♦A 30, 2020

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

Operation Comeback Hope in the Midst of Struggle

We are going to be hearing from Governor Ivey and her The Pandemic of the ages has brought
task force soon about returning to work, play, and our drastic change to many lives. Change
daily lives. That will also include coming back to church.
The Governor’s task force is evaluating carefully. They that has led to grief and learning to
will make wise decisions for the benefit of all Alabamians cope with new dynamics in our work,
regarding these matters. Let us be much in prayer as we home, and educational environments.
move closer to the days of return. Anticipate credible Just as we begin adjusting to and
information on or before April 30. creating a “new normal” in our lives,
I heard someone say that returning after the virus is akin to the journey for some has been
Neal Hughes Noah and his family opening the door of the ark after the compounded by severe weather which included wind damage and tornado
Director of Missions flood. We will certainly never forget the pandemic outbreaks.
season, but hopefully, we will not forget meeting God in
this season of desperation. When that time comes, and it may be a gradual return, Assessments began the night of the
let me suggest a few things that Christians need to do as we open the doors to the storms and by Monday morning of
ark and come back to a new normal: April 13 and 20, the Yellow Shirt
Army began to roll, offering Hope
RENEW. Noah and his family built an altar on the new beach and worshipped
God (Genesis 8:20). An altar is always a symbol of sacrifice, thanksgiving, to those once again facing change.
and renewal. The Lord has been good to us in the storm. We must make Individuals with a heart for those
coming to His house a priority when we are released. We must bow our heads affected by storms, trained for
privately and corporately, and we must celebrate and worship a holy God. work with Chainsaw operation,
David even added these words in his moment of renewal, “Create in me a pure Clean up and Recovery and
heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). Pray and
seek His face. Pledge never to depart His presence again. We must also Chaplaincy following major
express gratitude before the Lord for those who risked everything to keep us disasters joined together and
safe. From the medical professionals to the first responders, from the support headed to Rockford, AL and Pike
teams to the politicians, let us say “thank you” to the Lord, and be sure to say County. Two complete teams
“thank you” to them.
were deployed representing 10
RESET. God told the church of Ephesus to “remember the heights from associational churches.
which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first” (Revelation
2:5). We are different because the Lord has put us in “time out” for two The River Region Rolling Grocery
months. We MUST NOT go back to the status quo. You and I have come so Store, made possible by the Central
far by faith. Stop the sins which so easily beset you as a believer and be the Alabama United Way, also rolled
new person the Lord made you in this Selah season. Don’t return to bad habits.
Keep up your daily devotionals, your better eating habits, your new exercise out to provide lunch to the
disciplines, and your established bible reading plans. Your hunger for the deployed teams and first
things of the Lord should drive you to do the deeds you did when you first fell responders. Two teams responded
in love with Jesus. and were ready to go making
sandwiches and packing lunch bags
REBUILD. The word “Together” has been used in almost every commercial,
speech, article, paper, and media source I have seen in the COVID-19 era. It to be distributed to over 85 people
was meant to remind us that we are going to get through this “together.” at the cleanup site in Rockford.
Therefore, fellow Christians who reside in the state of Alabama and live in the
United States of America, let US rebuild “together.” Bring the tithe back to the Thank you to our Montgomery
storehouse of God. Tidy up the church grounds. Fill the sanctuary. Get your
money back into the economy and be generous to your business friends who Baptist Association of Churches
are starting again. Pray for your neighbors and pledge to stay the community for your readiness and deployment
that you have seen built over this chapter of history. Be a kinder, gentler to offering Hope in the midst of
nation. Pray for our leaders. Let us rebuild a greater Montgomery and a more struggle for so many.
excellent Montgomery Baptist Association as a sacrifice of thanksgiving for
God’s great and abundant mercy to us. Are you considering ways that you
could help during disasters that hit
Your brother, who is blessed and highly favored, not perfect, but forgiven child of our state or nation? You can
God, volunteer and be trained when
Neal opportunities become available.
Heavy Equipment Needed Visit the Alabama State Disaster
Relief site SBDR.org for
opportunities.
Our River Region Disaster
You can contribute financially to the
Relief teams are in need of a Disaster Relief fund where 100% of
skid steer with a bucket and a your funds go to recovery efforts
demolition grapple or similar through the Association. The Rolling
attachment. If you know of one Grocery Store also benefits from your
that is available as needed for gifts which support our churches in
continued relief work, please providing meals to food deserts
through out the River Region.
contact Trevor Perry at
334-799-2667 or by email, Visit MGMBaptists.org/Giving for
ways you can help others in need.
tdperry1012@att.net.
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.