BAY MINETTE, Ala. (BP) – In the late 1970s, First Baptist Church of Bay Minette was reminded of a biblical principle about stewardship – God will honor our faithful giving.
By Karen L. Willoughby
Managing Editor
BAY MINETTE, Ala. (BP) – In the late 1970s, First
Baptist Church of Bay Minette was reminded of a biblical principle
about stewardship – God will honor our faithful giving.
When they dropped their Cooperative Program (CP)
Missions giving from 18 to 12 percent, the church’s total receipts
dropped to the point that for the first time in years, they didn’t meet
their budget needs.
The pastor wanted to drop the percentage to 10
percent – the deacons held the line at 12, but for a second year, the
church failed to meet its budget needs.
Henry Cox was called as senior pastor in 1981 and
that year the CP Missions percentage was raised to 14 percent.
“We met our budget in that next church year and we
have met and exceeded our budget needs every year since,” Cox said. “CP
Missions fits in with God’s wonderful plan of economy. I think as you
give, God allows you to become a channel rather than a reservoir. If
you stop up that channel by hoarding the money, you abort God’s plan of
economy.”
First Bay Minette today gives more than 20 percent
of undesignated receipts to CP Missions. And that’s just a start of
what it does in missions and ministry.
“First Baptist Church of Bay Minette met my needs 52
years ago when they led me to accept Christ as my savior,” said Frank
Burt, former chairman of the deacons. “They met my needs when they
supported and celebrated my marriage 51 years ago.
“They supported my family through the births of my
children and their growing up years,” Burt continued. “They supported
me through hard times and good times …. Where could I find a better
place to worship my Lord, support His work and enjoy the fellowship of
such good people? My wife and I love this church.”
This team doesn’t just wait for disasters, the
pastor said. They’re often found in the community, taking care of trees
that need to be removed and making structural repairs as needed.
“We have a widow in the church who called me a month
ago about a tree that was causing the deterioration of her house,” Cox
said. “The men took care of that; now we need to repair the house, and
we have men interested in doing that, too.”
Men and women from First Bay Minette are trained in
disaster relief food services, including operation of the state
convention’s 18-wheeler food trailer. They’re also trained in
construction ministry.
Disaster relief has been a ministry priority for
about 17 years at First Bay Minette; construction ministry has been a
priority for 30 years or more.
“Since I’ve been here they’ve gone to Guatemala,
Honduras, Spain, Matamoras, Mexico twice, and Alaska to build churches
and other structures,” Cox said. “The people come back and have a
first-hand knowledge of mission needs and mission work, and share that
on a personal level. It keeps the spirit of missions very much alive
and has immeasurable positive connotations for those who are involved
and for the church as a whole.”