INDEPENDENT BAPTIST FRIENDS
OF ALABAMA
I. MISSION STATEMENT – Believing that our LORD’S command in Acts 1:8 is to reach our “… Judaea,… Samaria” as well as Jerusalem and the uttermost part of the earth, we voluntarily join together to support, aid and promote church planting in Alabama, thereby aiding the reaching of the lost around the world.
II. PURPOSE AND DEFINITION
A. IBFA (Independent Baptist Friends of Alabama) is a ministry of Gospel Light Baptist Church and is established for the purpose of supporting, aiding and promoting church planting in Alabama.
B. The IBFA is a group of Independent Baptist Pastors and churches voluntarily cooperating together to support, aid and promote church planting in Alabama through any of the following ways:
1. Monthly missions support of the IBFA.
2. Personal involvement with the church planter. Such as:
a. Providing materials, equipment etc.
b. Calling and encouraging
c. Organizing visitation efforts
d. Sending groups to help with services, etc.
3. Attendance at regularly scheduled meetings
C. THE IBFA will regularly meet to plan, pray for and promote church planting in Alabama. We will endeavor to make these meetings coincide with regular state meetings. Meetings will be scheduled by and through Pastor Kilpatrick for those who desire to host an IBFA meeting to expose their church to this ministry.
D. The IBFA does not align with any one college, seminary, or para-church organization.
E. Believing that the only head of the local church is Christ, the IBFA does not attempt in any way to usurp the authority of pastors or local churches
III. FOUNDING GUIDELINES OF THE IBFA
A. IBFA is a ministry of Gospel Light Baptist Church and will be guided by a Board of Advisors consisting of 3-6 pastors.
B. What does it mean to be an IBFA Advisor and what will be expected of me?
1. An Advisor is one who will be making guideline decisions and support decisions to present at meetings.
2. An Advisor would be expected to support IBFA on a monthly basis as a mission project.
3. An Advisor would be expected to help coordinate support efforts of a church planter in his area of Alabama.
4. An Advisor would be expected, as much as possible, to have his church participate in support efforts of church planters all over the state.
5. An Advisor would be expected to attend as many meetings as possible.
6. An Advisor would serve for two year terms.
C. These pastors will be from the North, South, East and West in the state of Alabama
D. Gospel Light Baptist Church will take care of the operational expense of the IBFA.
E. An account will be set up under the name of Independent Baptist Friends of Alabama. Funds will only be used for promoting and planting churches in Alabama. A financial report will be given at every meeting of the IBFA.
F. Funds from this account will be used to support church planters that meet the required guidelines and are starting a church in Alabama. A certain amount of the funds will also be used to promote church planting in Alabama.
G. The IBFA will be promoted in Alabama State Fellowship Meetings and in churches by Pastor Kilpatrick personally.
H. Guidelines keep our direction true to our philosophy and theology. Therefore, all church planters must meet the following guidelines before receiving monthly support from the IBFA.
IV. CHURCH PLANTING CANDIDATES GUIDELINES
A. Education and Experience – (Any of the below)
1. Graduate of an acceptable Independent Baptist College
2. Trained for 3-5 years under the ministry of an IBFA pastor or another acceptable pastor.
B. Application and Process
1. The Church Planter must be recommended and sponsored by a participating church of the IBFA.
2. The Church Planter’s sending church must financially support him from 10-25% of his needed support.
3. In an effort to promote Alabama church planting in our churches the Church Planter must present his ministry in every church of the IBFA that desires him to come.
4. The Church Planter must submit his application at least 30 days prior to being reviewed.
5. Before consideration by the IBFA the Church Planter will be interviewed by the board of Advisors of the IBFA.
6. The Church Planter will be examined for:
a. Doctrinal beliefs
b. Ministry Goals
c. Financial Stability
7. The board of Advisors shall report its recommendation at the next meeting of the IBFA Meeting.
8. The church planter will be presented as a project, upon the recommendation of the Advisors, at the next scheduled meeting of the IBFA. A vote will then be taken by the pastors of the IBFA.
C. Financial Support
1. Financial support amount will be $500-$1,000 monthly, reviewed and voted on every six months.
2. This amount of financial support will continue for three years, decreasing by $100 every six months thereafter until completely ending after the fifth year.
D. Responsibilities of the Church Planter
1. The Church Planter must agree to accept the policies and decisions of the IBFA.
2. The Church Planter must agree to attend all regularly scheduled meetings of the IBFA unless hindered by means beyond his control.
