Associational Role in Evangelism

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE CONTEMPORARY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION IN FOSTERING EVANGELISM?

As associations begin to move away from the old programming model (offering programs for churches to participate in as a primary focus of associations-i.e. promoting fellowship and missions), to more of a resourcing model (resourcing the vision of the churches in fulfilling the Great Commission), what is the role the association is to play in fostering evangelism?

Are we to beat the drum for evangelism (cheerleader and motivator/guilt purveyor), partner with churches in creative evangelistic events, provide training for ministry evangelism, or try to help churches contextualize their evangelism to areas where it would be most effective?

As an aside, what about those who criticize the evangelistic techniques/approaches of some churches while having no effective evangelistic strategy and effort of their own? As one pastor put it to me, "Those who don't do evangelism criticize those who do!" Would it not be better if we looked at the log in our own eye before examining the speck in our brother's eye?

Ken May
Director of Missions
Montgomery Baptist Association
Montgomery, Alabama