America’s greatness begins in her churches
By Willis B. Kelly
Retired pastor, Solitude Baptist Church
We are hearing today about the greatness of America. Some are saying, “Let’s make America great again.” Others say, “America is already a great nation.” What makes America great? Is there a clear and perfect answer to what makes America the greatest country in all the world?
In 1831, French political scientist Alexis de Tocqueville came to America, then a young nation of 24 states. He spent nine months searching for what makes America tick. He traveled in the cities and the countryside and in our factories, farm lands, schools and churches. He also spent much time in Washington to get to know how democracy works. You will find his book “Democracy in America” in your local library.
De Tocqueville gave credit to many areas, but he concluded that America’s greatness was found in her churches. He heard powerful preaching from the Bible that changed lives and sent them out making an impact for God in America. De Tocqueville was right about the greatness of America.
Some years ago a prominent pastor was asked what priority he gave to his preaching. He said, “I preach as a dying man to dying men, I preach as never to preach again!”
William P. Kelly, my grandfather, preached for 50 years up and down Sand Mountain. In 1940, at the age of 67, he preached 10 revivals and 102 people were saved. The Alabama Baptist reported 72 of those converts were baptized in Town Creek. I have a picture of him baptizing 37 at one time.
In America today de Tocqueville would find tens of thousands of churches with people worshipping, serving the Lord and giving a witness that Jesus saves.
Yet the Bible, God’s word, may be saying to many churches today, “Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give the light” (Eph. 5:14). And to others the word in Amos 6:1 to the people of God: “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion.” Are we pleased in our comfort zone — living in luxury and having need of nothing? We have more than 300 churches in Marshall County alone. Let us all without fail make a lasting impact for Jesus Christ all across this county.
We are the Church. We love the Church. Jesus loves the Church. He gave Himself for the Church. He is coming back for His Church. It may be soon. Let us all be ready!
EDITOR’S NOTE— Willis B. Kelley retired as pastor of Solitude Baptist Church, Albertville, in Marshall Baptist Association. He also has served on the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM) executive committee and on the state Christian Life Commission.
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The impact of camp
According to my mother, I begged her until she gave in. I was 12 years old and had begun attending a small rural church near my home. I was part of Acteens and my leader was preparing us to head out to missions camp at Lake Yale Baptist Assembly in Florida.
I had not traveled much and the prospect of going away with friends was exciting. However, God wanted to teach me more about Himself and those He loved.
My cabin leader, Ms. Shari, taught me how to read my Bible and what it meant to spend time alone with God daily — all new concepts to me. My experiences at missions camp taught me to love beyond myself and expanded my Kingdom understanding.
I have fond memories — the campfires, singing to the sound of the guitar and the vespers cross in the background. God would use these experiences to mold my heart to His. He would give me a passion for the Great Commission that compels me still today.
Missions camp is a valuable experience which is why Alabama WMU continues to offer Missions Adventure Camp (MAC) for children in grades K–12 at WorldSong Missions Place. To register visit www.worldsongretreat.org.
—Candace McIntosh
EDITOR’S NOTE: Candace McIntosh is executive director of Alabama Woman’s Missionary Union.
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Letters to the Editor
Recidivism is the tendency of a criminal to commit a crime and return to prison.
According to the National Institute of Justice, 68% of 405,000 prisoners released in 30 states in 2005 were arrested for a new crime within three years of their release from prison.
According to a 2018 report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 1960 the U.S. prison population was about 46,000, today it is nearly 2.2 million.
What we are doing is not working in my opinion. Rising prison populations and increasing crime are crowding the agendas and pressing budgets for legislators.
I believe we are moving the reform needle in the wrong direction — we are going softer and we should be going harder.
Our current system is not working; we need to go back to some serious deterrents invoking fear.
Let’s erase the 60 years of jurist activism that have incrementally turned our prisons into summer camps and get serious about reversing the escalating recidivism rate in our country.
