On behalf of the Baptists of Pennsylvania/South Jersey, I want to express a big thank-you to Alabama Baptists for all the help you have extended to us through our partnership with Impact Northeast. Recently we had an evangelism conference for our state convention that was completely planned and led by Sammy Gilbreath and Alabama Baptists he enlisted. Dr. Lance made provisions to underwrite the costs of the conference. Our people were so encouraged and uplifted by this display of support. It was a special blessing for me and our convention staff as we have been without an evangelism director for more than a year and had wondered how we were going to pull the conference together.
This is just the latest in a great number of ways Alabama Baptists have helped us. This past year you sent us $10,000 to help with our general budget needs at a time when our funds were completely depleted. We made it through that time of crisis and were blessed to know we had a friend in time of need.
In addition, state missionaries in Alabama have met with their counterparts on our staff to plan projects in Sunday School, Discipleship Training, music ministries and leadership development. You have helped to sponsor new churches in Pennsylvania/South Jersey and came to lead training events.
You sent us $20,000 to help with church strengthening projects and are helping to finance a refocusing process in our churches. You also covered the cost of our audit the last couple of years. Many association and churches in Alabama have partnered with associations and churches in Pennsylvania/South Jersey. The number of projects is too numerous to list. Many short-term volunteers and collegiate groups have come to help us.
You have helped make a difference here in the Northeast. This past year we had an increase of 38 new churches (an increase of 12 percent). The resident membership of our churches grew over 9 percent. Our average worship attendance was up almost 10 percent, and our baptisms were up 13 percent. We could not have done that without the support and prayers of Alabama Baptists. Please accept our deepest thanks and gratitude.
David Waltz
Harrisburg, Pa.
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