Trinity Baptist Church, Madison, in Madison Association welcomed Mainstream Alabama Baptists (MAB) Nov. 15.
The group’s annual meeting was dedicated to Joe and Frances Jones of First Baptist Church, Huntsville, in Madison Association in recognition of their years of service. He served as newsletter editor, she served as treasurer and both were founding board members of MAB.
Gary Burton, MAB president and pastor of Pintlala Baptist Church, Hope Hull, in Montgomery Association, presented a plaque to Joe Jones recognizing his five years of service as the founding editor of The Mainstream Baptist.
Burton also recognized the new editor, Bruce Calhoun, who is pastor of Highland Gardens Baptist Church, Montgomery, in Montgomery Association.
During dinner, John Pierce, executive editorof Baptists Today, an autonomous national news journal, shared with the group his love of Baptists and why he is proud to be a Baptist.
Growing up in the northwest corner of Georgia, Pierce was baptized at Boynton Baptist Church, Ringgold, Ga.
“I was literally immersed in the Baptist faith and tradition,” he said.
Pierce said through the years, that which he instinctively understood about Baptist thought and doctrine has taken firmer shape as two principles. The first is the principle of personal freedom, freedom of the individual to choose to believe in God, and the freedom and autonomy of the local church. The other principle is that of personal responsibility to make that choice.
“Why am I Baptist?” Pierce asked. “It is because more than anything else, Baptists place the responsibility for one’s faith, salvation and service on one’s shoulders.
“We have inherited much and have a responsibility to pass it on in responsible, yet loving ways,” he concluded.
The group also affirmed its new leaders for 2006. These are: President — John Casey, Heritage Baptist Church, Heflin; vice president — Laura Hargrave, First Baptist Church, Auburn, in Tuskegee Lee Association; treasurer — Carolyn Casey, wife of John and member of Heritage Baptist; and secretary — Elizabeth Deason, wife of Mel Deason, MAB executive director and interim pastor of Westwood Baptist Church, Birmingham, and member of Shades Crest Baptist Church, Hoover, both in Birmingham Association.
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