7 Essential Pieces for Associations

This column was originally published in unedited form in the
2007 Associational Book of Reports
Southeastern Baptist Association, Monroe, Michigan
October 5, 2007

This week I called home to discover that Brenda had accidentally dropped her favorite casserole dish while preparing our dinner. She was in the process of trying to pick up the pieces, knowing that she could never reassemble the dish.

When I teach at the BASIC TRAINING for Church Planters, we show the need for knowing God’s vision by using a puzzle to illustrate that if you have a picture on the box, you can know where you are going. If the church planter cannot see what he believes God wants the church to look like, then he will never be able to communicate that vision to others.

Puzzles are interesting. Without all of the pieces, you cannot finish the puzzle and see the completed picture. Only one piece has to be missing for the picture to be incomplete.

I ask us today, what are the pieces that must be present for an association to be relevant in today’s world? I believe there are SEVEN pieces that must be present if associations are to be what God wants them to be in the future.

PIECE #1: New churches – A friend once told me that only a church could start a church. After thinking about that comment, I realized that it is really individual people involved in starting churches, not necessarily the churches. Those individuals come from different contexts and backgrounds. They are employed in numerous kinds of professions … but it is a fact, people ultimately start new churches.

My prayer for our area is that we see both people and churches that have a passion to provide a church for all people groups. Starting congregations that are contextually relevant. Every person should have the opportunity to hear and respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ. In order to make this possible, we must engage in the process of starting churches in all places with all possible races and with all people groups (Matt. 28:18-20; John 3:16; Acts 1:8; Acts 16:9-10; Rom. 1:16; 2 Cor. 5:20; Is. 56:3-8).

Our association must be positioned and prepared to assist our area churches in the process of pushing back the lostness through starting new churches. We must not settle into a pattern of contentment, satisfied with sitting saints.

PIECE #2: Evangelism and Missions – Associations must value reaching people with the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. People matter to God therefore they should matter to us. Evangelism and missions are of utmost importance (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 16:9-10; Isaiah 56:3-8).

As churches, we must never become satisfied to be primping up property and propping up programs. We must remain focused on people … reaching people with the message of Jesus Christ. Associations must find ways to resource member churches so they can be effective in building relational bridges to the lost community around them. Associations must also seek out opportunities to help members to cross over geographic and cultural borders to be directly involved in mission work.

PIECE #3: Training/ Teaching – Associations must provide unique resources that enable our churches to disciple believers. The association should be compelled to help strengthen and assist associational churches in maturing believers to be fully committed followers of Jesus Christ (Eph. 4:11-13).

PIECE #4: Working Together – Associations today must value cooperation more than ever in their history. Realizing we can accomplish much more together than separately we value our relationships. Unity and cooperation should characterize the relationship between sister churches in the Association and with those of like faith throughout the nation and the world (Acts 2:44-47). We also value networking, the fostering of partnerships among churches and individuals; linking needs with resources; communicating for rapid response and beneficial assistance. (Psalm 133:1; Eph. 4:1-3).

PIECE #5: Originality & Excellence – Associations must become increasingly entrepreneurial to be successful in today’s society. Innovation and excellence must be the standard in the high-definition world in which we live. Associations must exhibit creativity through a pioneering spirit. This most often will necessitate the reformation of structure and strategy to meet the changing needs of members (Isaiah 43:19; Mark 2:22).

Associations that value excellence will reach for high standards of quality in all they accomplish. The goal is to serve their churches and individuals with reliability and integrity; providing quality resources using state of the art technology; maximizing ministry and minimizing maintenance.

PIECE #6: Relevance – The association of 2007 and beyond must value diversity and cultural relevance. Approaching ministry from a culturally relevant, Biblical base; relying on prayer, research, contextual awareness and sensitivity to needs; taking risks and innovating, rejoicing that God created different people and churches for His glory. Today’s association must esteem cultural diversity, celebrating the intergenerational multi-culturalism of our context; affirming various worship styles and ministry structures; embracing the varied methods of God’s activity (Acts 2:7-11; John 10:16).

PIECE #7: Kindred Spirit – The seventh piece to our puzzle must be the fellowship (Koinonia) of believers with Jesus Christ. Unity among our churches is a precedent as we relate to one another in a spirit of love, focusing together on Kingdom priorities (1 Cor. 1:9).

One final PIECE to our puzzle that must be noted ... that piece is YOU. Without you, the association could not exist. If it were not for your participation and giving, even in tough times, we would not be able to be available to our member churches to resource their vision for reaching, discipling and growing. Thank you for your partnership.