Is there value in an Association?

From the D.O.M.: Glenn Davis
Monday, September 1, 2008

Have you watched the Summer Olympics? If you have followed those games you have heard about the gold medal won in the Men's 4 x 100 Freestyle Swim. Four members of the USA Men's Swim Team competed against a dominant French team. But overcoming the odds, the Americans won.

Who won the race for the Americans? It was not one swimmer, but four. Though Lezak anchored the team with an amazing comeback, each swimmer did their part to win the gold. It was an effort made by the whole swim team. This is just one more example of the power of a team working together.

As an association, we recognize the power of working together. None of us are Michael Phelps or Jason Lezak, or any of the rest of that gold medal winning team. But we are people whom God has gifted, and churches whom Christ has established. We are called together for one purpose. That purpose is His glory.

Is there value in association?

The early churches found value in association. Association and cooperation is modeled in the NT. Churches did not operate independently.

  • The church at Jerusalem sent Barnabas to help the work at Antioch.
  • The church at Antioch sent Paul and Barnabas off to start churches.
  • Then these younger churches such as Antioch and Corinth gave back financially to the needs in Judea.

Do you see value in association?

Friends, I don't have time to tell you all that the churches in this association are doing as they cooperate together. Because of your work together there are new Bible Studies beginning, there are new church planters coming to Wichita, there are churches that are being encouraged and trained, there are pastors blessing and encouraging one another, there are churches partnering together to do the work of the Kingdom, and there are dreams of mission trips by those who have never been.

As I look across this association, I see the Lord doing wonderful things for His glory. Who but God can link churches with missions, dreams with resources, and workers with needs?

For 56 years, since 1952, the Southern Baptist churches in this area have worked together because they believed that we can do more together, than we can do alone. The value of this strategy has not changed. There is still benefit in us working together.

I want to express my appreciation for the cooperation of the churches of Heart of Kansas Southern Baptist Association. As we look to the future, it is with great anticipation of what the Lord is going to do in and through the churches. As an association, we want to come along side your church. Please let us know how we can be a help.