Our Association leadership met during December and guided us to set a goal to turn the trend of loss around by increasing our baptisms, church membership and church growth during 2010. We are providing action plans for our churches to reverse the trend.
First, we are focusing on encouraging each church to develop, involve more people, or sharpen the skills in evangelism. We have the advantage of having two pastors who have experience in FAITH Evangelism strategy. Michael Lewis and Benny Keck are effectively leading their churches and have experience in the previous churches where they have served. Monday, February 22, 2010, they made a presentation to twenty-one pastors and lay persons. It was well received. So much so that some of the pastors wanted to accept the offer to have an Associational FAITH training program to enable pastors and laity to be trained. We are searching for a week-end during April – May that may be available for the trainers and the pastors. This will enable any of our pastors and a leadership team to receive training right here at home. Be sure and plan to participate in this event. We will be announcing it soon.
One of the great things about this training is participating in actual witness visitation. Since the excitement and effective teaching is more caught than taught, it will be a far more effective approach to evangelism. Even if you do not choose to use the strategy of FAITH in your church the participation and training of your people in the witnessing is very valuable.
Second, we know that Vacation Bible School is one of the most effective events to both discover prospects as well as reaching children and adults with the gospel. Therefore, we want to encourage every church and mission to do a Vacation Bible School this year. If you are unable because of space or workers please call the Association office and we will help discover workers and a location for you to have a Vacation Bible School this year. We offer training for trainers Feb 27, Plant City First Baptist, 8:00 am-1:30 pm. Then we offer training for all our workers April 8, Mt Olive, 7:00 p.m. The following churches have set dates for a VBS:
First, we are focusing on encouraging each church to develop, involve more people, or sharpen the skills in evangelism. We have the advantage of having two pastors who have experience in FAITH Evangelism strategy. Michael Lewis and Benny Keck are effectively leading their churches and have experience in the previous churches where they have served. Monday, February 22, 2010, they made a presentation to twenty-one pastors and lay persons. It was well received. So much so that some of the pastors wanted to accept the offer to have an Associational FAITH training program to enable pastors and laity to be trained. We are searching for a week-end during April – May that may be available for the trainers and the pastors. This will enable any of our pastors and a leadership team to receive training right here at home. Be sure and plan to participate in this event. We will be announcing it soon.
One of the great things about this training is participating in actual witness visitation. Since the excitement and effective teaching is more caught than taught, it will be a far more effective approach to evangelism. Even if you do not choose to use the strategy of FAITH in your church the participation and training of your people in the witnessing is very valuable.
Second, we know that Vacation Bible School is one of the most effective events to both discover prospects as well as reaching children and adults with the gospel. Therefore, we want to encourage every church and mission to do a Vacation Bible School this year. If you are unable because of space or workers please call the Association office and we will help discover workers and a location for you to have a Vacation Bible School this year. We offer training for trainers Feb 27, Plant City First Baptist, 8:00 am-1:30 pm. Then we offer training for all our workers April 8, Mt Olive, 7:00 p.m. The following churches have set dates for a VBS:
Church VBS Director Dates Phone #
Shiloh Baptist Church Nancy Willis July 25-29 752-8345
Shiloh Baptist Church Nancy Willis July 25-29 752-8345
Lindsey Murray
Eastside Baptist Church Sally Mallalieh June 14-18 754-2681
Northside Baptist Church Bobby June 20-25 752-2779
Elizabeth Lane
Mt Olive Baptist Church Ella Jackson June 13-17 737-1362
Bethany Baptist Church Kelly Schulte June 13-18 752-9209
Celebration Church Carolyn Leone June 21-25 661-8625
Crossroads Baptist Church June 21-25 737-1121
East Thonotosassa Church Scott Coldwell June 13-18 986-4346
Knights Baptist Church Larry Smith June 13-18 752-4972
Rhonda DeShong
Turkey Creek First Baptist Linda Herman June 20-24 752-7890
Church Lynn Roberts
West Thonotosassa Church Mary McCarter June 13-18 986-2924
If you are not listed please call and let us know your plan. If you need assistance call the Association office 813-752-6740. We encourage every church to have a VBS this year. Let us know how we can help you have one. Also, if you are interested in sharing supplies or resources please call the Directors of VBS before and after your schedule and see how you might share reducing the expenses of both churches.
