Welcome ~ to the Alto Missionary
Baptist Church Family!
Your decision to become a member of Alto Missionary
Baptist Church is a very important one.
While the Bible does not teach that membership in a local church is
required for salvation, it clearly does teach that every obedient child of God desiring
to grow in Christ will direct their worship and labors for the work of the Lord
through a local church. In Hebrews
11:25, Christians are instructed not to forsake “the assembling of ourselves
together as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much more,
as ye see the day approaching.”
Also, we are reminded in Ephesians 3:21, “Unto him be glory in the
church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
As a member of this local New Testament church, you
are part of the greatest institution the world has ever known. It was purchased with the blood of Jesus
Christ and was established by Him personally during His earthly ministry. The Lord gave His churches a great
commission to represent Him and carry out His work throughout the world. He also gave us the promise of His never
failing presence and support. “Go ye
therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the
end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20).
Our church heritage is very
precious. Many of those who went before
us walked a dreadful trial of persecution and some gave their lives to defend
the principles that God expects each of us to uphold. Jude 1:3 reminds us “…ye should earnestly contend for the
faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”
As a member of Alto Missionary Baptist Church, you have the opportunity to enjoy good Christian fellowship and do the work our Lord has assigned us. Make your decision for service prayerfully, based on the needs of the church and your own God-given abilities.
Please understand that church
membership is both a blessed privilege and a serious responsibility. God’s Word tells us in Ephesians 5:25, “…Christ
also loved the church, and gave himself for it. We must be careful lest we despise that which is so precious in
the sight of God. There are too many
inactive and unfaithful Christians in the Lord’s churches and there is so much
to be accomplished and enjoyed. You are
therefore urged to be counted among the faithful and active of Alto Missionary
Baptist Church. Our blessings will
abound as we call on the Lord to help us to “…walk worthy of the vocation
wherewith we are called.”
(Ephesians 4:1).
The
Constitution and By-Laws of
Alto
Missionary Baptist Church
PREAMBLE
We, the membership of Alto Missionary
Baptist Church, desiring by God’s blessings to faithfully fulfill the
commission given by our Lord Jesus Christ to His churches; desiring to prosper
and sustain spiritual growth and Bible-centered loyalty; likewise desiring to
maintain harmony in all local church endeavors and business procedures, do
hereby adopt and set in operation this Constitution and By-Laws.
ARTICLE 1 – NAME AND BUILDING SITE
Alto Missionary Baptist
Church
Corner of HWY 294 and Putnam
Ave
P.O. Box 746
Alto, Texas 75925
ARTICLE 2 – DEFINITION
For purposes of clarification in the
principle and operation, we hold to the understanding that a church is a group
of born-again, scripturally baptized believers who covenant together for the
purpose of carrying out the Great Commission which the Lord Jesus Christ gave
to His churches as stated in Matthew 28:18-20.
We shall recognize the New Testament offices of Pastor and Deacon. We shall perpetuate the church ordinances of
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We shall
be self-governing in policy.
ARTICLE 3 – FELLOWSHIP AND ASSOCIATION
We are and shall remain independent,
according to scriptural example. We
recognize no higher spiritual authority upon this earth than the local New
Testament church under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. We shall not at any time acknowledge the authority of any
federation or council or other organization of churches over this church.
We consider fellowship with other
churches of like faith and order very desirable and mutually beneficial. We have therefore chosen to affiliate with
the churches of the American Baptist Association on a local and national level
for the purposes stated in their articles of agreement: “…to encourage
co-operation and Christian activity among other churches, to promote interests
in and encourage missions on a New Testament basis among all peoples, to
stimulate interest in Christian literature and general benevolence and to
provide a medium through which the churches may cooperate in these enterprises.”
ARTICLE 4 – DOCTRINAL STATEMENT
1. We believe that
love one for another as Jesus loves the believer manifests our discipleship,
proves our love for God and symbolizes our authority as New Testament churches.
Love is therefore the great commandment of the LORD Jesus Christ upon which all
others are dependent (Matt. 22:35-40; John 13:34, 35; John 15:12; 1 John
4:7-21; 1 John 5:1-3; Rev. 2:4, 5).
