March 8, 2018 Toll free 1-800-803-5201 Vol. 183, No. 9 Informing. Inspiring. Connecting. www.thealabamabaptist.org (L to r) Judson College President David Potts, University of Mobile President Timothy L. Smith and INSIDE Samford University President Andrew Westmoreland share with messengers how they are a part of God’s sending mission through education during the 2016 Alabama Baptist State Convention annual meeting. Alabama Bap- tists continue to put heart, resources behind AAEO for decades Page 3 Photo by Neisha Roberts Faith & Family — Aging well: Grow- ing in strength and grace Continuing Page 7–10 in faithful service David Potts transitions from president to chancellor of Judson College udson College President “promoting Christian higher educa- vice president and dean of students the college since 2015, will serve as David E. Potts announced tion, especially for young women.” at Judson; Joan Newman, Judson interim president as the search com- today his plan to transition Judson board of directors chair- trustee and nancial adviser at Ed- mittee completes its task. from the role of president man Charles Dunkin also announced ward Jones; Daphne Robinson, Jud- Bullard said, “In an era of shorter Coach Dabo to the role of chancellor of the formation of a presidential search son trustee and assistant Attorney presidencies and ladder-climbers, Swinney shares JJudson. committee. General for the State of Alabama; I know of no president that has about impor- Potts, who has been on a tempo- James Sanford, Judson trustee and prayed more fervently about the role tance of educa- rary leave of absence for health rea- Search committee chairman of the board of Home of president, laid out a clearer vision tion at UM Schol- sons since November, will begin his Serving on the committee will Place Farms Inc.; and Lesley Sheek, for the institution and the presi- arship Banquet new responsibilities immediately. He be Dunkin, CEO of Dunkin-Lewis associate professor of education and dency and remained faithful to God will devote his time exclusively to Inc.; David Byrd, Judson trustee associate dean of the college. and that vision while adapting it to Page 13 advocating for the people of the Ala- and pastor of Northside Baptist Scott Bullard, who has served as ensure that his steadfast belief in bama Black Belt, fundraising and Church, Jasper; Susan Jones, senior senior vice president and dean of (See ‘Under,’ page 12) Coming next week: E A R S Full coverage of The Alabama 1843 Y 2018 Baptist’s 175th anniversary PAGE 2 / THE ALABAMA BAPTIST / MARCH 8, 2018 COMMENT Is it Really Equal Pay? qual pay for equal work is a principle He had labored in the Lord’s eld all of his deeply embedded in the American econ- life. It was unfair that his wife should have this E omy. Congress wrote it into Depression disease. Others who had not worked as long or Era laws through the Fair Labor Standards Act of as hard for the Lord, others who did not even ac- 1938. Twenty-ve years later Congress restated knowledge the Lord, did not have this cancer. the principle of equal pay for equal work in the My friend said he felt like he had earned better. Equal Pay Act of 1963. THOUGHTS Where was the principle of equal pay for equal More recently Alabama native Lilly Ledbetter work? played a pivotal role in expanding the equal pay By Bob Terry Only in his struggle with God after his wife’s for equal work rules as the catalyst for the Lilly death did my friend begin to understand that God Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. had kept His word and provided everything He Most people, it seems, understand the principle had promised. and deem it fair and just. Certainly most want to God promised forgiveness for those who con- make sure that when they are personally involved day’s pay, imagine how much we are going to fess their sin (1 John 1:9). He promised recon- they are not discriminated against and benet get, they reasoned (v. 10). ciliation making us His children (1 John 3:1). He from the equal pay for equal work principle. When the landowner gave them the amount to promised to companion us until the end of the That is one reason a lot of people have dif- which they had agreed, the workers grumbled. ages (Matt. 28:20). He promised we will be with culty with the story Jesus told as recorded in Unfair they claimed. Others got this much for Him for eternity (John 14:2–3). Matthew 20:1–16. only one hour of work. We deserve more because “Christ in you, the hope of glory,” declares Co- we worked longer. lossians 1:23. That is what Agreeing on a price There is the principle — “God promised forgiveness God gives to those who Jesus tells of a landowner who hired day labor- equal pay for equal work. enter His elds in the early ers at the agreed upon price of one “denarius” The landowner saw for those who confess their morning as well as to those which was the average working man’s pay for a things differently. He said who enter His elds just day. A couple of hours later the landowner saw he had been faithful to his sin (1 John 1:9). He promised before quitting time. That other day laborers and commissioned them to agreement with those who is what God gives to all. work in his vineyard and promised to pay them were rst in the eld and God gives out of His lov- “what is right.” reconciliation making us asked why the workers ing generosity, not because At least three more times (noon, three in the were jealous of his gener- of one’s labor. afternoon and an hour before quitting time) the His children (1 John 3:1). osity to others? In the meantime, what landowner sent additional workers into the elds Secretly many of us may theologians sometimes call with the promise to pay them “what is right,” the He promised to companion God’s “common grace” story says. side with the workers in continues to work. Jesus When it came time to settle up, the land owner this story. If the landowner us until the end of the ages alluded to this in His Ser- gave those who had worked an hour a full day’s is going to be generous pay. Those who had worked three hours and half why not be generous with (Matt. 28:20). He promised we mon on the Mount when a day also received a denarius. those who worked the lon- He declared, “He causes By this time, the workers who had worked all gest, we ask. The hardest will be with Him for eternity His sun to rise on the evil day were getting excited, the story continues. If workers deserve the great- and the good, and sends those who worked only part of the day got a full est reward, we reason. rain on the righteous and At the core of the story is (John 14: 2–3).” the unrighteous” (Matt. the attitude of the workers. 5:45). Even though they got what had been promised The Apostle Paul pointed to the regular work they felt mistreated because others got the same of nature’s principles as applying to all and not amount for less work. These workers were un- as indication of God’s blessings or curses on any able to celebrate what they had and instead pout- individual or community (Acts 14:17). ed over the generosity of the landowner to others. Frequently, Christians are like these workers. Giving thanks We pout over what we perceive as unfairness Eventually my co-worker was able to live by rather than celebrate what we have. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 where the apostle says to “give thanks in all circumstances;” not because Years ago a co-worker shared how he struggled the circumstances are God’s will for one’s life with this story during the death of his wife from but because amid whatever circumstances we breast cancer. nd ourselves in, God’s will is that we concen- Like the workers in the story, my fellow minis- trate on what we have — forgiveness, reconcilia- ter felt wronged by God when the diagnosis was tion, companionship of the Holy Spirit and hope rst made. After all, he had followed God since for eternity. childhood. He was a pastor and then a denomina- Such gifts are always worth giving thanks. And tional worker. His was a “good” family. His boys they come because of the generosity of the Fa- were active in church, one even called to voca- ther, not because they are earned through labor in tional ministry. the eld. MARCH 8, 2018 / THE ALABAMA BAPTIST / PAGE 3 “If ye continue in My word, then ... ye shall know the truth, and ‘Faithful the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31–32 (ISSN 0738-7741; USPS 011-080) people’ © The Alabama Baptist, Inc. is published weekly except for one week in July and December by The Alabama Baptist, Inc., at 3310 Independence Drive, Alabama Baptists continue to put heart, resources behind AAEO Birmingham, AL 35209. Phone: 205-870-4720. Statewide By Grace Thornton phone: 1-800-803-5201. Fax: The Alabama Baptist 205-879-6026. Website: www. ust one more. thealabamabaptist.org. Email: [email protected] or That’s what Pastor Ryan Whitley circulation@thealabamabaptist. says CrossPoint Church, Trussville, is org. Periodicals postage paid at Birmingham, Ala., and all about.