Third, we have set some greater goals with SOS in the Evangelism Booth at our Strawberry Festival. Bro. Mike Fredette, pastor at Liberty Baptist Church, has enlisted some of his people to work in the booth. Each year his people park cars in their lot to provide ministry funds for their church. This year they are offering free parking for all workers in the SOS Evangelism booth. Workers are invited to be trained to witness enabling us to have each time slot filled by our witness workers. This year we are encouraging churches using FAITH or some other effective visitation approach to follow up on the hundreds of decisions immediately. This should bring a greater effectiveness in the evangelism-discipleship as it relates to the local church growth. If you have not been trained to participate we hope you will take advantage. Remember, as Billy Graham crusades always indicated, “The churches with workers participating are going to be in the best position to increase from the harvest.” The list of hundreds of decisions will come to us for every church who will participate in follow-up. Pray for a great harvest at the Strawberry SOS booth and the Campers-On-Mission booth.
Fourth, we are encouraging pastors and churches to partner in efforts to reach the community for Christ. These are times that demand a greater working together. It may be churches of similar size and pastors in partnership to reach people in their extended community. On the other hand it may mean one pastor servicing two churches like in the early missionary days. Then again it may mean a larger and a smaller church sharing partnership together to provide resources and people to reach the infinity group or the ministry needs of a church on missions in a challenging community in need of Christ. It may mean a young possibly new church planter working hand in hand with a pastor of an existing established church to effectively reach both the new culture and the traditional culture. There may be several other missionary approaches to reach the people in today’s American culture. As most North American Mission leaders are saying, “We all have to be more of a missionary today.” Today our “professional ministry” needs to transition into “missionary ministry.”
Fifth, there is a greater need for encouraging, equipping, and restoring pastors today. There are hundreds of pastors leaving the churches each month across America. The stress on marriage and family is intense. The most common reason given is that the church or church leaders do not want to accept the leadership direction of the pastor. A blessing for the pastors is for them participating in a covenant group similar to the groups encouraged by Paul Pickern of All Pro Pastors. These groups have four pastors meeting weekly often from different Evangelical denominations to develop trusted friendships and keep each other accountable for their relationship as a man, husband, father, as well as their personal relationship with God. Another equipment and organization is a local school such as the non-accredited Evangelical Seminary and University in its mission to provide Biblical and theological training to pastors in service without formal education opportunities. This school seems to be moving toward more evangelism and church growth enrichment for ministers and lay persons. Today, there is a greater need for applied evangelistic ministry rather than accredited seminary diploma.
Sixth, churches, pastors, and laity have a greater need for financial adjustment and planning. All of us including the church have to do more with less. Learning the skill of placing God first, providing effective volunteerism and improved combination of shared ministry work is most important. This stewardship of time and money declares a greater need for focus on the Great Commission through intentional evangelism. One example is the intense and greater need to help the benevolent needs of people with food, clothes, and shelter with the primary purpose of sharing the gospel of Christ. We will continually have great needs in this area. Our first priority needs to be evangelism and provide the needed support to the Christians willing and committed to the Great Commission.
Seventh, one of the most important needs today is the applied ministry process or strategy planning with a church we call “Church Revitalization.” The term combines church renewal with foundation building through prayer, obedience to God’s Word, and a fresh Great Commission commitment for long term church growth. The plan begins with an evaluation of the needs of the church through, prayer, renewal of the evangelical Great Commission vision, a survey, and strategy planning process. It concludes with an implementation of action plans to actually fulfill the Great Commission. Our Association, Convention, local school, and all of our resources are needed to focus on training of ministry teams to assist in this endeavor. Pastors, staff, and persons assisting in this effort are truly God’s “Foundation Builders.” Churches do not have to be in crises to participate. Some may have the vision to be proactive and seek the strategy planning and request the guidance of the “Foundation Builders” The workers are trained to facilitate the process with a church in any area of need from church planting, church renewal, church restoring, and church in crises.
These Transitions Calls for A Fresh Approach and A New or Additional Name
Name: Director of Mission
It seems that the mission of those in position such as Association Director of Missions is more of “Missionary-Pastor.” People in our community understand both of the words in that title. Some other Associations in Florida are using the term; “Executive Director” others are using “Director” and in earlier times the title, “Superintendant of Missions.” Obviously, the name Director of Missions is a term identifying the role in the SBC and Florida Baptist Convention. That title will remain until there is a national change. However, on the local level the best title for this role seems to be “Missionary-Pastor.” That may be more accurate as a role for effective service to you and our Lord.
Name: Shiloh Baptist Association
We recognize that our Association may need to update our identity and it takes on a fresh missionary work. We were named “Shiloh Baptist Association” 59 years ago when the geographical area we covered was known as the Shiloh region. One of the earliest churches established in 1866 was Shiloh Baptist Church. Later, 1910, the church moved to Plant City and changed their name to Plant City First Baptist Church. The Shiloh Baptist Association was established in 1950. Then in 1969 Plant City First and churches of the Association started a new church that is now known as Shiloh Baptist Church.
