THE MO

TGOMERY
KE MAY, DIRECTOR OF MISSIO
S

BAPTIST
Mission Serve Comes Back to Montgomery this summer from July 20-27 helping
MBA and other Montgomery ministries. Five teams from around the United States will serve places like Community of Hope, Forest Park Ministry Center, Family Promise and Urban Trec Ministry. LETS SHOW THEM SOME SOUTHER HOSPITALITY! They need YOUR help! We could use your (churches, WMU groups, Sunday School classes, etc) help feeding them on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (7/22, 7/23, 7/25 & 7/26.) Teams will minister in the heat of the summer, so light, cool foods are preferable to hot lunches. Prayerfully consider providing one (1) team of 10-15 people a sack lunch, consisting of a combination of sandwich, chips, fruit, dessert, etc. and cold bottled water. Lunches should be delivered to the ministry site with a cooler of ice and paper or plastic products for those four days.

Serving Christ Through Montgomery Area Churches THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013

Montgomery Singing Ministers Reunion and Concert

The Montgomery Singing Ministers held their first reunion and concert on April 12 at Eastmont Baptist Church. Those who returned for the concert included past participants, Harry and Katie Gilbert, who served at Forest Park and came from FBC McCaysville, Georgia, where they currently serve, Ron and Debbie Rainer, who drove in from FBC Cordele, Georgia, where Ron serves as minister of music, and Gary and Barbara Walker, recently retired from Columbus, Mississippi, and currently living in Ken May Greenville, Georgia. Others included Neal Hughes, serving with the North American Mission Board, Tommy and Sandy Keown, who served at Normandale and the State Board of Missions, and Ed and Bobbie Rush, who served at Southside. Several local ministers participated including Ed Bowman, our host, who served at Cloverdale but now serves at Eastmont, Kenneth Loomis, minister of music at Heritage who served also at Pintlala, Ken May, Director of Missions, who served as Baptist Campus Minister when he sang with the group, and James Blakeney, State Board of Missions, who served at Eastdale when he sang with the group. Also participating was current Ridgecrest Minister of Music, John Russell, who was born the year the group made their last recording. Accompanist for the group was Gwen Keene, who accompanied for several years while serving local churches. She probably had the hardest job of all. Thanks, Gwen! During fellowship time at lunch, members shared about Singing Ministers their families and current status. Three things stand out from the played a testimonies: First, members always appreciated the welcoming fellowship they experienced while singing together across the prominent role in the life of the years. Second, several told of personal encouragement and support received from fellow ministers while undergoing difficult times of Montgomery transition. Third, these individuals were ministers who did Baptist whatever was asked of them, even when they did not feel Association. particularly suited to the task. As one stated, We just did what had to be done. One expressed profound appreciation for acceptance and mentoring that went on when was he was younger. The Montgomery Singing Ministers played a prominent role in the life of Montgomery Baptist Association and this event was scheduled to show appreciation for the contribution they made. They sang each week at the ministers conference, presented Christmas and Spring concerts each year in local churches, assisted with revivals and special events, and presented an entire day of ministry in local nursing homes and assisted living facilities at Christmas. They sang for the annual associational meeting and special events. Ed Rush composed special songs when called upon to fit a particular theme. In fact, the reunion group premiered a new composition written by Ed specifically for this concert. Let it not be said of Montgomery Baptist Association that we do not recognize the contributions of our leaders across the years. Thank you Montgomery Singing Ministers! Thank you, pastors, who allowed your ministers of music that extra hour each week for rehearsal! Thank you, churches, for your ongoing support. Thank you all who came to the Reunion Concert to renew acquaintances and show appreciation to these ministers for their hard work across the years. We have much to celebrate!

Montgomery

Contact Local Ministry Coordinator, Sharon Myers at smyers@knology.net OR (334) 277-6699.

The Montgomery Baptist Association 20 Interstate Park Montgomery, Alabama 36109 334-271-6227 www.mgmbaptist.org This publication is made possible by your churches contributions to Associational Missions.