A relaxed atmosphere and unified spirit dominated the Feb. 2 Legislative Prayer Luncheon, indicating a new level of trust and camaraderie between Alabama Baptists and Gov. Don Siegelman.
Maintaining his commitment to education, Siegelman asked the approximately 530 people attending the luncheon, an annual event sponsored by the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM), for help.
“I’m here today to ask for your help — to remain committed to…education,” Siegelman said.
That spirit of cooperation was markedly absent from the 1999 luncheon when Siegelman was in the midst of an all-out campaign for an education lottery, which was defeated Oct. 12 primarily because of strong religious opposition.
While Alabama Baptists chose to pray for the governor rather than debate him at last year’s luncheon, and the governor expressed respect for the Baptist opposition, tensions remained strained.
In fact, Siegelman stayed only long enough to address the 500-600 people attending the 1999 luncheon.
This year, however, he stayed through the entire program and took time to peak with Alabama Baptists and sign autographs following the luncheon.
Outlining his proposed education plan to streamline tenure laws, call for school accountability report cards, install video cameras and character education in every school and to require elementary students to use courtesy titles, Siegelman said he “will demand real accountability and results.”
“I can’t help but believe that starting at an early age…teaching young kids simple courtesies will help that child throughout (his or her) life,” he said. “If it makes a difference in one child’s life, it is worth it.”
Siegelman also wants to help students pass the new and more challenging graduation exit exam with tutorial programs.
I want to extend an invitation to join us in our statewide mentor program,” he said. “The religious community can be a tremendous help to us as we try to put together these mentors.
“It will take us working together,” he told Alabama Baptists. “With your help and God’s blessing, we can make Alabama the state it can be.”
In an interview following the luncheon, Siegelman said,” I look forward to working with the leadership of this state Baptist convention on other things we can do to partner.
“We’ve worked in the past on things like trying to stop the sale of alcohol and cigarettes to minors,” he said. “There are any number of things like that where we can partner, but particularly in working with young people there is a great opportunity for us to form a partnership.”
Assuring the governor of Alabama Baptists’ prayers, Rick Lance, executive director of the SBOM, said, “Together we can make a difference in the state for a cause.”
Following the luncheon, Lance commended Siegelman for “a good job communicating with us.”
Dan Ireland, executive director of Alabama Citizens Action Program (ALCAP), said, “I think the relationship with the governor is going to be good.
“Our church people will respond to help the governor in the legitimate, honorable approach to the educational needs of the state of Alabama,” Ireland said. “We want the same thing he’s talking about, but we did not want it on the original terms based on gambling.
“If it’s a good, honorable approach, I think the churches will be behind him,” he said. Along with Scripture readings and various prayers, participants at the luncheon also heard a special presentation by the sanctuary choir of First Baptist church, Clanton. The choir, which is the first choir ever invited to perform at the luncheon, presented four selections around the event’s theme, For God and Country.
Burney Enzor, retired brigadier general of the Army National Guard and pastor of First Baptist Church, Lynn Haven, Fla., was the featured speaker.
Weaving bits of humor throughout his sermon from Matthew 11:28, Enzor preached on living an active and meaningful life while also achieving rest in Jesus.
“We are way too busy and have too many involvements to live a comfortable life,” said Enzor, who received a standing ovation led by Siegelman at the end of the sermon. “No one can serve two masters, but some of you seem to be overemployed.
“(With multiple yokes come) too many directions and too many lords,” he said. “The yoke of life appears to be self. We need to get rid of something.”
While many perceive resting as not serving nor achieving, “Jesus says we can rest and serve,” Enzor said, noting three conditions.
First, “Jesus said, ‘Come unto me.’ ” He said trusting in Jesus will provide rest.
Second, “He said, ‘take my yoke upon you.’ ” The yoke brings lordship, Enzor said.
Pointing out that life in Christ is not easy, Enzor said, “Life is difficult.”
But “let your source of business and power be vested in the Lord.”
Third, “Jesus said, ‘I will give you rest.’ ” But being given rest is only the first step, Enzor said. “The second step of faith is to (take) the rest…and lay down the burden.
“When you come to Jesus and take the free rest, you entrust yourself to Him and that takes the load of guild from you.”
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