The quality of the photo with this article is not all it could be, but the content is.
MONTGOMERY – The quality of the photo with this article is not all it could be, but the content is.
There’s Ray Teal, pastor of the historic (notice the antique windows) First Baptist Church of Montgomery, surrounded by youngsters of many skin tones, and those kids are riveted on what’s happening at the front of the worship center.
Teal, pastor of First Montgomery since 2003, and a public school teacher before that, leads by getting out of the way. He equips and enables church members to get out of their pews and into God’s service, no matter where it takes them.
This year during VBS, the youngsters signed soccer balls, which then were deflated and shipped to a mission point in South Africa.
First Montgomery spends about $5,000 a year on VBS, and considers it money well spent in addition to the 10 percent of offerings given to missions through the Cooperative Program. First Montgomery is among the highest per-capita giving churches in the state.
“VBS is the best investment we can make in our church,” Teal said. “It’s the best investment in our time and our gifts.”
One of the VBS students gave the offertory prayer:
“Bless this offering, because we want to be involved in what You’re doing,” the young teen prayed.