2. We believe in the infallible, verbal inspiration of the whole Bible and that
the Bible is the all-sufficient rule of faith and practice (Psalm 119:160; 2
Tim. 3:16, 17).
3. We believe in the personal triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, equal
in divine perfection (Matt. 28:19).
4. We believe in the Genesis account of Creation (Gen. 1; 2).
5. We believe that Satan is a fallen angel, the archenemy of God and man, the
unholy god of this world, and that his destiny is the eternal lake of fire
(Isa. 14:12-15; Ezek. 28:11-19; Matt. 25:41; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 6:10-17; Rev.
20:10).
6. We believe in the virgin birth and sinless humanity of Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:18-20;
2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22).
7. We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ (John 10:30; John 1:1, 14; 2 Cor.
5:19).
8. We believe the Holy Spirit is the divine Administrator for Jesus Christ in
His churches (Luke 24:49; John 14:16, 17; Acts 1:4, 5, 8; Acts 2:1-4).
9. We believe that miraculous spiritual manifestation gifts were done away when
the Bible was completed. Faith, Hope and Love are the vital abiding Spiritual
Gifts (1 Cor. chapters 12-14).
10. We believe that Man was created in the image of God and lived in innocency
until he fell by voluntary transgression from his sinless state, the result
being that all mankind are sinners (Gen. 1:26; Gen. 3:6-24; Rom. 5:12, 19).
11. We believe that the suffering and death of Jesus Christ was substitutionary
for all mankind and is efficacious only to those who believe (Isa. 53:6; Heb.
2:9; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 3:18; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 John 2:2).
12. We believe in the
bodily resurrection and ascension of Christ and the bodily resurrection of His
saints (Matt. 28:1-7; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Cor. 15:42-58; 1 Thess. 4:13-18).
13. We believe in the premillennial, personal, bodily return of Christ as the
crowning event of the Gentile age. This event will include the resurrection of
the righteous to eternal heaven, and the Millennium will be followed by the
resurrection of the unrighteous unto eternal punishment in the lake of fire and
that the righteous shall enter into the heaven age (John 14:1-6; 1 Thess.
4:13-18; 2 Thess. 2:8; Rev. 19; Rev. 20:4-6; Rev. 20:11-15; Rev. 21:8).
14. We believe that the depraved sinner is saved wholly by grace through faith
in Jesus Christ, and the requisites to regeneration are repentance toward God
and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 13:3-5; John 3:16-18; Acts 20:21; Rom.
6:23; Eph. 2:8, 9), and that the Holy Spirit convicts sinners, regenerates,
seals, secures, and indwells every believer (John 3:6; John 16:8, 9; Rom.
8:9-11; 1 Cor. 6:19, 20; Eph. 4:30; Titus 3:5).
15. We believe that all who trust Jesus Christ for salvation are eternally
secure in Him and shall not perish (John 3:36; John 5:24; John 10:27-30; Rom.
8:35-39; Heb. 10:39; 1 Peter 1:5).
16. We believe that God deals with believers as His children, that He chastises
the disobedient, and that He rewards the obedient (Matt. 16:27; Matt. 25:14-23;
John 1:12; Heb. 12:5-11; 2 John 8; Rev. 22:12).
17. We believe that Jesus Christ established His church during His ministry on
earth and that it is always a local, visible assembly of scripturally baptized
believers in covenant relationship to carry out the Commission of the Lord
Jesus Christ, and each church is an independent, self-governing body, and no
other ecclesiastical body may exercise authority over it. We believe that Jesus
Christ gave the Great Commission to the New Testament churches only, and that
He promised the perpetuity of His churches (Matt. 4:18-22; Matt. 16:18; Matt.
28:19, 20; Mark 1:14-20; John 1:35-51; Eph. 3:21).
18. We believe that there are two pictorial ordinances in the Lord's churches:
Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Scriptural baptism is the immersion of penitent
believers in water, administered by the authority of a New Testament church in
the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Lord's Supper is a memorial
ordinance, restricted to the members of the church observing the ordinance
(Matt. 28:19, 20; Acts 8:12, 38; Rom. 6:4; 1 Cor. 5:11-13; 1 Cor. 11:1, 2,
17-20, 26).
