It’s Time for Planting
“Wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest“ (John 4:35). In the story of the woman at the well, the disciples saw Jesus speaking to a Samaritan woman. They were confused and shocked as to why He would speak to her. In short, His answer was because He was doing the […]
Talking with Children about COVID-19 & Re-entering Social Situations
With the lifting of some COVID-19 guidelines, some churches have chosen to gather in person for worship for the first time in several weeks.With this decision comes a variety of other decisions, such as when to bring children and youth programs back to the church building, what to do with Vacation Bible School and how […]
6 Considerations for Reopening Your Kids Ministry
Churches are beginning to discuss their plans to resume corporate worship, small group Bible studies and children’s ministries. After several weeks of isolation and distance ministry, the question has shifted suddenly from when we will get back together, to how we will get back together. How and when may look quite different from state to state, city to city, […]
Preparing for Children and Preschoolers Returning to Church Buildings
Preparing for Children and Preschoolers Returning to Church Buildings Questions: Do we need to create a team to work with the pastor and ministerial staff to begin evaluating the steps needed in the process of returning to our building? What are some steps we need to take to ensure clear, concise communication with our church […]
VBS Zoom Discussion – 4.17.20
Video Transcript: Patty BurnsThis is awesome. We have 68, children’s pastors, preschool pastors, VBS directors on this meeting with us. So, thanks for joining us. You don’t wanna hear from me. But I do want to share with you just a little bit. Belinda and I are just blessed to serve Alabama as state missionaries in […]
Online Resources for Small Groups
Friends and Fellow Ministers: These are fast-moving times for life and ministry during this COVID-19 season. Perhaps, you are wrestling with decisions today about what to do next at your church in our new virtual environments. Solutions seem to be changing by the hour. So, I wanted to make sure you had in hand some […]
Why VBS?
Why do you have Vacation Bible School at your church? A good place to start would be with God’s Word. He tells us in Psalm 78:4-7 NLT : “We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, and His power and His […]
BLUEPRINT: After ABC comes D for Discipleship
The decision to become a Christian is a first step in building a strong and lasting relationship with Jesus Christ. We want to give teachers, parents and care-providers information and tools to help them move forward, dig deeper and build a firm foundation on Jesus Christ. Below is an acrostic for the word BLUEPRINT. You’ll […]
COVID-19 & Teaching Remotely if your Church Isn’t Meeting
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) has affected all of us, and there is more to come. I went to the grocery store to shop for a friend and found that shelves were bare. I have friends who cannot find canned meat, beans, rice, milk, bread, and other basics. Churches have canceled weekend services, and now the CDC (Center […]
“Wild” for Vacation Bible School
Can you imagine an event at your church: where seven months of ministry growth is gained in one week? where the Gospel is shared daily? where more than half of attendees have never been to your church before, and more than 20 percent do not attend any church? Vacation Bible School is this kind of […]
Vacation Bible School impacts many lives, continues to win children to Christ
Mechell Bice says she doesn’t remember the name of the man who prayed with her in 1977, but she does remember his face. She was 7 and attending Vacation Bible School (VBS) at Lighthouse Baptist Church, Ashville, and she remembers that VBS volunteer teaching her about the love of Jesus. “It was a very real […]
Bible Drill helps increase Bible knowledge
With spring just around the corner, Bible Drill is in full force for hundreds of students across Alabama. A ministry undergirded by Alabama Baptists’ gifts through the Cooperative Program, Bible Drill gives students in grades 4-12 the opportunity to increase their knowledge of the Bible through memorization, application and discipleship. In the coming months, students […]
As VBS approaches, here are some helpful tips
Vacation Bible School (VBS) remains the No. 1 outreach event for Southern Baptist churches. It has the potential to affect the eternal destiny of children and families in your community. Every child a church reaches from the community is a connection to many other people. One is never just one. The Alabama Baptist State Board […]
Taylor Road hosts State Bible Drill, Speakers Tournament
Taylor Road Baptist Church, Montgomery, hosted the 2018 State Bible Drill and Speakers Tournament on April 28. Pictured are the participants. The winners of the Youth Bible Drill are first place, Gabriel Taunton (Santuck Baptist Church, Elmore Association); second place, Samuel Hopkins (Whitesburg Baptist Church, Madison Association); and third place, Katie Boyd (Lakeside Baptist Church, […]
New Online Training Resource to Help Sunday School Leaders
t’s almost time. Sunday School leaders (both within Alabama and from other states) are only days away from access to a new online training resource. An Aug. 13 event will mark the launch of this new leader training approach spearheaded by the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM) — One Great Sunday. “For several […]
Flashpoint Conference Aims to Get Back to Making Disciples Like Jesus Intended
He was strung up by his arms in an Asian prison when the man came up to him and asked to know about his Jesus. “If I tell you, they will beat me even more,” the Christian — who’d been beaten and electrocuted repeatedly — replied. But the man told him the coast was clear […]
Relational Discipleship Resurfaces while Church Programs Lose Fans
When you ask Daniel Edmonds about where the Church is headed with discipleship these days, he likes to quote Pastor Ken Adams — “Jesus started the Church the way He wanted it, and now He wants the Church the way He started it.” It’s to that end, Edmonds said, that churches today are circling back […]
Rediscover the Value of Enrolling People in Sunday School
It is hard to be on mission without identifying the mission field and making a commitment to cultivate the field. Recent church reports have many leaders concerned about the future of the church. No doubt part of the problem is an inward rather than an outward focus. Properly understood, this is what enrollment is about: […]
