Simple Request Alabama BCM Students Meet Needs, Connect with Others on Campus by Grace Thornton an Effective Way to Reach Those Campus Minister
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Toll free 800-803-5201 Vol. 185, No. 8 www.thealabamabaptist.org February 20, 2020 Informing. Inspiring. Connecting. INSIDE Gilbreath shares about his ‘greatest ride’ as he hands over reins of evan- gelism office Pages 6–7 Photo courtesy of Beth Gardner New international students at the University of South Alabama (USA) enjoy their first American meal at McAlister’s Deli with USA’s Baptist campus minister Beth Gardner (bottom, right) and Baptist campus ministries students. The USA BCM also is ministering to international Theology 101 — students by providing them with pillows and blankets, inviting them to play games and bringing them medicine when they are sick. New Mercies Page 10 Simple request Alabama BCM students meet needs, connect with others on campus By Grace Thornton an effective way to reach those campus minister. “My husband for sheets, pillows, towels or The Alabama Baptist students. and I picked up three students anything like that. or a while now, Beth But this year God opened that night.” “It was around 10 p.m., Gardner has been a door to build relationships and we told them we would working on different that she would have never seen Pillows and blankets be back,” Gardner said. She F ways to reach out to coming — emergency pillows. They realized as they were and her husband scrambled international students at the And it started with a simple checking the students into to round up some pillows and Christian leaders University of South Alabama request. their residence halls that the blankets from the BCM office respond to (USA). She and others at “The global office asked us students had shown up with and BCM students. expanded US USA’s Baptist Campus Min- if we could pick up a student only one checked bag and a “What started out as ‘I’ll travel ban istries (BCM) have tried some from France at the airport,” carry-on for a whole semester. pick them up’ has just opened Page 19 things but had trouble finding said Gardner, USA’s Baptist That meant they had no room (See ‘Gather,’ page 9) To watch the videos from this week’s issue, visit our YouTube channel “TAB Media.” PAGE 2 / THE ALABAMA BAPTIST / FEBRUARY 20, 2020 OUR EXTENDED ALABAMA BAPTIST FAMILY “If ye continue in My word, then ... ALABAMA BAPTIST ye shall know the truth, and the truth STATE BOARD OF MISSIONS shall make you free.” John 8:31–32 1-800-264-1225 | www.alsbom.org Offices: Prattville (ISSN 0738-7741; USPS 011-080) © The Alabama Baptist, Inc. Leadership: Rick Lance, executive director is published weekly except for one week in July and December by The Alabama Baptist, ALABAMA BAPTIST CHILDREN’S HOMES Inc., at 3310 Independence Drive, & FAMILY MINISTRIES Birmingham, AL 35209. Phone: 205-870-4720. 205-982-1112 | www.alabamachild.org Statewide phone: 800-803-5201. Website: www.thealabamabaptist.org Main office: Birmingham Email: [email protected] Leadership: Rod Marshall, president and CEO or [email protected] Periodicals postage paid at Hattiesburg, Miss. 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TAB Media staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF are (l to r around the Reinhardts) Jessica Ingram, Jennifer Davis Rash, James Cynthia Watts Janet Erwin THE BAPTIST FOUNDATION OF ALABAMA Executive Assistant Executive Editor 334-394-2000 | www.tbfa.org Hammack, Debbie Campbell and Carrie Brown McWhorter. Offices: Montgomery Debbie Campbell Carrie B. 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Grim newspaper, a pair of scissors and a Susan Stevens Creative Services Sales Manager ALABAMA WMU touch of glue launched 10-year-old Representative 334-288-2460 | www.alabamawmu.org Ruby Reinhardt into much more Amy Hacker Annette Brown Offices: Prattville Creative Services Guest Services Leadership: Candace McIntosh, executive director than her original intent of finding Associate something creative to do for a few Sarah Gill James Hammack Customer Relations minutes. Digital Services JUDSON COLLEGE Deb Lowery Manager 800-447-9472 | www.judson.edu She’s now on a schedule every few Financial Assistant Location: Marion months to create a new edition of her Haley Piersol Leadership: Mark Tew, president Richard Maddox Digital Services customized cut-and-paste version of Computer Services Associate SAMFORD UNIVERSITY TAB, complete with