One Missionary’s Observations on the 2009 Associational Convocation

Spiritual revitalization, full missional partnership, diversification, and a challenging future were the recurring ideas shared at this convocation among the over 400 Directors of Missions who attended. Last week’s Convocation on Associational missions held in Ridgecrest Conference Center in North Carolina was by most accounts a very successful and encouraging meeting. It was encouraging to have the North American Mission Board show its concern and support for Associational work in a renewed and significant way. It was successful because over half of the active Directors of Missions from all over North America were sharing their ideas, concerns, and dreams for the future.

This convocation differed from previous convocations because of length, period of time since the last one, and the times in which we are living. The last event like this was held in 1989. Three other convocations have been held. In 1963, 1974, and 1981 many of the issues that faced these earlier convocations have experienced significant metamorphosis in the 20 years since the most recent event. The other events were also longer in duration taking most of a week to dialogue, consider, and formulate conclusions. However, some significant findings emerged in our time together on the mountain.

First, almost to the last man, a real concern for the spiritual needs and attitudes of Associational Directors of Missions, Associations and churches came to the surface. Spiritual revitalization, what I am sure our predecessors would have called spiritual revival, has not swept this country in many decades. The DoM’s shared a common recognition of the spiritual struggle in the absence of the Holy Spirit’s power. It is the prayer and desire of this group to see change in this important area of the ministry of their associations of churches, and in their own lives.

Secondly, there was a hope that in the face of today’s opportunities, associations would be elevated in the view of all SBC entities as full partners in the work of reaching the world for Christ. Among all levels of denominational life, only the association has the assignment for every area of the mission effort in Acts 1:8, working alongside local churches to share that assignment in new and vibrant ways.

Third, diversification of mission opportunities locally and globally was recognized as the most exciting prospect for the future. The nations have come to us. Whether we live in a large metropolitan area or a rural area people with different cultures, languages, and customs surround us. This is both exciting and challenging as churches work to meet these changes with effective ministries designed to share the Gospel in the midst of diverse and changing cultures. The dominant culture of our continent has rapidly given way to a stew of cultures weaving a more colorful pattern into the life of North America.

Finally, the presence of rapid, discontinuous change makes responding to the future the greatest challenge the churches and the Gospel they proclaim face as we enter the second decade of the third millennium. Structures set in stone are inundated with a flood of change that makes them less able to respond quickly enough to make the difference they could have made. In short, the 21st century is looking more like the first century than any of the intervening centuries.

Second Corinthians 11:28 may be the passage that best characterizes the work of the missionaries in associations across this continent. Paul says in the context of defending his apostleship to the Corinthian Christians that, “Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure upon me of concern for all the churches.” This is the heartbeat of the men and women who serve in associations all over the land. From the greatest to the least, they bear the burden of the churches in a way that no other group bears it.

While this only represents a few of the great ideas, opportunities, and concerns shared at this historic convocation, it points to the greatest need in our day which is for God to visit his people with a real, tangible, and empowering manifestation of His presence. We need His presence through His Spirit in order that the work of the Kingdom might again see dramatic results as it did in previous times. Pray with me, that just such a movement of God would begin among associational leaders and spread to the ends of the earth.

No Little Work

One of the deceptions many ministers, including DOM’s, get caught up in is the size of the ministry they are involved in. When we begin to believe the size of our association or the size of the churches of our association are too small to really make a difference we limit God. Over the years I have heard pastors bemoan the fact their church was too small to offer the same things larger membership churches offer, and they used it as an excuse to do nothing. Since the first time I heard one of those kinds of statements it became a pet peeve.

My ministry began in a small membership church and the congregation there had bought into the fallacy of they were too small to make a difference. As we worked through those issues the Lord reminded all of us He does not have a small work. Once people realized everyone served the same Big God, then great things began to happen and the Lord really blessed. That “little church” soon was doing all the things any church was doing.

George/Greene Baptist Association is a two county rural association in Southeast Mississippi. Our association is very rural and isolated. The majority of the population of our two counties drives long distances to work and choose to live here for the slower lifestyle. The vast majority of the thirty-three churches have less than fifty in Sunday School. The description of our area would delight someone looking for a great place to live in a relaxed atmosphere, but it would not stir the imagination of making a major difference in reaching a world for Jesus. Yet, through the cooperation of churches working together in an association, the Lord has allowed this small rural association to literally reach around the world for Christ.

Instead of focusing on the limited resources we had here we chose to focus on the task the Lord has given all believers found in Acts 1:8. The Lord is faithful to provide all the resources the association needs to assist churches to carry out their purpose of the Great Commission. This past year we have engaged an unreached people group in Nigeria that has no known Christians. We are in the second year of a church planting partnership with a church plant in Sao Paulo, Brazil. A team distributed over 2,000 copies of the Gospel of John in Mexico as part of Operation Go Mexico. A team of men working with a sister association in Omaha helped pass out 60,000 bottles of water with a gospel presentation at the College World Series. A student team assisted a church in New Orleans conduct a VBS. Within our own association a summer missionary held mission VBS at several locations, and we are developing a church plant from one of these VBS’s. Our construction team worked to frame the inside of a building for one of our churches that was destroyed by a tornado. The Lord has truly allowed us to have a witness from Jerusalem to the utter most.

There is “no little work” in the kingdom of God. I would encourage you to focus on Him and His mission, and He will provide you areas of influence beyond your wildest imagination. The Baptist Association is being used of God to assist churches to reach around the world in a big way.

Jimmy C. Holcomb, Associational Missions Director
George/Greene Baptist Association
Lucedale, MS

Solutions/Models for Struggling Churches

St. Louis Metro Baptist Association is committed to strengthening existing churches. Believing God's plan is for His churches to thrive not just survive, the following models are offered to assist struggling churches. The goal is help churches discover how they can be "born again"to reach their community and glorify the Lord.

I. Church Assessment and Consultation

Work with pastor and people to assess current systems, structures and strategies that need to be changed to effectively fulfill the Great Commandment and Great Commission in the churches current context. This may or may not require new leadership.

II. Partnering with Stronger Church

Most churches began as missions under the leadership of a "mother church". This model allows a church to gain leadership, support, and needed resources from a stronger church. After open communication and clear agreements both churches take on new roles under God's leadership.

III. New Church Plant

This model provides the opportunity for a church to start over. Often this is needed due to a changing community. A church planter is called under God's leadership to launch a new vision and type of church. The existing church membership either becomes a Sunday School class of this new church or joins other churches.

IV. From Church to Ministry Center

In an effort to be good stewards of facilities and enlarge the arms of ministry from one location, a church can transition from being one church to a center for many ministries to reach a community. This could include multiple churches meeting in one building and/or several types of ministries to be started or invited to join at a single location.

V. Selling and Starting New Church Planting Fund

The Bible says there is a time to be born and a time to die. This opportunity allows a church to celebrate the past and provide for new churches in the future. Existing church members join other churches and rejoice to hear and see their investments in the kingdom reach new communities.

Jim Breeden, Executive Director
St. Louis Metro Baptist Assoc.
Missouri

A Virtual Missionary

On March 1, 2007, Roger Stacy became the Director of Missions for the Gibson Baptist Association. Having previously served as a missionary with IMB to Brazil and Ukraine, he brought a passion and desire to see that nation of Brazil evangelized.

As a part of developing a strategy for reaching a population segment which includes the Slavic speaking people group, Roger met with Terry Sharp, State and Association Relations Director, International Mission Board. Terry shared the vision and concept of becoming a virtual missionary association (strategy coordinator association). From that conversation and with Terry’s help, Roger shared the vision with his mission team and with the Executive Board of the association. At the annual meeting of the association in October 2007, the association officially voted to become a virtual missionary association.

Roger began working with Phil Kesler, mission strategist for Brazil. A team traveled to Brazil in November of 2007 to do research and practice the principles of a virtual missionary. Phil Kesler visited the Gibson Baptist Association in December and trained volunteers in how to be virtual missionaries and work within the Churches Multiplying Churches strategy for Brazil.

The Association has developed a Masterplan for simple church starts in the southern part of Brazil in the state of Paraná. Their critical path has been presented and approved as well. According to Phil Kesler, the Gibson Baptist Association is the first group to submit a volunteer request in all of Brazil for the new Churches Multiplying Churches strategy for Brazil.

Terry W. Sharp
Director, State and Association Relations
International Mission Board,SBC
(804) 219-1939
http://dom.imb.org/

SBC: Organizing for Effectiveness

Our convention is statistically beginning a decline, especially looking at our declining baptisms over the past several years. (See Ed Stetzer’s recent blog article of April 23, 2008 by Clicking HERE or his follow up article HERE). It is time to do something about the condition of our convention. Here is a discussion of a scenario that, I believe, has great potential for turning around a floundering giant and generating massive kingdom building results.

I perceive four levels of dysfunctional activity that must be addressed within the Southern Baptist Convention. I will take each level, one at a time, and attempt to clearly make my case.

I. Relationships Between SBC Entities Must Change

The above diagram greatly simplifies, but generally depicts the current operational strategy of the convention. Strategy development is from a top down strategy, with national leaders attempting to generate “programs” that the state and associations will promote in an attempt to encourage churches to adopt. Resource allocation takes Cooperative Program receipts and distributes them down to the states. Some states may allocate some of those resources into associations and churches, but from my observation, it seems that activity is extremely limited, with support for church planting being the main exception. Almost no funds go to associations and churches for church strengthening.