Pastor’s Alpha meeting encourages pastors to make bold discipleship moves
Jesus’ ministry was full of bold moves and pastors can make bold moves too by discipling people as Jesus did, said Craig Etheredge, pastor of First Baptist Church, Colleyville, Texas. Etheredge spoke to about 50 pastors in the Pastor’s Alpha meeting at Liberty Park Baptist Church, Birmingham, on May 3. Pastor Scott Guffin served as […]
How to Have A Great Vacation Bible School
Prayer: Emphasize that Vacation Bible School is a Spiritual Event and encourage prayer. Observe National Day of Prayer for VBS on May 15, 2016 and pray that people are saved. Plan Thoroughly: Start early by setting the date for VBS involving the pastor and staff. Publicize the date and time and purchases curriculum and supplies. […]
Why They Stay
Why They Stay Dr. Steve R. Parr and Dr. Tom Crites Why They Stay has a strong message for church strengthening and revitalization: invest in the future of the church through parents, teens and children. Deuteronomy 6 places a strong emphasis on a parent’s responsibility in disciple-making. The church should partner with parents in responding […]
Christian education, discipleship ministers invited to ABREA gathering
For those in ministry there are often innumerable needs pressing in on this side and pushing there on that side. Sometimes a minister just needs a community that understands his or her stresses and struggles in ministry. That’s exactly why Alabama Baptist Religious Education Association (ABREA) was created — for those who serve in the […]
What Does a Sunday School Director Do on Sunday Morning?
“Make the coffee and collect the record books.” In the mind of many church members, especially many of the folks who are responsible for enlisting the Sunday School director, those are his major duties. However, the truth is a long way from this fiction. When churches experience turn-over of the Sunday School director every year or two […]
My Beginnings As Sunday School Director
“If you don’t like how he’s doing it, why don’t you do it yourself?” These stinging words came from my wife’s mouth just after I had expressed frustration with my own inadequacies as an adult teacher. I knew that there had to be training available but had not the slightest clue as to where to […]
Start Right
As a relatively new and inexperienced Minister of Education, I can remember going with the Sunday School Director to a conference sponsored by the Alabama Baptist State Sunday School Office. It was a thrill and inspiration to both of us. On the way home we began to dream the dream of what could happen at […]
Directing Sunday School with Skill
The heartbeat of this effort is to provide for those who direct the Sunday School a volume of information that will keep them current and supply them with ongoing resources. Each year supplemental pages of fresh ideas, insights, and instructional works will be provided for those who continue to direct the Sunday School. It is […]
Getting Started
Today’s post by Tim Smith is the eighth installment in our Coach’s Guide to Sunday School resource provided by the office of Sunday School and Discipleship. To see the full guide, visit ALSBOM.org/coachsguidetosundayschool. Don’t let anyone fool you! Being a Sunday School director is a lot of work. Just like any coach, there many expectations with tons […]
Discovering and Enlisting Workers
Today’s post by Wayne Etheridge is the seventh installment in our Coach’s Guide to Sunday School resource provided by the office of Sunday School and Discipleship. To see the full guide, visit ALSBOM.org/coachsguidetosundayschool. “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.” According to this proverb, we typically view what other people have […]
Planning to Win
Today’s post by Darryl Wilson is the sixth installment in our Coach’s Guide to Sunday School resource provided by the office of Sunday School and Discipleship. To see the full guide, visit ALSBOM.org/coachsguidetosundayschool. Imagine a coach who meets with his team on opening day of practice. He says, “Guys, we recruited you because you are the best. […]
Making Disciples: ALPHA initiative helps churches develop personalized plan for mentoring new believers
After someone comes to faith in Christ, what’s the plan? Is it to bring them to the pastor and see what he says to do? Is it to tell them to come to all the things the church is doing and hope they’ll grow? Dan Garland said that’s exactly what often happens, but it’s not […]
King to help church leaders redouble discipleship efforts
If you feel like your church has been missing the mark on making faithful and mature followers of Jesus Christ, there’s no time like the present to get a new plan. That’s why the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions is offering a “Returning to Disciple-Making” tour at three locations around the state this August […]
New Groups
Today’s post by Bob Mayfield is the fifth installment in our Coach’s Guide to Sunday School resource provided by the office of Sunday School and Discipleship. To see the full guide, visit ALSBOM.org/coachsguidetosundayschool. The book Transformational Groups, by Ed Stetzer and Eric Geiger of LifeWay Christian Resources, shows the incredibly positive effect a small group has on […]
Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change
John F. Kennedy said, “Change is the law of life.” There are many pastors who wish they could break or circumvent that law, but it would be better to embrace it as reality and adjust sails to navigate successfully the winds of change. Change has happened, is happening and will happen. It can be situational, […]
New Sunday School Material
I just sat through a meeting, being introduced to new LifeWay Sunday School material that will feature a 6 week evangelism emphasis in 2016! This will be one of the greatest new approaches we have seen in years! Pastors, if you don’t get in on this you will miss a great opportunity to breath new […]
Inreach
Today’s post by Jeff Ingram is the fourth installment in our Coach’s Guide to Sunday School resource provided by the office of Sunday School and Discipleship. To see the full guide, visit ALSBOM.org/coachsguidetosundayschool. How Could This Have Happened? It started off as a good morning at Sunday School. Attendance was up, and the mood was festive […]
Outreach
Today’s post by Kiely Young is the third installment in our Coach’s Guide to Sunday School resource provided by the office of Sunday School and Discipleship. To see the full guide, visit ALSBOM.org/coachsguidetosundayschool. Imagine the following conversation: “Say, Coach, I heard this recruiting stuff doesn’t work anymore. Folks are more into social media these days. Is […]
Why Build a Team?
