CHARLESTON BAPTIST ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING 1 7 5 1 2 0 2 3 272 nd
TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 3-4 5-8 9-11 13-15 16-18 19-20 21-22 Welcome Demographics CBA Leaders & Stewards CBA Partner Ministries Strengthening Leaders Strengthening Churches Multiplying Churches Churches Collaborated AGENDA Worship Welcome/Prayer - Craig Tuck Partner Ministry Updates Strengthening Churches & Leaders Multiplying & Collaborating Churches Mosaic Initiative and Vision Lunch Partner Organizations Guest Speaker: Dr. Tony Wolfe* Business: New Admin Team 2024 Budget New CBA Churches Closing Prayer 272ND ANNUAL MEETING Thursday, October 5th - 9:30AM-12:30PM Centerpoint Church at Remount Connecting Churches & Leaders for Kingdom Potential 23-24 Mosaic Initiative 25-27 Future Church & Renewal *We are honored to have Dr. Tony Wolfe as our guest speaker. Dr. Wolfe was appointed as the Executive Director of our SC Baptist Convention in March of this year. He formerly served as the Associate Executive Director of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. He has over 2 decades of ministry experience including serving as a lead pastor in Texas and Louisiana as well as worship leader, Christian educator, denominational leader, and pastoral counselor. Married since 2001, Dr. Wolfe and his wife Vanessa have two sons. 28-30 Financial Updates
Cooperating together has been the missional cornerstone of our denomination since its inception in 1845. The Charleston Baptist Association served as a shaping influence in setting this culture of cooperation over 50 years prior as the first Southern Baptist Association in our denominational history (1751). As we gather together today we continue this legacy rooted in the early church as “All the believers were one in heart and mind…they shared everything they had” (Acts 4:32). Together we are part of a movement that is advancing the Kingdom of God on the earth. As we celebrate our collective strength and unity in strengthening churches, strengthening leaders and planting churches we do so by reflecting back and looking ahead. For the past 272 years, Great Commission Baptist churches in Greater Charleston have been cooperating together in this shared cooperative mission. Each year, we come together to rejoice, convene and renew this shared mission given by our Lord and exampled by churches in the New Testament. When churches collaborate we put the fullness of Jesus on display and make His name unignorable to every man, woman and child. Our association of churches exists to connect churches for Kingdom potential. Thank you for joining in with us as we hear, see and tell of Kingdom movement through our network of churches. In Greater Charleston as it is in Heaven, Craig Tuck Associational Mission Strategist LETTER FROM CRAIG WELCOME TO THE ANNUAL MEETING 2
The Charleston region’s population is growing 3X faster than the U.S. average, to more than 847,000. Empty Nesters (35-54) 25.4% Retirement Opportunities 18.8% Required Formal Schooling (5-17) 16.1% Young Adults (24-35) 12% Enrichment Yrs Singles/Couples (55-64) 11.7% College/Career (18-24) 10.2% Before Formal Schooling (0-4) 5.8% 847,731 39 30+ 2023 Population Median Age New People Move to the Region Every Day Population by Generation Top Areas of Need/Concerns to Be Addressed: A U DIE N C E S TATIS TIC & D E M O G R A P HIC Personal Health & Life Mental Health Sexual Addiction & Pornography Careers and Financial Matters Day-to-day financial matters Home & Family Divorce Marriage Problems Raising a Teen Stress & Time to Relax Struggles w/ Adult Children * Data taken from www.missioninsite.com 3
“DO YOU ATTEND CHURCH REGULARLY?” 264,562 120,668 116,019 151,164 Disagree Completely Disagree Somewhat Agree Somewhat Agree Completley 918,553 2033 Population Projection 2033 Projections Tri-County 35.6% Blue Collar 64.4% White Collar Top 10 Ministry or Program Recommendations Based On Tri-County Study Area 1. Warm & Friendly Encounters 2. Quality Messages 3. Opportunities to Develop Meaningful Relationships 4. Opportunities to Serve the Community 5. Holiday Programs/Activities 6. More Traditional Worship Expression 7. Adult Social Activities 8. Involvement in Social Causes 9. Senior/Retiree Activities 10. Family Oriented Activities Based Upon 2023 MinistryInsite Priority Profile for Tri-County (Charleston/Berkley, Dorchester) Reason to Not Participate in A Religious Congregation Compared to National Average STUDY AREA US AVERAGE Don’t Believe in God 38.6% 34.5% No Longer Believe 47.9% 35.4% Unsure About Personal Beliefs 52.3% 43.1% Wasn’t Relevant to My Life 49.4% 45.7% Based Upon 2023 MinistryInsite Priority Profile for Tri-County (Charleston/Berkley, Dorchester) 4 A U DIE N C E S TATIS TIC & D E M O G R A P HIC
2024-2026 CBA ADMIN TEAM Pastor Mike Seaver, Risen Hope Church CBA LEADERSHIP NOMINEES We give thanks to our current Admin Team who have served our association for the past three years. These elected CBA pastors have been empowered by the Executive Committee to give oversight as to the direction, operations and over-all business of the association during the interim between annual meetings. These leaders advocate for and advise the staff in implementing strategy and engaging our vision of strengthening leaders, churches, and planting churches. STRENGTHENING LEADERS STRENGTHENING CHURCHES PLANTING CHURCHES Pastor Marty Middleton, Forst Johnson Baptist Church Pastor RaShan Frost, The Bridge Church Pastor Seaver and others planted Risen Hope Church in the Summerville in 2011. He led the church plant to replant Sangaree Baptist Church in 2019 and has been actively partnering with the CBA. Risen Hope Church is dually aligned with the SBC and Sovereign Grace denominations. He is a graduate of Southeastern Baptist Seminary who has served in vocational ministry since 2001. Pastor Mike and his wife, Kristin have served the spiritual well being of other couples in church leadership as well as coaching church planter couples. They have six daughters and three sons, four of their children were adopted into their family from Colombia, South America in 2021. Pastor Middleton has been actively participating in the work of our association since 2017. He became lead Pastor of FJBC in 2020 after serving as Pastor of Family Ministry. He is a Southeastern Baptist Seminary graduate who has been serving in ministry since 2001. Pastor Marty has modeled well the value of collaborating churches and pastoral relationships and is partnering with our Baptist Collegiate Ministry. He and his wife Amy have three daughters. Pastor Frost was sent out by Radiant Church (CBA) and planted The Bridge Church in 2020 and has been an active member of our association. The Bridge Church is partnering with Deerpark Baptist Church (CBA) by sharing space for their Sunday gatherings. Over the past 10 years, Pastor RaShan has served on staff with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as well as coaching at Charleston Southern University and The Citadel. RaShan is a graduate at Auburn University where he played football and has PhD in Public Theology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. His wife, DeAnna is a rheumatologist at MUSC. They have two sons, Kaleb and Joshua. CBA ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM 2024 OFFICERS PASTOR JOE TRAYNHAM MODERATOR - CENTERPOINT CHURCH AT REMOUNT PASTOR JOSH DRISCOLL VICE-MODERATOR - HIGHLAND PARK BAPTIST CHURCH STAN ASHBURNE TREASURER CROWFIELD BAPTIST CHURCH 5
Associational Missionaries ADRIAN & LINDSAY FERNANDEZ Associational Mission Strategist CRAIG TUCK CBA STAFF TEAM Resource Associate CLAY JERNIGAN Administrative Associate JENNIFER SIMPSON Steward Team Leader CURT BRADFORD Connect churches to communities with a focus on school partnerships Mobilizing resources to assist churches toward contextualizing discipleship of all nations Connecting state and national convention resources to churches for serving communities Oversees staff team in carrying out the mission and vision of the CBA Reports to the Administrative Team and Executive Team Protects the values, promotes the measures and engages the strategies of the CBA vision Collaborates, connects and convenes with teams, partners and church leaders Connect with churches and leaders to discover associational support opportunities Provide resources that strategize and implement vision initiatives Develop tables, tracks, tools and models that foster mobilization and collaboration among churches Coordinate support assistance for mission / vision purposes and needs Serve administrative needs to assist churches and CBA leadership Manage operational functions of the CBA Kingdom Steward team of tenured pastors who seek to shepherd and coach leaders into their next growth step as well as church leadership teams who are in need of coaching for the church’s next growth step 6
Barna research reveals the destructive realities of isolation and individualism that is plaguing leaders in pastoral ministry: Nearly 1500 pastors leave the ministry permanently annually in America 80% of pastors and 85% of their spouses feel discouraged in their roles 70% of pastors do not have a close friend, confidant or mentor Over 50% of pastors are so discouraged they would leave the ministry if they could have no other way of making a living 71% of pastors stated they were burned out, and they battle depression beyond fatigue on a weekly and even a daily basis One out of ten ministers will actually retire as a minister The strength and vitality of church leaders is significantly tied to the strength and vitality of the church. We have assembled a tenured pastoral team to foster relational connections with CBA pastors. Each month these stewards gather together to pray for pastors and churches as well as consider ways to facilitate needs and resources. Kingdom Stewards seek to convene tables with pastors to ask, “how can I help.” As leader and church needs grow more and more complex, these shepherding stewards coordinate with associational staff as well as state & national convention resources in serving pastors in taking their next growth step. Here are a few examples of the way our association seeks to steward our relationships and resources: Discovering Health: Assisting leaders and churches to inventory their personal and ministry vitality Identifying Strengths: Assessing the ministry and mission uniqueness of leaders & churches (like one’s signature) and encouraging their unique role for regional impact Leveraging Resources: Connecting strengths and resources of leaders and churches to strengthen other leaders and churches (peer to peer/ church to church) Convening Tables: Fostering relationships between leaders and churches within geographical proximity and/or affinity based dynamics STEWARDING EXPERIENCE WITHIN RELATIONSHIPS 7
The objective of this team is not to serve as experts or function as specialists rather it is to encourage and coach leaders and churches in identifying and taking their next growth step. The goal of Kingdom Stewards is to identify and multiply other Kingdom Stewards throughout the region, inviting leaders into tithing their time and gifting to serve other leaders and churches. This team is being equipped to guide leaders and churches into their greater Kingdom potential and engage associational staff in providing needed resources for the diverse needs of leaders and churches. KINGDOM STEWARD TEAM Feel free to reach out to any member of our Kingdom Steward Team Curt Bradford: [email protected] Tom Brown: [email protected] Marshall Blalock: [email protected] Sonny Holmes: [email protected] David Coleman: [email protected] 8
We understand missions as the work of God through the church by which the gospel of Jesus Christ is extended in word and deed to all peoples of the world. Our mandate is to make disciples of Jesus who live on mission. There are four characteristics of a missions disciple that we try to instill through WMU.A disciple will pray for missions, do missions and tell about Jesus, learn about missions and support missions. In the area of prayer, the 2022 Baptist Women’s World Day of Prayer, a Global Prayer Initiative was held at Pinecrest Baptist Church with the theme “Victorious Life”. Women from 8 churches gathered to pray for the concerns of our Baptist sisters around the world who gather on this day in more than 100 countries. An offering of $548 was given to provide practical help for women in need and equip Baptist women to impact their world for Christ. Our compassion ministry partnerships continued with 583 Prisoner Packages collected from 12 churches and delivered to Columbia for Christmas distribution. Eight churches came together to collect 300 Migrant Worker Health Kits as part of the ministry of Luz y Verdad to the sea island migrant camps. Both of these gifts open a wide door for gospel witness to inmates in our SC prisons and to seasonal migrants in our area. Sharing Hope was the theme of our Spring Meeting for 2023 held at James Island Baptist Church. After fellowship around dinner, all 41 participants were inspired and challenged to Share Hope by our guest speakers, IMB missionary Teresa Broeker and our new SC WMU Adult Associate, Hannah Smith. Our upcoming Baptist Women’s World Day of Prayer will be held on Monday, November 6 in partnership with our BCM director at the Citadel. We will gather on the Citadel campus at 4:30 p.m. in Mark Clark Hall in Boyer Auditorium. All who are physically able will prayerwalk the campus as we lift up the women of the world in prayer. WMU Director LINDA ILER WMU Watchword 2022-2024 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” Romans 12:12 (NIV) Prayer request: Missions discipleship for preschoolers and children will increase in CBA churches. 9
WMU Director LINDA ILER Disaster Relief (DR) is the third largest disaster relief organization in the USA, behind only the Red Cross and the Salvation Army. The North American Mission Board engages with state conventions providing resource funding and Send Relief teams. Our state convention’s DR is led by State Director Susan Peugh ([email protected]) and a team of leaders. This team functions as an emergency KATIE SCOTT BCM ASSOC DIRECTOR God has been so faithful and over the summer we were able to meet almost 150 incoming freshman to CofC during orientation weeks. Welcome week we were able to do 10 days straight of events to meet students and also doing giveaways everyday. Please pray for us to faithfully follow up with every student we meet and share the name of Jesus with them. At The Citadel we had our first event which had around 170. Pray for us to follow up with them well and for our upperclassmen to use their rank and influence for the kingdom of God. Also over the summer we added 2 new staff members Drew Delk and Robert Christie. Please be praying for them as they are currently raising their financial support to be able to get on campus and start doing ministry. God is working on the peninsula and with college students. If you would like to have some specific prayer requests you can see our prayer guides at charlestonbcm.org or contact Bronson Baker at [email protected] BRONSON BAKER BCM DIRECTOR command center that engages with civic and government leaders to assess and deploy assistance units to areas needing relief for victims and communities of disasters. The Charleston Baptist Association DR team are trained volunteers that help with feeding and cleaning. Our feeding and mud out units have served thousands of people in need in various parts of the Southern United States. As hurricane season is in full swing, our units are ready to be used to help people in need. To learn more about our local DR or to get information on training, please contact Ron Bycroft: [email protected] D 10 ISASTER RELIEF
Connie Maxwell Children’s Home: Greater Charleston Since 1892, Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries (CMCM) has provided hope for South Carolina’s children and families in need. Established as a ministry of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, CMCM has positively impacted thousands of individuals tending to the physical needs of children by providing housing, food, and clothing within a safe community of group homes and through a network of foster parents. In addition, CMCM seeks to meet emotional and relational needs through family care services, moving toward reuniting them with their birth families. Currently CMCM has 5 locations throughout our state and in the near future they are seeking to add a 6th children’s home location here in Greater Charleston. To learn more or to invite CMCM to speak at your church, contact Jay Boyd, Senior Vice President for Strategy and Engagement at (864) 878-2019 or [email protected]. CHAPLAIN CHRISTOPHER DALE In the last 15 years, we have encountered sailors from 134 nations (over 2/3 of the 195 recognized by the United Nations). Two of these sailors are Randy, the electrician in blue, and Francisco, the 2nd Officer, on a ship. Randy is reading a Bible study book in the first pic. After I had asked about some Tagalog on a poster, Francisco asked why I had some knowledge of Tagalog. I had been talking about how they add prefixes or suffixes to verb stems to change the mood. I said I had studied Latin in high school and Greek in seminary and that they do the same kind of thing. He asked if I am Catholic, & I said I am Protestant. I said that the main thing is to follow Jesus since He died for our sins rather than any label. He and Randy both nodded. To contribute online, you can go to https://cba.churchcenter.com/giving/ to/seafarer-s-ministry where you can give one time or set up a recurring gift. Please note that I do not get immediately notified of online gifts, so my word of thanks may be delayed a bit. Thank you one and all. 11
2023 REPORTS LEADERSSTRENGTHENDED CHURCHESSTRENGTHENED CHURCHESMULTIPLIED CHURCHESCOLLABORATED 12
S T R E N G T H E NIN G L E A D E R S REPLENISH- LOOKINGBACK On November 10-12, we rejoice over the 26 couples who attended and participated in a time of being renewed and replenished in the heart for greater vitality in marriage and ministry. This two-night retreat was held Replenish in its simplest definition means to fill something up again. For the CBA, it is more than a word as it is a pathway to connect and encourage church leaders for the sake of strengthening. Throughout this year we have provided opportunities and created environments for this to be a reality among leaders of the CBA. We believe it is mission critical for pastors to not be or feel alone as they serve and lead their congregations. It is our prayer that a shoulder to shoulder relationship and heart to heart connection would be fostered among church leaders in and through our associational family. REPLENISH COUPLES RETREAT MYRTLE BEACH, SC Here are some comments from couples who participated: “I have a lot of heart work to do to get healthy again. This was painfully good for me, my marriage and ministry.” “My wife and I have never been more loved and cared for in a retreat setting. Our relationship was greatly impacted.” “We must do this ministry investment into the marriages of those who lead others every year! What can we do to get more leaders at this table?” Because Pastors & spouses serve as shepherds who hold relationships within their hearts, ministry is not only a challenge but it encompasses hurts, hardships and burdens that are carried. It is our aim to conduct another retreat for ministry couples next year as well as create a pathway of connecting opportunities that we hope will strengthen all who pour out for others they serve. in Myrtle Beach and provided a relational shared experience through connecting, teaching and worshipping together. 13
REPLENISH- LOOKINGBACK Pastor’s Wives Gatherings Our association recognizes the significance and esteems the role of pastor’s wives. Each year, time and space is prepared to connect and encourage pastor’s spouses personally and spiritually. We celebrate the leadership and support of the steward team’s wives who seek to serve and strengthen all who participate. In March, the CBA hosted replenishing gatherings to strengthen leaders and churches both personally and professionally. Pastor Mark Hallock of Calvary Baptist Church in Denver, Colorado served as our speaker and consultant within three relational environments. We hosted an evening of encouragement to invest time and care in the marriages of CBA pastors and spouses. We believe that every pastor and staff member should not do ministry alone. We also believe that every church needs to experience renewal at some point. There is a path forward for every church and there are opportunities to seize. We learned from Pastor Hallock about church renewal in principle and in practice as he is a catalytic leader who is navigating a city-wide church renewal movement in Denver. As the demographics of Greater Charleston shift each year, every church needs to revisit context, recast vision and renew values. S T R E N G T H E NIN G L E A D E R S We concluded our Replenish events with a staff development day at Peaceful Way’s Retreat Center in Ravenel. 38% of pastors and 43% of Mission Impact: Cypress Project Leader Training In May 2023, 15 leaders were staff have considered leaving the ministry based on Barna Research (2021). 72% of pastors and staff would be likely to stay if staff relationships and culture were better aligned. A timely message about experiencing joy in life and ministry in being a relentless encourager. equipped to teach and facilitate future missional learning labs across the tri-county area. The Cypress Project is an envisioning and equipping environment that engages leaders, churches and everyday disciples toward Gospel saturation. Participants learned how to engage followers into the dynamics of Gospel Movement, Kingdom Mindset, Harvest Focus and Disciple Strategy. In September 2023, a few of these leaders initiated a learning lab in the Summerville area with 6 church teams participating. The strategy is to establish regional hubs for ongoing learning through this missional framework. In 2024, learning lab hubs will be initiated in the central, east and north areas of the tri-county region. 14
S T R E N G T H E NIN G L E A D E R S REPLENISH- LOOKINGAHEAD Lead Pastor’s Couple’s Cruise Strengthening Marriages Thursday, November 2 Every year our association seeks to invest in the marriages of our lead pastors and spouses through a gift for a date night. This year we are giving a collective gift of time together among other lead pastors and spouses on a harbor dinner cruise. Mark your calendar for Thursday, November 2 and plan to join in this special time enjoying the beauty of downtown Charleston with a nighttime view from the harbor. REPLENISH 2024 COUPLES RETREAT MYRTLE BEACH, SC February 15-17, 2024 How is the pathway of your marriage? Along with blessings and burdens, are you experiencing joy in the journey? Scripture reminds us, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). Pastor and author, Mark Hallock and his wife Jenna will guide us in a time of discovery through biblical principles and practical wisdom that will be engaging and life giving toward growing and experiencing joy in your relationship. The mental, emotional, physical and spiritual wellness of pastors and their families is mission critical for a healthy marriage and a healthy church. The CBA wants to invest resources and infuse hope into your life and marriage through a brief getaway allotting time for encouragement, equipping and connection. Couples will enjoy lodging on the beach, date night on us, teaching that nourishes the heart and an opportunity to connect with other pastors and wives. This shared experience will begin on Thursday evening and will end with check out on Saturday morning. February in Myrtle Beach is less crowded and provides eclectic amenities to enjoy. For more information and to register: www.charlestonbaptist.net 15
S T R E N G T H E NIN G C H U R C H E S LOOKINGBACK Safeguarding the Church Shepherding people in our congregations is a high calling especially being attentive to the threat and actions of sexual abuse. Protecting the vulnerable, caring for victims and implementing measures is mission critical.Our association has committed to make this issue a centralized focus for strengthening churches. Two significant sessions were offered to church leaders. Attorney Curtis Bostic & Pastor Marshall Blalock (Chairman of the SBC Abuse Reform Task Implementation Force) equipped 13 church teams in safeguarding the church and serving those who have been abused.Their qualified voices and expertise pointed leaders toward protocols and resources. As a follow up Attorney Bostic provided a workshop offering legal counsel, practical protocols and tools. Greater Charleston Prayer Movement “There has never been a spiritual awakening in any country or locality that did not begin in united prayer” A.T. Pierson, 20th century American pastor. Each month, a denominationally diverse group comes together at a collaborative table at the CBA office with regional prayer leaders. As there are various interdenominational prayer circles functioning in Greater Charleston, these leaders come together on the first Wednesday of the month to connect and prayerfully discuss ways to foster and fuel a collective prayer movement in Greater Charleston. We are grateful for the way that CBA Church: The Church at Lifepark facilitates this time as they model prayer ministry as well as a regional movement called Charleston Prays. To learn more about how you and your church can engage in this growing movement, please reach out to: https://www.charlestonpraystogether.org We are thankful for the attentiveness that our state and national convention is providing by actively creating and curating resources for best practices and protocols. State Convention leadership has prioritized and funded a full-time staff position for a qualified individual who is trauma-informed and biblically equipped to equip church leaders and congregations. A church based tool kit as well as a national database listing those who have been credibly accused has also been created. For more information: https://www.sbc.net/satf/ or https://www.scbaptist.org/resource/sexual-abuse-task-force-response/ 16
Carolina Bay / Harbor City Church Gospel history of a church always leaves a Kingdom legacy. For Carolina Bay it has been a 56 year history in the West Ashley region and for the past 14 years Pastor Mike Rucker has been shepherding and leading the congregation. With a shifting and changing community, the aged congregation faced the challenge of engaging new strategies and needed vitality that required resources beyond their own means. With courage and faith, Pastor Rucker and the congregation voted to replant and engage into a partnership with strategic leaders and core group of a new CBA church plant being sent by Summit Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. Pastor Jonathan Lenker entered into a partnering relationship by sharing Sunday worship space with Carolina Bay Church and praying intentionally about becoming the new leadership and vision in the tenured Gospel history of Carolina Bay. In March of 2023, a new chapter was inaugurated as the leadership and congregation of Harbor City Church adopted the congregation and campus of Carolina Bay Church. The Kingdom legacy connected to this church began as far back as First Baptist Church Charleston (1682) who planted Citadel Square Baptist Church (1854) who planted Ashley River Baptist Church (1943) and who in turn planted Sycamore Baptist Church aka Carolina Bay Baptist Church (1966). There have been 7 baptisms and the church is currently conducting two services on Sunday mornings. We rejoice over renewed vitality for this campus strategically located at the gateway to John’s Island and communities west of the Ashley. Northwood & Gethsemane Baptist Churches Church Renewal through Fostering toward Revitalization: Serving churches