Why Your Local Associations and State Conventions Matter
We Are Called to Be Saints Together
I’m working to establish a steady rhythm in my writing. Thursdays will be for essays like the following dedicated to ministry: insights, encouragement, and lessons from the field.
I am not writing this as a defense of denominations, although I believe firmly that when they are formed out of doctrinal conviction, they can be a healthy safeguard to uphold biblical truth. Good fences make good neighbors is a phrase I often quote.
This is, however, a defense of local Baptist and ministerial associations, as well as of state and national conventions. It is written as a polemic against the independent-minded church that believes it can accomplish the mission of God entirely on its own.
1 Corinthians 1:2 “To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours.”
Paul’s words make it clear: we are called to be saints together with all who call on the name of the Lord. What did that mean for him? In the life of the Apostle Paul, it looked like three things—praying, giving, and going.
Praying
Paul repeatedly told the churches in his letters that they were in his prayers (Philippians 1:3–4; Colossians 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:2). His constant correspondence shows his deep love and care for them. Paul was well informed about the life and challenges of many congregations, even from afar.
Today, some things have changed for better and worse. Recently, I drove from the panhandle of Florida to the hills of North Carolina. I didn’t keep an exact count, but in eight hours I probably passed more than a hundred churches.
In earlier days, the distance between churches was measured in walking hours. My church was started in the late 19th century, and for those who lived five miles away, Sunday meant an hour-long walk in the Florida heat. It was reasonable then for our congregation to plant another church “right next door” by modern driving standards.
Some churches today exist due to healthy church planting. Others, sadly, result from church splits. Either way, each congregation that genuinely calls upon the name of Christ is a lighthouse for the gospel.
We are called to be saints together—not by merging into one giant congregation, but by laboring on the same team. A local association helps us keep up with one another’s ministries, share resources, and pray more intelligently for each other. They will have gifts your church lacks and will reach people you cannot. So don’t compete—connect. Meet regularly. Pray for one another.
Giving
Paul’s ministry shows us that generosity is part of our calling together. In 1 Corinthians 16:1–2, he instructed the church to set aside money on the first day of the week to help the believers in Jerusalem. This was organized, intentional, and cooperative giving—not isolated charity.
Your church’s budget is probably like most: stretched thin. Yet when we give to missions and evangelism, we can either work alone or join hands with others. I believe gospel cooperation is powerful.
I am a Southern Baptist not only because of my doctrinal convictions but also because I believe in the Cooperative Program.
A brief history: The Cooperative Program was adopted by Southern Baptists in 1925 as a unified giving plan. Instead of each mission cause or seminary making individual appeals to churches, Southern Baptists agreed to pool their gifts. Churches give through their state conventions, which forward a portion to the national Southern Baptist Convention. This unified approach has funded one of the largest mission forces in the world, six fully accredited seminaries, church planting efforts across North America, and numerous other ministries.
When you give, be wise and be involved. If you give to your local association, attend the meetings and serve. If you give to your state convention, go to the annual meeting and get to know the leaders. If you give to the national convention, be an informed messenger—vote, speak, and participate.
Even if you are not a Southern Baptist, the principle holds: if you give, you should be informed and engaged in the work you support.
Going
Paul’s ministry was never static. He planted churches, revisited them, and sent believers back and forth to strengthen the work. In 1 Corinthians 1:1, he mentions “our brother Sosthenes,” a believer from Corinth who now traveled with Paul.
Healthy churches send their best to serve others. Send your best to help replant struggling churches in your association. Release a gifted deacon to bless another congregation. Train your young worship leader with an open hand, ready for God to send them where His kingdom needs them most.
The measure of a church’s health is not in how much talent it keeps, but in how much it sends.
Conclusion
I am a pastor with three young boys. I’ve led in pastoral ministry while pursuing theological education. I know life is busy. But investing in gospel cooperation is never wasted.
Look for ways to serve the whole body of Christ. Pray for other churches. Give generously and wisely. Send your best to help the mission.
We are called to be saints together. Let’s live like it.