Alabama Baptists approved a five-year partnership with Alaska Baptists.
The partnership got a jumpstart with Jamie Baldwin, recently retired from Alabama Baptist work in Sunday School and discipleship, currently onsite assisting with a church relaunch effort in Alaska.
Baldwin, with help from several Alabama Baptist missions teams, is working with local pastor Cody Schwegel for the grand opening of Liberty Church on July 4 in Craig, Alaska, a fishing and logging town on Prince of Wales Island.
Trenton Cooper said there wasn’t a very big Southern Baptist presence in his area in 2018. And if a fire had had its way, that presence would’ve gotten even smaller.
Alabama Baptists voted to extend their partnership with Alaska Baptists “indefinitely with periodic reviews assessing the effectiveness of the collaboration.”
“Rickie’s thoughts about the challenges of cooperative ministry in the 21st century, and particularly in Alaska, were insightful. … He will guide us as we work to take the gospel of Jesus to every Alaskan.” —Bruce Rowell, president of the Alaska Baptist Resource Network
Robert Smith told those present at the Pastors Conference to “keep your head steady, be clear minded, be alert and do not be shaken by what takes place” — no matter what happens — as they finish their race.
