LamberthLINES

Terry Lamberth, Director of Missions

I have just completed seventeen years as the Director of Missions for Clay-Platte Baptist Association. Where has the time gone? I appreciate the opportunities I have had over these years of ministry. There have been some really great events and successes in our work together in missions. My reflections make me realize the importance of planning, praying and relating to church and associational leaders. The planning over these years has been in relation to the other two associations, Blue River Kansas City and Kansas City, Kansas. The networking and participating in mission projects has been a great contribution to our working together in our attempt to reach this area for Christ. This relationship continues with our efforts in the Strategic Focus Cities process.

In April several of our pastors were interviewed to determine what churches are doing and planning to do in reaching people. A report and a diagnosis will be presented later this summer. The results of strategic planning over these years has resulted in moving our office, changing staff, changing our structure, and putting more emphasis into resourcing churches to accomplish their purpose. I believe we must continue to determine what our priorities should be and mold the organization to fit the initiative priorities. I am hoping this will happen this year as we review the diagnosis from the Strategic Focus City process this summer. Our structure to date was a grand attempt to do some great mission work in our association.

It has become apparent to me that we must focus in on fewer initiatives in order to accomplish better results. I think we have done some great events and programs over these years but it is difficult to get seventy plus people involved on a consistent basis for several years. I am hoping that we can put more energy into resourcing what churches want to do instead of a lot of associational events that pull people away from their church responsibilities. Helping local churches is where we need to concentrate our efforts. I will be talking with our leadership about this and hopefully we can find a great way to accomplish this endeavor. Along the way we have and will need to make adjustments to our organization and to our policies. Some new policies were approved at the Leadership Team meeting on April 24. These policies pertain to churches applying for membership and for assisting “new church starts.” The policies read as follows:

1. For churches requesting membership into the Clay-Platte Baptist Association: When a church makes a request for membership into the Clay-Platte Baptist Association, the Credentials Committee will use the historic Baptist statements of faith (e.g. Baptist Faith and Message 1925, 1963 or 2000 of the SBC) as the basis for dialogue regarding a church’s beliefs and practices of faith.

2. For “new church starts:” When a “new church start” desires to receive assistance from the Clay-Platte Baptist Association, the associational leaders assigned to managing “new church starts” will use the historic Baptist statements of faith (e.g. Baptist Faith and Message, 1925, 1963 or 2000 of the SBC) as the basis for a dialogue regarding the new church’s beliefs and practices of faith.

I look forward to our future and to what God will do through the work of our churches. Pray for the leaders as they give attention to making adjustments to our mission work in these two fast growing counties.

Terry