19. We believe that there are two divinely appointed offices in a church,
pastors and deacons, to be filled by men whose qualifications are set forth in
Titus and 1 Timothy.
20. We believe that all associations, fellowships, and committees are, and
properly should be, servants of, and under control of the churches (Matt.
20:25-28).
21. We believe in freedom of worship without interference from the government
and affirm our belief in civil obedience, unless the laws and regulations of
civil government run contrary to the Holy Scriptures (Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Peter
2:13-15).
ARTICLE 5 – CHURCH
COVENANT
Alto Missionary Baptist Church is
organized under the following covenant.
It is scriptural and maintains Bible truths. All who unite with this work should understand this as our
binding agreement with one another.
ARTICLE 6 – MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 – General
This is a sovereign and democratic
Baptist church under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The church membership reserves the exclusive right to determine
who shall be members of this church and the conditions of such membership.
Section 2 – Receiving
Members
Any person may offer himself or
herself as a candidate for membership in this
church. All such candidates shall be presented to
the church at any regular worship service for membership in any of the
following ways:
A. By
Profession of Faith – Persons professing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ may
be accepted in the membership after receiving scriptural baptism at the hands
of this church.
B. By
Letter – Scripturally baptized members of another Baptist church of like
faith and order may be accepted as members upon receipt of a letter of transfer
of membership from their former church.
C. By
Statement – In special circumstances, individuals may be received as
members upon a statement of their belief in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and
having received scriptural baptism by a church of like faith and order, if
circumstances prohibit receipt of a regular letter from that church.
Section 3 – Termination of Membership
Membership may be terminated in one of
the following ways:
A.
Death.
B. Transfer
of letter granted to another Baptist church of like faith and order.
C.
Affiliation and union with a church of a contrary faith and order. Such unions violate our church covenant and
those who choose to do so will be excluded from Alto Missionary Baptist Church
membership.
D. Exclusion
by action of this church. Should a
member become an offense to the church and its good name, by reason of immoral
or un-Christian conduct, the church may terminate his/her membership (1
Corinthians 5). The authority to
exclude from membership carries with it the authority to restore the same (2
Corinthians 2:6-8).
E. Written
request of the member stating that he/she wishes to be removed from membership
with reason given.
F. With the
exception of those members who are home-bound, in rest homes, in active
military service, or otherwise hindered from attending for health reasons, the
names of members not attending at least one regular worship service during each
year may be brought before the church at a regular business meeting to be
removed from the roll.
ARTICLE 7 – CHURCH POSITIONS
Along with the ordained offices of
Pastor and Deacon, the positions of the church shall include: Clerk/Secretary, Treasurer, teachers,
committees, etc., as shall be required for the work of the church. All those in leadership roles within the
church should exhibit a high degree of faithfulness to the overall church
program, manifested visibly by attendance in services. Pastor, Deacons, teachers, and program
directors are expected to support and affirm the Doctrinal Statement of this
church and to teach in line with it and to teach nothing in conflict with it.
ARTICLE 8 – MEETINGS
1. This church shall hold regular meetings for
worship, teaching, training, and fellowship.
2. This church shall hold regular business
meetings at which her temporal and spiritual situation shall be discussed and
acted upon. This meeting shall include
reports, proposals, and regular business.
3. Other meetings of this church as a whole, or
of authorized groups within the church shall be set according to the needs and
wishes of the congregation.
About the Doctrinal
Statement
The Doctrinal Statement is a brief
declaration of what we believe the Bible to teach. All of the so-called Christian denominations profess to believe
the Scriptures, yet there is widespread disagreement over what the Bible
teaches. Therefore a distinctive
statement is necessary. We are not
ashamed to make known our beliefs even as our Christian forefathers did.
All Baptists may not be in complete
agreement on every issue of belief.
