Partnership missions, historical events highlight news among Alabama Baptists

For Alabama Baptists 2001 was a year of abundant blessings. Goals were exceeded, accomplishments completed and unexpected challenges embraced. The state convention experienced a successful and calm year under the guidance and leadership of President Mike McLemore, pastor of Lakeside Baptist Church, Birmingham.

During the annual meeting of Alabama Baptists in November, McLemore was re-elected to his second term in office as were first vice president Joe Godfrey, pastor of Taylor Road Baptist Church, Montgomery, and second vice president Henry Cox, pastor of First Baptist Church, Bay Minette.

Partnerships in missions among Alabama Baptists grew stronger in 2001.

The partnership between Venezuela Baptists and Alabama Baptists was spotlighted in August during an eight-day evangelism crusade in Maracaibo, Venezuela. One hundred sixty-two Alabama Baptists took part in revival services, door-to-door-witnessing, street evangelism and block parties that involved 31 Maracaibo-area Baptist churches. During that event 5,190 commitments for Christ were recorded.

The Venezuela partnership also was extended to 2004 and possibly 2005.

And closer to home found Alabama Baptists trekking to the Northeastern part of the United States to sow spiritual seeds in the lives of thousands of people. These Baptist ombudsmen were participating in the North American Missions Board’s (NAMB) Impact Northeast which is a concentrated evangelistic effort to spread the gospel and help build Baptist churches in the northeastern states.

While much effort was spent reaching people with the gospel across the nation and overseas, Ala­bama Baptists also kept several ministries moving within the state.

For instance, the Hispanic ministries across Alabama continued to grow due to the ever-
increasing Hispanic population across the state. A number of associations developed outreach programs to minister to the Hispanics in their area such as the Bessemer Association, which held a Spanish language Vacation Bible School during the summer.

And Alabama hosted the first international FAITH training clinic in July at Vaughn Forest Baptist Church in Montgomery. The training was sponsored by LifeWay Christian Resources. Fifty-eight Brazilians from 10 Baptist churches in Brazil attended along with 130 others.

Alabama Baptists also diversified their look even more by accepting two more black congregations into local associations in October. Bessemer Association voted to welcome its first black congregation, Christian Walk Ministries, and Tuscaloosa Association accepted its second congregation, Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, Alberta City.

The first black interim pastor of a predominantly white Alabama Baptist church also came on board in 2001. Chris Hamlin preached his first sermon at Birmingham’s Church of the Covenant Dec. 2. He followed interim pastor Sarah Shelton, who served at the church for a year.

While making history in some areas, Ala­bama Baptists also set a few records in 2001. One of them was for Southern Baptist World Hunger gifts of $866,760. Also, a record $40,425,000 Cooperative Program budget was adopted at the November annual meeting.

And with the good news came sad goodbyes. Two long-standing churches closed their doors after years of service in Alabama. Historical Ruhama Baptist Church, Birmingham, ended its tenure on Dec. 6 and First Baptist Church, Pratt City, in the Birmingham area, held its last worship service March 1, ending its 120-year history.

Also saying goodbye in the form of retirement were two icons among Alabama Baptists. Henry Lyons, who served for 15 years as director of the Alabama State Board of Missions (SBOM) office of family and deacon ministries, retired in January 2001. Another familiar face, that of Warren Trussell, who served as president of The Baptist Foundation of Alabama for 20 years, retired June 30. He was succeeded by Barry Bledsoe who now serves as president of the Foundation.

A new appointment was also made by Ala­bama’s Woman’s Missionary Union. Sarah Stuart Calvert of Boaz was named president at the organization’s biennial meeting in March. She will serve in the position for two years.

Achieving high honors in 2001 was Joe Bob Mizzell, director of Christian ethics and chaplaincy ministries with the SBOM. He was the recipient of the 2001 Distinguished Service Award by the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.

Growth was also in abundance in several Alabama Baptist institutions. Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center in Talladega launched a capital campaign in conjunction with a building expansion. In September construction began on a 52,000-square-foot-worship and meeting facility.

Alabama Baptist schools of higher learning also expanded their facilities. Samford University opened the doors to their new ScienCenter in November and Judson College dedicated the Charlotte G. Lowder Science Building in May. The University of Mobile completed renovations on the Donald Gallery and Martin Hall’s foyer.