What started out as an inspirational event for Morgan County in 2005 has progressively become a regional event for the northern half of the state and beyond.
The North Alabama Bible Conference (NABC) celebrated its fifth anniversary Jan. 18–21 at Decatur Baptist Church in Morgan Baptist Association with more than 1,000 in attendance on at least one night.
“People came from all over north Alabama, including Jefferson, Winston and Walker counties, and as far away as Mississippi and Tennessee,” said Donnell Brown, director of missions (DOM) for Morgan Association.
Kandy Cowan, administrative assistant to Doug Ripley, senior pastor of Decatur Baptist, said attendance ranged from 724 to 1,183 each night.
While Trinity-based Phil Waldrep Ministries sponsored the conference the first three years, the association took over the sponsorship two years ago, continuing the practice of bringing in well-known speakers and musicians from across the United States — and the county. Evangelist Junior Hill, a perennial favorite, is from Hartselle.
Past conferences have featured such notables as actor and outspoken Christian Kirk Cameron; Ergun Caner, president and dean of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary and Graduate School in Lynchburg, Va.; and David Jeremiah, founder of Turning Point Radio and Television Ministries and senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church, El Cajon, Calif.
Richard Jackson, pastor emeritus of Arizona’s North Phoenix Baptist Church, kicked off this year’s conference.
“He was very to the point and intense,” said John Bain, assistant to the DOM for Morgan Association. “His preaching was nothing but lean meat.”
Other speakers were Ken Hutcherson, founder and senior pastor of Antioch Bible Church in Redmond, Wash.; David Gibbs, founder and president of the Christian Law Association; and Hill, who kept attendees laughing while he hammered home the idea that God uses “divine punctuation.”
“God doesn’t close sentences with periods,” Hill said. “He always uses commas. What God did must never be confused with what God is doing.”
The music was provided primarily by a combined choir and local musicians.
Bill Hurt, pastor of First Baptist Church, Decatur, said an event like the NABC is especially welcome because many churches are no longer holding revivals.
“It’s really hard to get people to come to revivals, but with something like this, we can pool our resources and bring in good speakers to attract a large crowd,” said Hurt, who participated in the planning of the conference for the first time, serving on the planning committee with Ripley and Scotty Hogan, pastor of Westmeade Baptist Church, Decatur.
While the results may be difficult to measure, Hurt said, “It is good to work together, to bring Christians together and rejuvenate them, to encourage preachers and build camaraderie.
Bain added that the conference is meant to be inspirational to the attendees.
“There may not be many additions or baptisms as a direct result of the meetings,” he said.
“It is more inspirational, demonstrating unity and a family relationship.”
For information about the 2010 North Alabama Bible Conference, call 256-353-8579.
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