Tar River Baptist Association
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REBUILDING TOWARDS
.....his....
"NEW NORMAL"

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Please forgive  our mess.  We are attempting to get everything up and running so we can better communicate with our member churches.  We are in partnership with many people/agencies ,  Being the Baptist entity closest to the local church -- and the one that can indeed walk with you because we are here, we invite you to begin every inquiry with us!

TRBA is trained to work with church planters, church revitalization, developing ministry and mission teams, church and community assessments, developing strategy for your church to reach your community, develop a discipleship pathway to assimilate new believers in your church to become disciples that make disciples, that make disciples that make disciples.......

During the COVID Shutdown, the staff and leadership has determined the direction we feel that we should go.  To be honest, we had several "false starts."  In other words, like everyone else, we did not think we would be in this "mode" as long as we have been.  You know the feeling.  Honestly, it can get us down.  However, we have determined it is time for us to move forward to HIS "new normal," one that we believe will be constantly evolving from where we are as churches today, and if we work off God's Timetable, discern His direction and willfully follow Him, and be obedient to His commands, while embracing this NEW thing that He has invided us ti be a part of - we believe we will see a revived church, committed to building His Kingdom, and using us to accomplish His purpose and reach THIS generation.

We know that 20-40% of our churches will choose to try to come back as they are and do much the same to survive.  We believe we are here to  walk with those churches that will not be content with operating from survival  mode, and-after a short "bump," begin a steeper decline as the church.  For that reason, we have chosen to offer a lot of different things to assist our churches - with all of them starting from a common "platform."

For the churches in the area that  will commit to work together to thrive in the work God has called us to do together, we are ready/willing/able to assist.  We will hold nothing back from those that want to just survive, but our prayer the entire time we work with them will be that they be obedient to God and willing to become more than they have set out to do.

We are making quality resources and training available to every church.  If the church leadership is ready to thrive; become the church God is calling them to become in Him; to sacrifice whatever it takes to reach the people in the shadows of our steeples; and, willing to lay aside their "sacred cows" and idols that created their pre-pandemic slide/decline, then we stand ready to assist.

If churches do not commit to corporate prayer, we will not need to do much at all.  Without prayer, it would be poor stewardship to devote so much to those unwilling to change/not open to instruction.  Here is a statement you will hear (once we get our communications in order) --  and if you are a church leader and this statement "rubs you the wrong way," our working 24/7 with the church will not impact this church to become a Thriving  Church On Mission with God.  Here is the statement, "No person in any church that is unwilling to attend training to become better prepared to serve their church and community, should be allowed to hold any position of leadership in the church."  The truth is, without deliberate effort to become better equipped to serve, and/or efforts to strengthen yourself in your personal walk with the Lord---our talk about church revitalization has always been just that - talk! 

And I will make another statement that may not like, but without it - I believe revival in the church and healing in our land will never take place, is this. 
If you are not already personally engaged in corporate prayer, and you continue to talk about church growth, etc. and you continue to ignore the calls to corporate prayer that will come, you will never experience revival in the church.  Scripture teaches us there is POWER in prayer.  Acts specifically declares that a prayerless church is a powerless church, and I believe we saw evidence of that pre-COVID and I do not believe I have seen any difference during the shutdown.

When you ask what the mandate of the church is, most people include Matthew 28 -- making disciples of all peoples.  What does a disciple look like?  How can we make disciples without knowing what the finished product looks like.  Meditate on this thought, "What would a fully devoted, Christ-following church member look like?  What is the discipleship pathway in your church that is creating the disciples that they should?

Honestly, we have said--we will offer.  And - we will offer what we believe our churches and communities need.  And yes - we will probably even respond to calls from churches to help them do some things that we feel might be secondary, but if the church says they've prayed and this is what they sense God has shown them, we will respond to their requests and assist with their initiave.  If the church does not "own the vision for the church it is to be in Christ," then it will not be.

In the pages we want to cast a vision that our churches will fall in love with.  If you want to receive information and be a part of what God is doing in the communitiee of TRBA, you are invited.  We want to offer resources -- but your church needs to let us know what you need/how we can help.  We also want to keep the communication coming to you/your church --but if you have not given us curreent leadership; do not announce in your church or your publications, isn't that a waste of energy and time as well?

On our website, we will keep this page up until we see great evidence what we have offered is being used  and more effectively communicate in other ways as well.  Hope to hear back from you soon!
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Telephone

919-496-7172

Email

pauline@tarriverbaptist.com

Hours

During COVID, TRBA may be working remotely.   There are no established office hours, but staff members will respond to emails and are available for appointments.   You may schedule  online, email the staff member you wish to meet with, or call 919-853-7551. Thank you for your patience.
Address
Tar River Baptist Association
​92 NC-56 Highway East,
​ Louisburg, NC 27549
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