Volume 37 Number 6 June 2020

St. Clair Baptist Messenger A Publication of St. Clair Baptist Association, Inc.

“The St. Clair Baptist Association exists to Encourage, Equip and Engage Churches in the Great Commission”

Dr. Danny Courson, Associational Missions Strategist

danny@stcba.org

Located at 33620 US Hwy 231, Ashville AL 35953 Mail: P O Box 160, Ashville AL 35953 Phone 205-594-5173 FAX: 205-594-2232

Office Email: linda@stcba.org Website: stcba.org. Office Hours: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Monday – Thursday) (Closed all day on Friday)

Ministry Team Members Ministry Assistant/Clerk Financial Secretary Linda Smith Treasurer Jimmy Hopkins Moderator Brad Moseley Vice-Moderator Brad Smith Ministry Directors Discipleship Training Chris Malone Bible Drills Diane McCoy Disaster Relief Ministry Ron Culberson Evangelism Jacque Snow English as a Second Language ESL Mary Ann Burttram Jeff State IMPACT Christina Puckett Men’s Ministry Vacant Preschool Ministry Chris Mayfield Raceway Ministry Heath Schall Senior Adult Ministry Doris Munkus Sunday School Tim Gold Vacation Bible School Teresa Sanders WMU Mary Ann Burttram Worship/Music Ministry Andy Hadley Youth Ministry Josh Meadows

New Online Giving Platform We are happy to announce that St. Clair Baptist Association is now receiving online donations through The Baptist Foundation of AL. giveTHREE65 program.

Donations may be made by going to our website stcba.org and click Give You will be taken to our new giving page where you have options to make your donation.

Follow the directions for General fund, or ministry giving options. Also available is our Text option. All you have to do is text:

@tbfa give 100 to #STCBA to 52014 To change amountsimply change 100 to the desired amount.

Call to Prayer

The STCBA office is now open with normal business hours to serve you. Thank you for your patience during the time we have been closed.

For Such a Time as This (song lyrics by Wayne Watson, 1998) Now, all I have is now, to be faithful, to be holy, and to shine, lighting up the darkness. Right now, I really have no choice, but to voice the truth to the nations- a generation looking for God. For such a time as this, I was placed upon the earth, to hear the voice of God, and do His will, whatever it is. For such a time as this, for now and all the days He gives, I am here, I am here, and I am His, for such a time as this. 2020 has been an interesting year thus far. We have watched the COVID-19 pandemic take the lives of millions world-wide. We have seen major cities shut down. We have seen businesses ordered closed by government health officials. We have seen our schools close their campuses and turn to on-line learning. Our churches have closed buildings and adapted to drive-in services, online worship, and zoom Bible studies. We have faced shortages of toilet paper and meats, as many people panicked and began hoarding. We have seen political fighting reach new levels of hatred and division. We literally watched a black man be killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Since that day, we have watched peaceful protests, as well as rioting and looting in the streets of cities all across the United States. Birmingham and Jefferson County have resorted to curfews to try and stop the civil unrest. Governors in several states have activated National Guard units, and President Trump has ordered active duty military to try and restore peace in the midst of chaos. This morning I awoke to the news that one of our own Moody Police Officers, Sgt. Stephen Williams, was shot and killed in the line of duty. All of this makes me want to cry out, “Come, Lord Jesus!” So many people are asking why these things are happening. Every day I hear more people asking questions and voicing their fears and concerns. When will all these things come to an end? As I prayed this morning, God reminded me of the song, “For Such a Time as This.” Wayne Watson wrote this song, based upon the words of Mordecai found in Esther 4:14. I believe it speaks to our situation in the world today. Below is the verse and three key points for us to remember.

“If you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your father's family will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this." Esther 4:14 CSB

1. We cannot be silent . . . We must cry out against injustice, and we must share the gospel.

2. Relief and deliverance will come . . . God will accomplish His purposes with or without us.

3. Perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this . . . Jesus said that not one sparrow falls to the ground without your Father’s consent. It is certainly not an accident that God has placed you where you are at this very moment to serve His purposes.

I don’t have all the answers, but I know God placed me here to serve St Clair Baptist Association for such a time as this. My heart’s desire is to encourage, support, and strengthen the work of our churches for the Kingdom of God. Yes, we are living in uncertain times. It’s difficult to plan during times of uncertainty, but we will walk through these times together. I can say with certainty that God is still in control, and He has placed us here for such a time as this. Bro. Danny

“Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1

Although it has been a challenging few months, we can be certain that God is good and He is bringing good from even this time of illness and quarantine, as well as unrest in our nation. We can also be certain that His love for us will never end and that gives us reason to praise Him. Bless His Holy Name!

