The Genius of Baptist Associations

Grace and Peace to You,


In Southern Baptist Church life, there is a fundamental concept of "cooperation." In fact, one of our most common avenues of connection is the missions support mechanism called "The Cooperative Program." Notice in the following text, please, how that principle works at the associational level.


Associations in SBC life are clusters of Baptist churches that work together to accomplish that which cannot be done by a lone congregation for God's Kingdom. Realistically, no one church will reach everyone with the message of the gospel. Working together, churches are more effective in delivering the message of the gospel to the varied people of a given area. In the central Louisiana Parishes, Rapides and Grant, three associations with a total of 92 churches have voluntarily chosen to work together in telling the people who populate these Parishes about the Good News that is the gospel. To come to that point of cooperation, churches have adopted basic principles:


1. Every Person in Central Louisiana Must Hear. So, then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing comes by the word of God (Romans 10:17). We believe that a person who dies without faith in Christ here in central Louisiana will suffer the same eternity apart from God as a person who dies without faith in Christ in some distant country.


2. Every Church in Central Louisiana Must Share in the Task. Multiple approaches are needed and in the providence of God, central Louisiana churches are perfectly positioned and wonderfully diverse in order to relate to the people who occupy this part of our beloved Louisiana.


3. Cooperation is Our Foundation. Working together, churches support the associations ministries and provide for the coordinated efforts that help us do that which can not be done by any single church.


In central Louisiana, three associations have bound themselves together to provide an associational office and a Director of Missions. The Baptist Mission Center is our associational office and it is engaged at the "Front Lines" of the ministry to churches and pastors who are giving their best in sharing the gospel in central Louisiana. We exist to help...whatever form that may take...the churches of central Louisiana. As the Director of Missions, it is my joy to partner with central Louisiana churches, to worship in those churches, and to be of service to each one. Call on me anytime.


Blessings,
Robert Daniel,
Director of Missions
Big Creek, Central Louisiana, and North Rapides Baptist Associations