original art. NEWS SERVICES 205-726-2011 | www.samford.edu Ruby, the daughter of Billy and Photo by Beth Gillem Baptist Press (BP), Associated Press/Religion Location: Birmingham 10-year-old Ruby Reinhardt of News Service (AP/RNS), Morning Star Leadership: Andrew Westmoreland, president Jessica Reinhardt, said she tries to News (MS). wait on her dad to finish reading the Riverside Heights Baptist Church, Tallassee, shares details about the POSTMASTER UNIVERSITY OF MOBILE papers before she cuts them up but Send address changes to: 251-675-5990 | www.umobile.edu latest edition of her handmade, The Alabama Baptist Location: Mobile sometimes she gets ahead of him. customized and condensed version of 3310 Independence Drive Birmingham, AL 35209 Leadership: Lonnie Burnett, president So far, she has submitted two orig- The Alabama Baptist with TAB inal copies to the TAB staff. (TAB) editor-in-chief Jennifer Davis Rash. ADDRESS CHANGE Send old and new addresses, and name of church to: Subscription Department 3310 Independence Drive Birmingham, AL 35209 Allow two weeks. To the best of our knowledge, all of the ads in The Alabama Baptist represent THE ALABAMA BAPTIST, INC. legitimate companies and offerings. However, one should always exercise normal business caution in responding to ads. Full member of Alabama Press Association The Alabama TAB Accredited member of Evangelical Baptist Online Council for Financial Accountability newspaper website ‘Nation’s Top Regional Christian Newspaper’ 1999, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, TAB News TAB Digital 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 podcast interactive content as judged by Associated Church Press, Baptist The crossword puzzle Communicators Association, Evangelical Press can be found on page 19. Association or Religion Communicators Council FEBRUARY 20, 2020 / THE ALABAMA BAPTIST / PAGE 3 OPINION By Jennifer Davis Rash MY President and Editor-in-Chief [email protected] RASHIONALE @RashionalThts Time to buckle down and research current complex topics egislation and con- tion and explanations from what logically grounded and natural, First, pray for discernment for stitutional amend- we discover. is socially constructed and that our team to know which topics ments connected to race, as a socially constructed to prioritize and for wisdom, en- the state of Alabama, I can’t promise we can cover concept, functions as a means ergy and clarity of mind while resolutions and busi- every request, but we will con- to maintain the interests of the working on the research. Lness decisions related to the sider each one and then focus on white population that construct- Southern Baptist Convention the top requested topics. ed it.” Second, be supportive of our (SBC) — all important topics role in these cases to inform and to understand — but, wow, can For instance, several of you The SBC resolution from explain, not take a side and pro- they be complicated, complex are asking us to provide more 2019 on critical race theory can mote. Providing straight news and confusing. explanation on the 2019 SBC be found at sbc.net/resolutions will allow us to focus on and Resolution 9, On Critical Race — once on that page, use the share the facts so you can then As our reporting team dives Theory And Intersectionality search prompt to type in “2019” decide what you think. in deep to sift through all the because the topic could surface and click on the search button. possible options to research, we again at the upcoming SBC an- Third, engage in the conversa- need your help. nual meeting in Orlando. And even more vital than shar- tion with graciousness. Certain- Help us by sharing what you ing what items you would like ly stand strong but also be open would like to understand related According to britannica.com, us to research, we need your to learning about other views for to current legislation pending “critical race theory is the view help in three significant aysw as understanding — not necessar- before the Alabama Senate or that race, instead of being bio- we do the research. ily agreement. House of Representatives. We’ve heard from a few RASHIONAL THOUGHTS who want to understand more about the Alabama Appointed Education Board Amendment (Amendment 1), which will be Little nuggets of wisdom mentors and friends voted on in the March 3 refer- endum, and we hope to be able have taught me along the way (part 2) to provide some information on the amendment next week.