In October, Selma Baptist Association will return to its roots by meeting at the same church as the gathering that established it more than a century ago.
On Oct. 30, the association celebrates 125 years of commitment to assisting and equipping churches to fulfill God’s Great Commission. And it attributes its successes to the active involvement of laymen and women, who have served in the various association ministries, said Tom Stacey, Selma Association’s director of missions.
The association’s history began with a meeting at Shiloh Baptist Church, Sardis, according to Stacey. The F. Wilbur Helmbold book “Selma: The Gospel at Work” states that E.F. Baber, Shiloh’s pastor in 1883, was authorized to invite to the meeting all the churches interested in organizing an association. Eleven churches from the Alabama and Cahaba associations met for this purpose in July 1883. Later, on Oct. 30, 1883, the churches met again to form Selma Baptist Association.
Since 1883, the association has been involved with numerous ministries, such as backyard Bible clubs, church construction, disaster relief efforts, Marksmanship Challenge and Sav-A-Life. In addition, the association’s WMU spearheads involvement in Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse.
Stacey, who has been director of missions for the past 11 years, said one recent special ministry of the association was helping Northwoods Baptist Association in Duluth, Minn. Last summer, 23 people from five Selma Association churches helped with Northwoods’ annual summer camp, called Camp Jesus Is Mine (or Camp JIM).
“During the camp, we had 13 professions of faith and 50 people rededicate their lives to the Lord,” Stacey said.
He is grateful for association members, who have helped him lead 37 missions trips in the past 17 years. He said members of Selma Association churches have worked hard to make the association what it is.
“Laymen and women work like beavers, which is the strongest part of this association. Our history is built on the strength of our lay people,” Stacey said.
In honor of the association’s anniversary, its annual meeting will take place in the same location where founders met 125 years ago.
Charles T. Carter, pastor emeritus of Shades Mountain Baptist Church, Vestavia Hills, in Birmingham Baptist Association, will deliver the sermon. Also during the meeting, Lonette Berg of the Alabama Baptist Historical Commission will award the association a plaque, recognizing 125 years of service.
Share with others: