The Weblog of Dennis Dawson
MEBA Redefined - 2009-02-23
A Time for Redefining Ourselves
The association of tomorrow is not and cannot be the one of yesterday or even the association of today. It must be the association of the future!
Our association must reposition itself to better assist our churches.We must, as an association, invest in our churches and provide for them a process for developing, connecting, and engaging the various people groups who make up the Metro-East.
We can no longer approach our work as an association in the same way that we have always done.The association cannot do the ministry for which God has ordained the church to do; it can assist the local church to be and do all that God wants it to do. The association exists for the churches and not the churches for the association.
The association is not a church. OUR PRIMARY GOAL as an association is to resource (assist) the God-given ministry vision of our churches.
So, how does this translate into action?
A. We will plant strong, healthy, reproducing churches that will in turn plant other churches.
B. We will find ways to strengthen and revitalize existing churches, especially those that have plateaued or are in a state of decline (75%).
C. We will develop servant “Lead-like-Jesus” leaders.
D. We will support and nurture healthy, united church staffs.
I see a day when every person and every people group in every community of the Metro East will have opportunity to hear the Gospel, respond with faith in Christ, and participate in a New Testament fellowship of believers.
How can this be? “For two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back to back and conquer, three are even better, for a triple braided cord is not easily broken. (Eccl. 4:9, 10, 12) We can accomplish the vision as we work together each church following its mandate from God.
My goal is that no church will have to stand alone and we will be an association of churches where strong, healthy congregations are planted, existing churches are becoming missional as they are strengthened and revitalized, and servant leaders are developed resulting in healthy, united church staffs serving our churches.