There may be some differences of opinion, which need not be made a test
of fellowship. However, true Baptists
hold strongly to certain fundamental beliefs as the basic doctrines that
distinguish them from the rest of the religious world. We do not force our beliefs upon others nor
do we persecute those who hold different views. However we have and do and will continue to contend for the faith
once delivered unto the saints (Jude 1:3) and we intend to hold to those truths
for which thousands of our forefathers have died rather than compromise.
The following quotation from
Pendleton’s Manual will help clarify exactly what the doctrinal statement is:
“As to the declarations of faith, it must ever be
understood that they are not substitutes for the Scriptures. They are only exponents of what are
conceived to be the fundamental doctrines of the Word of God. Among Baptists, as their churches are
independent, it is optional with each church to have a declaration or not as it
may think best. Its independence gives
it the right, nor can it be alienated.
While Baptists glory in their form of church government, which
recognizes every church as a little republic in itself, they are perhaps as
nearly united in their views of the truths of the Bible as most denominations.”
As a church member, you should take
advantage of Bible training classes available to you, including Sunday school,
Wednesday night Bible studies, and other opportunities. These will help you to familiarize yourself
with the fundamentals of the faith and the Scriptures upon which they are
based. Ask the Pastor or Sunday school
teachers about these opportunities.
About the Church Covenant
The covenant of Alto Missionary
Baptist Church is the same as can be found in many Baptist churches across this
country and around the world. It is
believed to have been written around 1930 by Dr. J. Newton Brown, a noted
Baptist preacher of that day. It was
later incorporated into Pendleton’s Baptist Church Manual.
A covenant is a solemn agreement
entered into by two or more parties.
This is exactly what our church covenant is. It is a brief statement of agreement to what we believe the Bible
teaches concerning obligations of church members. It is not an inspired document but it is in accord with the Bible
and should therefore be held in high regard by every member of this church.
The word “engage” appears at the start
of each paragraph except the first. To
engage means to bind oneself by pledge or promise. No one is forced to join this church. We ask to be received and are accepted with the understanding
that we will endeavor to keep the promises we make when we enter into this
covenant with the Lord’s people. One
who does not intend to comply with the terms of the covenant should not seek
membership.
There are three prerequisites to
entering into this covenant. They are
set forth in the first paragraph of the covenant itself.
1.
“Having been led as we believe by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord
Jesus Christ as Savior.” – Salvation!
Baptists in all ages have insisted on a regenerated church membership. There can be no basis of Christian
fellowship between the Lord’s people and those who reject Jesus Christ.
2.
“On the profession of our faith.” – Jesus wants all who are saved to
confess Him before men. (Matthew 10:32)
3.
“Having been baptized.” – Scriptural baptism is a mark of identification. It identifies us with Christ as God’s
people. To submit to scriptural baptism
is the first step of obedience as a child of God.
May
God help you and keep you faithful as you take upon yourself the solemn
obligations of this covenant.
Standards For Christian
Service
Christian service is voluntary,
motivated by our love for the Lord Jesus Christ. Love requires no flogging or dogging but responds to needs and
seeks opportunity to help. No effort
will be made to force you to serve in any special capacity. However, there are some things which all
church members should be willing to do.
There is also a standard of conduct to which members must conform. A study of the Church Covenant will help you
to gain a better understanding of the responsibilities of church
membership. Your Pastor and other
members will be glad to offer assistance of suggested classes and readings that
will help you in your study. Three
things will start you on the right way to Christian service:
Regular
Attendance
– The Lord’s people, throughout history, have met to study, pray, sing, and
worship together. One cannot read the
book of Acts without being impressed that this is still God’s plan today. At Alto Missionary Baptist Church, there are
Sunday School Classes, Morning and Evening Worship on the Lord’s Day, Mid-Week
services on Wednesday evenings, Ladies’ and Men’s groups, etc. You should include these in your plans for
the week. You should make it your
policy from the very start to let nothing but the providence of God keep you
from the Lord’s house during services.
God should be first in your life.
The church will mean little to you and you will mean little to the
church if you neglect services. Hebrews
10:24-25 states, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and
to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the
manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see
the day approaching.”