The diagram below indicates the preferred cooperative workings between SBC entities.

In this model, strategy development starts with the needs of churches and a church strategy to meet those needs. The association takes the collective needs and strategy of its churches and develops a strategy to partner with the churches by bringing value to the churches in the form of needed resources tailor-made to facilitate the local church strategy. In turn, the state develops its strategy based upon the strategy of the associations, and NAMB and other entities, develop a strategy based upon the strategies of the state conventions. It is a “grass roots”, bottom up strategy development process.

Based upon the strategies of the various entities, the available resources are deployed, first to state conventions, then to associations, then finally to churches, where the front line of Kingdom work takes place.

It is my firm belief that if church strengthening and church planting can be developed through this kind of model, the local church will be strengthened and be in a much stronger position to bring about the Kingdom impact within communities. Consequently, I would not be surprised at all to see a resurgence of giving to the Cooperative Program as a result of healthier, vibrant churches if this model were instituted. By the way, I believe that NAMB is in a unique situation to lead in the rebirth of our denomination as we move to greater effectiveness.

II. Dysfunctional Life at the Association Level Must Be Resolved

I am not sure how it all started, but at some point in the past and for various reasons, the role of DOM changed. That change necessitated a different skill set for operating effectively as a DOM. Consequently, some DOM’s found themselves in a situation of confusion and frustration as they dealt with a rapidly changing society. Some found themselves becoming less effective than before. When that realization became apparent at the state convention level, the state conventions began trying to cover responsibilities formerly assigned to associations. Duplication of effort began.

To resolve this situation, this still exists in many parts of the convention, DOM’s need to be taught a new series of skill sets. A massive leadership training effort across the country needs to be deployed toward the development of core competencies for DOM’s. NAMB association staff, in conjunction with a group of DOM’s, has identified four core competencies that are needed for a DOM to be successful in his role today: Entrepreneurial Leadership, Establishing Strategic Direction, Achieving Kingdom Results, and Facilitative Leadership. Each of those categories contains several skill subsets that would be useful to DOM’s.

This training emphasis needs to be on a national level. NoBA (Network of Baptist Associations), in cooperation with NAMB, is in the process of developing a leadership diploma program for all new, in-service and prospective DOM’s.

Apart from the training aspect for DOM’s it appears that many associations are too small to generate enough strength to sustain an aggressive effort to resource their own churches. Regional mergers would be a likely scenario to consider developing larger and stronger associations.

III. State Convention Activities Are Not Producing Desired Results

Despite all the good intentions from state staff everywhere, it is obvious that all the money we are putting into state convention activity is not working. Graph your state’s baptism records, Bible Study attendance, worship attendance, and cooperative program receipts over the last 30 years. Don’t be surprised to find that most everything is plateaued, if not worse.

In the past, I worked as a member of a state staff. I find that my work as a DOM is much more effective than my experience as a state staffer. Why? I think because of the proximity to the churches. State staff can become your friend. Association relationships can foster a family atmosphere. In Illinois, I was assigned to work with 1000 churches in Sunday School growth. It was impossible to have consistent contact with the same churches over time in order to help them to find the path to effectiveness. The work of the state convention is not dependent on the number of people they have on the ground working. The state convention can be most effective in looking at its operational systems and seeking a new strategy that would produce greater effectiveness.

Let me say it plainly. The systems of many state conventions are not working. It is not the fault of the convention staff members; it is the system that is being used to operate the state convention. Simply, if a wagon is broken, it will not work right. Bringing in a new horse to pull the wagon is not going to make much difference. The wagon has to be fixed.

I believe, as indicated above, that the effectiveness of the state convention can be massively improved in participating in a new and different resourcing strategy with associations and churches.

IV. Spiritually Dysfunctional Churches

I have consulted in approximately 100-200 individual churches over the past 25 years. My positions in growing churches insulated me from the reality in many other churches. I finally came to believe that many churches have lost their reason for being. They have misplaced their mission. They have lost God’s vision for their church. Many have become inward focused. According to recent research, about 90% of our churches are somewhere in the dysfunctional camp. I recently had an honest conversation with a pastor. He said, “I don’t know what to do to get my church to become more effective, and if I knew what to do, I wouldn’t know how to do it.” That comment is laced with massive leadership needs.

So, the first line of attack on this dysfunctional situation is to do substantial leadership training for pastors. The training should include, but certainly not be limited to, vision development and vision casting, strategy development, situational self-leadership, lay leader development, mentoring skill development, spiritual formation activity, and to be safe, conflict management. This training should be done best, I would think, through the state conventions that might set up regional training schools for pastors. To be more specific, I would suggest that all pastors be invited to attend, but to make a special effort to reach pastors 45 years old and younger.

