Baptist Associations Celebrate 300 Years In America

When something lasts for such a long time, it must have some value. Well, it is my belief that Baptist Associations hold great value. 300 years of existence in North America - long before a national convention existed, local churches saw the value to concentrate on that which they held in common and to work together in obedience to Christ. I celebrate the life and work of the associations of the past.

I continue to see value in local churches working together in and through their local Baptist Associations. There is added strength as we commit to work together in the monumental task that stands before us in the local arena. Yes - we, as Baptists, have always been pretty diverse. And yes - there are times we struggle through some of those differences. But in the local association, the family of God that worships in our Baptist Churches find ways to continue to work together to advance the Kingdom.

For an association to accomplish the task before us, we must renew our commitment to work together. There is a tremendous harvest field before us locally - the Baptist Churches of our communities need to work together to reach the Lost. There are countless "babes in Christ" that need to be disciples - the Baptist churches of our area need to work together to help "sure up" one another in discipleship for the work that is before us. There are countless needs (spiritual and temporal) that need the hands of all of us ministering in the Name of Jesus Christ. It is my prayer that - as we celebrate our 300th birthday, we will renew our commitment to continue to work in association with one another to both reach our local mission field for Christ and equip our local churches to reach our world for Christ.

I look forward to the years ahead as an Associational Missionary. These are EXCITING times to serve our Lord. I look forward to working with other Associational Missionaries accross our nation - not just to celbrate this summer in San Antonio, but also to work with them as we equip our local churches to go out into those harvest fields. 300 years from now (2307), I pray we will have been found faithful to the command of God.

Pray with me that TRBA will be all that God is calling us to be together. Pray with me that there will be a new and fresh commitment amongst His people to the cause of Christ in our communities and the command of Christ to His Church.

Christ is the glue that holds us together! It is a JOY to be bound to Him that holds us secure in his hand as we commit to serving Him together in the work that is before us.