♦A 5, 2021

Montgomery Baptists will prioritize the gospel above all by doing the following:
Meet human need while planting gospel seed;
Evangelize the River Region while planting and replanting churches;
Discover, develop, and deploy disciples of Christ to be missionaries across the street and around the world
not ever want to disappoint them. Therefore, I persevered in carrying the
Calling Out the Called – Ordination gospel to the world.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great We all need someone on earth to be accountable. We all need a Barnabas
cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that and Paul. We all need to have our own Timothy. If you don’t have one, find
hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us one. And remember, there is a great cloud of witnesses urging you onto the
run with perseverance the race marked out for victory line.
us.
Mary and I love you and count it a joy to live our lives on mission with each
Hebrews 12:1 of you. Stay the course!
As your Director of Missions, I have the distinct
pleasure of representing all seventy-five of our MBA Together We Can! Neal
churches at various functions and special worship
Neal Hughes services across the River Region. Recently, I was
Director of Missions invited by Pastor Mark Bethea of First Baptist (FBC) Lunch & Learn: Leading a Ministry that Lasts
to participate with fourteen others in an ordination Mark Bethea and Jay Wolf
council for Jay Spivey. Jay grew up in Montgomery and FBC. We all are with Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes
incredibly blessed to see our young brother and his bride, Ashley, love Jesus
with all their heart. It was a joy to be a part of Jay’s council and join his Thursday, August 12, 11:30-12:30 pm
precious family later that day during a solemn and beautiful ordination
service.
First Baptist Church
As I heard the wise counsel from those godly men who shared with Jay, I 305 S. Perry Street
could not help but reflect on my ordination council and service. A senior at
Samford, I was the associate pastor of Pike Avenue Baptist Church in RSVP at AlabamaChild.org/eventsignup
Ensley (after seminary, I returned to be their senior pastor). We gathered on
Sunday, February 8, 1981, for them to examine my gifts, my calling, and
me. NO RESTRAINTS CONFERENCE
You never quite know how an ordination council is going to go. Sometimes, August 13-14
it is centered on encouragement and wisdom. Other times one feels like he is
defending his doctoral thesis. For me, it was a little of both. Pastor O.E. A free conference for Bi-Vocational and smaller
Langner was the moderator. He was my pastor, and I was his associate. He membership church ministers at Valleydale
was the pastor that married Mary and me. O.E. taught me much about deep Church in Birmingham.
conviction and standing on biblical ground. Ewell Starnes was the clerk of
the council. Ewell was a neighboring pastor who taught me faithfulness. He For more information,
was never big in the denomination, but faithfully pastored his church in visit www.nobts.edu/caskeycenter
Ensley for 37 years until the Lord called him home. Marc Thomas was a
retired pastor from Missouri who had settled in Birmingham. Oh, how I
learned how to pray from this spiritual giant.

Mabry Lunceford was the head of the religion department at Samford. He

taught me how to be a gentleman and statesman. Carl Whirley was another
one of my professors who taught me missions. A former missionary to
Nigeria, Dr. Whirley was the only one who “took me on” theologically. He
wanted to make sure I understood the balance of works and faith, as
described in James. Jack Farmer was the pastor at Ensley Baptist. He taught
me much about administration and goals. Tom Roote was my associational
missionary, who loved me and believed in me. My own deacon father-in-
law, James Henry, was on the council. He probably knew me better than
most. James was such an encourager of Mary and me until his death, and full
of fatherly wisdom.

To be truthful, I often go back to that piece of paper and examine the names
of those participating on my ordination council. Of course, the ink has faded
away by now, but I still have the memory of these spiritual heroes who
spoke into my life and who supported my ministry until the day God called
them home. I am the “last man standing” of this heavenly group of
witnesses. I hope I earned their endorsement and confirmation.

There are sometimes in life you need human measuring sticks to achieve
heavenly goals. Looking at these men and their names on my certificate kept
me grounded. During those times of ministerial life when the devil played
with my head and my heart, I would go to my office wall and look at their
names. I knew that these men of God believed in me, but I also knew I did
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.
 ♦A 5, 2021
Montgomery Baptists will prioritize the gospel above all by doing the following:
Meet human need while planting gospel seed;
Evangelize the River Region while planting and replanting churches;
Discover, develop, and deploy disciples of Christ to be missionaries across the street and around the world

Volunteers Needed
This Mixtec Church is in need of volunteers that can teach four
homeschool students on Thursdays from 8-10 am, transport them to
Eastmont Baptist Church and assist as
needed at the church.
A certification is not required to teach,
just love the Lord and these kids, and a
desire to pour God's love, encourage-
ment, and knowledge into their lives.
The curricular materials require little
preparation, teaching will often be
working with students one on one
helping them learn using on-line and
A Job Opportunity at the Montgomery Cancer Center print resources. Volunteer teachers may
teach individual or multiple students.
A screener is needed at MCC. This is an entry-
level position. Must be motivated, a hard If you are available to teach, please let
worker, able to stand me know which days or half days you
for long periods of
time, and follow could teach each week or month.
directions well.
Customer service Thanks,
experience is a BIG John Halbrooks
plus. (334) 531-5774

For more information, contact:

Lisa Rose, lrose@baptistfirst.org

MBA Golf Tournament

Thursday, September 9
Arrowhead Country Club | 50 Ocala Drive

11:00 Registration | 11:30 Lunch | 12:30 Tee Time

Registration and payment

by Sept. 2, $75; after Sept 2, $80
Deadline to register, September 6
mgmbaptists.org/golf or call 334-271-6227.

Fee includes:
lunch, cart, range balls, green fees, and one Mulligan.

Benefitting: Community of Hope and Samaritan Inn

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.