Our WMU Leadership Team continues to serve the association, even though we’ve been limited in ways we’ve never known before. We will, however, meet later this month for a time of planning and fellowship. Please remember us in prayer.

Alabama WMU has been holding Zoom conference calls to keep us informed and better aware of what is happening around the world in missions. Each week, we get to meet and hear from some of our missionaries somewhere in the world. For security reasons, we cannot share names or locations in social media but would be glad to share verbally with your church or WMU. If interested, you may contact me via email at maburttram@gmail.com or call 205-467-6534. We’re seeing that the Holy Spirit is working around the world to train/disciple, plant churches, and evangelize. People are desiring to know more about Jesus, reading the Word and some of those are coming to know Christ in the process. In some areas, these new Christians face persecution in physical, emotional and financial areas. We need to pray that God will continue to make His Presence known both in America and abroad, that His perfect will is done and more people will come to know Him personally.

Alabama WMU has also made the difficult decision to cancel our EQUIP Conference that was to be held on July 24-25 at Shocco but a virtual alternative will be offered, with more information to come.

Our churches are continuing to receive contributions to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. If you have not yet given, please consider helping to further our missions efforts here at home.

In Christ alone

Mary Ann

A. M. S. Insights by Dr. Danny Courson

WMU Corner by Mary Ann Burttram

Note: Since we did not publish a Messenger in May, we have included both June & July lists. June 4 Rev. & Mrs. Paul Brasher New Hope 5 Rev. & Mrs. Mickey Jones Mt. Moriah 6 Rev. Bill Daniel Arbor 7 Rev. & Mrs. Jon Glass Cropwell 7 Rev. & Mrs. Donald Jennings Sulphur Sprgs 7 Mrs. Beth Moseley FBC Moody 9 Rev. Tim Henning New Beginnings 10 Dr. & Mrs. Danny Courson AMS 11 Mrs. Denise McDaniel Poplar Springs 15 Dr. & Mrs. Jay Stewart Ashville FBC 17 Mrs. Amy Carrier Markeeta 19 Mrs. Alecia Henninger Mt. Olive 23 Rev. Edwin Talley FBC Ragland 24 Mrs. Connie Washington Restoration 26 Rev. & Mrs. Ives Harris Oak Grove II 27 Rev. Richard Statham Odenville FBC 28 Dr. & Mrs. Brad Moseley FBC Moody 28 Rev. & Mrs. Glenn Pender Corinth 30 Mrs. Kim Thweatt FBC Pell City July 2 Rev. & Mrs. Kenneth Maddox Riverside 5 Rev. Jon Glass Cropwell 6 Mrs. Candi Stewart Ashville FBC 12 Mrs. Melody King Pine Forest 20 Rev. & Mrs. Barry McDaniel Poplar Springs 22 Mrs. Rhonda Courson Mission Belle 23 Rev. & Mrs. Joey Lee Northside Fellowship 26 Rev. Jacky Connell Eden Westside 26 Mrs. Emily Wakefield Bethany 27 Rev. & Mrs. Michael Mills Greensport 30 Mrs. Laura Jennings Sulphur Springs

Birthdays & Anniversaries Across our Association…

WELCOME

We welcome New Haven BC in Ashville to the

St Clair Baptist Association family of churches. Their Watch Care year has been completed and were voted to full

membership by the Executive Committee at the May meeting.

May God bless the 69 churches,

pastors and congregations of St. Clair Baptist Association.

Welcome New Church Staff

Providence has called Rev. Ted St. John as Pastor.

North Valley has called Rev. Rick Deerman as Pastor.

Broken Arrow has called Rev. Bobby Walker as Pastor and Rev. Alan Crump as Assoc. Pastor

Northside Fellowship has called Rev. Joey Lee as Pastor

If your church has a new pastor or staff member, we would like to include them.

Please contact Linda 205-594-5173 Or email linda@stcba.org

God’s Mission goes on

We ask that you please keep sending your gifts to the Cooperative Program to support our missionaries around the world.

There are missionaries that are trained and waiting to be placed on the field but are in need of funding before they go.

Do you know where your mission dollars go?

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering supports North American missions

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering supports International missions.

Myers Mallory State Offering

supports Alabama State missions.

Gifts to the Association support the ministries of St. Clair Baptist

Association We do not receive Cooperative

Program monies. Children’s Home Counseling at our office will

resume on Monday, June 15th

AL Baptist Children’s Home Pathways Counseling

Mondays at STCBA building To make appointments with Morgan Roberts,

Call ABCH toll free 866-991-6864 Ask for the Intake Coordinator.

