This month’s blog is the second of a series based on a chapter by the same title that I wrote in a new book SBCAL has coming out this spring: The Baptist Association: Assisting Churches. Advancing the Gospel. Be on the lookout for it!
 
 Why the Descriptor: Associational Mission Strategist
     How did the blue-ribbon Study Team, after months of prayer, research, and study, come up with this new descriptor, Associational Mission Strategist (AMS)?[i] The title came out of the 17 Proficiencies that were agreed upon as most helpful for an associational leader to be successful, regardless of context.

​I love that question from Dan Reiland! I believe it is a great coaching question, as well as a great question to use in examining our own lives and ministry from time to time.
 
It is so easy to get in a rut and to keep doing the same things the same way week after week, month after month, year after year – without looking to see what the results are. 

​The above title was the topic of an SBCAL Pre-Conference Workshop I led in Dallas last month. (To listen to the entire Workshop click here.) I could not cover everything on this blog, but I wanted to share highlights that might be of help to potential DOMs/AMSs who could not be there.
 
Why do you want to become an Associational Leader?
Prayerfully examine your heart, motives, calling.
Is it to serve the Lord and His pastors and churches in fulfilling the Great Commission?
Is it to get out of a difficult pastorate or other ministry position?
Is it to have a stable ministry position to finish your career between now and retirement?
Is it to be a denominational leader for the sake of being a denominational leader?
Or is it because you believe - and other trusted individuals believe - you have the calling, compassion, skills, giftedness, and leadership ability to lead an association of churches?

As Associational Leaders, we are often inundated with resumes of candidates for pastor, associate pastor, as well as for ministry positions of music, youth, children, etc. If you are like me, I receive many more resumes than I have positions open in my churches.
 
What do you do with all these resumes? How do you respond with love, care, and concern to the person sending the resume, and yet not give them false hope? Do you “screen” your resumes before sending the names on to Search Committees to try to protect your churches, or not?

​As you know, there are different ways to handle pulpit supply.  Some DOMs post the list of preachers who have told them that they are available to preach on the association website and/or send that list to pastors and churches who ask for pulpit supply.
 
While that takes minimal effort, I believe it is not protecting and caring for our pastors and churches as we seek to “shepherd” those God has entrusted to our care, as much as it depends on us.  I am reminded of Paul’s statement in 2 Cor. 11:28, “Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me; my concern for all the churches.” (CSB) 

​“Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.” Proverbs 4:23 (CSB)
 
In my Quiet Time this month I am reading and praying through Proverbs.  Each year I take one month with 31 days and read a chapter in Proverbs each day that month.  I have waited until the last month this year because while going through other books of the Bible earlier this year, they always seemed to carry over from one month to the next.
 
Today being the fourth, I read Proverbs chapter 4.  The verse that stood out to me was v. 23.  I am reading from the new Christian Standard Study Bible, and I highly recommend it.
 
In the study notes, it says to guard something is to make sure that it does not get away and that it is safe from attack.  I was reminded that I need to guard what I allow my eyes to watch, see, and read, and what my ears listen to each day.  By doing so, I will not let my heart stray from God’s Word, and I will protect myself from the fiery darts of the evil one.