to bring them into a position of strength is no small thing. Beginning in the fall of 2022, Northwood Baptist Church entered into a supportive relationship leveraging staff and congregational resources with Gethsemane Baptist Church in the Carnes Crossroads Community in Summerville. Through coaching and cooperation, new ministry processes and culture was being introduced through the strength and vitality of Northwood Baptist Church within the struggling Gethsemane Church. Growth began to swell in the Sunday morning attendance as well as the celebration of lives changed expressed through believer’s baptism. Short-term fostering led to a longterm partnership welcoming Gethsemane into a relationship beyond sharing resources to adopting the congregation into the culture, values and vision of Northwood Church.This agreement created a family dynamic and a significant step took place as student pastor, Jay Glasgow, of Northwood Church was asked to prayerfully consider becoming the Lead Pastor for the church. On Sunday, January 29 of 2023, Gethsemane Church called Pastor Glasgow. The family dynamic provides a close partnership that engages leadership at Gethsemane Church to be part of staff meetings and resources. LOOKINGBACK S T R E N G T H E NIN G C H U R C H E S 17
S T R E N G T H E NIN G C H U R C H E S LOOKINGAHEAD Disciple Making Lab Questions that every church leader asks themselves either regularly or occasionally: Is the discipleship strategy our church is engaging working? How do we strengthen our church’s discipleship plan for greater impact? Do we need to recalibrate our church’s discipleship strategy? Does our disciple making strategy need greater Gospel emphasis? Do we need more clarity on how to reach people in your specific context? Do the members of our church see themselves as everyday missionary disciples? The Charleston Baptist Association is engaging with Mission Charleston in Greater Charleston churches in a collaborative learning experience in strengthening your church’s discipleship strategy. Specifically, this learning lab will equip your church to contextualize your discipleship strategy based on the unique strengths and missional signature of your church. Pastor Jeff Vanderstelt who authored the books, Gospel Fluency and Saturate will be teaching, coaching and consulting with church staff teams through in person intensives and online cohorts. Your church’s discipleship effectiveness will be strengthened and your leadership will be better equipped in reaching and growing disciples within your church. This disciple-making lab and cohort will include one-day intensives and zoom cohorts. To learn more: [email protected] Vision Grants Throughout the history of the Charleston Baptist Association churches have given to vision initiatives to carry out the shared mission of sharing the Gospel and making disciples.While this mission stays the same, vision gets refocused based on what is strategic for the time and season of ministry. Upon the sale of our conference center and other properties a vision reserve fund was established to serve the renewed vision of strengthening leaders, strengthening churches and planting churches. These monies are leveraged through the direction of the staff and administrative team of the association each year. Because these monies were given by our churches, associational leadership provides access to strategic funding that aligns with the three vision pathways.An application process has been created a as well as an allotment of funds per year corresponding with each pathway. Local Mission Lab Missionary C.T. Studd once said, “The light that shines the farthest shines the brightest at home.”As local churches seek to make a Gospel impact in a geography and among people within proximity, it can be challenging and overwhelming to know the what, how, where and when to engage. Our association is committed to assist each church to identify a missional signature and equip mission leaders toward local impact. The Local Mission Lab is purposed to help each church establish a local mission pathway for members to serve and people in need to experience hope. Through the Send Relief Center at The Hub at Centerpoint, church leaders can discover and develop strategic partnerships in collaboration with community organizations, non-profit groups and sister congregations.In the spring and fall, this learning lab will unite the best of our national, state and local resources to equip churches to identify a circle of accountability and take on lostness in the name of Jesus. To learn more: www.charlestonbaptist.net/ 18
M U L TIP LYIN G C H U R C H E S LOOKINGAHEAD NEW CHURCHES: MULTIPLYING MISSION Each year we have been blessed to present new churches joining our family of churches. This means more than increasing our associational membership as it is an answer to prayer for more laborers who are on mission together to reach into our exponentially growing population. Each new church has applied, has affirmed the Baptist Faith & Message 2000, has been interviewed and was presented for affirmation at our Executive Committee Meeting. We give thanks for these 2023 candidate member churches: Greater Charleston Church Plant – Tony Bowman In August of 2023, Associate Pastor Tony Bowman, his wife Kathy and a core team of 4 families were sent out by Centerpoint Church at Remount to plant the Gospel in the growing communities in Greater Charleston. This strategic church plant is purposed to engage relationally within communities that foster small groups in homes. Pastor Bowman is equipping core team members in living out the Gospel in