Toll free 800-803-5201 Vol. 185, No. 36 www.thealabamabaptist.org September 10, 2020 Informing. Inspiring. Connecting. INSIDE #50for50 What’s happening Alabama Baptist family shows love of Jesus in Big Sky Country in Nigeria, why we By Grace Thornton lation of Livingston claims did. That first year, we did all Over the past six years, should care and The Alabama Baptist Christianity, which was a bit manner of community proj- the area has been a sort of how we can help hen Darryl of a “shock to the system” for ects.” church planting factory Brunson and Pages 6–7 Brunson, his wife, Veronica, They also hosted dozens for Montana — in 2014, his family and their children. of missions teams — many Chris Baker, who at that moved to Liv- from their home state of time served as director of W ‘Started from scratch’ ingston, Montana, to plant a Alabama — who could show missions for Clarke Baptist church in 2016, they didn’t “We didn’t know anybody the area a kind of love they’d Association, moved with know exactly how that pro- in town, so we started from never seen before. Before the his wife Kim and family to cess would look. scratch,” he said. “We just Brunsons moved to Montana, plant Summit Life Church But they did know one started serving in the commu- he served as pastor of Tib- in Whitefish, Montana. thing — the community was nity and meeting people, go- bie Baptist Church. He also going to need to see what the ing to coffee shops and hang- grew up at Grove Hill Baptist Broken heart love of Jesus looks like. ing out. Anything that could Church, and his wife grew up Brunson brought a mis- Less than 10% of the popu- put you in people’s way, we at Tompkins Baptist Church, sions team from his church Grove Hill. the following year, and Mobile health (See ‘Extravagant,’ page 9) clinic reaches patients physically, spiritually Page 8 Tent revival to be held in Pell City Oct. 4–8 at Eden Westside Page 17 Photo courtesy of Darryl Brunson Darryl and Veronica Brunson and their children (from left) Jake, Tucker and Rivers left Alabama in 2016 to join a church-planting effort in Montana. PAGE 2 / THE ALABAMA BAPTIST / SEPTEMBER 10, 2020 CONNECT Evans returns to TAB as “If ye continue in My word, then ... ye shall know the truth, and the truth with us! special assistant to the editor shall make you free.” John 8:31–32 (ISSN 0738-7741; USPS 011-080) recurring theme we see here helps with research, project manage- © The Alabama Baptist, Inc. at The Alabama Baptist and ment, systems and ef ciency efforts, is published weekly except for one week in July and December by The Alabama Baptist, TAB Media is that when marketing, prep for the TAB Talks Inc., at 3310 Independence Drive, A Birmingham, AL 35209. Phone: 205-870-4720. God leads a staff member away for a podcast and various presentations Statewide phone: 800-803-5201. season, He often brings them back. Website: www.thealabamabaptist.org for Editor Jennifer Davis Rash. Email: [email protected] Recently that happened with Mag- “We are so excited to have Mag- or [email protected] facebook.com/ Periodicals postage paid at Hattiesburg, Miss. gie Walsh Evans, who rst gie back on staff at TAB thealabamabaptist came to TAB Media as a Media,” Rash said. “She ANNUAL TAB SUBSCRIPTION RATES summer intern in 2012, then captured our hearts when Includes print, digital, app and full web access rejoined the staff as an of- she was here as a student Group Rate per subscriber per year — $16.25 (Check with your church or group to nd out if ce assistant in June 2014 intern and then showcased it has a TAB group account) before becoming part of the just how much she can Individual — $34.95 per year (50 issues) editorial team that October shine as she embraced and eventually becoming as- multiple areas of the work JENNIFER DAVIS RASH sistant editor. when she came on staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @TABMediaGroup Cynthia Watts Carrie B. McWhorter She left in 2018 to be a EVANS full-time.” Executive Assistant Content Editor part of the team at Gooch Evans said she’s thank- Maggie Evans Janet Erwin Family Dental in Birmingham, ful God opened the door for her to Special Assistant Copy Editor where she worked as nancial coor- come back. Debbie Campbell Grace Thornton Director of Special dinator. And she added the “Evans” “The organization has expanded Communications Assignments Editor in 2019 when she married Sam, who and evolved so much since my rst Linda Harrison