Associations In America Celebrate 300 Years

In 2007 Baptist Associaitons celebrate 300 year 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. 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; disciple those that believe; and minister to the needs of hurting people in Jesus' Name.

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.

This year I am privileged to represent North Carolina on the National Leadership Team of the Network of Baptist Associations. This is a national group of Associational Missionaries that work to better equip themselves to serve as associational missionaries. We are a diverse group. We all serve differently in the work God has called us to do. Some are like me - 50+ churches with a total membership of 10,000+ and some have 500+ churches with well over a million members. But we are committed to work TOGETHER to advance the cause of Christ through the local church.

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.

New Year's Resolution

A friend sent this as a verse to guide for 2007. Thought I would share it with you. Take some time to meditate upon it word by word/phrase by phrase:

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5

- TRUST in the Lord
- Trust in the LORD
- With ALL thine heart
- And lean NOT unto thine own understanding
- In ALL thy ways ACKNOWLEDGE Him
- HE WILL DIRECT THY PATHS

Yesterday I used an illustration in a sermon from an old song that I think also applies. The song, "Day By Day."

The words are simple -- "Oh Dear Lord, THREE things I pray. SEE thee more clearly----LOVE thee more dearly----FOLLOW thee more nearly." What a good New Year's Resolve----

It is my prayer that God's people will indeed SEE more clearly by spending time with God and in His Word; that we will be obedient to the command to Love God with all our hearts (and our neighbors as ourselves); and that we will strive to be "imitators of God" as commanded in Romans and be obedient to Christ when He said, "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men."

If we will see more clearly--love more dearly---follow more nealry, there will be revival in the land for there would be a renewed church that is alive,vibrant, growing, and energized to BE the church that God has called us to be to this generation.