Happy Home Baptist Church 1515 US Hwy 78, Leeds AL 35094

Seeking an Associate Pastor

Please send resume to:

Pastor Craig Gilley Craig6101@me.com

Macedonia #1 - Margaret Seeking a

Part Time Student Minister Please send resume to:

PO Box 347, Margaret AL 35112.

Ministry Positions

STATE BOARD OF MISSIONS

Several ALSBOM “in person” events that were scheduled for

June have been changed to Webinars.

For the complete list go to

www.alsbom.org

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Contributions to General Fund - received through May 28, 2020

GENERAL FUND

DESIGNATED FUNDS

Designated Funds have been given for specific purposes and cannot be used for any other purpose.

us

Beginning Balance $29,540.21Received from Churches $16,525.26Miscellaneous Receipts $1,600.00General Fund Expenditures $14,387.75

Balance $33,277.72

Church Name This month Year to Date Church Name This month Year to DateArbor $0.00 $0.00 New Hope, Argo $0.00 $0.00Argo $36.00 $144.00 New Hope $0.00 $6,106.93Ashville First $1,532.00 $8,277.66 New Lebanon $507.73 $2,600.17Bethany $0.00 $804.00 New Prospect $0.00 $750.00Bethel $458.33 $2,291.65 North Valley $200.00 $800.00Broken Arrow $0.00 $177.52 Northside Fellow. $114.51 $1,112.84Calvary $496.08 $2,448.85 Oak Grove I $0.00 $0.00Cedar Grove $1,349.00 $3,381.00 Oak Grove II $0.00 $0.00Central $0.00 $2,125.00 Odenville FBC $260.00 $1,106.00Chandler Mtn $844.99 $844.99 Palestine $0.00 $0.00Cook Springs $118.28 $701.20 Pell City FBC $1,464.38 $8,102.74Cool Springs $0.00 $771.00 Pine Forest $179.45 $825.45Coosa Valley $700.00 $3,400.00 Pinedale $0.00 $150.00Corinth $100.48 $296.31 Piney Grove $0.00 $0.00Cropwell $416.67 $2,083.35 Pleasant Grove $0.00 $0.00CrossPoint $416.69 $2,083.43 Pleasant Valley $0.00 $0.00Eden Westside $0.00 $1,052.00 Poplar Springs $0.00 $0.00Evening Star $0.00 $0.00 Prescott $0.00 $0.00Fairview $0.00 $400.00 Providence $50.00 $200.00Friendship $404.11 $2,398.06 Ragland FBC $126.43 $559.38Greensport $720.60 $3,421.02 Red Hill $150.00 $750.00Gum Springs $0.00 $0.00 Reeves Grove $300.19 $659.90Happy Home $264.00 $1,298.16 Refuge $0.00 $190.11Lister Memorial $50.00 $50.00 Restoration $300.00 $500.00Macedonia I $197.85 $1,143.81 Riverside $122.68 $1,052.58Macedonia 2 $0.00 $0.00 Seddon $312.50 $1,562.50Markeeta $0.00 $0.00 Son Rise $0.00 $0.00McEntyre $144.00 $984.00 Spring Valley $297.83 $2,061.32Mineral Springs $0.00 $0.00 Springville FBC $0.00 $2,500.00Moody FBC $385.49 $1,223.93 St. Clair Springs $0.00 $0.00Mt Moriah $0.00 $2,616.00 Steele $1,132.27 $2,172.00Mt. Olive $0.00 $0.00 Sulphur Springs $875.00 $4,375.00Mt. Pisgah $1,018.01 $4,947.80 Taylors $25.00 $50.00Mt. Pleasant $51.71 $913.83 ALSBOM - Ins. $153.00 $765.00New Beginnings $200.00 $750.00 Indvidual gift $0.00 $4.76New Haven $50.00 $250.00 Tot. Col. #2 $6,570.97 $38,956.68Tot. Column #1 $9,954.29 $51,278.57 Total Contrib. $16,525.26 $90,235.25

DR New Equipment & Repairs $40,247.46St Clair Baptist Assn BC/BS Group $896.86Office Equipment $1,463.31Senoir Adult Trip $550.03On Mission Celebration $5,900.00IMPACT-Jeff State $1,417.41VBS Commissions $1,301.54Ky Mission Fund $431.47

St Clair Ministerial Fund $895.21Hurricane/Storm/Disaster Relief $2,602.10Raceway Ministry Donations $110.00Annual Meeting Offering $0.00

Non-Profit Org. US Postage Paid

Pell City AL 35125 Permit No. 5

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

P O Box 160

Ashville AL 35953