Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
Menu
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
Menu
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Alabama Baptist
Search
Close
The Alabama Baptist
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Sexual Abuse Task Force
  • Free Email Newsletter
Menu
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Sexual Abuse Task Force
  • Free Email Newsletter

Partnership between Alabama and Alaska Baptists off to a good start

  • October 6, 2021
  • Carrie Brown McWhorter
  • Alabama News, Baptist News, Featured, Latest News
Speaking during the Alaska Baptist Resource Network’s annual meeting are Randy Covington, executive director of the Alaska Baptist Resource Network; Rick Lance, executive director of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions; and John Montgomery, dean of spiritual life at California Baptist University.
Sylvia Rylander/Alaska Baptist Resource Network

Partnership between Alabama and Alaska Baptists off to a good start

In May, Alabama Baptists entered into a five-year partnership with Alaska Baptists, and the fruits of that partnership are already growing, leaders say.

The ministry partnership was highlighted during the Alaska Baptist Resource Network’s annual meeting held Sept. 27-29 at First Baptist Church North Pole.

During the Sept. 27 Impact Alaska missions celebration, Alabama Baptist Jamie Baldwin joined Cody Schwegel, pastor of Liberty Church in Craig, Alaska, for a conversation about Liberty’s relaunch.

Baldwin, who retired from the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions after working in Sunday School and discipleship ministries, has been serving in Craig since April 8 on a six-month assignment to help Schwegel and his church. The work has included construction work, as well as outreach.

Cody Schwegel and Jamie Baldwin discuss the work at Liberty Baptist Church in Craig, Alaska, in 2021 at the annual meeting of the Alaska Baptist Resource Network. (Photo by Sylvia Rylander)

During the summer, Baldwin and volunteers from Alabama finished the interior of the church’s fellowship area, installed new flooring and put in a new HVAC system.

And as work has progressed, the congregation has grown, from six members at the beginning of the year to nearly 50 now attending each Sunday. The church’s Sunday School now has 16–18 children and teenagers, Schwegel said — mostly teenagers.

“They’re unchurched, and they want to come. They want to be there,” he said.

‘God met needs’

Throughout the summer, God met needs in unusual and surprising ways, Schwegel said. One Sunday, there were 56 people at church — and the church had only 60 chairs.

Schwegel thought, “Praise the Lord, we need more chairs.”

The next day, a city employee drove up and asked if the church could use some pew chairs because he had some he needed to get rid of. In a moment, the church doubled its seating capacity with the gift of more than 60 chairs.

“The fact of the matter is we have seen amazing things,” Schwegel said, noting that the crowd gathered for the missions celebration was the largest he had ever spoken to. “One point I could drill home to small churches is that God provides. … We’ve read about God providing in the Bible, but when He teaches you He provides, it is a completely different thing.”

Baldwin said God had provided abundantly in Craig and will provide when believers seek and follow Him.

“I don’t know your situation. I don’t know your church, your environment, your struggles,” Baldwin said. “But I saw God work in a miraculous way. I believe the reason God did what He did was because of what He says in His Word, you have not because you ask not.

“Whatever God has laid on your heart as pastor and leaders of your church, go back to your church, talk about it, pray about it. Seek God . … Act on what God is saying. Let’s not limit God.

“God has the resources. He’s got everything that’s needed. He’s just waiting on you to act.”

How Alabama Baptists can help

On Sept. 28, SBOM Executive Director Rick Lance joined ABRN Executive Director Randy Covington to talk more about the Alabama-Alaska partnership and how Alabama Baptists hope to help in Alaska.

He mentioned specific areas, including collegiate ministries, church revitalization and church planting. Prayer support and encouragement will also be important, Lance said.

“In all my years, I have never seen a time when pastors and laypersons are more discouraged than they are now. We can encourage each other,” he said.

Lance presented a check for $25,000 from Alabama Baptists to be used by Alaska Baptists however the gift was most needed.

“Alabama Baptist are not the richest people in the world, and we don’t have the largest churches,” Lance said. “But we are among the most generous and sacrificial people in Southern Baptist Convention life. And we want to share with you what God has shared with us.”

Covington, along with Alabama native Jae McKee, who serves Alaska Baptists as director of missions and church planting, will travel to Huntsville in November for the Alabama Baptist State Convention.

Covington said he looks forward to joining Alabama Baptists to “dream about ways God can bless this partnership in the future.”

Hear more from Rick Lance’s discussion of the Alabama-Alaska partnership in this video.

Share with others:

Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on linkedin
LinkedIn
Share on email
Email

Latest News

  • Two Christians brutally slain in India
    Two Christians brutally slain in India
    June 26, 2022/
    0 Comments
  • Lifeway breakfast in Anaheim offers pastors tools for processing anxiety
    Lifeway breakfast in Anaheim offers pastors tools for processing anxiety
    June 26, 2022/
    0 Comments
  • ‘Scene plays over and over in my mind,’ church shooting survivor shares
    ‘Scene plays over and over in my mind,’ church shooting survivor shares
    June 26, 2022/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Two Christians brutally slain in India

June 26, 2022

NEW DELHI, India — Radical Hindus are suspected in the brutal murders of two Christians in India earlier this month.

Lifeway breakfast in Anaheim offers pastors tools for processing anxiety

June 26, 2022

Whether current events have Southern Baptists on edge or on the edge of their seats, one thing is clear —

‘Scene plays over and over in my mind,’ church shooting survivor shares

June 26, 2022

Martha lost three friends June 16 when the lone guest attending a “Boomers Potluck” evening gathering pulled out a gun.

view of empty room

Alabama’s ban on abortion will go into effect ‘pretty quickly,’ attorney says

June 25, 2022

The pro-life attorney who authored 2019 legislation that prohibits nearly all abortions in Alabama says he expects the law to

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds
  • Special Resources
  • Special Events
  • Photo Galleries
Menu
  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds
  • Special Resources
  • Special Events
  • Photo Galleries

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcast
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • About Alabama
  • Videos
Menu
  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcast
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • About Alabama
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy
Menu
  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Manage Account | Customer Service
Menu
  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Manage Account | Customer Service
The Alabama Baptist
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2022 The Alabama Baptist
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
Menu
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
Email:
news@thealabamabaptist.org

About

  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds
  • Special Resources
  • Special Events
  • Photo Galleries
Menu
  • Free Email Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Our Story
  • Awards and Recognitions
  • Affiliations
  • Partner Links
  • Advertise
  • Internships
  • Find Churches
  • Classifieds
  • Special Resources
  • Special Events
  • Photo Galleries

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcast
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • About Alabama
  • Videos
Menu
  • Latest News
  • Archive
  • Sunday School Lessons
  • Editorials
  • Alabama News
  • Podcast
  • Obituaries
  • Theology 101
  • Someone You Should Know
  • Rashional Thoughts
  • Persecuted Church
  • Heroes of the Faith
  • Reader Response
  • About Alabama
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy
Menu
  • Story Ideas
  • Staff Change or News Item
  • Letter to the Editor
  • Reader Submissions
  • What Are You Reading?
  • Obituary
  • Correction / Clarification
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Manage Account | Customer Service
Menu
  • Start a new subscription
  • Renew your subscription
  • Start a new gift subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Subscribe to the TAB News app
  • Update your subscriber list
  • Subscribe to Highlights
  • Register for online access
  • Manage Account | Customer Service

Log In

Lost your password?

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel