‘The Alabama Baptist’ now largest circulated state paper, Terry reports

The state paper for Alabama Baptists is now the largest state Baptist paper in the nation, said Bob Terry, editor of The Alabama Baptist. With a circulation topping 110,000, The Alabama Baptist surpasses all others in terms of both paid subscriptions and total circulation.

Terry said the paper has remained stable even as others have faced dramatic cuts because, “The state Baptist paper continues to focus on the essentials of what it means to be a Baptist.”

As the paper reaches out to Baptist churches of all sizes and styles, Terry said it strives to devote at least 70 percent of its editorial content to Alabama Baptist news. However, in the past two months, the paper has exceeded that, maintaining an average of 80 percent coverage.

Terry said the paper is “trying to help (Alabama Baptist church) members face the practical problems of life and find biblical based solutions to those problems.”

To this end The Alabama Baptist devotes space to promote needs and initiatives of Alabama Baptists as well as help church members understand their identity as Baptists.

Terry also announced that beginning with the issue handed out at the state convention’s annual meeting, the paper will have an article that presents the plan of salvation weekly to readers.

The Alabama Baptist also aims to help churches and associations communicate with their members.

Terry said Alabama Baptist State Convention President Joe Godfrey’s church- First Baptist Church, Pleasant Grove- is the newest local edition user to begin printing with The Alabama Baptist. The local edition service is a cost-effective way for churches to provide their members with local news in addition to state, national and world news, he said.

“We are serving God by serving the people of the Alabama Baptist State Convention through your state paper,” Terry said.

“Being the best we can be means being helpful to readers as they live out their faith; serving churches as we serve the convention and serving the convention as we join hearts and hands to reach the state, nation and world.”

(TAB)