everyday life and within everyday spaces such as the workplace, neighborhood, schools and recreational spaces. This high missional focus connects with the exponentially growing unchurched population. To learn more about how to offer support through prayer, giving and serving: [email protected] / [email protected] Ten27 Church – Taylor Antone Taylor and Rachel Antone moved from Washington D.C. with their two children in 2022 following a vision to join in the work of planting the Gospel in Greater Charleston. The Antones were sent out by Citylight Church of West Falls Church, Virginia and entered into a local sponsoring church relationship with CBA Church: Harbor City Church in West Ashley. Ten27 Church is anchored in the Great Commandment stated by Jesus, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27). The vision and mission of the church is to make disciples who seek to help every person encounter the love of God and expand the Kingdom of God. For more information: https://www.t27church.org Kingdom Church - Nexton – Joe Douglas In May of 2022, Associate Pastor Joe Douglas and his family along with a few families were sent out by CBA affiliated church: Restoration Community Church in Hanahan, SC to begin working towards planting Kingdom Church in the Nexton Community. We celebrate the multiplication and mobilization of key leaders within an established local church to pioneer and plant the Gospel within the ever expanding communities in Greater Charleston. We also celebrate the cooperative partnership shared among our sister churches within our neighboring association (Screven Baptist Association).The Church at Cane Bay (Screven) in Summerville is serving as an equipping residency for the core team of Kingdom Church. To learn more: https://kingdomchurchsc.org 19
M U L TIP LYIN G C H U R C H E S CHURCHPLANTINGPARTNERSHIPS 3 Ways to Engage in Church Planting Partnerships: Parenting Relationship - A church takes the lead responsibility for the development and care of the church planter. Partnering Relationship - A church takes on specific key roles to assist the planter and plant team. Participant Relationship - A church finds unique moments to support/encourage a church plant. For further discussion and details please contact CBA Resource Associate, Clay Jernigan: [email protected] Leadership Residencies: The next generation of leaders for local churches in Greater Charleston is mission critical for the vitality and sustainability of strengthening churches and planting / replanting churches. It is our prayer that more residencies are started within our local churches to prepare next generation leaders. There are CBA churches who are actively training, teaching and sending leaders into ministry here and beyond our region. To learn more about residencies: Harbor City Church: www.harborcitychs.com Restoration Church: www.lifeatrestoration.com Risen Hope Church: www.risenhope.church The Church at Lifepark: www.churchatlifepark.org Church Plant Highlight: The Bridge Church The Bridge Church celebrates two years as a gospel-centered, intentionally diverse church in the North Charleston/Goose Creek, SC area. The Bridge exists to see people connected to God and one another by making disciples for the glory of God and the good of our city. We are grateful for the leadership of Dr. RaShan Frost and the impact of his wife, De Anna who have been living in Greater Charleston for over 10 years.There is a mission partnership between Deerpark Baptist Church and The Bridge Church as they share space together.The Bridge is part of the larger Church of Charleston, desiring to see the good news of Jesus proclaimed to every man, woman, and child where they live, work, or play in the greater Charleston area and desires to reflect Heaven as the multi-ethnic and multi-generational family of God. 20
C H U R C H E S C O L L A B O R AT E D LOOKINGBACK ESL / Refugee Care “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me...” Matt. 25:35-36 CBA Churches have joined in with other Greater Charleston churches to serve refugees arriving from the Middle East, Africa and South America. There are two strategic ESL (English as a Second Language) classes hosted by CBA Churches: Northwood Baptist and Centerpoint Church at Remount. We are thankful for Mission Charleston, a collaborative partner of the CBA, who has been convening churches to serve as welcome and care teams for these new international neighbors. As more refugees will be arriving, more churches will be asked to engage. A pressing need is to develop a refugee care coordinating team. If you have served with refugee care and want to know more about the coordination team please contact us. We also invite you and your church to join into this Kingdom way of loving our neighbor as ourselves and sharing the Good News of the Gospel through relationships. BCM Ministry/Church Partnerships Charleston Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) provides on campus access to students of The College of Charleston and The Citadel. We are grateful for the leadership of Director Bronson Baker and Associate Director Katie Scott. The missional success of reaching and discipling students is dependent on the cooperative partnership between our state convention, local association and cooperating churches. Over the past year strategic partnerships have formed between First Baptist Church Charleston, Fort Johnson Baptist Church, Harbor City Church and King’s Cross Church. Each church has leveraged significant support in various ways such as staffing, financial support and volunteer resourcing. Since the fall of 2021, there has