Margaret Colson Director of Human Special serves in a consulting role with TAB tenure here, and this opportunity to Resources Assignments Editor instagram.com/ Media through his business, Rhythm be a part of the growth is really ex- James Hammack Hannah Muñoz Creative. citing,” she said. “I can’t wait to see Digital Services Digital Editor TABMediaGroup Manager Now Evans is back as special as- how the Lord uses TAB in the com- Lauren C. Grim Sarah Gill Creative Services sistant to the editor. In that role, she ing seasons.” (Grace Thornton) Digital Services Manager Associate Amy Hacker Jessica Ingram Creative Services TAB appreciates volunteer Tommy Ellison Event Coordinator Associate Annette Brown Melanie McKinney Guest Services Advertising Manager Haley Piersol Pam Holt youtube.com/ Tommy Ellison Client Coordinator Outside Sales Rep came onboard as Deb Lowery Susan Stevens TABMediaGroup a volunteer at TAB Financial Assistant Outside Sales Rep in April, helping Richard Maddox Freelance and guest out with our TAB Computer Services contributors News podcast by reading the NEWS SERVICES Explore the Bible Baptist Press (BP), Associated Press/Religion News Service (AP/RNS), Morning Star Sunday School News (MS). lesson each POSTMASTER week. Ellison is Send address changes to: a member of The The Alabama Baptist Baptist Church at 3310 Independence Drive Birmingham, AL 35209 tabonline.org/podcasts McAdory. 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Association or Religion Communicators Council SEPTEMBER 10, 2020 / THE ALABAMA BAPTIST / PAGE 3 OPINION By Jennifer Davis Rash MY President and Editor-in-Chief [email protected] RASHIONALE @RashionalThts Celebrate grandparents every day and a little extra Sept. 13 randparents, we where you are struggling — and who could use someone with tion for being a grandparent — celebrate you this let them share their memories. spiritual maturity to pour into however that is defined in your month, especially You may hear some of the their lives. Pray for God to make family — may not always be ap- the tremendous role same stories over and over, but I your heart sensitive to those who parent, but be assured your legacy you play in the lives promise those are the ones you need a grandparent. will outlive you. Gof your grandchildren. will always treasure and may end And for the grandparents rais- You may not always understand And for the grandchildren out up telling your own children and ing their grandchildren, know we all the lingo swirling around with there, be sure to take a little time grandchildren one day. realize your situation moves to an the grandkids, and their decisions with your grandparents at least For the grandparents, you have entirely different level. may definitely concern you. But monthly, if not weekly. a lifetime of lessons to share and I can’t begin to understand the don’t give up. The best gift you could give have been given a tremendous op- complexity of what that means Pray diligently for each grand- them for Grandparents Day is a portunity to speak wisdom into for you, but I do know it takes child by name and situation, and phone call or visit where you fo- the lives of these precious ones you to hero status. Be willing to pray for God to show you what to cus on a real conversation. you also get to spoil. share with your support system share and when to share it — and Share what’s happening with For those without grandchil- how they can pray and help. exactly how to best invest in and you — what’s going well and dren, there are plenty of kiddos The appreciation and recogni- love each child. FROM THE GRANDPARENTS AT TAB ... Grandchildren of TAB team members range in age from ‘on the way’ to having kids of their own Linda Harrison Janet Erwin Richard Maddox singing, smelling the beach on vaca- From Winna and Graddy From GeeGee and PawPaw From Pop and Mimi tion, tasting ice cream and experi- To: Lily, 13; Parker, 11; Gabby, To: Meredith, 2, and Micah, 4 To: Audrey, 13, and A.J., 2 encing special surprises. This per- 10; Brynlee, 10; Conner, 9; Addy, months “We hope to instill in A.J. a love spective gives us a view of a glass 7; Baylee, 6; and Gwenie, 6 “I want them to know that if they for God’s Word so that he will more than half full and not taking “My prayer for my grandchil- will seek God, He will let them acquire skill in the art of godly God’s bountiful blessings, including dren is that they learn who they find Him (2 Chron.