Are Local Baptist Associations Dead?

There are some in SBC life who would respond “yes” to that question. Why?
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Because…

• some may give the association the “dead” name without realizing failure to lead their church to be involved locally hinders their own church members from the joy of building meaningful ministry relationships with fellow believers in their immediate area.
• some have experienced an associational leader who lacked the calling, training, leadership ability, or vision to enable effective collaborative mission involvement among the churches.
• some have experienced an associational leader who coasted toward retirement.
• some larger church pastors – and pastors who grew up in mega churches – have falsely concluded that associations are dead because they have not experienced the need for and the benefits of associational missions first hand. They have felt that their church could pretty much “do it all” themselves, whereas the vast majority of churches cannot.
• some pastors and church leaders are not willing to follow the leadership of a DOM/AMS because they are so focused on growing their church that they do not see the importance of growing God’s kingdom – starting in their own Jerusalem (Acts 1:8).

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