Church secretaries/ministry assistants make invaluable contributions “behind the scenes,” affirmed Julia Binford, president of the Tennessee Baptist Secretaries Association.
TBSA, which meets every other year, met April 8–10 at First Baptist Church Sevierville with approximately 85 ministry assistants from across the state in attendance.
In her welcome to those in attendance, Binford encouraged them that “your dedication and hard work are not unnoticed.”
She noted, “In the fast-paced world we navigate, it’s easy for the efforts of those working diligently behind the scenes to be overshadowed.” Binford is the ministry assistant at Leawood East Baptist Church in Memphis.
Keeping ‘the gears running smoothly’
“Yet, it is your unwavering commitment that keeps the gears running smoothly, assuring the success of our collective mission,” she added.
Binford observed that every document prepared and every phone call answered with grace plays a vital role within the church. “Your role is not just administrative; it is foundational. You are the backbone of your churches/associations’ endeavors.”
First line of defense
Heather Beard, an administrative assistant for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, is the staff liaison for TBSA. While agreeing that most of the work performed by ministry assistants is behind the scenes, many of them “are often the first person someone from outside the church sees. They view what they do as a ministry,” she added.
Amanda McMahan, ministry assistant at Buffalo Trail Baptist Church in Morristown, agreed with that assessment. “We are often the first responder in lending help to those in need,” she said.
Binford agreed. “When a death or sickness occurs, the ministry assistant is often the first responder.”
Melissa Toney, ministry assistant at East Rogersville Baptist Church in Rogersville, noted that she answers calls or texts “whether I am at the church or not,” she said, in order to contact the pastor or associate pastor when it can’t wait until the next day.
On the flip side of what ministry assistants wish their members realized about their ministry, Andrea Landrum of Trinity Baptist Church, Manchester, noted she is not on call 24 hours a day. She encourages church members to “respect the boundaries of my worship time with my work time.”
Landrum was actually a member of the church for 27 years before becoming the ministry assistant. “The people truly feel like my family and I love to help them and their ministries,” she affirmed.
TBSA also includes secretaries and ministry assistants of Baptist associations in Tennessee.
Outgoing officer Christy Tull (West Tennessee representative) observed that ministry assistants “have the opportunity to serve as the hands, feet and mouthpiece of Christ. …
“It is an honor and a privilege to serve the Lord wherever He leads,” said Tull, who recently moved to Tennessee with her husband and is now a ministry assistant with the TBMB. She served as ministry assistant at Malesus Baptist Church in Jackson for eight years.
‘Source of encouragement, empowerment and connection’
The three-day conference offered plenty of learning opportunities and time for fellowship with other ministry assistants.
Breakout conferences included topics such as benevolence, how to have a quiet time, accounting, legal issues, protecting children, responding to disasters, establishing boundaries and more.
Main session speakers included Donna Roland, Christian image consultant, and Tony Rankin, minister of pastoral care at First Baptist Church Nashville.
Binford said her desire was that the conference was a “source of encouragement, empowerment and connection” for those in attendance.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Lonnie Wilkey and originally published by Baptist and Reflector.