3. The Church Planter must agree to give a monthly written or emailed report of the progress of the work and an oral report at every meeting.
4. The Church Planter must understanding that planting a church does not exempt us from reaching our Judea/Samaria, therefore, the Church Planter must agree to make the IBFA the first mission project taken on by his newly planted church on or before the second year.
5. The Church Planter must agree to conduct himself within the requirements set forth in I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9.
INDEPENDENT BAPTIST FRIENDS OF ALABAMA
MONTHLY CHURCH PLANTER REPORT
For the month of _ _______________________________________
Name: ______________________________________________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________
Phone: ___________________ E-mail: ____________________________________
1) What has been the Church/Bible Study monthly attendance average?
2) How many first time guests have attended this month?
3) What is your General and Missions giving totals for the month?
4) Spiritual decisions made:
5) What is going on in the way of outreach?
6) Any special occurrences or breakthroughs this period?
7) What are your plans for next month?
8) Is there anything we can pray about or help you with?
INDEPENDENT BAPTIST FRIENDS OF ALABAMA
CHURCH PLANTER STATEMENT OF FAITH COMMITMENT FORM
Dear Church Planter, please read carefully the following statement of faith commitment form. Upon your agreement with the following statements please sign the last page.
The Divine Authority and Inspiration of the Scriptures.
I believe that the Holy Bible, as originally written, consisting of the Old and New Testament Scriptures, was written by men divinely inspired and is a perfect treasure of heavenly instruction; that it has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth without any mixture of error for its matter; that it reveals the principles by which God will judge us and therefore is, and shall remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and opinions should be tried. I further believe that the King James Bible is the preserved Word of God for all English speaking people and it will be all I allow to be used to teach and preach from in my church. II Timothy 3:16, 17; Isaiah 8:20; I Thessalonians 5:21
The Personality, Deity, and Present Work of the Holy Spirit.
I believe that the Holy Spirit as a Divine person is the source and power of all acceptable worship and service; and that He is our abiding Comforter and Helper; and that He never takes His departure from His Church, seeking to occupy us with Him and not with ourselves or our experiences. John 7:38-39, 14:16-17, 15:26, 16:13-14; Acts 1:8, Romans 8:9; Phillipians 3:3.
Hell.
I believe that there is a literal hell and a literal fire of hell as a place for the eternal and conscious punishment of all the unsaved. Matthew 25:41-16, Mark 9:43-50; Revelation 20:14-15, 21:8.
The Fall of Man.
I believe that man, originally created by God in His image and after His likeness fell from his high and holy estate by eating the forbidden fruit, and as a consequence of his disobedience, the threatened penalty of death was then and there inflicted, so that his moral nature was not only grievously injured by the fall, but he totally lost all spiritual life, becoming dead in trespasses and sins and subject to the power of Satan. Genesis 1:26, 2:17; John 5:40, 6:53; Ephesians 2:1-3; I Timothy 5:6; I John 3:8.
The Total Depravity of Man.
I believe that this spiritual death or total corruption of human nature has been transmitted to the entire race of men, the Man Christ Jesus alone excepted; and hence that every child of Adam is born into the world with a nature which not only possesses no spark of divine life, but is essentially bad, being enmity against God, and incapable by any educational process whatsoever of subjection to His law. Genesis 6:5; Psalms 14:1-3, 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9; John 3:16; Romans 5:12-19, 8:6-7.
Regeneration by the Holy Spirit
I believe that owing to the universal death and depravity in sin, no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless born again; and that no degree of reformation however great, no attainment in morality however high, no culture however attractive, no humanitarian and philanthropic schemes and societies however useful, can help the sinner take even one step toward Heaven; but a new nature imparted from above, a new life implanted by the Holy Spirit through the Word is absolutely essential to salvation . John 3:5, 3:16-18; Galatians 6:15; Philippians 3:4-9; Titus 3:5; James 1:18; I Peter 1:23.
Virgin Birth
I believe that Jesus Christ was begotten of the Holy Ghost, in a miraculous manner; born of Mary, a virgin, as no other man was ever born or can ever be born of woman, and that He is both the Son of God, and God, the Son. Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; Mark 1:1; John 1:14; Psa. 2:7; Gal 4:4; I John 5:20; I Cor. 15:47
Atonement by the Blood of Christ.
