Build Bold Missional Strategy With a Different View
A perspective for local denominational organizations/judicatories on how they best empower their churches to serve from the base of their local context.
Rundown: Articles on Baptist associations are often applicable to the local denominational organizations/judicatories of various denominations. They may be called associations, districts, classis, synods, and by other names. They are typically organisms more than organizations. Relational more than functional. Regional and national expressions of denominations are more organizational and functional.
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Build Bold Missional Strategy With a Different View
"This is the fifth in a series of columns that will explain various strategies that could be used to experience the next wave of Kingdom progress." —George Bullard
Building a bold missional strategy begins by seeing your associational context as an unentered missions field with unreached people groups.
To see your context anew. To see your Jerusalem from the viewpoint of a missiologist rather than a church growth expert.
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Thus far in our quest to reveal 2025 as a year of “discerning next” for your association, we have talked about preparing spiritually and through meaningful fellowship. Now we need to talk about your local missions field.
To prepare spiritually, focus on convening pastors in small groups for dialogue and prayer.
Not pastors and closest colleagues, but pastors from a diversity of congregations in terms of size, location, membership characteristics, worship and ministry style, and even doctrinal diversity.
Pastors who are already best friends function as mini ecosystems. This stifles new learning.
For meaningful fellowship to exist in your association, it must happen primarily through lay leaders.
Let Lay Leaders Lead
A reasonable goal would be for at least seven lay leaders from the average size congregation to engage in fellowship activities with the family of congregations — not just their own congregation.
Start at the Beginning
Imagine there are no Great Commission, evangelistic, Great Commandment, Good News — choose your term — congregations in existence in your associational context, but there are people of varying demographic characteristics.
People who are young, old, long-term residents, new arrivals and various races, ethnicities and socioeconomic statuses may characterize your context.
Businesses of various types. Employers seeking people with specific job skills. Schools both public and private. Colleges and universities.
Houses of worship of diverse persuasions.
Plus, other characteristics you observe.
Your first task is to develop a full understanding of what is present in your associational context. Often you think you know, but a deep dive might surprise even long-term residents.
(Continue reading HERE.)
Let me hear from you if you want to talk about this.