CBA Weekly: Stronger Together, and a Week of Renewal at Providence

Saturday at West End Baptist, more than two dozen couples from churches across the association spent the day together at Stronger Together. Jennifer and I had the joy of leading one of the breakouts, and I will not soon forget watching couples turn their chairs toward each other and talk. Thank you to every church that sent people, to Blake and Kalee Potts for the food, to Justin Caton, and to the breakout leaders who served without pay and without fanfare.

Cliff and Toma Knight taught a gospel-centered marriage out of their lived experience, and Clay Cox reminded us that laughing together is its own kind of grace. If you were there, thank you for coming. If you were not, we hope to see you at the next one.

United in Prayer

Pray 4 Chilton covers our county in prayer around the clock, fifteen minutes at a time. Slots are open now. Sign up to pray.

Prayer Focus

• Providence Baptist as they host a week of revival services August 23 through 26.
• The marriages that took a step forward Saturday, that what was started in that room would hold up on an ordinary Tuesday.
• Students, teachers, and families settling into a new school year.
• Pastors across the association as fall ministry ramps back up.

This Week and Upcoming

• Executive Team Meeting, Thursday, August 20, 7:00 PM. The Executive Team is each pastor plus one selected representative from each member church. Details
• Time of Renewal, Revival Week at Providence Baptist, Sunday, August 23 through Wednesday, August 26, with Dr. Ron Lynch. Dinner at 5:00 PM, revival service at 6:30 PM. Providence Baptist, 6197 County Road 97, Clanton. Details

The full calendar lives at chiltonbaptist.online/events. If your church has something the association should know about, send it to the office and we will get it posted.

Church of the Week

This week we lift up Concord Baptist Church, pastored by Randal Mims. Please pray for Bro. Randal and the Concord family as they carry the gospel to their neighbors.

Grow With CBA (Open to Everyone)

Ministry Training Institute classes are open to every believer who wants to grow, not only pastors and church staff. Classes meet Tuesdays, 6:00 to 9:00 PM.

• Fall Term A, Gospel-Centered Communication begins tonight, Tuesday, August 18.
• Fall Term B, The Gospels begins Tuesday, October 20. Registration is open now.

Registration and course details: Ministry Training Institute at Samford.

The Church Health Check-Up is a free online course you can start any time at chiltonbaptist.online/courses.

Resource of the Week

Each week I share one resource I can personally vouch for. This week it is a TAB Media Group interview with Derek Allen, newly elected executive director-elect of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.

Want to learn more about the newly elected Executive Director for Alabama Baptists? Listen in as Jennifer Rash from TAB Media interviews Derek Allen on his vision for Alabama Baptists.

Watch this week’s resource.

From Our Partners at the State Board (ALSBOM)

These are hosted by the Alabama State Board of Missions, not by CBA, and they are open to our churches.

• SALT Conference, Tuesday, August 18, 9:15 AM to 3:00 PM, First Baptist Church, Fultondale. Details

State Board trustees elected Derek Allen as executive director-elect on August 11. He takes office February 1, 2027, when Dr. Rick Lance retires after nearly thirty years of service. The interview above is the best introduction to him.

For Pastors and Ministry Leaders

The Alabama Baptist Foundation has evangelism grant money available for church outreach projects, things like block parties, cookouts, and community events, generally in the range of $1,500. If your church has a project in mind, contact the CBA office and we will get you pointed to the application.

Ministry Openings

• Bi-Vocational Worship Minister, Mt. Carmel #1 Baptist Church, Thorsby. Part-time, 8 to 12 hours per week.
• Minister of Youth, Jemison First Baptist Church. Full-time.

Details and how to apply are at chiltonbaptist.online/ministry-openings. If someone comes to mind, pass it along.

Looking Ahead

• Celebration 250, Thursday, October 1, 6:30 PM at the Chilton County High School Auditorium, with Rob Jackson preaching. A church-wide prayer night comes the evening before, Wednesday, September 30. Details
• Christmas Backpacks. Collection season is here. 492 backpacks are committed this year, roughly a hundred more than usual. Signup details are coming soon.
• Myrtle Littleton Memorial Offering. It honors Miss Myrtle’s legacy of associational missions and supplements what our churches already give. Give through your church, mail a designated check to the CBA office, or give online.

Stay in Touch

This newsletter is send-only, so replies do not reach us. Reach the association at chiltonbaptist.online/contact or email [email protected].