John Giles
Luverne, Ala.
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SBC churches need to improve our current ordination practices.
Jason Lowe
Author of “Above Reproach: A study of the ordination practices of Southern Baptist churches”
Each generation must remind the next that God’s faithfulness, forgiveness and favor are forever.
Mark Croston
National director of black church partnerships, LifeWay Christian Resources
The Southern Baptist Convention got off to a horrible start. In part, it was created as a defense of slavery. Could there be a more horrible moral and ethical decision?
Chuck Kelley
Chancellor, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
The most powerful antidote to a ‘me-centered’ faith is a clear understanding of who Jesus really is.
Richard Ross
Professor of student ministry, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Evangelism is something we have to be intentional about, or it doesn’t happen.
Pastor Steve Horn
FBC Lafayette, La.
Trust God with tomorrow. Worrying about tomorrow doesn’t … take the strain out of tomorrow; it just takes the strength out of today. God promises to provide what you need when tomorrow comes.
Pastor Willy Rice
Calvary Church, Clearwater, Fla.
Excerpt from “Living in the Light” devotional book
I can control what my children see and hear — most of it, anyway. I exercise this kind of control not because I’m interested in producing adults who can’t discern right and wrong on their own but because I am. I and every other Christian parent have the terrible honor of shielding little ones from a diseased culture that calls good evil and evil good, and will use any means of enlisting them. We shield them not in order to raise weak adults but to raise strong ones — Christians who have developed the immunity necessary to see and hear lies and reject them with confidence.
G. Shane Morris
BreakPoint.org
I could see that God answered my prayer by preparing each precious soul in my life so that I could enter the gospel ministry.
Paul Kim
Asian-American relations consultant, SBC Executive Committee
Many times, summer camp is the place where God causes children and students to have “lightbulb” moments about concepts parents and church leaders have been teaching them all year. These spiritual moments can become faith markers we look back to for the rest of our lives.
Logan Meek
Team leader, Student Life For Kids
When we see issues as problems, we only recognize the negative effects on the surrounding people and environment. On the other hand, when we recognize issues as opportunities, we accentuate the positive, which drives us to seek resolutions.
George Yates
Church health strategist, Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions
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From the Twitterverse
@willainsworthAL
Alabama’s state motto is “We Dare Defend Our Rights,” and today we have taken a strong step toward defending the rights of the unborn. With liberal states approving radical late-term and post-birth abortions, Roe must be challenged, and I am proud that Alabama is leading the way.
@scottdawson
Alabama Senate passed the most aggressive Pro-Life bill in the nation! This could be the first step in challenging Roe v Wade!
@kylebeshears
How do Paul and Jude describe people who stir division in the church? They do not serve the Lord Jesus; deceive the hearts of the naive by smooth talk; are warped, sinful, and self-condemned; are worldly and devoid of the Spirit
“As for a person who stirs up division … have nothing more to do with him” (Titus 3:10). Push the block button. Take away their platform for their own good. Our curiosity to follow the story of dividers on social media is only deepening their warped, sinful, worldly, spiritless self-condemnation. Do them a sincere favor and have nothing more to do with them.
@macbrunson
There is an awful lot happening in Baptist churches that has never happened before — and the world is still lost and headed to hell.
@edstetzer
I’m struck by the cruelty of some Christians social media this week, all being cruel because they think someone else said something cruel, so they can be cruel, then people respond to that, etc. It is not right. It does not honor the Lord. End the cycle. Jesus shows a better way.
@Franklin_Graham
I’m grateful for the men and women who selflessly confront danger to defend and protect us every day. They need our constant support, encouragement, and prayers. #NationalPoliceWeek #PeaceOfficersMemorialDay
@GoBGR
Today we celebrate International Day of Families. And remember those families who are separated from theirs. Will you join us in praying for those families who are far from home, displaced and disjointed. Pray that they find a refuge where they can know peace, safety, and hope.
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