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November 1, 2018 Toll free 1-800-803-5201 Vol. 183, No. 43 Informing. Inspiring. Connecting. www.thealabamabaptist.org Students at Nazareth Baptist School have questions for the guest speaker visiting from the United States. INSIDE Tour groups to the Holy Land led by The Alabama Baptist always include the school as one of the stops. UM’s Project Serve ministers to communities in Mobile, Bald- win counties Page 4 Theology 101 — ‘Faith comes Photo by Bob Terry The Church as a Flock Page 6 by hearing’ Nazareth Baptist School reaches young people of all faiths with gospel By Carrie Brown McWhorter students a great education, said “Families want their children to Week-long summer camps held at The Alabama Baptist Roger Mardis, president of Friends get into the school because of the the Baptist Village near Tel Aviv new school term of- of Nazareth (FON), a U.S.-based education,” Mardis said. also draw some 500–600 students. cially kicked off in nonpro t organization that helps But whether Muslim, atheist or Both are terri c programs that rely September, but the support the school. But students get Christian, all students at the school on volunteers, many from the Unit- mission of teaching ed States, Mardis said. Alabama Baptist much, much more. attend required chapel and Bible children and shar- “We get to share the gospel with study classes. In addition, students “Interns and teams from all over State Convention Aing the gospel of Christ goes on them every day and see many of and community youth have the the United States and the world releases order of year-round at the Nazareth Baptist them come to know the Lord,” opportunity to participate in after- partner with us and local believers,” business for 2018 School (NBS). Mardis said. “[The school] is an school clubs, camps, Vacation Bible he said. “It’s an incredible opportu- annual meeting The only Baptist K-12 school amazing evangelistic opportunity School (VBS) and other activities nity. There are limitations in some in Israel and the only evangelical Page 17 we Baptists have in the hometown that expose them to the gospel on a places in Israel as to what you can school recognized by the country’s of Christ.” consistent basis. share and evangelize. At Baptist education ministry, NBS offers Students from all religious back- Village, there are no limitations. grounds are among the more than ‘Trust the Lord’ Eternity is altered because of these 3,000 alumni of the school, which “ ‘Faith comes by hearing and camps and VBS opportunities.” began in 1935 as an initiative of hearing by the word of God,’ so we Mardis, a former Alabama Baptist To watch the videos from this week’s what is now the International Mis- give gospel opportunities and trust pastor, saw rsthand the great work sion Board of the Southern Baptist the Lord to do the work,” Mardis being done through NBS two years issue, visit our YouTube channel or use the Convention. said. ago when he served on a missions HP Reveal app on your phone or tablet and In 1991 the school became a pri- This summer NBS held VBS for team from Agape Baptist Church, hover over the segments marked “AR.” vate evangelical Christian school three consecutive weeks. On the Scottsboro, in Tennessee River under indigenous leadership. rst day 260 students registered. (See ‘Sharing,’ page 3) PAGE 2 / THE ALABAMA BAPTIST / NOVEMBER 1, 2018 COMMENT A Special Time of the Year ovember 12–14 will be a special time of ton Park in Montgomery. Many Baptists will re- the year for Baptists in Alabama. The big member Jones for his outstanding message during N event is the annual meeting of the Ala- the 2018 Evangelism Conference in February. bama Baptist State Convention (ABSC). But the annual meeting is also about business. But that is just one of the many meetings that New officers will be elected. Directors, trustees will bring hundreds of Baptists from across the and commissioners will be approved to oversee state to First Baptist Church, Trussville, for three THOUGHTS the related entities of the state convention. An an- days of important activities. nual budget will be approved to support all that Monday will feature attractions for most every- By Bob Terry Baptists do together. one. The Alabama Baptist Pastors Conference is Usually election of officers is filled with sus- expected to draw the largest crowd of the Monday pense, but not this year. So far only one nominee activities. Pastors Conference President Daven each for president, first vice president and second Watkins, pastor of First Baptist Church, Pelham, vice president have been announced. While other has assembled an array of preachers charged to for final rehearsals before helping lead worship at nominees may yet appear, any serious challenges help pastors and