First Baptist Church wins national honor

By Brian Blackwell

August 5, 1999 / The Alabama Baptist

First Baptist Church, Pleasant Grove, was recognized as earning the second-most diplomas among Southern Baptist churches through the Christian Growth Study Plan in 1997-1998.

"(The Christian Growth Study Plan) has given our people an opportunity to develop a personal relationship with Christ," said Bill Sears, executive associate pastor of First, Pleasant Grove. The Church’s 267 diplomas trailed Shadow Hills Baptist Church in Las Vegas, who earned a total of 349.

Other churches ranking in the top five were New Faith Missionary Baptist in Houston with 243; Forest Park Baptist in Joplin, Mo., earning 225; and First Baptist in Palmetto, Fla., who received 220.

During the 1997-1998 year, the Alabama Baptist State Convention earned 3,475 diplomas, fifth among all state conventions in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). The Baptist General Convention of Texas received the most diplomas with 5,662.

According to statistics released by LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, Tenn., more than 500,000 Southern Baptists are honing their leadership and ministry skills as they grow in their faith through the study plan.

Morlee Maynard, ministry coordinator specialist in LifeWay church resources division, said the plan is based on Ephesians 4:12-13: "To prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

Tracking the credits

The plan is broken down into two categories – 1) leadership and skills development and 2) Christian growth. Those who participate must earn a total of 10 credits in order to receive a diploma, with each credit totaling one hour. Each credit is tracked by LifeWay and can be accessed by means of Internet, telephone or mail.

Maynard said some courses that take more than 10 weeks to complete – such as the 13-week Experiencing God course – earns a diploma by taking that one course.

As of May 1999, 541,966 Southern Baptist men, women, teenagers and children were participating in the plan.

Maynard feels as if the plan is "one of Southern Baptists’ best-kept secrets. We continue to experience growth and hear reports of the positive impact these courses are making in people’s lives."

Sears noted that one of the Experiencing God classes drew close to 400 participants at one time. More that half of his staff has participated in the study plan.

He feels that the program has "enhanced fellowship" since First, Pleasant Grove, began participating in the program more than five years ago.

Approximately 250 in the church have participated so far this year, Sears noted.

"The plan has been used as a leadership development guide. It encourages teachers and deacons to develop their skills," said Maynard.

Maynard said that the new catalog for 1999-2000 has already been mailed to churches. The Christian Growth Study Plan catalog remains the lone publication that lists all of the resources available from all of the SBC entities.