Some of the suggestions made by pastors and others in round table discussions related to name included these ideas:
1) Often the name of Associations relate to the geographical area it covers, a new or additional name may be very helpful for identity. Since these are times of change it may be most valuable to consider this update as we update or renew our mission work.
2) One of the round table discussions expressed that the name “Shiloh Baptist Association” should remain in the incorporated documents as the original name to provide historical and legal identity. Many churches and other organizations may have this name in their constitution or legal documents. Leaving the original name may be most helpful.
3) Several pastors and laity are indicating that a name change or additional name as a promotion name may be most helpful because it helps to clarify our identity, location, and mission. It may clarify a fresh mission that we have today.
4) Several expressed changing or adding a new name may be of little value unless we actually are changing and renewing our mission to be relevant. Since these are times of change it may be most valuable to consider a name update.
5) Several names have been placed on the table to be considered as an additional name for the operation of the Association. They include: Greater Plant City Baptist Association, Hillsborough-Polk Baptist Association, East Hillsborough Baptist Association, and West Central Florida Baptist Association. There may be others you have that have not been listed. If you have one please place it into consideration.
6) The best names describing our location seem to be East Hillsborough Baptist Association or West Central Florida Baptist Association. One expressed that the use of a county name may express that we are some how involved in the government. If that is true the name of preference might be West Central Florida Baptist Association.
7) Before we proceed further with the name consideration, we want to review our mission today and see if that brings a new understanding to what we call ourselves. As a part of that consideration we want to do a survey and additional round table discussions in our Association.
Eastside Baptist Church Sally Mallalieh June 14-18 754-2681
Northside Baptist Church Bobby June 20-25 752-2779
Elizabeth Lane
Mt Olive Baptist Church Ella Jackson June 13-17 737-1362
Bethany Baptist Church Kelly Schulte June 13-18 752-9209
Celebration Church Carolyn Leone June 21-25 661-8625
Crossroads Baptist Church June 21-25 737-1121
East Thonotosassa Church Scott Coldwell June 13-18 986-4346
Knights Baptist Church Larry Smith June 13-18 752-4972
Rhonda DeShong
Turkey Creek First Baptist Linda Herman June 20-24 752-7890
Church Lynn Roberts
West Thonotosassa Church Mary McCarter June 13-18 986-2924
If you are not listed please call and let us know your plan. If you need assistance call the Association office 813-752-6740. We encourage every church to have a VBS this year. Let us know how we can help you have one. Also, if you are interested in sharing supplies or resources please call the Directors of VBS before and after your schedule and see how you might share reducing the expenses of both churches.
Third, we have set some greater goals with SOS in the Evangelism Booth at our Strawberry Festival. Bro. Mike Fredette, pastor at Liberty Baptist Church, has enlisted some of his people to work in the booth. Each year his people park cars in their lot to provide ministry funds for their church. This year they are offering free parking for all workers in the SOS Evangelism booth. Workers are invited to be trained to witness enabling us to have each time slot filled by our witness workers. This year we are encouraging churches using FAITH or some other effective visitation approach to follow up on the hundreds of decisions immediately. This should bring a greater effectiveness in the evangelism-discipleship as it relates to the local church growth. If you have not been trained to participate we hope you will take advantage. Remember, as Billy Graham crusades always indicated, “The churches with workers participating are going to be in the best position to increase from the harvest.” The list of hundreds of decisions will come to us for every church who will participate in follow-up. Pray for a great harvest at the Strawberry SOS booth and the Campers-On-Mission booth.
Fourth, we are encouraging pastors and churches to partner in efforts to reach the community for Christ. These are times that demand a greater working together. It may be churches of similar size and pastors in partnership to reach people in their extended community. On the other hand it may mean one pastor servicing two churches like in the early missionary days. Then again it may mean a larger and a smaller church sharing partnership together to provide resources and people to reach the infinity group or the ministry needs of a church on missions in a challenging community in need of Christ. It may mean a young possibly new church planter working hand in hand with a pastor of an existing established church to effectively reach both the new culture and the traditional culture. There may be several other missionary approaches to reach the people in today’s American culture. As most North American Mission leaders are saying, “We all have to be more of a missionary today.” Today our “professional ministry” needs to transition into “missionary ministry.”
