about what God is doing, and we in Alabama do that through the pages of The Alabama Baptist and from the online content.
Through the electronic and publishing arms of The Alabama Baptist, Inc., we can stay up with what is happening in the local churches and among Baptists in other states and countries.
With each online or print edition of The Alabama Baptist, we open our minds to the work of God.
Whether it is a testimony of a Sunday School teacher from a small church in our state, an article about international missionaries, reports from persecuted Christians around the world or an update about the way God is leading in denominational meetings, The Alabama Baptist is keeping us informed.
In a world filled with bad news, the good news of Jesus is changing lives and it is exciting to read and hear about it.
With so much depressing news, it is more important and encouraging than ever to know that God is still moving and working among His people.
While the way and frequency with which we receive this information may change over time, our spiritual hunger to hear about God’s work among us remains the same.
Looking ahead
When we no longer need to know what God is doing among His people, then we won’t need The Alabama Baptist, but that is not going to happen until our Lord returns.
Until then The Alabama Baptist will keep us informed about God’s work among His people. At The Alabama Baptist, we not only have a wonderful heritage, but also a greater future.
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