From Lead On Podcast: The Role of the Baptist Association and the Importance of your Ministry's Involvement, May 26, 2025

To listen: 
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lead-on-podcast/id1243128723?i=1000709889012

“I'm telling you these stories because, frankly, I hear people demeaning associations, are lamenting them, are complaining about them….[I]f you're a person wondering, well, should I plug in to this? Well, of course, you should because, first of all, you're likely there to meet leaders who can be mentors and guides to you. You're likely to meet leaders there who can be resources to you and help you in ministry decision making and ministry leadership….let me talk with you about five or six different ways that I think your church can benefit by being networked with and being engaged with your local Baptist Association.”

Coordinating Missions in a local context: “The first thing is that you can work with your local churches coordinating missions in a local context. Now this is really at the core of what associations do….So the first and most important reason I want you to engage locally in missions is because it's an opportunity to really engage locally, to identify some needs in your city, region, county, whatever, and to say, the churches here can come together and meet this need….an association may say, none of our small churches have the capacity to do an International Mission Trip on their own, but by coming together, the association can facilitate an International Mission Trip.”

Networking smaller and larger churches for international missions: “A second contribution that associations make is that they network small churches for a national and an international movement. They network small churches. You know, the flagship churches get a lot of attention. No problem with that. But never forget that the overwhelming majority of Southern Baptist churches have 200 or fewer people present on a Sunday. The overwhelming majority of Southern Baptist churches are small…What needs to be done in this county or in this city or in this area that we can come together and do better together locally than we can do on our own. Now, you might say, well, we're a larger church, we can do it on our own. Well, think about sacrificing some of that independence to help some smaller churches that can't do it on their own. And by doing that, you still come together to do more in your local context than you could have even done as a large church by yourself….if you see yourself as the facilitator, the enabler, or the reason that these other churches are able to come together and get things done together, then you'll see that you're making a very, very valuable contribution.”

Strengthening Church Health: “[Associations] contribute some objectivity and some challenge for churches that need to change. You know, one of the hard realities is that some churches need to change, and someone has to tell them that…you build relationships and that your church members and church leaders build relationships with some outside leaders, either outside pastors or outside directors of mission, who can step in and say some things that will bring objectivity and challenge to a situation. You know, sometimes internally, we're in an echo chamber. We only talk to ourselves. We only see our situation. And we need somebody from the outside to step in and say, this is what needs to happen and to give them clarity about how they can go forward in a new way.”

Bridging the gap between the local church and the SBC: “[B]ecause there's such a distance between the national entity and the resources they provide and oftentimes the local church and the issues that they have or the things they need, there's this big information gap. And so being involved in your local association helps bridge that gap because you're accessing leaders who can come into your church and meet with your leaders and help them understand how to bridge those gaps. Sometimes it's as simple as knowing how to make a phone call or what email address to send something to or who to connect with on a particular problem.”

Mentoring and Support for leaders: “[A]ssociations have some kind of leadership support network, a pastor to pastor kind of network where you can draw from your colleagues and your peers and even your mentors to keep you stronger in ministry….I am saying that local groups of pastors, youth pastors, worship pastors, local groups of pastors who share common responsibilities and share common challenges, building those relational connections goes a long way to keeping us all strong as we go forward together in ministry. Now again, this can take various different forms, but it's one of the reasons to be engaged, to be plugged in, in this kind of pastoral support kind of network. And it extends also to pastors wives, ministry wives and women who are involved in ministry leadership. Associations are also a good place for these to connect as well, and to find the relational support they need to build that kind of network that they need to keep going also in ministry leadership…this kind of relational connection is pure gold for keeping us going in ministry leadership.”

Support during Challenges:“[Y]our association gives you somebody to call when the bottom falls out, when the roof caves in, when the crisis hits….When a church has a natural disaster, flood comes through, tornado comes through….When a pastor's marriage is really hurting and his wife is leaving or it's on the verge of coming apart…When a church and a pastor get sideways and there's conflict or tension, when crisis comes in that relationship…And when a pastor leaves, whether it's a retirement or a leaving for another ministry setting or sometimes an uglier situation with a termination, when a church needs a pastor....it's important for you to be networked with them so that when it happens to you, you'll have that phone number, you'll have that person you trust, you can make that call.”

Conclusion: “And so I'm not saying you have to go to every meeting or anything like that, but I am saying that local groups of pastors, youth pastors, worship pastors, local groups of pastors who share common responsibilities and share common challenges, building those relational connections goes a long way to keeping us all strong as we go forward together in ministry.”

From Lead On Podcast: The Role of the Baptist Association and the Importance of your Ministry's Involvement, May 26, 2025

Not all fruitful churches are faithful. And not all faithful churches are immediately fruitful. But a faithful pastor—regardless of numbers, visibility, or reputation—is a gift to the Church.

In a culture that prizes results, it’s easy to feel pressure to measure ministry in terms of growth, programs, or public perception. But God’s call to pastors has never been about performance. It has always been about faithfulness.

1. Faithfulness matters more than success.We often confuse visible success with spiritual health. But Scripture reminds us, “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2). God calls pastors to walk humbly with Him, do what is right, and remain committed to His Word and people (Micah 6:8).