There remains, however, a most serious situation. Because of the inward focus of most churches, there are spiritual issues in the life of the church. When you can’t answer the question “Where is God working in your church or community?”, you are in trouble at the heart of what it means to be a Christian. It appears that in some if not many churches we have nice, but carnal Christians in leadership positions. No wonder we are in fighting and have taken our eyes off Jesus. We have lost the concept of surrender to the Lord. We no longer know what it means to sacrifice, and we certainly do not understand what it means to die to self. In short, churches are operating out of their own agenda rather than seeking God and working from His agenda.

Well, how do you deal with spiritual issues? Confession first comes to mind. But in reality, it has to do with a person’s relationship with God. I am sure it must have to do in part with intentional transformational discipleship. I am quite sure that it must involve a much more serious approach to prayer. It is probably dependent upon an outpouring of God’s Spirit; but it must accompany an understanding that as hard as we have tried, we have failed. It is time to move off our own agenda and onto God’s. Somewhere, somehow, we need to focus on being transformed into Kingdom People. The term we use today is “missional”. Again, that requires God’s intimate interaction with each of us, but it seems to me that we need to develop some rationale that would facilitate spiritual renewal. I will leave that strategy to the more spiritually minded. I am doing my best to keep my head above water.

If churches are inward focused and plateaued or dying, asking churches to give more to the cooperative program would be futile and is not the answer to our dilemma. We need to strengthen churches and start as many new ones as possible. That activity will address the Cooperative Program issue. Will every convention, association, and church be improved by the approach I am proposing? Probably not, but many will. I believe it is time to look with new eyes at our situation, stop bickering about inconsequential issues, rally around Jesus, and launch off into a new horizon that will hopefully lead to greater partnership with the Lord in His work.

I am just one person. But, I sense God is trying to get my attention. He keeps bothering me about all this stuff. I obviously do not have all the answers and I probably raise more questions than I answer. But, I think it is time for a serious dialogue. What do you think?

Dr. Larry Richmond, DoM
Gateway Baptist Association
Illinois

Timely or Timeless

Years ago, I remember a “western” that ended with two cowboys lamenting the loss of the old west. One scruffy old chuck wagon cook said, “The times, they are a changin’.” I’ve met more than one scruffy old Baptist that has lamented with the same thoughts. Unfortunately, all that many want to do is LAMENT. I think it’s time for some “sons of Issachar” to arise in our day and give a clarion call to our Southern Baptist Churches about the times we now face and what we need to do! This is a prime time for Associations/DOMs to step up.

As a young pastor (back when I still knew it all), I saw little or no need for the association. That may have been my arrogance or it may have been the expression of associationalism I saw in that day. As I’ve matured and allowed Christ to crucify my pride, I’ve found the great value of my mission partner that the present day association can be.

Being timely is a huge challenge to a tradition driven denomination like ours. We have many fears, not the least of which is theological liberalism. Let me lay that to rest immediately! I believe we must never abandon the timeless truths of God’s infallible word. When we used to believe and practice the great commission, Southern Baptist enjoyed our best days. Well, if we desire to have God’s blessing again, we must reinstate evangelism and missions as our top priorities. Without these, we’ll continue down the same failed path that other denominations have followed to oblivion. Having said that, how we do evangelism and missions is the timely part.

As an associational leader, director or missionary, this is our opportunity to help people understand the times and know what to do. Business as usual will never reignite anyone’s passion but Biblical obedience will. I think we need to realize that the days of automatic participation in associational work is behind us and the future of our work is providing entry points for participation according to Biblical passion. Therefore, the missionary or director needs to embrace the role of strategist. A strategist accesses the situation then presents a process of change. In the business book entitled “Judgment” by Noel M. Tichy and Warren G. Bemis, they identify four areas of critical decision-making.

They are:

• Self Knowledge
• Social Networking
• Contextual Understanding
• Organizational Structure

While nothing but the scriptures carries divine authority, we need to see what Jesus said in Luke 16:8 that sometimes the children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light. I think that happens because they are paying attention to the current situation. I love to see what God can do with principles gained from many realms when filtered through Scripture.

When we know who we are in Christ, we know how to use the gifts and experiences God has invested in us. When we see our context, it should become obvious what kind of ministry is needed, and what resources are available to us.

Our social networking is finding the right people to lead in the ministries we identify. Finally, the organizational structure is the process whereby we can move to application.

1 Peter 3:15 instructs us to be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks your reason of the hope that in is you. I believe this presupposes that we are doing something that causes them to ask the question. If we have an effective strategy in place, we should be actively causing some questions. In our setting, disaster relief, mission partnerships and church planting are some of the chosen tools we’ve used. As the churches have embraced a missions and evangelism strategy, I find that my job is a greater joy than ever before!

Steve Patterson. Director of Missions
Spring River Baptist Association
Joplin, MO
http://www.springriverbaptist.com/