The Weblog of Dennis Dawson
Onward - 2009-09-24
I am thrilled to be celebrating one year as MEBA's Executive Director of Missions. As I looked at the report that I gave a year ago (on September 11, 2008), I saw opportunity to investigate, evaluate and celebrate. Allow me to elaborate.
My first words were words of gratitude. I can honestly say to you that my love and gratitude for you and all of the folks of the Metro-East Baptist Association has grown exponentially. I love you and look forward to the days ahead as we work together to share the Good News with our communities.
I then shared “Three R’s” that are important to our effectiveness as an Association. Here is an update:
• Relationship: I have now visited with all but a couple of our congregations. The Task Groups and I are forming a strategy that will maintain contact with all of our congregations on a regular basis. We will continue to strengthen relationships. New relationships are being developed with new congregations that are being planted and established churches that are expressing an interest in affiliating with MEBA.
• Relevance: No more “we’ve never done it that way before.” Our goal is to work through our Task Groups to discover needs and act accordingly. Thus, the MEBA calendar now looks different than before.
• Results: Our goal is changed lives as a result of on-mission people of God. I will share some stories about just that at our Annual Meeting next month…strengthened churches, new congregations and Acts 1:8 Christians. I look forward to the day when all people groups from all communities of the Metro-East have opportunity to respond to the Gospel and be a part of a local New Testament church.
Since we last met,our task groups, all of whom will begin with new leadership in the coming year did the following:
• Purpose: Our Task groups just completed a process designed to help us to think strategically and act accordingly. As mentioned before, we are now engaged in an intentional strategy to discover needs and to fervently seek to use our teams and other resources to meet those needs.
• Preparation: Our Coordinating Task Group Retreat resulted in a strategic process along with some specific plans to resource our churches in the days to come.
• Plan: Enveloping this strategic plan is a renewed insistence that we will be “Church-Centric” (that is church-centered) in all that we do; that we will be consistent in our task of strengthening existing churches, starting new ones and helping to send believers to their Acts 1:8 mission fields; and that we will be connectors—always seeking to facilitate , networking, support and fellowship—knowing that no church should have to stand alone and that together we can do so much more.
I continue to work with new congregations like Countryside Family Church, Westview Hispanic, New YU, and others in the pipeline. I have met with pastor search committees. I have been working with the Task Groups in the process mentioned above while continuing to develop a sound budget coupled with an effective, comprehensive strategy. I have met with both troubled and thriving churches, small and large churches, and churches of all types and configurations.
And….. I believe that the best days are ahead!