First Baptist Church McCalla turned 77 earlier this year. Membership has ebbed and flowed through the decades and currently sits at a critical point.
Their 70-year-old building also is a point of concern. It cost members around $13,000 to build in 1953 — the equivalent of nearly $150,000 in today’s dollars. Its current repair needs are floating around $50,000, an amount not currently within reach, said pastor Dale Jones.
Jones and the core membership want to fight for the church’s survival, and they need our help to know exactly how God would have them proceed.
The members are putting it all on the line with the upcoming “Three Nights of Victory” event and the following Sunday’s “Victory Offering.”
“We are praying, primarily, that this will be life changing for those who attend and that lost souls would be saved,” Jones shared with me last week. “We are also praying that this will spark rejuvenation and life back into our congregation.”
Prayer and support
Will you pray for the members as they seek the Lord’s guidance on next steps? Pray for encouragement for their hearts and energy for their efforts.
If you live in the area, would you be open to attending the event to show your support and encourage this faith family?
If you know of other congregations facing similar situations near you, would you consider praying for healthy renewal opportunities for them?
Would you be available to reach out to help them work through decisions that need to be made and invite them to partner in ministry opportunities?
Associational office teams play a vital part in working with struggling congregations.
Resources are available, but they typically only work if members of the struggling congregation are:
- Open to seeking the Lord’s leading even if it means making changes.
- Open to serving the community in which they have been placed.
- Open to partnering with liked-minded churches and groups who can fill in the gaps.
Sometimes it’s easy to forget we are more than a building, programs and Sunday School classes. All of these are good and provide an important part of the work of churches, but they should be resources that allow us to move the Kingdom forward. They should never be worshipped more than our Lord.
I love to hear from our church families who are passionate about finding a path forward, and we want to assist in the fight to survive.
It might be like what FBC McCalla is facing with a need for rejuvenation and funding. It could be conflict stemming from a poor fit related to leadership. It some cases it is basic discouragement and apathy.
Whatever has you down, know we are here to help connect you with resources and people who might have the answer. We also want to pray for and with you on the journey.
It’s almost time for Alabama Baptists to commemorate 200 years of serving together — come celebrate with us
For the fifth year in a row, our team at TAB Media Group has partnered with the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions and our sister entities to produce the annual Fruitful magazine.
Fruitful showcases the work your Cooperative Program dollars and volunteer efforts make happen in the state through various missions and ministries.
Be on the lookout for the magazine in your mailbox in a few weeks, and let us know if you would like additional copies.
We also hope you will plan to attend or watch online the Alabama Baptist State Convention annual meeting, taking place this year Nov. 14–15 at FBC Montgomery.
The full schedule for the meeting will be available in Fruitful, and details for other related meetings and events will appear near the puzzle pages of The Alabama Baptist each week between now and then.
It’s our 200th anniversary of serving together. Rick Lance and the team at the State Board, along with several of us in partnering roles, have been working hard on the opportunity to commemorate and celebrate. We hope you will join us in Montgomery.
—Jennifer Davis Rash
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