What IS an association?
Often times we are asked, "What can an association do for us/our church?" One cannot fully address this question unless the persons/church have a basic understanding of the life and work of an association. Unfortunately, this is a question asked by BOTH the smaller membership and the larger membership churches. Smaller membership churches tend to state it with an attitude of "everything is designed for the larger membership church." Larger membership churches tend to state it with an attitude of "we have multiple staff, offer our own training, have all the resources we need." This question - especially with these attitudes - reflects more of a secular worldview as opposed to a biblical worldview.
In the heart of an Associational Missions Strategist, we do not see big and little churches. We see all churches as being God's Church - located and placed exactly where they are - called of God to make disciples in the place where He has planted them. Face it, there is MUCH we can learn from church members being obedient to the call of God - regardless of size. And - from the overflow of blessings, a sister church can assist a sister church. Examples that come to mind, (1) A church offers training to its members/offer it to neighboring churches - allowing association dollars to be awarded to a work that will benefit those smaller membership churches that need some assistance; (2) A church is located in a growing area but the church lacks the "manpower" to both do the outreach and man the event - why not man the event and let the people see the people they will see if they come to church (after all, we go all over North America to do such/why not to the other side of the association for an established church - lot cheaper and allows more people to participate - it's like "on the job training" for going to help a Chicago planter).
Scott Hildreth, in his book ON MISSION TOGETHER tells us that it is almost arrogant to think we will ever "make disciples of all nations" - which is our command, and NOT be willing to cooperate with our sister church(es) to make disciples of the people locally. When I first heard this statement, it struck me hard. I have prayed for and worked to get churches to "cluster" together and minister to/proclaim Jesus to the community where they are located. In fact, I have worked to cluster them together - as have other associations - but it appears to be a very slow process. In the first part of 2020, I am asking that they cluster together and pray. Then we will come together and decide what course of action to take. There's a part of me that wants to "second guess" the idea to cluster. At the very least, we have got to find ways to work together better to meet need/reach the lost.
First, I do believe the association church offers a great deal to the local church! However, most look to the association as a noun when it should be looked at as a verb. Our "working definition" - "The Baptist Association in North America is a network of local churches in a geographical region, cooperating together to reach people and do missions and ministries both locally and globally." (Please note some key words in our definition -- network -- of local churches. I believe we can be a part of multiple "networks," but if we are not working as a network locally (what an association is), then we are doing a disservice to His church. Likewise, as an association, I believe that in my clustering of churches I need to invite the "miscellaneous NC churches" - those churches that are Southern Baptists but not affiliated with any local association, to join the area churches to join us in the ministry to the community. And there are other key terms - cooperating - working together; collaboration; joint action/combined effort/teamwork; together - not alone, as one group (Jesus prayed for us to become one), companionship, in close association; reach people - to make contact with, to make the effort to help: do (carry out, to undertake, to execute, implement, achieve, complete...) missions (sharing the gospel/obeying Christ/sharing Christ/relying on Christ)/ministry (bible.org defines ministry as "the faithful service of God's people rendered unto God and others on His behalf to bring Him glory, build up His church, and reach out to His world." I call that "glocal missions," combining the words local and glo global - to emphasize that AS we go, we are to proclaim the Gospel and make disciples of all peoples,
Second, the association can only do what the churches within the network approve for them to do. There is no hierarchy within Baptist life above the church other than God (in three persons). The Articles filed with the s
That's why I say we cannot explain it adequately unless churches/people have some basic understanding of what it is we are supposed to do. We recognize that it is natural of us to wonder "what's in it for us?" but our prayer is that we will be open to the idea that HIS church is to be ON MISSION for Christ. And in His wisdom, we see Him calling all the churches to come together to bring the world to the saving knowledge of Christ.
Third, the association responds to the requests of the churches and assists when the church invites us into the church. We cannot "impose"ourselves on the local church. So -- it is not about what "we want/what you can do for us," Rather, it is more what we - as the church - are willing to do to assist our sister churches so that we can better accomplish His purpose as His church within our associational area.
Our national organization for associational missions has asked that we continue communicating and cooperating as associations to "build up" the relationships within our state will model to our churches the necessity of us working together to impact lostness in this generation. Working together - within the association, allows us to be more strategic and effective as we develop a plan of action to accomplish His purpose.
"Serving Here….Reaching the World." Historically, Baptist associations have been essential to uniting churches for the cause of missions. In 1624, associations evolved in England under the rule of Oliver Cromwell. Both General and Particular Baptists gathered area churches in associations in order to "steady one another in doctrine and explain themselves unitedly to the world, to aid one another in time of need, and, especially, to propagate their views." As Baptists spread to the American colonies, the concept was reproduced. In 1707, it was introduced in Philadelphia. In the 1750's, associations spread to Sandy Creek, N.C., and Charleston, S.C. Tar River Baptist Association was established in 1831.
From associations, state conventions were formed in early 1800s, and the Southern Baptist Convention was established in the middle of that century. The rest is history. Associations have long served as a very meaningful way for Baptist churches to accomplish more together than they can separately. Networks, associations, or whatever they are called, in my opinion will always be a part of Baptist Life as long as churches are burdened for the lost and seeking to bring them into the Kingdom of God. That does not mean they will "remain the same." If they do "remain the same," then they will become irrelevant to that generation. The heartbeat of Southern Baptists is cooperation in ministry.
Now, nearly 315 years after the association came to America, it still contributes significantly to local churches and Southern Baptist life in accomplishing the Acts 1:8 challenge. Today, 1,200 associations continue to assist local churches to do missions cooperatively and strategically. In all of these associations, you will find volunteers doing a variety of acts of kindness, hosting block parties on warm spring and fall days, and providing disaster relief help—such as cleaning up after hurricanes or earthquakes that have ravaged neighboring cities and states. Through numerous activities, you will see associations assisting local churches in accepting the Acts 1:8 Challenge to share the gospel both locally and globally.
Obedience to the Great Commission is imperative! With over 200 million people in North America that are far from God (have no personal relationship with Jesus Christ), we cannot ignore (which is disobedience) or leave it up to others. Personally, I have begun to teach that Acts 1: 8 is my PERSONAL challenge to PROCLAIM JESUS. I am to be obedient if every other believer ignores it.
Then I look to the Matthew 28 account as a corporate challenge - I am to work with others in the church to make disciples of all people! And look at North America. We are not making much progress reaching the people from other nations. We now have no excuse as God is bringing unreached peoples to our neighborhoods. Strive daily to be obedient!
"The Baptist association faces the future with new and dynamic ways to equip churches and believers to share the timeless message of Jesus Christ with a lost and dying world. I urge you to join with other Baptist churches in your association . . . Together, we can win North America and the world for Jesus Christ."
Written by Dougald W, McLaurin, Jr. Associational Missions Strategist for Tar River Baptist Association
Last revision, November 2019
In the heart of an Associational Missions Strategist, we do not see big and little churches. We see all churches as being God's Church - located and placed exactly where they are - called of God to make disciples in the place where He has planted them. Face it, there is MUCH we can learn from church members being obedient to the call of God - regardless of size. And - from the overflow of blessings, a sister church can assist a sister church. Examples that come to mind, (1) A church offers training to its members/offer it to neighboring churches - allowing association dollars to be awarded to a work that will benefit those smaller membership churches that need some assistance; (2) A church is located in a growing area but the church lacks the "manpower" to both do the outreach and man the event - why not man the event and let the people see the people they will see if they come to church (after all, we go all over North America to do such/why not to the other side of the association for an established church - lot cheaper and allows more people to participate - it's like "on the job training" for going to help a Chicago planter).
Scott Hildreth, in his book ON MISSION TOGETHER tells us that it is almost arrogant to think we will ever "make disciples of all nations" - which is our command, and NOT be willing to cooperate with our sister church(es) to make disciples of the people locally. When I first heard this statement, it struck me hard. I have prayed for and worked to get churches to "cluster" together and minister to/proclaim Jesus to the community where they are located. In fact, I have worked to cluster them together - as have other associations - but it appears to be a very slow process. In the first part of 2020, I am asking that they cluster together and pray. Then we will come together and decide what course of action to take. There's a part of me that wants to "second guess" the idea to cluster. At the very least, we have got to find ways to work together better to meet need/reach the lost.
