About us
One family of churches, one mission
Southern Baptist churches serving Blount County, Alabama — together since 1955.
A welcome from Dale Wood sample letter
Associational Mission Strategist
Dear friend,
Thank you for stopping by. Whether you’re a longtime member of one of our churches, a pastor looking for a partner in ministry, or someone simply searching for a church home, I’m glad you’re here.
The Friendship Baptist Association is a family of Southern Baptist churches serving Blount County, Alabama. Since 1955 our congregations have worked side by side — praying together, training together, and taking the good news of Jesus to our neighbors and to the nations.
No two of our churches are exactly alike. Some gather in historic buildings that have anchored their communities for generations; others meet in simple country sanctuaries down roads you’d only find if you grew up here. What unites us is far greater than what makes us different: one Lord, one mission, and a genuine love for this county and its people.
If you’re looking for a church, I’d encourage you to start with our Find a Church page — and if I can help you personally, please reach out. It would be my joy.
In Christ,
Dale Wood Associational Mission Strategist
The letter above is realistic placeholder text so the page reads finished — the AMS's real letter, bio, and photo will replace it.
Mission & vision — draft for review
Our mission (draft for review): Helping our churches help each other reach Blount County — and the world — with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Our vision (draft for review): Every church healthy. Every pastor encouraged. Every community in Blount County within reach of a loving, gospel-centered congregation.
Who we are
Our story
The Friendship Baptist Association is a fellowship of about two dozen Southern Baptist churches in and around Blount County, Alabama, with our office in Oneonta. Organized in 1955, the association is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and the Southern Baptist Convention.
Each of our churches is independent and self-governing. The association doesn’t own or oversee them — it’s the other way around: the churches voluntarily join together and support the association so they can accomplish more for the kingdom of God together than any one congregation could alone.
Good question
What is a Baptist association?
If you didn’t grow up Baptist, the word “association” might be new. A Baptist association is simply a group of local churches in the same area that choose to cooperate — the oldest form of Baptist partnership, older than state conventions or the SBC itself.
Practically, that means our churches:
- Share resources — training, materials, and helping hands for things like Vacation Bible School and community outreach.
- Support their pastors — fellowship and encouragement for ministers who would otherwise carry heavy loads alone.
- Do missions together — pooling people and funds for local projects, disaster relief, and mission work far beyond Blount County.
- Stay connected — celebrating together, praying for each other, and helping churches through hard seasons.
The association has no authority over any church. Every congregation is fully independent; cooperation is always voluntary and always for the sake of the mission.
Officers & staff
Who serves the association
Placeholder roles shown — names and photos to be provided by the association office.
Dale Wood
Associational Mission Strategist
Name coming soon
Moderator
Name coming soon
Clerk
Name coming soon
Treasurer