State Baptist paper ‘changes lives,’ most widely circulated nationwide

As The Alabama Baptist continues to provide comprehensive coverage of how God is working among Baptists in the state, it also remains the most widely circulated state Baptist newspaper in the nation. 
   
The advantages of subscribing to the state Baptist paper are many, Editor Bob Terry told messengers to the Alabama Baptist State Convention annual meeting Nov. 15. In addition to being a source of explanation about such denominationwide efforts as the Cooperative Program, the paper informs its readers about their Baptist heritage and missions.
   
During his report, Terry told of a Pell City couple who volunteered for their first missions trip after reading an article about the need for volunteers in The Alabama Baptist. The trip revolutionized their worldview — they fell in love with missions work and now take four to five trips a year, serving the Lord for weeks at a time overseas.
   
“The Lord transformed their lives, and it began with a story in the state Baptist paper,” Terry said.
   
He urged pastors to consider providing The Alabama Baptist to their church members in the interest of keeping them fully informed about the people, events and program developments in Baptist circles both in the state and around the world. 
   
The paper strives consistently to provide relevant local news, but to magnify this mission further, it partners with almost 200 churches and associations to produce local editions designed specifically for their members.
   
When you tally these local edition readers with other subscribers, nearly 250,000 readers see the paper each week, according to Mike McLemore, chairman of The Alabama Baptist board of directors, who also addressed messengers during the report. 
   
McLemore, pastor of Lakeside Baptist Church, Birmingham, lauded the paper’s commitment to the cause of Jesus Christ.
   
Terry said the 22 cents per week per subscription is a bargain, as well as an investment in keeping church members apprised of what God is doing through Alabama Baptists. The inspiration provided by such information will manifest itself in stronger commitments to the cause of Christ, he said. “It will change the lives of individuals, and it will change your church.” (TAB)