“I don’t want to multiply people who look like me, talk like me, act like me if I’m not in the right relationship of obedience to God myself,” said Albert Williams, who serves as pastor of St. James Baptist Church in Dothan. “I am the disciple-making tool that God has made me to be if I live the Word of God like I’m supposed to. There’s nothing more important in discipleship than the relationship.”
“I’m very thankful for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering because the funds allow [our] team to both live in and travel to places where unreached people live,” Alabama Missionary Nicole Gallwey said. “Because we are so well supported, we can focus all our energy on the missions task, knowing that our financial, physical and medical needs are taken care of.”
“For whatever I face today — He is enough.”
Daniel Ritchie
@DanielRitchie on X
“When I finished my seminary studies, I decided to take up golf again,” said Cody Hale, pastor of Iron City Baptist Church in Anniston. “This gives me the opportunity to meet people outside the church, and I’ve worked at this. I’ve had people come to me on the golf course and ask me to pray with them about something.”
Idolatry is trusting anyone or anything to be and do what only God can be and do. It is among the gravest of sins and is forbidden by God’s Word in the strongest terms (cf. Ex. 20:3–6; Lev. 19:4; 1 Cor. 10:14; 1 John 5:21).
Jim Denison
Denison Ministries
A false balance is an abomination to the Lord (Prov. 11:1).
Katie McCoy
@blondeorthodoxy on X
“We must get out and learn who is living around our community. We must get out and find out what the people in our community need,” said Craig Carlisle, Alabama Baptist State Convention president, who also serves as director of missions for Etowah Baptist Association. “Don’t presume to know what they need and offer them what you think they need. Ask them.” It’s time for churches to “surrender our allegiance to the way things used to be and prioritize the way things are now and go and tell our communities that Jesus saves,” he said.
“There are some hands only you can hold, some hearts that only you can mend. There are some situations and conversations that only you will have,” said Ben Bowden, pastor of First Baptist Church Enterprise. “There are some lives that only you can touch.” God intends to use your life to make a difference in the world for the glory of Christ, Bowden said.
“Individuals who are disabled, like myself, live in a world that wasn’t designed for us. We understand sometimes those not affected by disability can be blind to us and our needs, but can I ask you, especially church leaders, to please ask God to open your eyes? Be the exception. We’re all just searching for a place where we belong. After all, what better place to welcome the outcasts than the church?” said Amber Stewart, author of “Broken and Beautiful: The Greatest Beauty Comes from Our Deepest Pain” and the “Sassy Sally and Her Little Dog” series.
Letters to the Editor
We are so grateful for Denise George’s recent article “Find peace during holidays: how to rest in God’s presence.” We hope her inspiring words can motivate us to believe in transforming the way families experience a richer and more significant Christmas gathering.
Connie Jenkins
FBC Paoli, Indiana
My wife and I found your article “Singer-songwriter releases children’s book addressing God’s help amid anxiety” about Jason Gray’s children’s book “Sparrows,” which is based on his song of the same title, to be very uplifting.
The reason why people who stutter can sing fluently has never been definitively explained. Some experts posit that since speech is a left-brain function and singing is a right-brain function, there is no correlation between the two functions. However, nothing has ever been proven.
There are many famous singers who have used singing to break free from the bonds of stuttering. Jason Gray is on the list of “Famous People Who Stutter” on the website of The Stuttering Foundation (StutteringHelp.org), as are people like Carly Simon, Bill Withers, B.B. King, Marc Anthony and many others.
James White
Anniston
Share with others: