As I sat across the desk from the pastor, I heard him describe a congregation with many great qualities. But they had no idea about where they were headed, much less what God’s empowering vision might be for their next seven years.
If I ask you about your teenage years, you might tell me you were the perfect adolescent. If so, I know you also lie about other things.
You can help new congregations succeed beyond their first generation by supporting them during two critical early stages.
Interventions may occur during pastor transitions, strategic planning efforts or the construction of a new building. Otherwise, the underlying, less visible issues of the life cycle of congregations are ineffectively addressed.
An association ideally functions like a family of congregations collaborating on God’s mission within their context. This reduces the necessity to invite people to a building.
It is 2033. Enrique Hernandez, associational mission strategist for the Southwest Baptist Association, attended a conference for associational leaders. Returning home, he felt excited, motivated
If your association catches a vision for imagining itself in the lead missional role in the denomination by the year 2033, you will be proactively different.
Now is the time to give your associational context something to talk about — but not like the song popularized by singer Bonnie Raitt that talks about romantic love.
The answer to the growth dilemma is obvious. When it is shared with congregations, they often reject it in favor of doing things to help existing congregations remain or become vital and vibrant.
The Year of Jubilee for your association in 2026 presents an excellent opportunity to replace a decades old approach to revitalizing and replanting congregations. We
