Alabama CBF Enews
December 14, 2018
Don't let your students miss Mission Summit: Birmingham
Alabama CBF goes to NYC!
Join current coordinator, Terri Byrd, and former coordinator, Brent McDougal, on CBF’s Advocacy in Action trip to NYC. When you sign up for Advocacy in Action, Alabama CBF will send you a copy of our friend Brent McDougal’s new Book, Faith, Hope and Politics: Inspiring a New Generation to Community-Changing Political Engagement. Dr. McDougal is a graduate of Emory University and Samford University. He has a PhD in Political Science from the University of Alabama. He currently serves as the pastor of Cliff Temple Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. Email Terri Byrd (terri@alabamacbf.org) for more information or go to www.cbf.net/advocacy-in-action—space is limited!
Disaster Response Update
Alabama CBF is partnering with CBF Global and CBF Florida to minister in two primary communities: Port St. Joe and Marianna. The current need in these communities is for work teams or funding. You can find out more about donating money or sending a work team at
Alabama CBF is also partnering with Volunteers of America SE out of Mobile who is working with CBF Global and other organizations in the panhandle. The needs and opportunities fall into two categories.
1. For the section of Florida on the immediate coast (Panama City and Mexico Beach)
- There continues to be a need for basic needs: food, water, mold removal items, square pointed shovels, batteries, personal care items, buckets, first aid items).
- Volunteers are needed for muck out and debris removal.
- Later rehab and rebuild aid will be needed.
- Electricity and water is being restored.
- Items needed are tarps, chain saws, chain saw oil, rakes, shovels, first aid items.
- Repair and rebuilding items
- Volunteers are needed for continued debris removal and repair and rebuild.
Ministry Openings at Alabama CBF Churches
Senior Pastor
Riverchase Baptist Church is currently searching for our next Senior Pastor. Founded in 1985 as the "Riverchase Baptist Mission," the church is situated in the northwest section of Shelby County, AL in the city of Hoover located in the Riverchase subdivision. The Riverchase subdivision is a development of approximately 1800 single family homes that also includes a golf course and country club. North Shelby County is one of the fastest growing counties in Alabama.
Resumes may be submitted to the Pastor Search Committee at resume@rbcstaff.com
Student Ministry
From Our Partners
Searching for the Called
Searching for the Called (www.searchingforthecalled.org) is a comprehensive search process that can be customized to individual churches. It equips search teams to identify and engage effectively with candidates with whom they can envision fruitful ministry. It also enables search teams to avoid clergy-congregation mismatches that lead to conflict, heartache, inward focus, and the expense associated with a minister's quick departure.
Searching for the Called was created and is led by Rev. Laura Stephens-Reed. Laura has been credentialed as an Associate Certified Coach through the International Coach Federation. She has also been trained as a Congregational Consultant and an Intentional Interim Minister by the Center for Congregational Health.
Laura will be serving as the Moderator-Elect in 2019 on the Coordinating Council of Alabama CBF. We are excited she has chosen to invest in Alabama CBF bringing her wisdom and experience as she provides leadership to our fellowship.
We encourage you to take a moment and read her latest blog entry...we promise it will be worth your time!
Passport invites us "To Follow the Star this Advent with d365"
Did you know that Passport produces d365.org, a daily devotional site & app?
Sponsored by CBF, Presbyterian (U.S.A) Mission Agency, and The Episcopal Church, d365 offers a community of over two million users inspirational and relevant reflections on scripture every day!
Last week d365 begun it's Advent series 'Following The Star' which happens to feature music by Passport's own David Burroughs (also available on itunes & Spotify). 'Following The Star' is our most popular series and a great time to join the d365 family!
Need ideas on how to incorporate d365 into your ministry?
- Download the d365 app for iPhones or Androids.
- Share d365's reflections on your church's Facebook page or use screenshots of the app to share as a Instagram story.
- Share portions of the devotional on Twitter directly through the app.
- Encourage families to use d365 as a family devotional.
- The devotions follow the lectionary which is a great way to help prepare your students for Sunday's message.
- Use our bulletin insert to share d365's with your congregation.
Samford University Presents: "How wide is your door?"
How wide is your door?
You're invited to join Samford University on January 8, 2019 for a one-day conference for church leaders and congregation members to explore disability ministries for all ages. We will learn why disability ministries are important, how to make the gospel accessible by starting new disability ministries, and how to tackle pastoral issues in existing ministries. Registration fee includes light refreshments throughout the day, lunch, and a book from each of the three keynote presenters. Registration closes on December 31 or when event reaches capacity. “One of the greatest gifts to the church is the multiplicity of gifts that God has given to his people. This one-day intensive will help all of us in the church learn how to better extend a hospitable arm and to use the gifts all ages, especially those whose abilities are not explicitly on our radar.” -Eric L. Mathis
Opportunities with CBF Global
Church Works 2019
CBF’s ChurchWorks conference creates space each February for congregational ministers of education and spiritual formation to be equipped for the journey through creativity, community and worship.
ChurchWorks 2019 focuses on sharing the love of Christ by battling injustice, exclusion and marginalization in our communities. Hear from unique voices who are bearing witness to Jesus Christ in their communities and creating a true sense of belonging to God and to one another. Join your colleagues Feb. 25-27, 2019, at Third Baptist Church in St. Louis.
Register today at www.cbf.net/ChurchWorks.
Advocacy in Action
Put your faith to action this spring on a four-day, Advocacy in Action experience in New York City learning from international advocates on global religious freedom and global migration.
March 11-14, 2019, you’ll explore advocacy as a faithful expression of Christian mission as you visit the United Nations, learn about NYC’s rich immigration history, hear from pastors serving in this unique context and be introduced to the ministries of Rauschenbusch Metro Ministries and Metro Baptist Church.
Register now at www.cbf.net/advocacy-in-action—space is limited!
Mission Bites
Mission Bites provide a weekly snapshot of the lives and work of CBF field personnel and partners around the world. Designed to be shared with your congregation through newsletters, bulletins or missions moments, you’ll instantly feel more connected to field personnel and the communities in which they serve.
Check out previous bites and sign up to receive the weekly resource in your inbox at www.cbf.net/mission-bites.
Contact Us
205-835-8117
Lucas Dorion, Associate Coordinator
205-718-9443
Website: www.alabamacbf.org