There is a lot of buzz around the SBC world about our state conventions. The upcoming state convention meetings will be especially interesting as state-level GCR committees in Florida and Kentucky will be proposing new CP giving breakdowns as part of their recommendations. (This is a topic of debate because the 50/50 split is a little deceptive since the states often take a portion off the top before breaking the money up 50-50) There are some more extreme opinions concerning the state convention - proposing the complete abandonment of state conventions or proposing a 70/30 split.
Over the last few months I have heard a number of passionate appeals concerning how our state conventions use CP monies and how much of that money is kept within the state. The appeal is usually that we are neglecting our international mission efforts so that we might continue spinning a worthless wheel of bureaucracy in our state convention offices. Some of these appeals make the state conventions out to be money-hungry fat-cats, living off huge salaries and performing imaginary ministries. Before we jump to such extreme conclusions we should take a good look at what is really happening in our state conventions. I, for one, support our state conventions and this is why . . .
1. I support our state conventions because lostness is not just an international problem. I realize that this may not be the ‘trendiness’ topic to bring up but it is something we must reconcile with our current ideology because I feel we may be on the verge of ignoring what God wants to do among our partnerships here in the states. Understand this, before we move on, I heartily support our International Mission Board. At First Sparkman we are passionate about what God is doing all around the world and will continue to show our support through praying, giving and going. That being said, I am convinced that Scripture points us towards a holistic and balanced understanding of mission, especially in Acts 1:8. We must not de-fund or de-support our stateside mission work because America is lost and people need Christ. We must distance ourselves from the type of missionary and theological arrogance that can easily plague our churches. We don’t hold all the answers and what God is doing is global. Global includes where we are - even within the southern states. This does NOT mean that we ignore what God is doing all over the world. This does not mean we should be selfish with our resources. This simply means that we believe God is doing something here that we could never do on our own. We must always be looking at ways to be better stewards with what God has blessed us with. We must always be concerned with what God is doing around the world. We have to come to terms with the possibility that our problem is not really with our structure but with our unwillingness to give sacrificially.
2. I support our state conventions because they help us fulfill the work of the Great Commission. The argument usually goes that we can reduce our support of our state conventions because the work should be done by our churches instead. A couple of things follow this.
a. The work of the state conventions is done by local churches and through local churches
b. The vast majority of SBC churches are small and do not have the local resources to complete all the vital ministries that are supported through our state conventions.
Gospel partnership goes back to the evidence we find in the letters of Paul as he would travel from church to church collecting offerings for the church in Jerusalem. Baptist churches have partnered together, despite our fierce independent spirit, in order to do things we could never do alone. There is misunderstanding when someone says that we are ‘out-sourcing’ our mission work in the SBC. What happens in our state conventions happens through the ministries of churches. The state convention works to support and bolster what God is doing through the local church. These ministries do no replace what is happening in churches. Instead, they enrich what God is doing in local churches.
Being a small church, First Sparkman is unable to sustain ministries like children homes, disaster relief, pregnancy centers or new church plants. When we partner with our state convention, we have a part in what God is doing through those ministries. Our partnership does not stop there. We are able to go and be involved with disaster relief following a hurricane. We are able to go to our Children’s home here in Arkansas and be a part of the lives of the kids that live there. This is far from ‘out-sourcing’ ministry. This is gospel partnership.
There appears to be a disconnect in our denomination’s understanding concerning the work of the state convention. From my experience (and this is only my opinion from my experience and is by no means an official opinion) there is often a disconnect when it comes to church size and resource availability. In Sparkman we really appreciate the ability to call our convention office when we need help. There are many times when we need guidance concerning a ministry, administration issue or vision planning. Our state convention office has helped us promote missions, start new ministries and get through some rough spots in the journey. There are churches that pay thousands of dollars for ministry consultation. For us, it is only a free phone call away. Their work is part of our work. We partner together for the good of the gospel.
3. I support the work of our state conventions because I believe they are uniquely equipped to do certain ministries. There are things our state conventions can accomplish that NAMB or the IMB may not be able to do. There are things our state conventions can accomplish that no one church could accomplish on their own. Through the partnership of a state convention, unique ministries are able to take place. Each state is unique - with certain needs and opportunities. A church-start model that is successful in Southern California or North Dallas may not be suited for rural Arkansas or suburban Little Rock. The work of our state conventions happen because our churches are passionate about these ministries. The ministries that populate the work of our conventions did not just magically appear as a way to spend money. No, they are the result of prayer, partnership and work based upon the call of our local churches.
