Serving Christ Through Montgomery Area Churches

Ken May
Director of Missions, Retired

,D

,S

1, 2016

When you read this, I will have finished my

last day as your Director of Missions. I am
extremely grateful for the privilege of
serving alongside you these twelve years
and two plus months. You have been kind
and gracious, even when I have continued to
challenge and prod you to think outside the
box about how we need to change to
impact the lostness in our communities. I
have challenged you to embrace creative
change for the sake of the Gospel. I have
done all this knowing that a director of
missions has no authority over any church
to make them do anything. The only
authority the association has is whether or
not to continue fellowship with a church, or
to dismiss that church from the association.

What I have done is to institute a more thorough process to

train church leaders of churches that are coming into the association,
using what leverage we have to insure they understand what it means
to be a Montgomery Baptist Association church, an Alabama Baptist
Convention church and a Southern Baptist Convention church. These
meetings, when held, have been very meaningful and productive. I
have also sought to treat all churches equally in terms of
expectations. Every MBA church needs to give to Associational
Missions and to the Cooperative Program. Suggested rates for
contributions to Associational Missions are 3-5% and for the CP are 5
-10% of undesignated receipts.
As we welcome Neal and Mary Hughes back to Montgomery,
I strongly encourage you to consider an increase in your churchs
contribution to Associational Missions so that he will not have to face
the limitations we have experienced over the past six years with the
downward trend in giving to missions causes. As you work through
you budget planning, consider a half percent or a whole percent
increase in what you give. Neal is a visionary leader who will lead
effectively into the future God has for Montgomery Baptists.
I want to personally thank and commend the search
committee for their diligence and hard work seeking Gods man for
Montgomery Baptist Association. When the process was beginning,
the personnel committee (according to current policies) and I sat
down to work through suggested names of individuals to serve on the
committee. After coming up with fifteen names and three alternates,
the committee tasked me with contacting them and determining their
willingness to serve. Amazingly, every individual contacted agreed
to serve.
Helen and I want to thank every one of you, and every church,
for your continuous support for us these past twelve years. We pray
Gods bountiful blessings on you and on Neal and Mary Hughes. I
pray that all will develop a passion for those who are without Christ
in the River Region, and will do Whatever Is Necessary to WIN them
to Christ and to see them drawn into His Kingdom work. We love
you all.

135th Annual Celebration

Thorington Road Baptist Church
450 Ray Thorington Road

Tuesday, November 1
5:00 PM - Business Session
5:15 PM - Mission Fair/Fellowship
6:15 PM - Celebr ation
Guest Speaker: Dr. Richard Blackaby

Reception

Bi-vocational Pastors
Breakfast
Sept. 17 | 7:30 AM | MBA Office
Call Jessica at 271-6227 to make
reservations by Friday, Sept. 16.

Join us as we welcome
Rev. Neal & Mary Hughes
September 7 | 10:00 AM

20 Interstate Park Drive

Montgomery, AL 36109

Ministers Conference
Sept. 12 | 11:30 AM | Taylor Rd
Call Jessica at 271-6227 to make
reservations by Friday, Sept. 9.

C[ll out for

Mu^ Out C_rtifi_^
Volunt__rs

Elmore Baptist Association has

asked for volunteers to fill their
Mud Out team. They will leave
September 4 and will return
home within three days.
Contact Scott Whittington if your
are able to assist at 467-7960.
We are Closed for Labor Day on
Monday, September 5 and will
reopen Tuesday at 8:00 a.m.

The Montgomery Baptist Association 20 Interstate Park Dr. Montgomery, Alabama 36109 334-271-6227 www.mgmbaptists.org
This publication is made possible by your churches contributions to Associational Missions.