Hmmm, it’s those Baptists again.” Or so say a fictional cast of police officers in what will be a takeoff of the TV show “Dragnet.”
The live performance of Alabama Baptists’ version of the popular investigative program will take place during the Nov. 19–20 Alabama Baptist State Convention, held this year in Birmingham at Shades Mountain Baptist Church.
Ron Madison, director of the office of associational and cooperative missions at the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM), said the drama will reflect the theme of the annual meeting — Opening New Doors.
The Cooperative Ministries Team of the SBOM, which is headed by Madison, worked with Doug Rogers and the office of communications services to develop the Tuesday evening performance emphasizing new ways of doing ministry.
Convention theme
Opening New Doors follows a series of convention themes — Through Every Door and Through Every Door, Making Disciples — Madison said. “It is the logical thing for believers to do — live out discipleship in evangelism and ministry.”
Madison said along with the Tuesday evening theme interpretation, the emphasis will also be the focus of the devotionals taking place throughout both days.
“We have identified three specific areas of opening new doors — new ministries, new partnerships and new levels of support,” Madison said.
Under new ministries, Madison pointed out four focus areas:
1. Hispanic community
2. Multihousing
3. New congregations
4. Strengthening Alabama schools
“The opportunities for reaching the Hispanic community are multiple,” Madison said, noting literacy, English As a Second Language, tutoring and assistance in locating community services.
In the area of multihousing, Madison said, according to North American Mission Board statistics, 2 million people of Alabama’s 4.5 million population are unchurched. “One and a half million of those 2 million are believed to live in multihousing settings,” Madison said, explaining that multihousing is defined as eight family units living on one acre of land. Examples would be mobile home parks, apartment complexes, upscale condominium communities and sections of townhomes.
As far as starting new congregations goes in the state, Madison said the SBOM continues toward its goal of 270 new congregations by the end of 2005. The SBOM partners with churches and associations in these new church starts, Madison noted.
In its effort to strengthen Alabama schools, Madison said the SBOM will offer resources for ways local congregations can make a difference in public, private and home schools.
Along with focusing on new ministries, Madison said Alabama Baptists will focus on new partnerships by encouraging churches and associations to do more of what is already taking place. The focus on new levels of support means an increased emphasis on the Cooperative Program (CP).
“As we become more involved in ministry and missions, we need more resources,” Madison said.
“Our hope is that Alabama Baptists will continue the significant cooperative efforts that are already in place,” he noted. “We want to highlight those and encourage others to do the same.”
Following the theme interpretation Tuesday evening, Fred Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, will preach. Special music that night will be by Bonita Conley of Sixth Avenue Baptist Church, Birmingham, and the Shades Mountain Baptist Church choir and orchestra.
Convention officials said business items for the annual meeting include:
1. Election of new officers
2. Adoption of a 2003 record challenge budget of nearly $41 million
3. Adoption of the 2001 SBOM audit
4. Extension of the partnership with Venezuela to 2005
Current state convention president Mike McLemore, pastor of Lakeside Baptist Church in Birmingham, will deliver the presidential address during the Tuesday morning session. McLemore has served two terms as convention president.
The convention sermon will be delivered during the Wednesday morning closing session of the convention by James Bruton, pastor of Liberty Park Baptist Church, Birmingham.
Members of the SBOM will meet in conjunction with the annual meeting Nov. 18 and 20.
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