I believe that our redemption has been accomplished solely by the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was made to be Sin and a curse for us, dying in our place and stead; and that no repentance, no feelings, no faith no good resolutions, no sincere efforts, no submission to the rules and regulations of any church or of all churches that have existed since the days of the Apostles can add in the very least to the value of that precious blood, or to the merits of that finished work, wrought for us by Him, who united in His person true and proper deity with perfect and sinless humanity. Leviticus 17:11; Matthew 26:28; Romans 5:6-9; II Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:18-19.
Salvation by Grace through Faith.
I believe that Christ is received by Faith alone, and that the moment we trust in Him as our Saviour, we pass out of death into everlasting life, being justified from all things, accepted before the Father according to the measure of His acceptance, loved as He is loved, and having His place and portion as linked to Him and one with Him forever. John 5:24, 17:23; Acts 13:39; Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:4-6, 13; I John 4:17, 5:11-12.
The Believer’s Security.
I believe that it is the privilege, not only of some, but of all who are born again by the Spirit through faith in Christ as revealed in the scriptures, to be assured of their eternal salvation from the very moment they have taken Him to be their Saviour; and that this assurance is not founded upon any fancied discovery of their own worthiness, but wholly upon the testimony of God in His written word, exciting within His children filial love, gratitude, and obedience. Luke 10:20, 12:32; John 3:36, 5:24, 6:45, 10:28; Romans 8:33-39, II Corinthians 5:1, 6:8; II Timothy 1:12; John 5:13.
The Gospel Church.
I believe the church to be a congregation of scripturally baptized believers who have covenanted together through the leadership of the Holy Spirit to perform the work of the gospel in this dispensation. The church is to observe the ordinances of Christ, be governed by His laws, and exercise the gifts, rights and privileges invested in it by His Word. Its officers are pastor, deacons; and the church has the absolute right of self-government directed by the Holy Spirit and answerable only to Christ. In all matters of membership, policy, government, discipline and benevolence the will of the church is final.
We believe that it is both unscriptural and impractical to apply the word “church” as referring to the entire Christian family or as referring to the churches of a particular denomination or to anything other than an actual, local assembly. Also, it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate together in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the gospel. Each church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation. I Corinthians 1:2; I Timothy 3:1-5; Acts 2:41-47, Matthew 18:15-17; I Corinthians 6:4-5; Acts 14:23: Acts 11:19-30.
Sanctification
I believe that we are called with a holy calling to walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit; and so to live in the Spirit that we shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh; every saved person possesses two natures, with provision made for victory of the new nature over the old nature through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit and that all claims to the eradication of the old nature in this life are unscriptural. Romans 6:13, 8:12-13, 13:14; Galatians 5:16-25; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:1-10; I Peter 1:14-16; I John 3:5-9.
Baptism.
I believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a regenerate person in water to show forth in solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour. In this ordinance we identify with Him and show our desire to walk in “newness of life”. The ordinance is to be performed under the authority of the church by the pastor or other designated member. John 3:23; Acts 2:41, 3:-8, 8:36-38, 18:1-5; Romans 6:3-6; Colosians 2:2.
The Lord’s Supper.
I believe that the Lord’s Supper or Communion is the church ordinance commemorating the Lord’s death until He comes again, and should be preceded always by solemn self-examination. We believe that participation in this ordinance is scripturally limited to those genuine, baptized believers who have been received into the fellowship of a local assembly or church; and that the Christian should therefore join a church and so partake of the Lord’s table when observed. Matthew 26:26-29; I Corinthians 11:23-34.
Tithing/Giving
I believe that every true Christian should faithfully give at least a tithe (1/10) of his income to God through the church for the work of the ministry and the spreading of the gospel. God owns all (Colossians 1:16-19) and we are but His stewards (I Corinthians 4:1-2). Our giving is not to be as unto men (Matthew 6:1-4) but as an act of worship. I Corinthians 16:1-3; Malachi 3:10; Galatians 6:7-8; Genesis 14:18-20; II Corinthians 9:6-7
Pastor’s Qualifications
I believe the pastor’s qualifications set forth in the Scriptures are that he is to be blameless in his morality. He is to be the husband of only one wife, not having been divorced, a diligent, sincere person of good character. He is to be a kind, patient man, leading his home and desiring to teach others. He is not to be an angry, greedy, covetous or novice person. I Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9
Having read and agree with the above statements of faith I place my signature below.
_________________________________________________
Church Planter