Today’s post by State Missionary Daniel Edmonds is the second one in our Coach’s Guide to Sunday School resource provided by the office of Sunday School and Discipleship. To see the full guide, visit ALSBOM.org/coachsguidetosundayschool. Have you ever had a Moses moment, where you believed you alone should handle the entire task? Every leader is tempted […]
Vision
Today’s post by Sean Keith is the first one in our Coach’s Guide to Sunday School resource provided by the office of Sunday School and Discipleship. To see the full guide, visit ALSBOM.org/coachsguidetosundayschool. Where Are You Going? When I was around four years old, my seven-year-old brother decided to run away. My mother told him […]
How to Visit Sunday School Classes
Dwight Moss shares in the Directing Sunday School with SKILL series about becoming a Sunday School director and some of his challenges in a new blog post. One Sunday you’re a class member or teacher and the next you are the Sunday School director. Teachers who were glad to have you in their classroom last […]
Ideas for High Contact Sundays
IDEA #1: FAMILY-FRIENDS AND FUN DAY In Advance Choose a Sunday that will be the best time for people to attend. Avoid vacation and holiday times. Avoid times when church families will be gone. Plan for a meal to take place after the worship service. The church will provide a covered dish or cater a […]
VBS by the numbers for 2014
The total VBS enrollment reported by 3,069 churches for 2014 was 252,401. This is an increase of 166 more churches reporting this year then last with an increased enrollment of 819. While there was an increase of churches reporting that they did not hold a VBS, there was also an increase of churches who reported that […]
VBS In Full Swing
Every summer, it’s my privilege to travel the state and visit as many Vacation Bible Schools as I can. It’s always inspiring to see the wonderful ministry taking place and to be reminded that every church, large and small, can be involved in VBS. Already this summer, several churches have shared the results of God’s […]
A Model For Ministry That Never Changes
“Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” We live in a rapidly changing society where the effectiveness and relevance of virtually everything is being questioned. What about Sunday School, home groups, life groups, cell groups? Are any of these the “silver bullet” that may be counted on for the future? Indeed, […]
2014 Bible Drill/Speakers Tournament
Check out some of the pics from the recent 2014 Bible Drill/Speakers Tournament held at First Baptist Church, Montgomery. https://www.flickr.com/photos/alsbom/sets/72157645518969202/
Fix Me, Jesus, Fix Me
In the days following the Church Revitalization conference which the State Board of Missions held in May, I began thinking about my own personal revitalization. A song came to mind, as often happens, to aid me in my revitalization: Fix Me, Jesus. Before I sing a song in a worship setting, I want to be assured […]
Discover Personal Revitalization Along the Ordinary Path
“And He must needs go through Samaria” is a striking statement that has often been used to speak of purpose and focus in Jesus’ life. It could be used as an example of Jesus’ extraordinary intentionality in the ordering of His steps. Certainly this explanation would be of value in instructing and encouraging believers to be […]
2013 National Invitational Tournament Winners
Here are photos of our winners from Alabama from the recent Speakers National Invitational Tournament. https://www.flickr.com/photos/alsbom/sets/72157634383208442/
2013 Speakers Tournament Champion Rachel Sinclair visits Baptist Building
2013 Alabama Baptist Speakers Tournament Champion Rachel Sinclair stopped by the Baptist Building and shared her winning speech entitled “What Are You Tuned Into – The World or The Word?” at the morning chapel services. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbW1MDAnxsY&feature=youtu.be
VBS Training and Support, 2013
Vacation Bible School is a big project and an important ministry in the church. Much prayer, planning and preparation goes into a successful Vacation Bible School. Alabama Baptist churches are blessed with support on several levels to help them do their best in Vacation Bible School. The primary level of support for a church’s VBS […]
