Mind of the Missionary

We have recently posted pictures of associational events at a photo hosting website – Please have a look.

Coming up in May will be the first round of annual homecomings in many of our churches. The season of Vacation Bible School will begin at the end of the month. Pray that God will bless these efforts.

Early in June (June 6 – 16), Landon Williams of Aliceville First will lead an associational mission team to Brazil. Remember them in your prayers. Invite them to report on their work at your churches when they return. Associational churches with members on this team are Aliceville First, Hickory Grove, and Carrollton. Some of them will be just catching their breath when they leave on another associational mission trip in late June.

A team of 50 plus members will be going to Niles, Michigan, June 28 – July 5 to work with Beacon Baptist Church there. In addition to working with Beacon Baptist, the team will be doing the groundwork for the planting of a new congregation in the nearby town of Buchanan. Please pray for this effort also. They too will be glad to report at the churches in the association. Carrollton, Flatwoods, Aliceville, Gordo, Highland, Mineral Springs, Pickensville, Hickory Grove, Union Chapel, Fellowship, Pleasant Hill, and Bethlehem will contribute members to the team.

Work is drawing toward completion on the new storage room at the PBA. Soon there will be a ground-breaking ceremony for a Federal prison complex just north of our Garden church on Hwy. 14 above Aliceville. This should open opportunities for a new set of mission and ministry efforts. Please pray about this as well. I hope that several interested persons can travel to the prison in Talladega soon to learn about what is being done there by churches.

Several of the churches have reported excellent Spring Revivals. And several of the churches are preparing for building projects. God is blessing.

Given the word about our national economy, I am very glad that we have the Baptist Center ministry in place. No one in our area needs to go hungry or not be clothed. In our last newsletter, we advertised opportunities for ministry with the Baptist Center, the jail and chaplaincy ministries, and the need for someone to be the director of Discipleship training. These opportunities are still available. Ask God what He wants you to do.

PBA Scholarships

Our association will be providing several college scholarships to students who are members of our churches again this year. Scholarship applications have been sent to pastors & secretaries of each church. Students can check with their pastor or secretary for an application. Applications can also be picked up at the PBA office during office hours. Deadline to submit applications is June 2.

Sunday School Leader Training

There are a couple of upcoming Sunday School Leadership Training opportunities we want you to be aware of. Sunday School Leader Training at Shocco Springs will be taking place on August 1 – 2 & August 8 – 9, 2008. Participants can choose either weekend to take part in this beneficial training experience. Training begins at 12 noon on Friday and goes until 12 noon on Saturday. Conferences are provided for all age-group Sunday School workers, general leadership, class leaders, pastors, and church staff members. Workers will receive ideas, resources, motivation, inspiration, and be equipped to fulfill their responsibilities in the Sunday School.

So, gather your Sunday School teachers & leaders and plan a trip to Shocco!! It will be well worth it!! Your church should have received a poster to promote this event, along with registration information. However, if you need this information, feel free to call the PBA office.
The MidWest Regional Sunday School Leader Training at FBC, Tuscaloosa, will be taking place on August 23, 2008.