Financial
Stewardship – If you are a young convert, there may be a question in your mind
about what part of your income God expects you to offer His work. The answer to that question is in God’s
Word.
A. Over 400 years before the Law of Moses, Abraham gave ten percent to the Lord (Genesis 14:18-22).
B. Years
later Abraham’s grandson Jacob vowed to do the same (Genesis 28:20-22).
C. Under the
Mosaic Law, God commanded the Israelites to give a tenth, or a tithe. (Numbers 18:20-21).
As New Testament Christians, we have three choices concerning how much of our income should be given to God’s work. We can do less than saints who gave of their own free will in the ages before the Law; we can do the same as Israel was commanded to do under the Law; or we can do more than the Law demanded for we understand that we are not under the Law but under grace which is greater than the Law. Which do you believe would most please our Lord Jesus who willingly died for our sins on the cross that we may be children of God? In 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, Paul writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit writes, “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” Also, in Malachi 3:10 God’s children are told, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
We all have to work very hard
supporting our families in this world.
Giving graciously and abundantly of the first-fruits of our weekly labor
to God’s work gives us the blessing of having our labor consecrated to
Him. This helps provide the work we
have to do to sustain our families with meaning, beyond just this life. With the fall of Adam in the Garden, man’s
work was cursed. Through Jesus Christ,
man’s work may be blessed when we hold everything we posses with an open hand,
allowing the Lord to put in and take out as He sees fit. When we clinch our fists closed on our
material possessions, then we forego the blessings that our good Heavenly
Father desires us to have. Just as we
try to teach our children generosity, so God purposes to teach us, His
children, generosity by outlining in His Word the principles of giving to and
through His local church.
An
Orderly Walk – Military men must live by a code of conduct. To disgrace the uniform may bring serious
consequences. Soldiers in the Lord’s
army must also carefully guard their conduct.
We are commanded in Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore,
brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice
holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be
ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that
good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” We are not to conform to the fashions and habits of this wicked
age but we should conform to the will of God.
There will be no ultimate joy in our lives if we live like the world
instead of living as God has told us to.
The world looks at Christians with a
critical eye. One ungodly church member
may bring disgrace to an entire congregation.
For this reason, as well as for our own personal well-being,
questionable conduct must be avoided.
The Bible commands us to exclude from our fellowship those who insist on
an unrepentant, disorderly walk. We are
told in 2 Thessalonians 3:6, “Withdraw yourselves from every brother that
walketh disorderly.” This calls on
us to conduct our lives with watchfulness and caution, realizing that we have a
responsibility to act as children of God in a way that will honor our heavenly
Father and realizing that the world is watching us. Ephesians 5:15 tell us, “See then that ye walk circumspectly,
not as fools, but act wise.”
Enrich Your Spiritual Life
Some people unite with a church in
membership but somehow never get involved in her programs and fellowship. Please do not let this be true of you. The following suggestions will help you
become a better Christian and add joy and fulfillment to your life, both in
time and for eternity.
Cultivate
Friendships With the Lord’s People – The type of friends you choose will have great
bearing upon your success and happiness in life. Solomon said in Proverbs 13:20, “He that walketh with wise men
shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” This is not to say one should assume a
“holier-than-thou” attitude and have nothing to do with anyone outside the
church, but be careful with whom and how you fellowship. You may be exposed to temptations that you
will find hard to resist and may weaken your testimony for the Lord. Cultivate your desire for the company of
God’s people. Invite other church
members to your home and accept invitations to theirs. Make time to visit with lost family members
and friends, and be sure to make use of the opportunity to let them know about
Christ and what He means to you.
Use
and Develop Your Talents and Gifts – Your special skills and abilities are invaluable
gifts from God and should be devoted to His service. Alto Missionary Baptist Church is always in need of singers,
musicians, teachers, youth and nursery workers, maintenance, and workers in
other ministries. If you are able and
willing to serve, there will be a place for you.