Fifth, there is a greater need for encouraging, equipping, and restoring pastors today. There are hundreds of pastors leaving the churches each month across America. The stress on marriage and family is intense. The most common reason given is that the church or church leaders do not want to accept the leadership direction of the pastor. A blessing for the pastors is for them participating in a covenant group similar to the groups encouraged by Paul Pickern of All Pro Pastors. These groups have four pastors meeting weekly often from different Evangelical denominations to develop trusted friendships and keep each other accountable for their relationship as a man, husband, father, as well as their personal relationship with God. Another equipment and organization is a local school such as the non-accredited Evangelical Seminary and University in its mission to provide Biblical and theological training to pastors in service without formal education opportunities. This school seems to be moving toward more evangelism and church growth enrichment for ministers and lay persons. Today, there is a greater need for applied evangelistic ministry rather than accredited seminary diploma.
Sixth, churches, pastors, and laity have a greater need for financial adjustment and planning. All of us including the church have to do more with less. Learning the skill of placing God first, providing effective volunteerism and improved combination of shared ministry work is most important. This stewardship of time and money declares a greater need for focus on the Great Commission through intentional evangelism. One example is the intense and greater need to help the benevolent needs of people with food, clothes, and shelter with the primary purpose of sharing the gospel of Christ. We will continually have great needs in this area. Our first priority needs to be evangelism and provide the needed support to the Christians willing and committed to the Great Commission.
Seventh, one of the most important needs today is the applied ministry process or strategy planning with a church we call “Church Revitalization.” The term combines church renewal with foundation building through prayer, obedience to God’s Word, and a fresh Great Commission commitment for long term church growth. The plan begins with an evaluation of the needs of the church through, prayer, renewal of the evangelical Great Commission vision, a survey, and strategy planning process. It concludes with an implementation of action plans to actually fulfill the Great Commission. Our Association, Convention, local school, and all of our resources are needed to focus on training of ministry teams to assist in this endeavor. Pastors, staff, and persons assisting in this effort are truly God’s “Foundation Builders.” Churches do not have to be in crises to participate. Some may have the vision to be proactive and seek the strategy planning and request the guidance of the “Foundation Builders” The workers are trained to facilitate the process with a church in any area of need from church planting, church renewal, church restoring, and church in crises.
These Transitions Calls for A Fresh Approach and A New or Additional Name
Name: Director of Mission
It seems that the mission of those in position such as Association Director of Missions is more of “Missionary-Pastor.” People in our community understand both of the words in that title. Some other Associations in Florida are using the term; “Executive Director” others are using “Director” and in earlier times the title, “Superintendant of Missions.” Obviously, the name Director of Missions is a term identifying the role in the SBC and Florida Baptist Convention. That title will remain until there is a national change. However, on the local level the best title for this role seems to be “Missionary-Pastor.” That may be more accurate as a role for effective service to you and our Lord.
Name: Shiloh Baptist Association
We recognize that our Association may need to update our identity and it takes on a fresh missionary work. We were named “Shiloh Baptist Association” 59 years ago when the geographical area we covered was known as the Shiloh region. One of the earliest churches established in 1866 was Shiloh Baptist Church. Later, 1910, the church moved to Plant City and changed their name to Plant City First Baptist Church. The Shiloh Baptist Association was established in 1950. Then in 1969 Plant City First and churches of the Association started a new church that is now known as Shiloh Baptist Church.
Some of the suggestions made by pastors and others in round table discussions related to name included these ideas:
1) Often the name of Associations relate to the geographical area it covers, a new or additional name may be very helpful for identity. Since these are times of change it may be most valuable to consider this update as we update or renew our mission work.
2) One of the round table discussions expressed that the name “Shiloh Baptist Association” should remain in the incorporated documents as the original name to provide historical and legal identity. Many churches and other organizations may have this name in their constitution or legal documents. Leaving the original name may be most helpful.
3) Several pastors and laity are indicating that a name change or additional name as a promotion name may be most helpful because it helps to clarify our identity, location, and mission. It may clarify a fresh mission that we have today.
4) Several expressed changing or adding a new name may be of little value unless we actually are changing and renewing our mission to be relevant. Since these are times of change it may be most valuable to consider a name update.
5) Several names have been placed on the table to be considered as an additional name for the operation of the Association. They include: Greater Plant City Baptist Association, Hillsborough-Polk Baptist Association, East Hillsborough Baptist Association, and West Central Florida Baptist Association. There may be others you have that have not been listed. If you have one please place it into consideration.
6) The best names describing our location seem to be East Hillsborough Baptist Association or West Central Florida Baptist Association. One expressed that the use of a county name may express that we are some how involved in the government. If that is true the name of preference might be West Central Florida Baptist Association.
7) Before we proceed further with the name consideration, we want to review our mission today and see if that brings a new understanding to what we call ourselves. As a part of that consideration we want to do a survey and additional round table discussions in our Association.
