Thank you to the hundreds of Alabama Baptist churches that observed Read The Alabama Baptist Day last Sunday. We appreciate the overwhelming response to this annual reminder of the contributions made by the state Baptist paper to Baptist life. Bulletin inserts, comments about the importance of the state Baptist paper from the pulpit, announcements in church mailouts, posters, bulletin board displays — these were just some of the ways churches called attention to The Alabama Baptist.
This special day reappeared on the denominational calendar only recently — 1998. In former days it was part of a joint promotion by Alabama Baptists and Southern Baptists of state Baptist papers. Southern Baptists had a standing committee that reported to the annual meeting every year about the value of state Baptist papers. Religious Literature Sunday was on the SBC calendar, and state conventions promoted readership of their state Baptist paper. Furnishing the state Baptist paper to active resident families was as expected as providing Sunday School quarterlies.
Over time, state Baptist paper promotions languished and, in the name of denominational efficiency, were finally abandoned. The results were unfortunate. Circulation plateaued and then dropped. More importantly, fewer and fewer Baptists had access to the information, inspiration, interpretation and involvement provided by their state Baptist paper.
Today many church members do not know why they are Baptists or what Baptists believe and how Baptists do church. Many do not know what God is doing among Baptists and through Baptists around the world.
Many feel the kingdom of God reaches to the boundaries of their local church field and no further. They possess little understanding of Baptists’ identity worldwide.
That is part of the reason Alabama Baptists renewed the annual emphasis of Read The Alabama Baptist Day. Through its news and feature stories, analyses, Bible study articles, in-depth studies, editorials, letters and other offerings, the state Baptist paper contends for the Baptist way. And each week its pages report what God is doing through Baptists in Alabama and around the world.
Benjamin Franklin used to say “the man who succeeds is generally the man with the best information.” Another adage captures the same idea — “An informed Baptist is the best Baptist.” Both statements point to the pivotal role of information like that provided each week through the pages of The Alabama Baptist.
Read The Alabama Baptist Day is the state convention’s way of reminding all Alabama Baptists that the state Baptist paper is not a back-burner issue, that the state Baptist paper is important and should be furnished to all active resident families in the church. The convention backs up that position through Cooperative Program financial support to keep subscription costs affordable through the church budget plan.
A growing number of churches are responding to the renewed emphasis on the importance of the state Baptist paper. In the last four years, subscriptions have climbed more than 10,000 but circulation still trails figures from 10 years ago.
Another reason for the circulation upturn is the growing partnership between churches and the state Baptist paper called local editions. Churches save both time and money when their local information is printed as part of the state Baptist paper and mailed to their members.
Frequently, the information is delivered more speedily than a church can distribute the information itself. Material received by the state Baptist paper by Tuesday noon is printed and mailed by Wednesday noon and delivered to members’ mailboxes on Thursday or Friday. Churches save time and money, get increased readership of their information and gain the benefit of all the state Baptist paper’s contributions to their members. That makes the paper a “best buy” in Baptist life.
It is little wonder that The Alabama Baptist recently celebrated reaching its goal of 100 active local editions. Now we strive toward 200.
Read The Alabama Baptist Day reminds every Alabama Baptist church that every active resident family should receive the information, inspiration, interpretation and involvement provided by the state Baptist paper. That is a practice that deserves to be recaptured. It is not enough to furnish the paper for those who request it. Because of the vital role of The Alabama Baptist, churches should furnish the paper to all their families as part of the church’s religious literature. Only those who request not to receive the state Baptist paper should be exempt.
It is a privilege to be associated with The Alabama Baptist. Thanks again for observing Read The Alabama Baptist Day and for your continuing support of the state Baptist paper.
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