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 (Left to Right) Haydee Padrón Rodríguez, holding her son Kenneth, Ashley Robinson, and Olga Rodríguez Morón, pastora, Iglesia Bautista Betania, Perico, Cuba.  Ashley Robinson is shown here on a recent Cuba trip that Central Seminary took with its Women's Leadership Initiative. A grant from the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation made this trip possible for the Cuban FIBAC pastoras.  See Ashley's article below.

Around the Alliance

Sister Trip: A New Kind of Mission

By Ashley  Robinson

In early June, I traveled to Cuba to learn alongside the Women's Leadership Initiative cohort of Central Seminary and Cuban pastoras from the Fraternity of Baptist Churches in Cuba (FIBAC, or as seminary president, Molly T. Marshall affectionately called them the Sorority of Baptist Leaders in Cuba).
 
While preparing for my trip, the most common response I encountered when people heard that I was going to Cuba with my seminary was, "Oooooh, YOU'RE GOING ON A MISSION TRIP?!"
 
And that's where I cringed.
 
Mission trip. When thinking about trips outside the United States, or areas that are perceived to be impoverished or lacking in resources, many people assume that the purpose of the trip is to save someone in need of our resources.

Keep reading...

Active Liberation

Have You Helped Welcome a Refugee? Sign On Now to Protect Refugee Resettlement

The refugee resettlement program is in grave threat of being dismantled through a very low refugee admissions goal to be set before September 30th. Decision makers urgently need to hear the moral voice of faith communities and stakeholders who have participated in the refugee program and helped resettle refugees. 



Voices

ICE Raids and Mustard Seed Kin-dom

By Courtney Stamey

He said therefore, "What is the kingdom of God like? And to what should I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches."

There are some folks who say "kin-dom of God" rather than "Kingdom of God." This type of change in nomenclature challenges us to imagine that God's dream for this world is something other than an idealistic Camelot characterized by top-down power. Instead, kin-dom encourages us to think about what it means to be family here on earth. 

Join more than 15,000 Christians in standing up against Christian nationalism: Learn more and sign the statement at  BJConline

Our partner for disaster relief is Church World Service. If you wish to donate to help the victims of Hurricane Dorian, visit
 cwsglobal.org/2019hurricanes or make your donation through the Alliance with Hurricane Dorian in the note section. 

SAVE THE DATE
Annual Gathering
   April 24-26, 2020
Broadway Baptist Church, 
Fort Worth, Texas
Taking On the Cross: 
[Re] Learning the Love  of God.

Registration opening soon.


MALT   Clergy Gathering 2020
Save the Date
January 16-18, 2020
St. Charles Ave. Baptist Church
7100 St. Charles Ave. Baptist Church,  New Orleans, LA 


Calendar

September 22-24
Nevertheless She Preached
Austin, Texas

Sept 26-28
Alliance Board of Directors Meeting Birmingham, Ala.

September 29
Jason Smith at Southside Baptist Church, Birmingham, Ala.


The Alliance of Baptists is a vibrant movement of people, faith communities and ministry partners who are deeply passionate about ecumenism, partnership in mission, relentless hospitality and social justice.

Leadership Team
Carole Collins, director of operations & finance
Paula Clayton Dempsey, director of partnership relations

Staff
Cathy McGaughey, operations specialist
Kristy Pullen , website specialist
Jason Smith , congregational engagement specialist