Jesus' seven letters to the churches in Asia are better than any congregational study or consultant when getting to the heart of the challenges our churches face in the twenty-first century. One of the timeliest among the letters is Jesus' letter to the church at Sardis. Sardis was an archetype of the church that stopped living out her purpose. John was about 95 or 96 when the Emperor Domitian began his assault upon the Christians. Not only did Domitian try to kill off many of the Christians, he exiled some.

While serving the Birmingham Metro Baptist Association and shepherding this partnership of 180 churches with roots tracing back to the year 1833, I have broadened my concept of what is possible in associational ministry. The history and future of the 1,100 Baptist associations in the United States is blessed by God and the future is bright for associations of churches. Considering my experiences as the Executive Director of the BMBA, an associational missionary in a suburban/exurban association, and my 23-year pastoral ministry in churches of various contexts, I want to share a few thoughts on the challenges and opportunities confronting associations.

 Dear Birmingham Metro Baptists,

In the life of any church community, conflicts are inevitable. They can arise from various sources and at different times, causing tension and straining relationships among believers. James wrote, “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask” (James 4:1-2, ESV). As followers of Christ, we need to be aware of situations that may create church conflict and proactively work toward resolution and reconciliation.

Several years ago, I read a classic book on living out faith in the workplace called Your Work Matters to God by Doug Sherman. Doug made an important point, and I have never forgotten it: “Only one-third of the membership of a local church can be given a job doing church work. So, if you think that serving the Lord means doing some work in the church, then two-thirds of you are doomed to frustration and disappointment.” On the other hand, your workplace has untold ministry opportunities—no matter how restrictive your company may seem about issues of faith. Have you thought deeply about how your relationship with Jesus Christ can impact your workplace?

A church, like other organizations, relies heavily on its leaders to guide and direct its mission. When a leader leaves, whether due to retirement, resignation, or other reasons, it can create a power vacuum that can be detrimental to the church’s health and well-being. This power vacuum often results in conflicts and agendas among individuals who step into leadership positions, and these issues can lead to a decline in the overall functioning of the church.

Does a local church operate like a business? Most churches have employees, generate revenue (tithes and offerings), offer services to the local community, own property, and do business with other entities. One resource reported that religion in the United States is a $1.2 trillion per year business. Therefore, it is disingenuous to say that churches and Christian ministries do not operate in part in the realm of business. I certainly hope someone in each church has some business skills! 

Those who know me understand that I am a proponent of adoption, foster care, and other ministries to care for mothers and children. When I first held my oldest daughter in my arms at the courthouse, and the judge finalized the adoption, we paused and prayed for our daughter’s birthmother. The courage this young teenage birthmother displayed will be an inspiration to me. Thankfully, each congregation I have served has shared my concern for women and men who experience unplanned pregnancies. This posture of compassion is true of the Birmingham Metro Baptist Association as well. The church’s support and compassion radiate from hearts transformed by the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ.

Summer is time to get your church beyond the walls and into the community. Your members may respond well to basic projects that show the love of Jesus Christ to neighbors. As we pray for missions and give through the Cooperative Program, we must also live on mission and challenge our churches to serve as missionaries in the communities in which they live. As risks regarding the pandemic continue to diminish, now may be the right time for your church to refocus on reaching out with the Gospel and serving others. Here are three suggestions for summer mission projects.

What is the missing ingredient in the post-pandemic church? Why are many churches slow to rebound and reengage in ministry and meaningful discipleship? I assert that corporate prayer is that missing ingredient. When Jesus Christ drove out the moneychangers from the Temple in Jerusalem, he quoted Isaiah, “My house will be called a house of prayer” (Matthew 21:13). Perhaps the decline of the church’s influence in culture runs parallel to the decrease of corporate prayer in churches.

John 20:27-28 (ESV) He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

As a boy, I learned to pray by standing at the front window of our home—waiting for my father to come home from work. “God, I pray that my daddy doesn’t drink too much before coming home from work tonight.” My father’s attitude and personality would radically change when he spent time at the county-line bar. I doubted that my dad could change; he’d struggled with alcohol addiction since his father died when my dad was only fourteen years old. Yet, even with his deep flaws and struggles, I knew my daddy loved me.

Have you ever had an incredible day take a sudden turn for the worse? In fifth grade, my older brother drove me to see a movie; we had the best time—popcorn, soda, and the works! As my brother turned onto our street on the way home, I saw our house illuminated with blue, strobing police car lights. A neighbor suffering from dementia shot multiple rounds through the front window of our home, narrowly missing my father’s right ear! The bullet hole above my father’s chair was a conversation piece in our home for several days.

God’s Word commands us to “be hospitable” (Titus 1:8). A guest’s experience at your church in the first few moments dramatically influences whether they’re coming back or not. You never get a second chance to make a first impression. After visiting more than 150 churches in the past three years--some of those churches on several occasions--I can sympathize with church guests. It would be challenging for an unchurched person to walk into an unfamiliar building and encounter people they have never met to hear about a God with whom they may not have a relationship!

Dear Birmingham Baptists,

"Unfortunately, [the church growth movement] fell victim to an idolatry as old as the Tower of Babel, the belief that we are the architects of the work of God. As a result, we have the best churches men can build, but we are still waiting for the church that only God can get credit for" (Reggie McNeal, The Present Future, p. 23). McNeal's observation echoes the thoughts of prophetic voices like E.M. Bounds, A.W. Tozer, and Vance Havner, to name a few. The church has trusted in idols for growth and security instead of relying on the power of God. Will Mancini, in Church Unique, has identified four idols that replace God as the center of the church.

What is a local Baptist association?

Associations are self-governing entities made of Baptist churches sharing common faith who engage in mutual support and missions in a geographic area. The association provides avenues for fellowship and cooperative endeavors in Great Commission ministry. The primary source of funding for the local Baptist association is regular gifts from member churches within the association.

In my Human Growth and Development course, the professor told us that a human’s personality is formed by age five. “After that, it is almost impossible to change your core personality traits,” he said. God can and does change people at any point in our lifespan. I also believe that God can transform churches. Each congregation has a personality or culture. With the intervention of the Holy Spirit through the preached Word, God can bring new life to a declined church. For many churches in the Southern Baptist Convention, a church revitalization process is a tool God uses to change negative personality traits and transform a culture to reflect the purpose Jesus intends for His church.