State paper provides best communications network

State paper provides best communications network

Convention attendees heard details about the state newspaper, The Alabama Baptist, from Editor Bob Terry, who presented his report on the concluding day of the 2002 Alabama Baptist State Convention held at Shades Mountain Baptist Church, Vestavia Hills.

Prior to delivering his synopsis Terry revisited his 1998 presentation to the state convention. This was the first convention Terry attended following a tragic automobile accident in July of that year while he was in Durban, South Africa, with his wife Eleanor. The accident resulted in the loss of Eleanor’s life and serious injuries to Terry.

Terry told the audience, “I’ve learned in these four years that you never get over the loss of a loved one, but I’ve also learned that God calls us forward with something new to embrace His gift of life.”

With that explanation Terry introduced the messengers to his new wife, Pat, whom he married in March of this year.

Terry then reported to the convention the state-of-affairs at the 18-year-old Baptist paper.

“We have the best communication system of any religious group right now,” he told the messengers.

“The Alabama Baptist is focused on this state. Seventy percent of the news and editorial space is devoted to Alabama news. Every association in our state for the sixth consecutive year had a major news or feature story about work in that area,” he added.

Terry reported that 115 churches use the paper’s local editions that allow for the printing of the church’s weekly news in a cost-saving and timely manner.

Terry urged all churches to provide their active resident members with the state newspaper, “so they can receive on a weekly basis the information, inspiration, interpretation and the enlistment opportunities which are offered.”

(TAB)