You may possess undiscovered
talent. If you are asked to serve in a
particular area, it could be that someone sees in you undeveloped capabilities
for a particular work. So, if your help
is sought, it might be wise to accept the challenge and give it a try. With the Lord’s help you may find yourself
serving well at things you never thought you would be able to do. Our individual work will be evaluated on the
basis of God-provided strengths and abilities.
Jesus will rebuke those who fail to make a proper use of that which God
has entrusted to them. But to the
faithful He will say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast
been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter
thou into the joy of the Lord.” (Matthew 25:23)
Start a Christian Library in Your Home – The average family spends hundreds of dollars per year on encyclopedias, newspapers, magazines, internet, and other reading materials. Yet they invest little or nothing in Bible related literature. Baptists have been rightly called the people of the Book, meaning the Bible. The Bible is our all-sufficient rule of faith and practice. But this does not mean all other books are to be disregarded. Be careful, however, when purchasing books and other material. Much so-called “Christian writing” is worthless in the Biblical truth it contains. Ask your Pastor to help you in your selections. And be sure to see the books and other material available for your use from the church library. “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” (1 Timothy 4:13)
Seek the Counsel of Your Pastor – No pastor wants to be confronted with every little problem that may arise. He has neither the time nor the ability to do that. However, any pastor who cares for his people will be more than willing to help when assistance is truly needed.
We live in a complex age which offers problems that are often hard to deal with. Your pastor does not know all the answers but he knows Someone who does. That One is Jesus Christ and your Pastor will do his best to direct you to God’s will by means of the Bible and prayer.
Be a Soul Winner – Jesus said that He came to seek and to save the lost. He also said, “Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me even so send I you.”(John 20:21) Jesus came to give His life a ransom for the souls of sinful men. He sends us out with the glorious gospel message of His death, burial, and resurrection according to the Scriptures. Sharing that message offers salvation to a lost and dying world.
Too many
people are under the false notion that soul-winning is for preachers only. Every preacher should be a soul-winner, but
so should every child of God. Start
right now and tell others about what the Bible says about Jesus Christ and what
He means to you. Tell them when and how
God saved you, pray for them, invite them to church, urge them to come with you
and attend Bible classes and other church ministries. Any and all of these things can be used by the Holy Spirit to
lead to their salvation. “Go home to
thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and
hath had compassion on thee.” (Mark 5:19)
~Missions~
We are a Missionary Baptist church and as such, we are mission-minded. Our marching orders consist of the Great Commission given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 28:18-20, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
The missions and missionaries we support will be those whose purpose it is to carry out this commission. Financial support will only be given to those works in accord with our doctrinal teachings. Our church makes regular offerings to these works. In addition, individuals give above their tithes and offerings for the work of missions.
The Lord has blessed our church with the privilege of being the sponsoring church for Missionary Robert Blume who has been on the mission field in Romania since 1994. The Lord has blessed this work tremendously, with scores of faithful churches partnering with us in supporting Brother Rob prayerfully and financially in the work in Romania. We have seen God work in an awesome manner on numerous occasions, helping this to be a very successful work. Three churches and a Christian school have been started, in addition to the Emmanuel House Women and Children’s shelter, supervised by Sister Brenda Scarborough of Wells First Baptist Church. This ministry has touched countless lives. The full fruitfulness we will only see from the perspective of eternity. God has used His faithful people in a mighty way for His glory in Romania.
Alto Missionary Baptist Church also gives monthly support to foreign missionaries Brother Joel Cobbs, in Kenya, East Africa; Brother Robert Emmanuel, in southeastern India; and Brother Kevin Plaster in St. Petersburg, Russia. We also support Texas Mission Builders, Texas Mission Development, Texas Baptist Institute Seminary, and other mission endeavors.
Supporting missions allows us to fulfill the Great Commission given to His churches and gives us the blessing of allowing the Lord to use us to save souls and change lives. You can learn more about missions programs on the web site, www.altombc.org or by speaking with the Pastor. You are encouraged to become involved and work with us, for Jesus tells us in John 4:35-36, “Behold, I say unto you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.”
Alto Missionary Baptist Church is truly a place where faithful children of God may come and invest their time, talents, and treasure for rewards both here on earth and in eternity.