The Association of the Future

News: Mark Jackson
Saturday, September 1, 2007

The assignment of leading daily activities for the Heart of Kansas Southern Baptist Association during this period of transition has given me pause to reflect on our future. Should we continue on our current path or is God calling us to an even greater place of significance in His Kingdom? What is working in other associations? What is not working? Has anyone else been thinking about this?

A few months ago, I was invited to attend a workshop hosted by our North American Mission Board on the subject of associational design for the future. I was intrigued as I listened to testimonies of associations that had re-invented themselves to greater serve the Kingdom of God. This workshop focused on developing a responsive structure that met the needs of the associational churches in the areas they deemed vital. These areas have usually included leadership development, missions and church planting, church health and revitalization, peer-group learning, and strategic planning. Having a responsive structure requires an association to be nimble in meeting emerging needs and efficient in conducting ongoing business. Committees, in the association of the future, are greatly reduced to the strategic few and directed by volunteers who have a passion for that area.

I cannot effectively, in this column, relay to you all the exciting ideas I was exposed to during this workshop, so I have invited Hugh Townsend, one of the primary instructors from NAMB, to give us an overview of "The Association of the Future". This is a critical time for our association and I believe we need to consider what changes God may have for us. This topic will be addressed in both an afternoon session and repeated in the evening. All individuals are invited.

The Association of the Future

  • Hugh Townsend
  • Thursday, October 25, 2007
  • Noon - 2:00 p.m. Or 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
  • Westview Baptist Church
  • 1325 S. Meridian

An optional meal will be served for $5.00. Please call in meal reservations to 943-3446.