Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

Laypeople – the key to an effective association

  • February 26, 2023
  • George Bullard
  • Church Life, Latest News
(Unsplash photo)

Laypeople – the key to an effective association

Relationships and networking are very important in life.

When my daughter was in law school, she needed a summer internship between her second and third year. None of the available jobs in our city appealed to her.

With a tone of exasperation, she told me about a Christian advocacy organization in Washington she wished she could connect with.

I knew two members of their board, so I called one of them. My daughter got an interview, a job and a wonderful experience in our nation’s capital.

As a family of Baptist churches, relationships in associations are of the highest importance. Among the key relationships are those with pastors, church staff and laypeople.

Think long term

Effective associations understand that as important as relationships with pastors and church staff are, developing relationships with laypeople is the key to maintaining and growing their effectiveness.

Nothing about this observation undervalues the association’s relationship with pastors and staff. It is essential to develop a deep sense of community and support among pastors and church staff.

But over the long term, layperson relationships are key. Many laypeople are around for a lifetime, while on average, pastors and staff may serve a church within the association for seven years or less. (Of course, many exceptions exist where pastors and church staff serve in their roles for 30 years or more.)

During my years of focusing on Baptist associations, I observed many models of understanding the key role of laypeople. Larry, Josh, Mandy and Ryan – not their real names – are great examples.

Larry was a layperson who went into ministry after several years of secular employment. By his late 30s, he became the staff leader of an association. Going into the ministry, he understood the layperson’s perspective about associations.

Long before email and texting, he carried index cards in his shirt pocket. When visiting churches, he encountered laypeople with skills needed in the association. He asked them to write down their names, addresses and telephone numbers.

Soon these laypeople were receiving the association’s newsletter, invitations to events and communication about missions opportunities in the association and beyond. Over the years, many of these people became involved in leadership roles in the association.

Josh was covocational. He was the director of an association and ran a business about an hour north of his associational fellowship area. Through his business, he understood the importance of laypeople. 

He particularly sought laypeople who had a deep spiritual commitment and business savvy. He asked them to help launch new missional efforts within the association and to involve their churches.

One example was that the associational context was in a fast-growing area. New congregations would be needed in various locations. One group of laypeople Josh cultivated were involved in real estate, residential development and politics.

These laypeople helped anticipate new residential and commercial developments. Frequently they were able to purchase land early before prices dramatically increased. Or they convinced a developer to set aside land for a church.

Mandy was the ministries director in her association. She had grown up in the area and already knew many laypeople when she accepted her role in the association. 

She used these relationships to transform the fledgling food pantry efforts into a comprehensive hunger ministry movement. Her connections with women and men took a very small effort in disaster response involving only three churches to engaging more than two dozen churches.

Adding value

Ryan was an associational strategist for more than a quarter of a century. Due to his longevity, he worked with many churches during the interim between pastors.

At times he worked solely to train a church’s pastor search team. He also led a few churches in strategic planning during the interim. In some churches, he did this multiple times over the years.

Through these experiences he developed deep and loyal relationships with laypeople. These relationships added value to the churches in association. It also identified laypeople who became active in the association.

Now it is your turn. What do you need to do to focus on relationships and networking with laypeople in your association?

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Persecution, violence and religious freedom addressed at BWA Congress
    Persecution, violence and religious freedom addressed at BWA Congress
    July 16, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • First person: Why no one’s listening to your church and how to fix it
    First person: Why no one’s listening to your church and how to fix it
    July 16, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Lifeway names interim CEO, begins search for new president
    Lifeway names interim CEO, begins search for new president
    July 15, 2025/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Persecution, violence and religious freedom addressed at BWA Congress

Bruce Webb, pastor of The Woodlands First Baptist Church of Woodlands, Texas, recounted the history of Baptist advocacy for freedom of religion during a breakout

First person: Why no one’s listening to your church and how to fix it

You’re leading. You’re preaching. You’re promoting. But still… it feels like no one’s really listening. That’s not just frustrating; it’s exhausting.

Lifeway names interim CEO, begins search for new president

Trustees have asked Lifeway’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Joe Walker to serve as interim president and CEO until a new president is named, in accordance with Lifeway’s bylaws.

John MacArthur, megachurch pastor and voice of ‘Grace to You’ radio ministry, dies at 86

John MacArthur, megachurch pastor, culture warrior, author and longtime voice of the “Grace to You” radio program, has died. 

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel