Toll free 800-803-5201 Vol. 185, No. 9 www.thealabamabaptist.org February 27, 2020 Informing. Inspiring. Connecting. INSIDE Most Americans using artifi cial intelligence daily Photos courtesy of Chris Parker Pages 6–7 Birmingham and Above: Freedom Church, which of cially launched Jan. 26 in Phoenix, is a church plant supported by the Annie Armstrong Bessemer associa- Easter Offering. Right, top and bottom: Chris Parker (gray shirt), a church planter from Alabama who serves as pastor of Freedom Church, Phoenix, leads two people to faith during a grilling outreach ministry in a Walmart parking lot. tions partnering for gospel ministry Page 9 ‘Major impact’ Easter offering supports church planters from Alabama, makes ‘eternity look different’ By Grace Thornton helped us purchase a grill that questions about Jesus.” resources and investing in us The Alabama Baptist had been fabricated into a After talking for a little nancially.” hen Chris Park- trailer,” said Parker, a church while, they decided to give That nancial backing er looks at the planter in Phoenix sent out by their lives to Jesus right there comes from funds gener- grill his church Northport Baptist Church. in the parking lot, Parker said. ously given by Southern W owns, he thinks His congregation, called Baptists through the Annie about a couple who gave their Freedom Church, was plan- ‘Investing in us’ Armstrong Easter Offering Proposed amend- lives to Jesus over a plate of ning to use the grill around The NAMB funds that (AAEO) for North American ment would change food in the Walmart parking town as a way to meet new helped purchase that grill “had Missions. Every dollar given state school board, lot. K–12 standards people. a major impact — it made through the offering “goes to “In 2019, NAMB (North eternity look different,” he Page 11 American Mission Board) “On one particular Satur- train and resource thousands day, we were grilling on the said. “Freedom Church is very of missionaries involved in outskirts of the Walmart park- appreciative of the support church planting and compas- ing lot,” he said. “People had we have in NAMB. Without sion ministries who share the To watch the videos from this week’s been stopping to get food and them, we would not be able to life-transforming gospel of issue, visit our YouTube channel to chat. Eventually, a couple do many of the things we do. Jesus Christ across the United “TAB Media.” stopped and had more than They have helped us by being States, Canada and their terri- just questions about who we there when we have questions, tories,” according to NAMB. are and what we do. They had equipping us with needed (See ‘Freedom Church,’ page 14) PAGE 2 / THE ALABAMA BAPTIST / FEBRUARY 27, 2020 OUR EXTENDED ALABAMA BAPTIST Editors challenged to build trust, FAMILY report both good and bad news “If ye continue in My word, then ... ALABAMA BAPTIST ye shall know the truth, and the truth STATE BOARD OF MISSIONS he most important value that this a story? Is this a story we want shall make you free.” John 8:31–32 1-800-264-1225 | www.alsbom.org Southern Baptist editors offer to do? Is this a story we have time Offices: Prattville (ISSN 0738-7741; USPS 011-080) © The Alabama Baptist, Inc. 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McWhorter Leadership: Barry Bledsoe, president Director of Content Editor 30 Southern Baptist light because of Communications networking with Grace Thornton SHOCCO SPRINGS journalists, “Telling Bill Gilmore Special BAPTIST CONFERENCE CENTER good news is much fellow editors/ Director of Sales Assignments Editor 256-761-1100 | www.shocco.org more dangerous communicators Linda Harrison Margaret Colson Location: Talladega and SBC agency Director of Human Special Leadership: Russell Klinner, executive director than bad news” Photo courtesy of Kevin Parker Resources Assignments Editor communications because journalists TAB editor-in-chief Jennifer Davis Melanie McKinney Hannah Muñoz Rash is passed the gavel as she is personnel.” Advertising Manager Digital Editor ALABAMA CITIZENS ACTION PROGRAM often fail to fact- 205-985-9062 | www.alcap.com check good news named the new president of ASBP. In closing Pam Holt Jessica Ingram Sales Production Manager Offices: Birmingham stories. Sharing the meeting, Representative Leadership: Joe Godfrey, executive director Lauren C. Grim examples of stories of good news that 2019–2020 ASBP President David Susan Stevens Creative Services Sales Manager ALABAMA WMU later were discovered to be in error, Williams, editor of the Minnesota- Representative 334-288-2460 | www.alabamawmu.org Wisconsin Baptist, passed the ASBP Amy Hacker Smietana said, “We [sometimes end Annette Brown Offices: Prattville Creative Services Guest Services Leadership: Candace McIntosh, executive director up promoting] people whose claims gavel to Jennifer Davis Rash of Associate The Alabama Baptist/TAB Media, Sarah Gill are not true. ... We want good news to James Hammack Customer Relations be true. It’s so perilous.” who will serve as 2020–2021 ASBP Digital Services JUDSON COLLEGE Deb Lowery Manager 800-447-9472 | www.judson.edu president. Financial Assistant Location: Marion ‘Transparency is better’ “ASBP has a rich history with edi- Haley Piersol Leadership: Mark Tew, president Richard Maddox Digital Services Beyond reporting good news, tors of state Baptist publications,” Computer Services Associate SAMFORD UNIVERSITY Southern Baptist journalists also Rash said. “I am honored to lead NEWS SERVICES 205-726-2011 | www.samford.edu have a responsibility to report bad the organization as it moves into its Baptist Press (BP), Associated Press/Religion Location: Birmingham News Service (AP/RNS), Morning Star Leadership: Andrew Westmoreland, president news. “Every reporter is an investi- future with all the challenges and op- News (MS). gative reporter,” he said. Reporting portunities facing state Baptist publi- POSTMASTER UNIVERSITY OF MOBILE “just the facts” is the best approach cations today.” Send address changes to: 251-675-5990 | www.umobile.edu The Alabama Baptist Location: Mobile to take, he said. 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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 17. Association or Religion Communicators Council FEBRUARY 27, 2020 / THE ALABAMA BAPTIST / PAGE 3 OPINION By Jennifer Davis Rash MY President and Editor-in-Chief [email protected] RASHIONALE @RashionalThts Jesus experienced deep sorrow too; He understands ave you ever won’t be serious about getting The easier and more comfort- me,” He said to