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
Are there locations in your context that lack sufficient gospel ministry? Which people groups are being neglected or underserved?
Is your association ready to announce a jubilee year for 2026?
Building a bold missional strategy begins by seeing your associational context as an unentered missions field with unreached people groups.
“Associational mission strategists tend to come from pastorates or from church or denominational staff. Thus, they may believe the key to deep, meaningful fellowship is people like them. It is not,” writes George Bullard.
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