There are many changes coming in our Southern Baptist work. We must not, in my opinion, ignore what God has done, is doing and will do through the work of our state conventions. We must always ensure that we are using God’s resources to his glory and, in my opinion, that is what is happening in many of our state conventions.
God is working all around the world - even down in Arkansas.
Over the last few months I have heard a number of passionate appeals concerning how our state conventions use CP monies and how much of that money is kept within the state. The appeal is usually that we are neglecting our international mission efforts so that we might continue spinning a worthless wheel of bureaucracy in our state convention offices. Some of these appeals make the state conventions out to be money-hungry fat-cats, living off huge salaries and performing imaginary ministries. Before we jump to such extreme conclusions we should take a good look at what is really happening in our state conventions. I, for one, support our state conventions and this is why . . .
1. I support our state conventions because lostness is not just an international problem. I realize that this may not be the ‘trendiness’ topic to bring up but it is something we must reconcile with our current ideology because I feel we may be on the verge of ignoring what God wants to do among our partnerships here in the states. Understand this, before we move on, I heartily support our International Mission Board. At First Sparkman we are passionate about what God is doing all around the world and will continue to show our support through praying, giving and going. That being said, I am convinced that Scripture points us towards a holistic and balanced understanding of mission, especially in Acts 1:8. We must not de-fund or de-support our stateside mission work because America is lost and people need Christ. We must distance ourselves from the type of missionary and theological arrogance that can easily plague our churches. We don’t hold all the answers and what God is doing is global. Global includes where we are - even within the southern states. This does NOT mean that we ignore what God is doing all over the world. This does not mean we should be selfish with our resources. This simply means that we believe God is doing something here that we could never do on our own. We must always be looking at ways to be better stewards with what God has blessed us with. We must always be concerned with what God is doing around the world. We have to come to terms with the possibility that our problem is not really with our structure but with our unwillingness to give sacrificially.
2. I support our state conventions because they help us fulfill the work of the Great Commission. The argument usually goes that we can reduce our support of our state conventions because the work should be done by our churches instead. A couple of things follow this.
a. The work of the state conventions is done by local churches and through local churches
b. The vast majority of SBC churches are small and do not have the local resources to complete all the vital ministries that are supported through our state conventions.
Gospel partnership goes back to the evidence we find in the letters of Paul as he would travel from church to church collecting offerings for the church in Jerusalem. Baptist churches have partnered together, despite our fierce independent spirit, in order to do things we could never do alone. There is misunderstanding when someone says that we are ‘out-sourcing’ our mission work in the SBC. What happens in our state conventions happens through the ministries of churches. The state convention works to support and bolster what God is doing through the local church. These ministries do no replace what is happening in churches. Instead, they enrich what God is doing in local churches.
Being a small church, First Sparkman is unable to sustain ministries like children homes, disaster relief, pregnancy centers or new church plants. When we partner with our state convention, we have a part in what God is doing through those ministries. Our partnership does not stop there. We are able to go and be involved with disaster relief following a hurricane. We are able to go to our Children’s home here in Arkansas and be a part of the lives of the kids that live there. This is far from ‘out-sourcing’ ministry. This is gospel partnership.
There appears to be a disconnect in our denomination’s understanding concerning the work of the state convention. From my experience (and this is only my opinion from my experience and is by no means an official opinion) there is often a disconnect when it comes to church size and resource availability. In Sparkman we really appreciate the ability to call our convention office when we need help. There are many times when we need guidance concerning a ministry, administration issue or vision planning. Our state convention office has helped us promote missions, start new ministries and get through some rough spots in the journey. There are churches that pay thousands of dollars for ministry consultation. For us, it is only a free phone call away. Their work is part of our work. We partner together for the good of the gospel.
3. I support the work of our state conventions because I believe they are uniquely equipped to do certain ministries. There are things our state conventions can accomplish that NAMB or the IMB may not be able to do. There are things our state conventions can accomplish that no one church could accomplish on their own. Through the partnership of a state convention, unique ministries are able to take place. Each state is unique - with certain needs and opportunities. A church-start model that is successful in Southern California or North Dallas may not be suited for rural Arkansas or suburban Little Rock. The work of our state conventions happen because our churches are passionate about these ministries. The ministries that populate the work of our conventions did not just magically appear as a way to spend money. No, they are the result of prayer, partnership and work based upon the call of our local churches.
There are many changes coming in our Southern Baptist work. We must not, in my opinion, ignore what God has done, is doing and will do through the work of our state conventions. We must always ensure that we are using God’s resources to his glory and, in my opinion, that is what is happening in many of our state conventions.
God is working all around the world - even down in Arkansas.
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