Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:20 would seem to be an apt motto for the work of Alabama’s associational missions: “For where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them.”
As associations across the state observe Associational Missions Week May 22-25, directors of missions (DOM) from several associations across the state said their importance cannot be overstated.
“I believe the association is part of the glue that holds us together as Southern Baptists,” said Jerry Wilkins, DOM, Tuscaloosa Association.
Wilkins said associations strengthen churches by offering resources to accomplish goals that may be impossible without assistance. His position was echoed by Bob Thornton, DOM, Etowah Association.
“We can do together what no (one) church can do alone,” Thornton said. “No church could do alone all of the benevolence ministries we do for Etowah County.”
One example cited by Thornton is missions efforts through partnerships with the North American Mission Board.
“A lot of the people who work on these projects are from smaller churches,” he said.
While Mobile Association serves a larger population, Carol Henderson, administrative assistant to Mobile DOM Mike Anderson, said along with the larger “megachurches” in the area, there are also smaller churches that need the services an association offers.
“The majority of our churches are small churches,” Henderson said. “It’s very important for us to offer things to them.”
Henderson said associations are able to offer training, along with events like the Mobile Association’s “Missions Encounter 2000” May 24.
Bragging on the event, she said it is designed for children to experience missions opportunities and features North American, international, state and associational missionaries.
“We offer a lot of things for children,” Henderson said.
Wilkins said “local fellowship goes a long way” toward helping churches stay together as a family. In addition to assisting each other, he said associations offer a variety of programs that benefit the community.
Among the examples he cited of community involvement are a food and clothing bank, teaching English as a second language and a free medical clinic he said Tuscaloosa Association “gave birth to.”
In providing services to the community, he said the association also finds another way to share God’s word.
“We make sure that every ministry has an evangelistic outreach to it,” Wilkins said.
Long before churches attempt to minister to others, though, they must be prepared. To that end, Thornton said associations are able to strengthen the ministry of individual churches.
Thornton said Etowah Association has a library containing resources for leadership development, working with youth, children, etc., that is available to association churches. In addition, he said associational leadership teams help individual church members with the development of leadership skills.
Thornton said associations also work across denominational lines with other churches to work against issues such as last fall’s proposed statewide lottery gambling.
“The association is important, because it can effectively unite the larger Baptist family to cooperatively engage in events and programs that advance the kingdom of God,” said Colbert-Lauderdale DOM James Warren.
One of the efforts by Colbert-Lauderdale Association Warren is working with is the Baptist Campus Ministry at the University of North Alabama and Shoals Community College. Warren said the association also offers Chris-tian counseling services, housing for missionaries, an associational camp and other initiatives he said that benefit both churches and the community.
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