♦O 1, 2020

Montgomery Bap st Priori es: We will priori ze the…

 Gospel above all by mee ng human need and plan ng gospel seed
 Star ng and replan ng of churches for all people
 Equipping and sending of pastors and missionaries to the River Region and the ends of the earth.

T%&'( Y*+ ,*- S/-01'2 3%/ L*-5!

For the last thirteen years, Bill and Sonya Tucker have
faithfully served Pinedale Baptist Church in Montgomery.
As a bi-vocational pastor, Bill also serves as a chief chaplain
with one of the River Region's hospice services. Sonya
served for many years as a state missionary in ALSBOM’s
Discipleship department before retiring. I have personally
enjoyed many times of fellowship with this sweet couple
and their precious church family.
The time has now come for Bill and Sonya to transition
toward a retired
pace. Their last
Sunday will be
Neal Hughes September 27.
Director of Missions
When I see how
Bill and Sonya relate to their church
family, I am reminded of the biography of
another leader, Pastor John Fawcett
(Fawcett Commentary).
After many years of serving a church in
England, the time came for Pastor Fawcett
to move on to his next parish.
The congregation met the pastor and his
family, with all their worldly goods on the
wagon, at the village street.
There, they expressed their love, their
hesitation of the preacher departing, and
best wishes. It led Fawcett to pin this beautiful hymn… "Blest Be the Tie That
Binds, Our Hearts in Christian Love, The Fellowship So Sweet Is Like to That
Above."
Please be much in prayer for the Pinedale family and the Tuckers as they transition
to a new day of God's ventures for both parties. Pinedale Baptist Church will be
blessed to have Dale Huff beginning an intentional interim ministry on October 4.
God answered all our prayers in his provision of such a great leader for Pinedale
with the departure of two legacy giants like Bill and Sonya. The Tuckers will
remain in Montgomery, although they are presently focused on their daughter's
upcoming wedding in New York City. Bill is available for supply preaching should
there be a need. Best wishes, dear friends.
Also retired is Sara Jo Bagley, the church
organist at the First Baptist Church
Montgomery. She has faithfully led this
congregation for more than 35 years. Sara
Jo began playing the piano at nine and
purchased an organ to start learning when
she was fifteen.
Sara Jo was elected to be the church
organist at Chisholm Baptist Church in
1949. Her compensation was one organ
lesson a week from the accomplished Dr.
Donald H. Elliot, Minister of Music of
Trinity Presbyterian Church. Later, Sara
Jo graduated with honors from the
University of Montevallo in 1956 and was
the college organist.
In 1985, Sara Jo joined the staff of First
Baptist Montgomery. Time and health have now reached a point where her family
has encouraged retirement.
We will cherish the memories of how God has used Sara Jo to bring him glory
from such a wonderful instrument. Please be much in prayer for Sara Jo as well as
Ed Cleveland and the amazing music ministry of First Baptist Church as they
transition toward the next steps in their life-touching ministry to our River Region.
Mary and I deeply love you and are blessed to live our lives on mission with each
of you.

Together We Can! Neal

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.