Alabama CBF Enews
March 13, 2020
Pastors for Alabama Children
Alabama CBF is proud to be a founding partner of Pastors for Alabama Children (PAC). PAC hopes to be a voice for the public schools of Alabama.
Pastors for Alabama Children is an independent ministry, not beholden to any special interest group, political party, or church office. PAC believes in local democracy, cooperation across lines of difference, and organizing to support public education opportunities for Alabama children.
Alabama CBF is cosponsoring two lunches in Alabama to give our ministers and churches a chance to learn more about this exciting new mission partnership opportunity. Check out the invitations below! For more information about PAC, please check out their website www.pastorsforalabamachildren.org or email them at pastorsforalabamachildren@gmail.com.
You Are Invited!
We Need You at Seed Camp and Seed Academy!
Alabama CBF and Sowing Seeds of Hope are also proud to announce a new camp experience for students in the 6-8th grade that we are calling Seed Academy! Participants in Seed Academy will take part in classes life skills simulations, Bible study led by local ministers, and participate in a ramp building project.
One of the classes we are most excited about at Seed Academy will be "Crockpot Cooking Class." Each day of camp, students will make a meal using a crock pot that they will take home for their family each evening. At the end of the week the students will get to take the crockpot home with them.
- We need you to make Seed Camp and Seed Academy a reality! Check out the opportunities below. You can find a full list of positions on our website: www.alabamacbf.org/seedcamp.
- Crockpot Cooking Class instructor and assistant
- Donations for crockpots to be used at Seed Academy (the crock pot models we have identified cost $25 a piece).
- Arts and Craft Instructors
- Performing Arts (Dance or Music) Instructors
- Donations to provide lunch for campers (it cost $20 to provide lunch for a student).
If you have any questions, please contact Lucas Dorion at lucas@alabamacbf.org.
Grant Opportunties for Congregations
Alabama CBF Grants
The healthy congregations team of the Alabama CBF Coordinating Council is announcing three grant opportunities for 2020. The team hopes to encourage ALCBF churches and leaders - particularly smaller congregations and female pastoral leaders - to seek resources that promote growth in ministry by offering this financial assistance.You can apply for these grants at the links below, and if you have any questions please contact Terri Byrd at terri@alabamacbf.org.
Rolling Travel Grants
Because there are many quality professional development opportunities offered beyond CBF life (e.g., Festival of Homiletics, storytelling conferences) that are often cost-prohibitive, Alabama CBF is making up to $4000 available in 2020 for ministers to travel to these events. Each applicant may request up to $1000, and priority will be given to women in ministry and staff at congregations with an average worship attendance under 150 people. Applications will be considered as they are received.
http://www.alabamacbf.org/travel-grants
Ministry Grants
Alabama CBF is making up to $6000 available in 2020 as seed money for projects that focus on improving congregational or community health, defined broadly. Applicants will be asked to consider what their churches could do that hasn't been done before or that could be done better with more resources. Priority will be given to proposals that are submitted by small congregations, that demonstrate innovation, and that have the potential to be sustainable and replicable. Each applicant may request up to $1500, and applications will be considered on a rolling basis, with deadlines of March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31.
http://www.alabamacbf.org/ministry-grants
ChurchWorks
Registration is now open for ChurchWorks, CBF’s annual gathering of spiritual formation practitioners. This conference creates space each year for ministers - whether lead or associate pastors or ministers of age-specific ministries - to be equipped for the journey through creativity, community and worship. ChurchWorks 2020 will be held March 1-4 at Central Baptist Church Fountain City in Knoxville, Tennessee. The focus will be on tending to our own physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. At ChurchWorks three years ago, Matt Bloom of the Flourishing in Ministry Project at Notre Dame focused on why clergy and other caregiving professionals must prioritize self-care. In Knoxville, ChurchWorks 2020 will center on how clergy can most effectively do so.
Alabama CBF would like to offer financial assistance for travel to ChurchWorks. Up to six grants of up to $500 per person are available. Applicants must be connected to ALCBF through their church or as individual participants. Priority will be given to women in ministry and to ministers at congregations with an average worship attendance under 150 people. Please complete the form below by February 21 in order to be considered. Applications will be reviewed and responded to as they are received.
http://www.alabamacbf.org/church-works
CBF Global Grants
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Ministries Council invites you to submit a proposal for funding a project to support the efforts of your church in building bridges within your church and your community. The Ministries Council accepts proposals that address the following categories:
1) Innovative faith development and lay leadership
2) Immigration, migrant, refugee based ministries, or mission work within your community
3) Innovative/incarnational community-based partnerships and programs
Tell us what you are doing, why these funds would help, and help expand our knowledge of what is taking place across the Fellowship. We are especially interested in resources that can be developed, shared, and replicated across the Fellowship. In the past, awards have ranged from $500 to $8,750 and the average grants awarded were $4,980.56.
https://cbf.net/governance/ministries-council/ministries-grant
Sowing Seeds of Hope Presents: The Old Howard 100
Join Alabama CBF as we support SSOH in their #1fundraiser of the year...The Old Howard 100!
There's no better way to enjoy the beautiful solitude or experience the rich history of the Alabama Black Belt than on a bike!
This year's Old Howard 100 Bike Ride is scheduled for Saturday, April 18, 2020.
Our hundred mile route includes Marion, Greensboro, and Selma. Shorter rides of approximately 30, 45, and 75 miles are also available. Each distance starts on the same route, giving riders flexibility to step up or step down once the ride begins. On-road safety assistance is provided for each distance.
For more information or to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-old-howard-100-bike-through-the-alabama-black-belt-registration-92487212743
Black Belt Rural Development Summit 2020
Join us May 1 and 2, 2020 in Americus Georgia.
For more information or to register: www.bit.ly/RuralDevSummit2020
Alabama CBF is providing travel assistance for anyone who is interested. Please see our travel grant application on our website.
20 years of Sowing Hope
Tax Support for Ministers
Ministry Opportunities
Coordinator of Young Baptist Ministries
The Coordinator of Young Baptist Ministries will be responsible for connecting CBF/GA’s programmatic and networking ministries related to young Baptists to partner congregations and their members. Specifically, half of the position’s responsibilities will be establishing and leading a Cooperative Student Fellowship collegiate ministry in the Macon area, with the goal of connecting other communities and collegiate ministries to the work and support of CBF/GA in the future. The other half of the responsibilities of this position will facilitate work across Children’s and Youth Ministries, providing support to ministers and working with committees to resource congregational efforts. For more information or to apply: https://www.cbfga.org.
Contact Us
205-835-8117
Lucas Dorion, Associate Coordinator
205-718-9443
Website: www.alabamacbf.org