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June 28, 2018 Toll free 1-800-803-5201 Vol. 183, No. 26 Informing. Inspiring. Connecting. www.thealabamabaptist.org INSIDE Burglars hit 2 churches in Tuskegee Lee Association Page 3 “Our church’s battle cry is love like Jesus, serve like Jesus. We fi gured this was where we needed to be.” Pastor Roy Hill, FBC Satsuma FBC Monroeville couple invests Photo by Roy Hill decades praying Men from FBC Satsuma repair a damaged roof for an 87-year-old Prichard resident. The old roof was sagging and needed some structural work. for, fl ying people in need Page 4 ‘Serve like Jesus’ FBC Satsuma men rebuild roof for elderly woman in Prichard By Grace Thornton A few weeks ago, God guided don’t tell many people that,” he said shored up the structure and built her The Alabama Baptist a woman in Oklahoma to pick up with a laugh. “We have done a lot of a new roof. oy Hill, pastor of the phone and call Mark Wake eld World Changers in the past with our “We feel like we made a friend,” First Baptist Church, when she was basically out of op- students and I’ve always gotten to Hill said. “She checked on us a Satsuma, said what tions. travel with them and we’ve done a lot, gave us a lot of hugs and was FBC Hanceville happened recently “She worked for a mortgage com- lot of roo ng.” just really overwhelmed and blown pastor fi nds in a tiny backyard in pany and one of their clients was an His son was a barn builder by away.” unexpected av- RPrichard is a great story but a really, elderly lady in Prichard whose roof trade and a couple of other gifted And Wake eld said the woman enue of ministry really simple one. It took a few nails was damaged and she couldn’t get men also quickly stepped up to help. from the mortgage company was through archery and shingles and a half-day’s work, it repaired,” said Wake eld, director “They have huge servant hearts,” overwhelmed too. and it ended with a new friendship. Page 7 of disaster relief and chaplaincy for Hill said. Others also volunteered to “She had gone above and beyond But before that, it started with a the Alabama Baptist State Board of help, but the backyard was so tiny to nd some help for this lady and phone call. Missions. “She had exhausted all they decided to keep the operation she was thrilled to no end at how the possibilities.” small. the church had been able to help,” So after speaking with her, Wake- he said. eld called Hill to see if he had any ‘We made a friend’ But Hill said it wasn’t anything To watch the videos from this week’s suggestions for someone in the area The lady, an 87-year-old Prichard more than them just being who they issue, visit our YouTube channel or use the with some experience in roo ng resident, had an old roof that was were supposed to be. who wouldn’t mind taking on the sagging and needed some struc- “Our church’s battle cry is love HP Reveal app on your phone or tablet and project. tural work. The men went out, took like Jesus, serve like Jesus. We g- hover over the segments marked “AR.” Hill didn’t have to look far. stock of the need, ordered supplies ured this was where we needed to “I’ve done some roo ng, but I and came back a week later. They be.” PAGE 2 / THE ALABAMA BAPTIST / JUNE 28, 2018 COMMENT Blessed Is the Nation Whose God Is the Lord t is not called a “National Day” but that is Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on what July 4th is for those of us living in the the height of his stature because I have rejected I United States of America. It is a day when him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man citizens everywhere celebrate our nation, our looks on the outward appearance but the Lord freedoms, our ability to worship God according look on the heart.” to the dictates of our hearts. When the Lord looks at the heart of America, July 4th is a national holiday and Americans THOUGHTS what does He want to see? will celebrate with picnics and reworks. There Part of the answer is provided in the Apostle will be parades, concerts and a variety of other By Bob Terry Paul’s letter to Timothy. He writes in 1 Timothy events all designed to acknowledge the rights, 6:11: “But you, man of God, ee from all this privileges and responsibilities of every citizen and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, blessed to live in this “land of the free.” endurance and gentleness.” Social commentators are likely to wax elo- Paul’s instructions to Timothy are consistent quently about the many components that make D.C., in a July 4th parade to demonstrate Amer- with the teaching of Micah 6:8 where the proph- America great. ica’s military repower but that does not mean it et said, “He has told you, O man, what is good; Some will point to the nation’s economic will not happen again. and what does the Lord require of you but to do leadership. One study valued the U.S. economy Military units are expected to march in towns justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly at $19.42 trillion annually, making it the largest and cities across America as they regularly do with your God.” economy in the world. The United States ac- on this holiday. But the parades are not to cel- Many scholars consider this verse to be an ac- counts for 25 percent of the global gross domes- ebrate them. The military is curate summary of the Old tic product, the study said. celebrated for helping protect “While there are many Testament teachings about China, the second largest economy, was rated what the Fourth of July is all righteousness. at $11.8 trillion. about — the nation’s bedrock ‘outward’ things about Both biblical references re- commitment to individual late to one’s relationship with Stronger economy freedom. America to celebrate this others, with one’s self and Most indicators point to a strong economy Patriotic Americans are with God. this July 4th. Nationally, unemployment has grateful for the military and How can what is inside steadily fallen from 9.9 percent in 2009 to 3.9 strongly support the military, July 4th, let us not forget the heart of an individual percent at the end of April. Alabama unemploy- but what we honor on the show what is inside the heart ment has fallen from 11 percent in 2009 to 3.5 Fourth of July is freedom — that God looks at the of America? Because what percent at the end of April. God-given freedom for all. constitutes the character of a Still, some people ask when salaries for av- Unlike in many countries, heart of our nation, the nation is the character of the erage workers will rise and wonder about the America’s “National Day” many individuals who make dwindling number of good jobs — jobs that will not focus on government hearts of our people.” up that nation. offer a livable wage along with basic benets. ofcials. Not on the president If the majority of indi- Stakeholders in a business should be considered or Congress. Not on governors or mayors. Fo- viduals tolerate hate, stimulate violence, pur- along with stockholders, some contend. cus for America is on the individual citizen. It is sue selsh ends and make life important only This July 4th there will likely be conversa- his day and her day. It is a time for every citizen when it agrees with their own views, then that tion about the nation’s military with President to celebrate the gifts of freedom and opportunity will be the character of the nation. History will Trump promoting a parade displaying the na- available in the United States. show the nation as inhumane to all who did not tion’s military might. It has been decades since Government ofcials are certainly important. choose its side. missiles and tanks paraded through Washington, We pray for them regularly just as God’s Word teaches (1 Tim. 2:1–2). These servants need our Daily lives prayers. President Abraham Lincoln observed, But if a people can show righteousness, godli- “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you ness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness in want to test a man’s character, give him power.” their daily lives, then history will show a “na- John Adams, the nation’s second president, tion whose God is the Lord.” stated, “Because power corrupts, society de- While there are many “outward” things about mands for moral authority and character to America to celebrate this July 4th, let us not for- increase as the importance of the position in- get that God looks at the heart of our nation, the creases.” hearts of our people. May God see a people who In America and in Alabama we have wit- do justice, who love mercy, who walk humbly nessed rsthand the corruptive nature of politi- before Him. cal power. We know our elected ofcials need May God see a people whose God is the Lord. the fortifying power that can come through the prayers of God’s people. Economic power, military strength, coura- The Alabama Baptist geous leaders — these are important, but they will not publish a July 5 issue.