Doing together what no church can do alone has been the long-standing goal of associational missions in America. And this year, as people across the country celebrate 300 years of cooperative ministry and missions work, Alabama Baptists join together to remember the past and look to the future of associational missions.
“It’s good for us to celebrate this anniversary because it reminds us of our history, which forms the foundation on which we build the future,” said Gary Swafford, director of the office of associational missions and church planting for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM). “It’s important to understand the history of the Baptist association so we can see the importance of it now and work together in a more effective way to meet the opportunities of the future.”
One way the SBOM is observing the anniversary is with a director of missions (DOM) of the year award, which will be presented at the state convention annual meeting in November. Swafford is also encouraging Alabama Baptists to observe the anniversary in their local congregations and associations.
Winston Baptist Association has been one of several associations to commemorate the anniversary, holding a May 20 reception to celebrate past, present and future associational work. At the event, DOM Al Hood gave out copies of his booklet “Too Many Candles to Count,” which details the history of associational work in America and Winston County.
“The original vision of the association was to come together for fellowship, education, missions and doctrinal stability,” Hood said. “Now, more than ever, we need that because of our society. We’re almost to the point where I think people have lost sight of what our Baptist organizations can do and how they can be a part of that. There is still a cooperative effort that’s needed.”
Chilton Baptist Association sponsored an open house May 19 to celebrate the longevity and value of associations. DOM Larry Felkins, who currently serves as president of the Alabama DOMs, believes the association was the natural place to turn for fellowship and issues bigger than the local church.
“You can say that associational work gave birth to all the other denominational organizations, entities and structure,” he said. “That’s where we learned to come together and work together. … I think the founders (of Baptist associations) began to see that no matter how big a church might get, they were not big enough to have all the answers and do everything themselves. The Great Commission is too big for any one church to fulfill by themselves.”
In addition to the 300th anniversary, Marshall Baptist Association also celebrated its 120th anniversary with an open house May 20. DOM Randall Stoner said he considers it a blessing to partner together with churches to “build the kingdom of God.”
“It excites me to see … people pull together for the cause of Christ,” Stoner said. “They are willing to get out of the walls of the church, go out into the community unselfishly, find people with different needs and reach out to them.”
On the national level, the Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Directors of Missions will commemorate the 300th anniversary with a June 10 celebration rally prior to the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) annual meeting in San Antonio. Woman’s Missionary Union will join the group’s celebration as a kickoff to its own meeting. Two days later during the SBC annual meeting, messengers will also recognize the anniversary.
Although associational methods have changed through the years, Swafford believes the purpose has not been altered.
“The actual formation of the association came out of the desire of local church leaders to do ministry and missions beyond the walls of their church and beyond the bounds of their community,” he said. “My hope is that churches will see the benefit that comes by having a facilitator that will help them do more ministry and missions through partnership than they could if each church tried to carry out the Great Commission on its own.”
Rick Lance, executive director of the SBOM, said, “Like the SBOM, associations in Alabama Baptist life understand the value of being relational. We cannot reach Alabama for Christ without partnerships. Relationships are vital in helping Alabama Baptists to reach their Jerusalem and Judea.”
Although the endeavors of associations have played a large role in reaching non-Christians in the past, Felkins, Stoner and Hood also have high hopes for the future of associational missions.
“The challenge for us is to remain relevant,” Felkins said. “We must stay connected to the local church. We can do that by understanding that we are here to serve, assist, encourage and support the local church. If we start thinking that we are a separate entity, then we have lost our focus and cease to have reason to exist.”
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