The Geneva Bible is called the Breeches Bible for a reason, Lonette Berg said.
“It says that when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, they sewed leaves together and ‘made themselves breeches,’” said Berg, executive director of the Alabama Baptist Historical Commission (ABHC).
The Geneva Bible, printed in 1595, is one of many artifacts of Alabama Baptists’ spiritual history that they can view as part of Samford University’s Special Collection, she said.
“As we preserve and celebrate our heritage, we are able to look forward to the future,” Berg told messengers to the state convention annual meeting Nov. 14.
She quoted Psalm 102:18, “Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord.”
So far this year, the historical commission has celebrated more than 75 anniversaries with Alabama Baptist churches and associations and state convention entities, Berg said.
“These celebrations represent 7,500 years of Alabama Baptist service,” she said. “Thank you for your invitations to serve and celebrate with you.
For six years in a row, the historical commission has been present in some way in Alabama Baptist associations, Berg said.
She thanked Alabama Baptists for their gifts through the Cooperative Program, which “make it possible for Alabama Baptist Historical Commission to support churches in preserving our great history and heritage.”
And she thanked churches “for entrusting us with your very precious materials.”
Last year, more than 81,000 pages of Alabama Baptist materials were microfilmed through the historical commission’s ministry, according to the Book of Reports.
“When we microfilm records, we are preserving for the future the story of God’s grace and faithfulness,” Berg said.
The ABHC also preserves photos and digital media.
“As Alabama Baptists, we are standing on the promises, and we look to the future to what God has for us. As long as we keep standing on those promises, our future is bright,” Berg said.
For more information about the ministries of the ABHC, contact Berg at 1-800-325-9863 or llberg@samford.edu or visit abhconline.com.
(TAB)
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