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Churches Working Together Through the Local Baptist Association for Maximum Kingdom Ministry

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Churches Working Together Through the Local Baptist Association for Maximum Kingdom Ministry LIBERTY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY COOPERATION: CHURCHES WORKING TOGETHER THROUGH THE LOCAL BAPTIST ASSOCIATION FOR MAXIMUM KINGDOM MINISTRY A Thesis Project Submitted to Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree DOCTOR OF MINISTRY By John Timothy Frank Lynchburg, Virginia December 10, 2012 Copyright © 2012 by John Timothy Frank All rights reserved. iii LIBERTY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY THESIS PROJECT APPROVAL SHEET _____________________________ GRADE _____________________________ MENTOR _____________________________ READER iv ABSTRACT COOPERATION: CHURCHES WORKING TOGETHER THROUGH THE LOCAL BAPTIST ASSOCIATION FOR MAXIMUM KINGDOM MINISTRY John Timothy Frank Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, 2012 Mentor: Dr. Charlie Davidson Cooperation is a concept which many churches hold to as a basic belief, yet few incorporate it into their ministry plan. With the exception of giving money toward a denominational budget, many churches operate totally independently of other churches. Believers in Jesus Christ can do more in a community as a unified body rather than as splintered groups with individual, and often self-serving, agendas. This thesis project draws together several years of observations and experiences of churches as they have joined together in unity and cooperation. A survey and interview process is used to gain insight and vision from churches and leaders from a variety of denominations. This project also focuses on the scriptural basis for cooperation among churches and unity among believers. The desired outcome is to develop a biblical model of church cooperation through which the churches within a local Baptist association may work together in cooperation and unity for the glory of God. Abstract length: 156 v DEDICATION To Fran, my wonderful wife, for her loving encouragement through the Doctor of Ministry process, and to our children, Jill and Sara. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Thank you to the members of the First Baptist Church of Carthage, Tennessee for their encouragement, support, and prayers. Thank you to Dr. Charlie Davidson, my Thesis mentor and to Dr. Rod Dempsey, my Thesis reader. Thank you to Kandy Smith for her tireless proof-reading of the text and expertise in addressing formatting issues. vi CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................................ ix CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO COOPERATION ...................................................... 1 The Problem ............................................................................................................. 5 Statement of Limitations ........................................................................................... 6 Theoretical Basis ...................................................................................................... 6 Methodology ............................................................................................................ 9 Literature Review ................................................................................................... 11 Books.......................................................................................................... 11 Internet Sites ............................................................................................... 14 Articles ....................................................................................................... 16 Biblical Passages ......................................................................................... 17 Questionnaire ......................................................................................................... 21 CHAPTER 2: THE PRESENT STATE OF COOPERATION WITHIN THE NEW SALEM BAPTIST ASSOCIATION ................................................. 23 History of the New Salem Baptist Association ........................................................ 27 Churches of the New Salem Baptist Association ..................................................... 28 Organization of the New Salem Baptist Association ............................................... 31 Work of the New Salem Baptist Association........................................................... 32 Statistical Analysis of Smith County, Tennessee ..................................................... 33 Analysis of Opportunities and Threats .................................................................... 37 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 40 CHAPTER 3: CHURCH LEADERS’ UNDERSTANDING OF COOPERATION AND ASSOCIATION ................................................................................ 42 vii Cooperation Defined............................................................................................... 42 A Scriptural Basis for Cooperation ......................................................................... 43 The Benefits of Cooperation ................................................................................... 48 The Drawbacks of Cooperation............................................................................... 49 Examples of Cooperation ........................................................................................ 50 Steps a Church Can Take to Strengthen Cooperation .............................................. 52 Examples of Cooperation through the Local Association ........................................ 53 Stone Association of Southern Baptists Putnam County, Tennessee ............ 53 Cumberland Baptist Association Clarksville, Tennessee .............................. 54 Green Mountain Baptist Association Barre, Vermont .................................. 55 Fannin Baptist Association Bonham, Texas ................................................. 56 Central New York Baptist Association Candor, New York .......................... 58 Nashville Baptist Association Nashville, Tennessee .................................... 59 CHAPTER 4: A MODEL FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING AND COOPERATION AMONG THE CHURCHES IN A LOCAL BAPTIST ASSOCIATION ..... 62 The Strategic Planning Process in the Local Church ............................................... 67 The Preparation Phase ................................................................................. 71 The Participation Phase ............................................................................... 76 Session 1: A people on Mission ...................................................... 77 Session 2: A Vision for the Future .................................................. 79 Session 3: A Strategy for Victory ................................................... 82 Session 4: Go Forward In Cooperation ........................................... 85 The Implementation Phase .......................................................................... 88 The Revitalization Phase ............................................................................. 89 viii The Association Planning Strategy ......................................................................... 90 Association Planning Strategy: The Preparation Phase ............................... 91 Association Planning Strategy: The Participation Phase ............................. 93 Association Planning Strategy: The Implementation Phase ......................... 95 Association Planning Strategy: The Revitalization Phase ........................... 96 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 97 CHAPTER 5: A NEW DAY OF COOPERATION: RECOGNIZING AND ADDRESSING THE SIX LEVELS OF COOPERATION ........................................................................... 98 APPENDIXES A. QUESTIONAIRE AND RESPONSES ON COOPERATION ......................... 106 B. LETTER TO PASTORS IN FANNIN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION .................. 125 C. CHURCH MEMBER VISION SURVEY ....................................................... 131 D. A CHECKLIST OF CORE VALUES ............................................................. 132 E. A SAMPLE OF STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESS STUDY ........................... 134 F. A SAMPLE OF OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS STUDY ...................... 156 BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................ 160 VITA ............................................................................................................................... 165 ix ABBREVIATIONS ACP Annual Church Profile APS Association Planning Strategy DOM Director of Mission KJV King James Version NAMB North American Mission Board NKJV New King James Version CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION TO COOPERATION The sign reads “Unity Revival” with several names of pastors and churches listed, followed by the dates, times and locations of a series of meetings. Five churches, in a community of over one hundred churches, join together for these meetings which rotate each night to the various church locations. The pastors of the churches along with a respectable number of members of each night’s host church attend the services. At the end of the week the pastors have a good feeling that they have joined together and strengthened the cause of cooperation and unity. This level of cooperation is played out among churches across the cities and towns of the United States. There is an inner longing in the hearts of many pastors and church members to see the church join together to make a real impact in the community. All
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