others understand how Christ is the state convention meeting Tuesday morning. are unlikely at this late date, especially since the proclaimed in various parts of the Bible. Associational mission strategists also will have announced candidates are so widely known for Christ proclaimed a focused time of learning featuring University of their previous service. Mobile President Tim Smith. After several years of declining budget goals, Renowned Beeson Divinity School Profes- Another important meeting on that Monday is the proposed ABSC budget for 2019 will be an sor of Preaching Robert Smith opens the day at the gathering of the Alabama increase of $500,000 over the 9 a.m. showing how Christ is proclaimed in the Baptist State Board of Mis- current budget for a total of Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible). The sions (SBOM). This board “Be a part of this special final message of the night will focus on preaching $37.5 million. In presenting directs the activities of the staff the proposal to the SBOM in Christ from Revelation. In between, participants of the SBOM and acts in behalf time of the year. Come will learn about preaching Christ from the Psalms, August, Executive Director of the state convention between Rick Lance said he was con- the prophets, the Gospels, the parables, from Acts annual sessions in matters not to the Pastors Confer- and from the epistles of the Bible. fident that for the first time assigned to other entities. in several years the proposed A special resource available during the Pastors At the SBOM meeting pri- ence or one of the other Conference will be the nearly 40 exhibits by ser- budget goal could be met. mary attention is likely to fo- Cooperative Program of- vices ranging from Christian literature options to cus on final preparation for the meetings. Attend the an- church lending sources to building products and ferings since that time have board’s report to the conven- probably increased Lance’s supplies. Most of these exhibits will be available tion which will be presented nual meeting of the state confidence, since it now ap- only during the Pastors Conference so church Tuesday afternoon. pears this year’s offering may leaders will want to spend part of the morning or So Monday will be a busy meet or surpass the $37.5 mil- afternoon seeing how the various resources might day, an important day, a special convention. You will find lion goal. be helpful to their various churches. time for Alabama Baptists even While pastors are learning new insights into though the ABSC annual meet- it really is a worthwhile Whenever Baptists meet it Scripture and discovering new resources for their ing will not have begun. seems something unexpected churches, others will be involved in training and If possible, plan to attend the effort.” always happens. That is part skill development. The Alabama Baptist Church Pastors Conference. It is open of the experience of being Planter Network will meet at Samford University to everyone and promises to be a great experience. Baptists. Any messenger from in Birmingham for a four-hour study time. The If you want to know more about how the state any cooperating church can nominate someone Alabama Network of Christian Community Min- convention operates, SBOM meetings are open to for office or introduce an amendment to an SBOM isters will meet at First Baptist Church, Indian all Alabama Baptists. recommendation or a resolution or motion. Springs, to learn new ways to help needy families. Tuesday begins two of the most important days It is always the churches — through their mes- Alabama’s Singing Men and Women will gather of the year for the work Alabama Baptists do to- sengers — that decide what the state convention gether. The annual meeting is the time when Bap- will do. Never does the convention tell churches tists exercise their responsibility and stewardship what they must do. for that work. Pray and participate Yes, there will be times of inspiration. Tuesday That dynamic helps make the annual meeting a evening usually focuses on inspiration and this year Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist special time because no one ever knows what will Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, happen when the president bangs the gavel calling will be the featured speaker. A Samford graduate, Alabama Baptists into annual session. Mohler is celebrating his 25th year as president of If possible, be a part of this special time of the Southern Seminary. year. Come to the Pastors Conference or one of Other special times of inspiration will be the the other meetings. Attend the annual meeting of President’s Address delivered by John Thweatt, the state convention. You will find it really is a pastor of First Baptist Church, Pell City, and the worthwhile effort.