What Is Anson Baptist Association?

1. What Is Anson Baptist Association? Director of Missions: James Parks Administrative Assistant:Barbara Kendall Permission to use portions of this presentation granted by J.K. Minton

2. Definition A Baptist association is a family of Southern Baptist churches sharing a common faith and partnering with one another to fulfill the Great Commission in their setting.

3. A Family of Southern Baptist Churches • The churches that comprise the Anson Baptist Association are autonomous, independent, self-governing churches that choose to partner together to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). • As a family, the churches form a relationship of interdependence to assist each other so that individually and corporately the churches might be more effective in their mission and to promote a sense of oneness and fellowship among the churches.

4. Sharing a Common Faith • The fellowship of an association is based upon a general harmony in faith and practices. • Although there may be some diversity among individual church practices and customs, an association is a doctrinally-based fellowship. Can two walk together, unlessthey are agreed?(Amos 3:3)

5. Partnering With One Another • The association was the first form of cooperation among Baptist churches; • The first mission activities of Baptists were through associations; • The association provides a means for churches to do a greater work together in their setting than they can do alone.

6. Fulfill the Great Commission • The mission of the local church is to make disciples of all people (Matthew 28:19-20) • The local church has the responsibility to fulfill this mission according to Acts 1:8: • Jerusalem – church field • Judea – association area • Samaria – state/regional area • Ends of the Earth – national/international ministry

7. In Their Setting The churches of the Anson Baptist Association minister in a geographical setting and share many common conditions, challenges, and ministry opportunities.

8. Mission of the Association The MISSION of the Anson Baptist Association is assisting churches in becoming the church God intended His church to be through Education, Evangelism, Fellowship, and Missions.

9. Develop Ministry Priorities to Implement Our Mission • Strengthen Churches: assist churches so they can be more effective in their ministry; • Promote Missions: create awareness to mission opportunities – start new churches and ministries; • Develop Leadership: train church leaders in administration/supervision skills, pastoral ministry, deacon ministry, crisis ministry, conflict resolution, and planning skills; • Nurture Fellowship: encouraging church leaders and members to develop personal relationships .

10. The Association Is Self-governing The association is created by the churches and is accountable to those churches through messengers to the annual meeting and representatives on the executive committee who are selected and approved by the churches.

11. The Association Is One of Several Baptist Entities With Which the Church May Partner Anson Baptist Association Baptist State Convention of NC Cooperative Program Southern Baptist Convention In Baptist life there is no higher power over the local church than God.

12. What Are Some Ways Our Association Can Assist Your Church? • Partner with your church in church planting/missions ventures; • Partner with your church in ministry opportunities; • Provide training opportunities for your church leaders/committees/teams; • Assist to help strengthen your church ministries; • Encourage and assist your pastor/pastoral staff; • Pray for your church; • Assist your church with ministry to students at local colleges and universities; • Facilitate disaster relief work for your church; • Coordinate building efforts for your church.

13. What Is the Anson Baptist Association? It is exactly what the churches make it!

14. How Do Churches Shape Our Association? • By their prayers; • By their expectations; • By their commitment to Kingdom principles of church missions/ministry (Acts 1:8); • By the significance they give to the role of their messengers and executive committee members; • By their involvement in associational planning; • By their financial support (at least 3% of their undesignated receipts); • By their attitudes and actions in providing leadership to the association.

15. Churches Make Our Association a Vital Force for Advancing God’s Kingdom,ORThey Hinder It by Their Lack of Support and Participation.

16. What Can You Do? • Investigate how the association can assist and/or support your church; • Communicate your own needs to associational leadership; • Discover your ministry and commit to “Judean” ministry through the association (Acts 1:8);

17. What Can You Do? • Participate in associational planning and training; • Design your church budget to support Acts 1:8 missions responsibilities through the association, the state convention, and the Southern Baptist Convention; • Faithfully serve the Lord Jesus and support your local church.

18. Anson Baptist AssociationAssisting Churches. . . Ansonville Brown Creek Calvary Cathedral Cedar Grove Deep Creek Deep Springs Faith Fall Branch Freedom Gum Springs Lilesville Mineral Springs Morven Mount Beulah Mount Carmel Mount Zion New Home North Wadesboro Oakdale Peachland Pleasant Grove Polkton Red Hill Rocky Mount Rocky River Southside Victory Wadesboro First