What Is Tar River Baptist Association?

Tar River Baptist Association 92 NC Hwy 56 East Louisburg, NC 27549 www.tarriverbaptist.com Associational Missionary – Dougald W. McLaurin, Jr. Church Development Director – Matthew Bowden Church Ministries Director – Meredith Byrd Ministry Assistant - Sherri Barham Bookkeeper – Susan Stamper Moderator – Bill Haley, Pastor Harris Chapel Baptist Church (Ideas presented in this presentation were compiled from ideas within other presentations) What Is Tar River Baptist Association?

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

A Family of Baptist Churches • The churches that make up the Tar River Baptist Association are autonomous, independent, self-governing churches that have chosen 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.

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)

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.

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

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

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

Established Purpose Of The Association To STRENGTHEN the local church….. and To IMPACT lostness in THIS generation!

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 .

The Association Is Self-governing The association is created by the churches and is accountable to those churches through messengers to the semi-annual meetings of the Association. The October meeting is where most business of the Association is transacted. The April meeting is to be celebratory in nature and the Annual Sermon is presented. The business of the Association can be introduced at each of the semi-annual meetings and/or special called meetings for a specific purpose, provided such business is in accordance with the ByLaws adopted by the full Association.

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

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.

What Is the Tar River Baptist Association? It is exactly what you - the member churches make it!

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 (the Finance Committee recommends at least 5% of their undesignated receipts); • By their attitudes and actions in providing leadership to the association.

The Churches Make Our Association a Vital Force for Advancing God’s Kingdom,ORThey Hold Back The Association by Their Lack of Support and Participation.

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);

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.

Tar River Baptist AssociationAssisting Churches. . . Poplar Spring Ransdell Chapel Red Bud Rock Spring Rocky Cross Saint's DelightSamaria Sandy Creek Social Plains Spring Hope First Stanhope Union Chapel Union Hope Union View Unity White Level Wood Word of Life Bailey Bethlehem Bunn Castalia Cedar Rock, First Centerville Community Corinth Cornerstone Cypress Chapel Duke Memorial Ephesus Flat Rock Franklinton Good Hope Grace Haven Harris Chapel Hickory Rock High Cross Cowboy Holly Grove Hopkins Chapel Living Hope Louisburg Maple Springs Mount Zion Mountain Grove Oak Grove Open Road Community Peace and Harmony Peachtree Pearce Perry's Chapel Philadelphia Pilot Pine Ridge Pleasant Grove

What Is Tar River Baptist Association?