♦A 15, 2019

Montgomery Bap st Priori es:

The Gospel Above All / The Plan ng and Replan ng of Churches for All People / The Sending of Missionaries to the Ends of the Earth

The Rolling Store is Almost Ready to Roll!

In early June, the River Region United Way gave the Montgomery
Baptist Association a $15,000.00 grant to purchase and equip a school
bus and convert it to the Love Loud River Region Rolling Store.
Completion is nearing with the preparations for deployment. With the
help of Bucky Ferrell and South Alabama Bus Sales, we were able to
purchase a late model school bus. With the balance of the dollars, we
have been able to get other things for the store to make it fully equipped
while in the field. Also, Bethel Baptist Church in Fort Deposit along
Neal Hughes with First Methodist Church in Fort Deposit are housing the bus and the
Director of Missions warehouse for the food coming from the Montgomery Area Food
Bank. Praise the Lord for all the collaboration of community partners!
We hope to be ready to roll in late August.
You may or may not be aware that the River Region of Central Alabama is considered a critical
food desert, having large pockets of poverty
(with major food shortages) abounding in the
rural and urban areas of our communities
(www.alabamapossible.org). Some of the
poorest counties of Alabama are in our
association or border our
neighborhoods. The latest census reflects the
following poverty rates:
- Montgomery County (21.3%)
- Lowndes County (25.9%)
- Macon County (30.6%)
- Bullock County (34.4%)
- Autauga County (13.4%)
- Elmore County (12.0%)
Could you imagine going to bed hungry? Could you imagine not having a grocery store to get
food for your family easily? Could you imagine not having the transportation to get to a
grocery store or the funds to pay for a ride? Many, especially in the rural areas, are not even
able to get to our regional ministry centers in Montgomery, nor are they able to get medical This is a unique opportunity to make an
attention due to the transportation factor. This results in malnutrition and poor health, often international impact without leaving Montgomery!
leading to premature death. Become a Friendship Family for an Auburn
University Montgomery international student
As Montgomery Baptists, we are going to do through the “Friendship Family” program
everything we can to meet the human need of organized by AUM BCM (Baptist Campus
our area, while planting the gospel seed. The Ministries). You will not be providing housing, just
Love Loud River Region Rolling Store is one friendship.
response to the critical issue of hunger. The
plan calls for the bus to come regularly to
For more information and/or an application,
townships in Lowndes County, as well as other
contact Evelyn Pate at
identified pockets of poverty in the region. The evelynpate.bcm@gmail.com or 334-277-6238.
bus will have its shelves filled with Area Food Application deadline is August 31.
Bank product. As we minister in Jesus’ name
in the community, the bus will allow the individuals to “shop with dignity.” Shoppers can
select grocery items that the family prefers rather than being handed a bag of food they may or
may not like. Prayerfully, the ongoing relationships will lead sinners to become saints. More
churches will be planted in their community, bringing additional spiritual and physical food.
Beloved, this is a Montgomery Baptist Association of Churches ministry. We need many
volunteer missionaries and hunger funds to continually serve such a need. Please get engaged
today by contacting Savannah Barber and learning more about how you can be a part of the
Love Loud River Region Rolling Store
(sbarber@mgmbaptists.org / 334-640-5994).
Thank you for continued prayers as we all
work to advance the kingdom across the
street and around the world. Mary and I
count it a privilege to live our lives on
mission with each of you.
Together We Can!
Neal

Executive Board members and guests

gathered to pray for and dedicate the
Rolling Store on July 22.

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.