2. The spotlight doesn’t reveal everything.Some thriving churches are running on charisma or consumerism rather than Christ. Some struggling churches are rich in prayer, community, and truth. As 1 Samuel 16:7 reminds us, “The Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

3. Your primary call is to remain close to Christ.
When Jesus restored Peter in John 21:15-17, He didn’t say, “Go build a large ministry.” He said, “Do you love Me? Feed My sheep.” Pastoral ministry flows first from a heart connected to Christ. Programs and platforms are no substitute for a soul abiding in Him.

4. Every context is different, but the calling is the same.
Whether you’re in a small rural church, a busy suburban congregation, or an aging body in transition, the charge remains: “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2). “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you… being examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:2-3).

5. You are seen by the Chief Shepherd.
People may not always understand your burdens. Numbers may not reflect your labor. But God sees. Hebrews 6:10 reminds us, “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love…”

6. For the pastor who is seeing fruit—stay humble, stay faithful.
If God is blessing your ministry with growth and spiritual renewal, praise Him. But don’t let success become your identity. Remember the words of Jesus in Luke 17:10: “When you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’” Fruit is a gift from God, not proof of superiority. Remain rooted in humility and dependence, and let the glory go to Him.

So to the pastor who is quietly praying, gently correcting, faithfully preaching, lovingly leading—without applause or spotlight—or to the one who is bearing visible fruit and navigating new opportunities, this is your reminder:

Your work matters.

You are not alone.

You are not called to be impressive.

You are called to be faithful.

And in Christ, your faithfulness is enough.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the pastors You have called, in small churches and large, in thriving ministries and weary ones. Thank You for their quiet courage, their unseen prayers, their faithfulness in the pulpit and in the messiness of everyday shepherding. Strengthen their hearts today. Remind them that You see, You know, and You are pleased when they abide in You. For those waiting on fruit, give patience. For those seeing fruit, give humility. May each one be rooted in Your Word, led by Your Spirit, and filled with Your joy.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Dear Pastor,

If you’re reading this and quietly feeling empty—like your soul has been running on fumes—please hear me: You are not the only one.

Ministry has a way of pulling so much out of you while leaving little time to be poured into. And if you’ve been feeling distant from God, dry in spirit, or like you're just going through the motions—you're not weak. You're human.

You may wonder: does this disqualify me from ministry? The answer is no. Spiritual dryness does not disqualify you. It is a season, not a sentence. It’s not a moral failure—it’s a sign that you are carrying more than your soul was meant to hold alone.

Many faithful servants of God have walked through dry seasons. Elijah wanted to give up. David cried out from the desert. Paul despaired even of life. These were not moments of weakness that disqualified them. They were honest cries from those deeply in need of God's presence.
Disqualification happens when there is willful, unrepentant sin. Dryness is different. It’s often the result of faithful labor, spiritual weight, and emotional strain. God does not despise your emptiness. He meets you in it.

Your calling hasn’t changed. God hasn’t left you. And He’s not waiting for you to fix yourself. He’s inviting you to come to Him—just as you are.

If you’re spiritually dry, don’t try to perform your way out of it. Don’t pretend it isn’t there. Slow down. Be still. Be honest. Ask for help.

You are still called. Still loved. Still held.

And the same God who met Elijah under a broom tree, who restored David’s soul, who walked with Paul through despair—He is with you now.

​With quiet confidence in what He is still doing in you, we support you. Let us know how we can help. 

One of the clearest ways the world sees Jesus is through the love His followers have for one another. In John 13:35, Jesus says, “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” While this certainly applies to individuals within a local church, it also speaks to the relationships between churches. When congregations across communities choose to partner together—sharing resources, encouraging one another, and working side by side for the gospel—we are giving a living testimony of Christ’s love and unity.

In a time when division seems to dominate headlines, church cooperation shines as a beautiful countercultural witness. It reminds us that we are not in competition with one another, but co-laborers in the same harvest field. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 3:6-9, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase… For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.” We each have a role to play, but the growth comes from God—and He often chooses to work through partnerships among His people.

Cooperating churches multiply ministry impact. Ecclesiastes 4:9 tells us, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.” When churches work together, whether through shared missions, community outreach, or leadership support, the result is often more effective than what any single congregation could do alone. Needs are met more fully, encouragement is spread more broadly, and the gospel travels farther.

The early church modeled this spirit of cooperation. In Acts 2:44-47, we see believers “together and [having] all things in common,” worshiping, eating, and praying in unity—and as a result, “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Their togetherness did not just meet needs—it was a compelling witness that drew people to Christ.

Here at TRBA, we believe God has placed our churches in this region not just to reach their own communities, but to partner with one another in reaching the world. Cooperation is not a strategy—it’s obedience. It’s love. It’s the body of Christ being the body of Christ.

Let us never forget the prayer of Jesus in John 17:21: “That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” When we come together in unity and purpose, we reflect the heart of Christ—and we open the door for the world to believe.

May we be churches marked by love, joined in mission, and committed to working together for the glory of God.

If you have a story of how your church has worked with a sister church in the area, please let us know so we can encourage everyone with your ministry.