♦J 7, 2021

Montgomery Baptists will prioritize the...

gospel above all by meeting human need and planting gospel seed;
starting and replanting of churches for all people;
equipping and sending of pastors and missionaries to the River Region and the ends of the earth.

A Shocking and Revealing Examination of the 2020 Evangelical American Church

As we move into 2021, let us speak soberly for a
moment. What are the topics that you and your
church are currently discussing? Is COVID-19 the
main topic? How about racial tension? And what
about the election process. Do not forget the mask
vs. no masks. Almost daily, I am tempted to dive
into one or more of the above topics. After all, I
am your Director of Missions. I need to stay up on
the trends and advise you accordingly. But am I
looking in the right places for the church’s greatest
Neal Hughes need?
Director of Missions
The other day I encountered an article that rocked
me to the core. On October 8, 2020, George Barna, noted church
trend statistician, did a quantitative study, revealing seventeen
alarming truths of the present-day American evangelical
church (https://churchleaders.com/pastors/pastor-articles/385549-17-
reasons-american-pastors-and-church-leaders-are-asking-and-
answering-all-the-wrong-questions.html). Here they are (buckle your
pew belt):
1. 52% reject absolute moral truth.
2. 61% did not read the Bible daily.
3. 75% believe people are basically good.
4. 60% believe the Bible conflicts with their beliefs.
5. 54% are unwilling to define human life as sacred.
6. 50% claim the Bible is vague on abortion.
7. 43% believe Jesus sinned.
8. 58% believe the Holy Spirit is symbolic.
9. 62% of churchgoers say it is important to have some type of faith.
10. 50% do not view sex outside of marriage as sinful.
11. 40% do not believe lying is sinful.
12. 48% believe in salvation through works.
13. 43% do not believe in a God-Given purpose for humanity.
14. 42% seek moral guidance from somewhere other than the Bible.
15. 34% reject marriage as only one man and one woman.
16. 34% approve of abortion if it spares the mother from emotional
and financial hardship.
17. 36% fail to seek and pursue God’s will for their life each day.
Sadly, if there is any truth to the above survey, America’s most
significant mission field is sitting in our very own sanctuaries. In
Ezekiel 6-10, God removes people of idolatry from the land,
beginning in the sanctuary. I am deeply convicted by the conversation
between the Son of Man and the King of the ages: I fell facedown,
crying out, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! Are you going to destroy the
entire remnant of Israel in this outpouring of your wrath on
Jerusalem?” He answered me, “The sin of the people of Israel and
Judah is exceedingly great; the land is full of bloodshed, and the city
is full of injustice. They say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land; the
Lord does not see.’ So, I will not look on them with pity or spare
them, but I will bring down on their own heads what they have
done” (Ezekiel 9:8-10). Perhaps we need to change our conversation
from the trivial to the fundamentals. Let us start with the word of
God.
Make 2021 a Christ-filled New Year. To that end, I join you in
working and praying! Neal

Thank you, David Fleming,

SAVE DATE for Your Service to the MBA!

David Fleming returned to Montgomery in 2016
from Knoxville, Tennessee. At the time, he had
just begun a disability retirement journey caused
Executive Board Meetings Associational Events
by progressive Multiple Sclerosis. The
Jan 25 Thorington Road Feb 23 Love Loud Vision Tour Montgomery Baptist Association was able to
Apr 26 Open Acres Mar 27 Rally for the Galley employ David on a part-time basis. The new
Jul 26 Morningview Apr 14 Ministry Asst’s Lunch David Fleming position allowed some supplement for our
Oct 25 Southlawn Apr 20 Samaritan Inn Banquet Leader Care
May 13 MBA Golf Tournament
brother’s disability and filled a significant gap in
All meetings are at 11:30 a.m. grant writing. In the last four years, over
Sep 16 CE Class Registration
Annual Celebration Sep 23 CE Classes Resume $75,000 of grant dollars have been secured from various foundations
Nov 1 First Baptist Dec 4 SAM’s Angel Market to assist the work of MBA Community Ministries. We are grateful to
Events begin at 4:30 p.m. David for his ability to write and manage such a task.
Recently, a new treatment has enabled David to secure enough
MBA Children’s Events ALSBOM Events physical strength not to have to attain medical disability benefits and
Jan 19 VBS Preview Feb 21 Sharing Hope Conf return to full-time ministry. Therefore, he will begin work with
Mar 16 VBS Training Mar 7 Secretaries Conf Baptist Health’s Montgomery Cancer Center as a chaplain on
Apr 11 MBA Bible Drill May 4 Get Acquainted Day December 28. Along with his full-time return to chaplain ministry,
Jun 15 SBC Pastors Conf David will continue as a member of First Baptist Church.
Jun 16 Southern Baptist Conv
Nov 16 AL Pastors Conf Thank you, David, for ministering in a very effective way to our
Nov 17 AL State Conv MBA family and beyond. You will be greatly missed! Due to
COVID restrictions, the MBA will not be hosting a reception, so
Visit alsbom.org for more details.
please take time to send cards or emails/texts of appreciation to our
brother via the MBA office at 20 Interstate Park Drive, Montgomery,
Events are subject to change. Visit mgmbaptists.org/calendar for details. AL 36109 / dm.fleming@hotmail.com / (865) 323-7811.
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.