First, I do believe the association church offers a great deal to the local church! However, most look to the association as a noun when it should be looked at as a verb. Our "working definition" - "The Baptist Association in North America is a network of local churches in a geographical region, cooperating together to reach people and do missions and ministries both locally and globally." (Please note some key words in our definition -- network -- of local churches. I believe we can be a part of multiple "networks," but if we are not working as a network locally (what an association is), then we are doing a disservice to His church. Likewise, as an association, I believe that in my clustering of churches I need to invite the "miscellaneous NC churches" - those churches that are Southern Baptists but not affiliated with any local association, to join the area churches to join us in the ministry to the community. And there are other key terms - cooperating - working together; collaboration; joint action/combined effort/teamwork; together - not alone, as one group (Jesus prayed for us to become one), companionship, in close association; reach people - to make contact with, to make the effort to help: do (carry out, to undertake, to execute, implement, achieve, complete...) missions (sharing the gospel/obeying Christ/sharing Christ/relying on Christ)/ministry (bible.org defines ministry as "the faithful service of God's people rendered unto God and others on His behalf to bring Him glory, build up His church, and reach out to His world." I call that "glocal missions," combining the words local and glo global - to emphasize that AS we go, we are to proclaim the Gospel and make disciples of all peoples,
Second, the association can only do what the churches within the network approve for them to do. There is no hierarchy within Baptist life above the church other than God (in three persons). The Articles filed with the s
That's why I say we cannot explain it adequately unless churches/people have some basic understanding of what it is we are supposed to do. We recognize that it is natural of us to wonder "what's in it for us?" but our prayer is that we will be open to the idea that HIS church is to be ON MISSION for Christ. And in His wisdom, we see Him calling all the churches to come together to bring the world to the saving knowledge of Christ.
Third, the association responds to the requests of the churches and assists when the church invites us into the church. We cannot "impose"ourselves on the local church. So -- it is not about what "we want/what you can do for us," Rather, it is more what we - as the church - are willing to do to assist our sister churches so that we can better accomplish His purpose as His church within our associational area.
Our national organization for associational missions has asked that we continue communicating and cooperating as associations to "build up" the relationships within our state will model to our churches the necessity of us working together to impact lostness in this generation. Working together - within the association, allows us to be more strategic and effective as we develop a plan of action to accomplish His purpose.
"Serving Here….Reaching the World." Historically, Baptist associations have been essential to uniting churches for the cause of missions. In 1624, associations evolved in England under the rule of Oliver Cromwell. Both General and Particular Baptists gathered area churches in associations in order to "steady one another in doctrine and explain themselves unitedly to the world, to aid one another in time of need, and, especially, to propagate their views." As Baptists spread to the American colonies, the concept was reproduced. In 1707, it was introduced in Philadelphia. In the 1750's, associations spread to Sandy Creek, N.C., and Charleston, S.C. Tar River Baptist Association was established in 1831.
From associations, state conventions were formed in early 1800s, and the Southern Baptist Convention was established in the middle of that century. The rest is history. Associations have long served as a very meaningful way for Baptist churches to accomplish more together than they can separately. Networks, associations, or whatever they are called, in my opinion will always be a part of Baptist Life as long as churches are burdened for the lost and seeking to bring them into the Kingdom of God. That does not mean they will "remain the same." If they do "remain the same," then they will become irrelevant to that generation. The heartbeat of Southern Baptists is cooperation in ministry.
Now, nearly 315 years after the association came to America, it still contributes significantly to local churches and Southern Baptist life in accomplishing the Acts 1:8 challenge. Today, 1,200 associations continue to assist local churches to do missions cooperatively and strategically. In all of these associations, you will find volunteers doing a variety of acts of kindness, hosting block parties on warm spring and fall days, and providing disaster relief help—such as cleaning up after hurricanes or earthquakes that have ravaged neighboring cities and states. Through numerous activities, you will see associations assisting local churches in accepting the Acts 1:8 Challenge to share the gospel both locally and globally.
Obedience to the Great Commission is imperative! With over 200 million people in North America that are far from God (have no personal relationship with Jesus Christ), we cannot ignore (which is disobedience) or leave it up to others. Personally, I have begun to teach that Acts 1: 8 is my PERSONAL challenge to PROCLAIM JESUS. I am to be obedient if every other believer ignores it.
Then I look to the Matthew 28 account as a corporate challenge - I am to work with others in the church to make disciples of all people! And look at North America. We are not making much progress reaching the people from other nations. We now have no excuse as God is bringing unreached peoples to our neighborhoods. Strive daily to be obedient!
"The Baptist association faces the future with new and dynamic ways to equip churches and believers to share the timeless message of Jesus Christ with a lost and dying world. I urge you to join with other Baptist churches in your association . . . Together, we can win North America and the world for Jesus Christ."
Written by Dougald W, McLaurin, Jr. Associational Missions Strategist for Tar River Baptist Association
Last revision, November 2019