Alabama CBF Enews
January 15, 2020
Sign Up to GO Together to Spain this Spring!
Go Together: Spain
April 17-25, 2020
Registration is open!
What is “Go Together?”
Through the Go Together program we will build Alabama CBF community by bringing churches together for missions consistent with Jesus instruction to “Go into all the work and make disciples.” Few Alabama CBF churches partner with other Alabama CBF churches in hands-on mission experiences. Rather, churches plan and execute mission trips and experiences only for their members and guests.
Through GO Together, Alabama CBF seeks to create a system of bringing churches together through the formation of multi-church teams who will get to know and serve alongside CBF field personnel or churches in cross-cultural contexts. The process will be streamlined and efficient, allowing smaller churches to participate in mission experiences which might otherwise not be accessible because of logistical or financial challenges.
Those 45 and younger will be eligible for partial grants to help make their participation possible.
To get more trip details, including cost and how to reserve your spot, please go www.alabamacbf.org/gotogether.
A Call To Discearnment
As the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship nears its 30th year, we have begun a journey to discover and then respond to God’s call for the Fellowship in this moment. The world has changed since our founding in 1991 —CBF, our congregations, our partners and the cultures and contexts in which we minister continue to change. We move forward confident that the Holy Spirit will guide us “Toward Bold Faithfulness” in our life together for the sake of Christ’s mission amid these changes.
The first phase of our strategic process is prayerful Discovery. The centerpiece of the Discovery process is an online survey open from Jan. 7 to Feb. 2 that will allow as many voices of the Fellowship as possible to tell us about their church ministry involvement and personal ministry aspirations.
At the 2020 General Assembly, we will share what we have discovered and prepare for faithful response.
To learn more about Toward Bold Faithfulness you can go here: https://cbf.net/tbf
Don't miss our Day of Learning
Baptist Women in Ministry Month of Preaching!
February is Baptist Women in Ministry Month of Preaching. It is an opportunity to celebrate the calling and giftedness of women to preach. If your church does not regularly have a woman in the pulpit, we encourage you to invite a woman to preach. If you do, we encourage you to invite a female ministerial student who is still new to preaching as a way of encouraging her calling by God to preach. If we can help you find a gifted female preacher to preach for your congregation in February (or any other time), please let us know.
Join us for Church Works 2020!
As ministers we do quite well at taking care of other people when needs arise, but more often than not, we don’t take care of our own wellbeing as much as we should. When we are not able to physically, mentally or emotionally take care of the things we are dealing with, it’s much harder to carry those needs with other people. Three years ago, when ChurchWorks last engaged ministerial wellbeing, Matt Bloom of the Flourishing in Ministry Project at Notre Dame focused on why clergy and other caregiving professionals must prioritize self-care. Because a minister’s work is complex, often under-appreciated and subject to rapid change, Bloom emphasized maintaining a sense of calling and fulfillment is of central importance.
On March 1-4 at Central Baptist Church Fountain City in Knoxville, Tn., ChurchWorks 2020 will center on how clergy can most effectively focus on their own wellbeing. ChurchWorks will be a time to think about caring for yourself in different ways; a space for you to come and take a break from the day-to-day work, to network, to connect, to relax and to be renewed in your work as a minister.
For more information email churchworks@cbf.net or visit https://cbf.net/churchworks2020
Summer Opportunities for Service!
Internships play a significant role in discovering passion and giftedness and have the potential to alter life’s direction! Through CBF’s Student.Go (read student dot go) and Student.Church (read student dot church), a summer or semester is punctuated with meaningful experiences allowing both graduate and undergraduate students the opportunity to recognize their place within God’s mission to change the world.
Learn more about Student.Go/Student.Church at: https://cbf.net/summer-semester-internships
Pray for Winter Youth Summit 2020!
Lunch and Learn!
The Alabama Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children
"Help App" Preview Luncheon
Lunch & Learn
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Samford University
The Alabama Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children invites you to attend a free “lunch and learn” at Samford University. Dr. Gary Furr, president of the recently formed Coalition and pastor of Vestavia Hills Baptist Church, will introduce a new networking and resource identification app.
The app will be invaluable to congregations, ministers, nonprofit organizations and public programs providing services and ministries to mothers and children.
The online resource, free to the public, is a clearinghouse of information as well as a forum for not-for-profit organizations, congregations, and others to find each other for networking, partnering and working for the improvement of childrens’ lives in our state. Lunch will be provided. Information about obtaining this FREE resource and how to list your organization will be demonstrated and shared.
Hosted by the Center for Congregational Resources, the lunch and learn will be presented in the Regions Community Resource Room in Cooney Hall, Brock School of Business, Samford University. There is no cost to attend this event, but reservations are required.
A Note of Thanks!
Alabama CBF is grateful for the churches and individuals who gave to our mission in 2019. The following gifts were given to Alabama CBF in memory or honor of others:
In memory of Karen H. King by A.L. King
In memory of Dr. Robert (Bob) Garner by Margaret Garner
In memory of Christopher Pelton
In honor of our parents, Clay and Beverly Turner and Frieda Byrd, by Paul and Terri Byrd
In honor of the Alabama CBF Coordinating Council
In honor of Jo Wills
In honor of Gary and Vickie Furr
In honor of Frances Ford and Mary Moore
Contact Us
205-835-8117
Lucas Dorion, Associate Coordinator
205-718-9443
Website: www.alabamacbf.org