been multiple students who have trusted in Christ and expressed their faith through baptism as well as increased attendance among weekly gatherings on both campuses. To learn more: https://www.charlestonbcm.org Grace & Race – Gospel Reconciliation An ongoing conversation and collaborative around historical racial brokenness has long-term application for our region. In March of 2023, pastoral leaders from Greater Charleston who are leading voices as ambassadors of reconciliation among ethnicities and cultures here in Greater Charleston travelled to Summit Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. This team of leaders were introduced to Summit Church leadership and provided equipping for Summit Church’s Institute of next generation leaders. This multi-ethnic collaboration was celebrated among this team as well as applications shared about how to be Gospel informed while engaging cross culturally. Pastor Anthony Thompson of the Trinity Reformed Episcopal Church, Pastor RaShan Frost of the The Bridge Church, Pastor David Johnson of Centerpoint Church at Remount. Churches of Greater Charleston can participate through local collectives such as: www.1charleston.org and www.onenewhumanitychs.org 21
CHURCHESCOLLABORATED LOOKINGAHEAD Send Relief Center The Hub / Send Relief Our national convention (North American Mission Board) provides life giving and resource assisting relief to serve others in crisis in Jesus’ name. Send Relief exists to respond to life-altering moments with the hope of the Gospel. From responding to natural disasters to caring for refugees to providing medical clinics to many other care and mercy opportunities, NAMB Send Relief is committed to connecting people in need with people who care.There are several Send Relief Affiliate Centers around the United States. These ministry centers serve as a hub for NAMB Send Relief initiatives to engage regional churches together for community impact. These center’s welcome mission teams from across the country as well as serve as a receiving hub for resource distribution. These affiliate ministry centers also serve to inspire, equip and empower local churches to take their next step in compassion ministry. The Hub at Centerpoint was invited into becoming a Send Relief Affiliate Center this summer due to the central geographic location and the active collaborative community outreach that Centerpoint Church is engaging with other local churches. As of August 1, CBA Pastor David Johnson serves as the ministry director and will be the liaison between NAMB and the Greater Charleston region. This new center provides accessibility to the resource relationship with our national convention for all SBC churches in Greater Charleston. To learn more about Send Relief: www.sendrelief.org Pastor David Johnson: [email protected] 22
Training & Equipping Assessment / Tools Leader Development Research & Development $30,000 Supplemental Support Start up costs in diverse settings Transitional housing Pastoral Support $40,000 Strategic Envisioning Equipping Environments Specialized training / conferences Resources $15,000 Soul Care Counseling Cohort Retreat $15,000 TOTAL PROPOSAL $100,000 M O S AIC MOSAICCHURCHPLANTINGINITIATIVE MOSAIC CHARLESTON BAPTIST ASSOCIATION BCM is seeking to bring the church to Tuesday evening gatherings to connect strong believers with students who are new believers. Local Missionaries going into communities to reach unchurched people, grow disciples and gather to reach more people: Joel Smith (West Ashley), Adrian Fernandez (North Charleston), Tony Bowman (Carnes Crossroads / Moncks Corner). Church Planting among refugees who are resettling here in Greater Charleston: Nations to Neighbors non-profit led by Jonathan Edney. Marketplace leaders who are engaging with employees and customers / clients in view of establishing discipleship cohorts as an expression of the church. MOSAIC EXAMPLES: Strategic and innovative pathway to planting the Gospel in communities and marketplace through diverse expressions of the church. The saturation of secularism is rapidly increasing through exponential growth of unchurched people in Greater Charleston. There is a greater need for incarnational missionary strategies to reach every man, woman and child. Unchurched geographies utilize harvest focused strategies (international missions) that are showing to be applicable here and need the necessary funding to reach our increasingly unchurched city. Mosaic is a strategic initiative to plant the Gospel through harvest focused church planting in any domain: marketplace, classroom, neighborhood, university, clinic, etc… WHATISMOSAIC? 23
Mission in the Marketplace Charleston Baptist Association is partnering with Mission Charleston’s initiative to envision, encourage and equip marketplace leaders to mobilize disciple making. To make Jesus unignorable in every place and space it will take transformed people who are unleashed to reach every man, woman and child. A small movement of marketplace church members are gathering to strengthen each other and begin learning how to contextualize sharing the Gospel and making disciples. Mission Charleston is engaging with Saturate led by Jeff Vanderstelt for a disciple making lab in 2024 to equip marketplace leaders. When church leaders include everyday domains as the “work of ministry” (Eph. 4:12), ordinary people become extraordinary influencers for the Kingdom. Marketplace leaders will be inviting their church leaders to participate and support their calling and gifting in shining the Light of Christ. Marc Zera owner of Off Track Ice Cream has initiated a downtown gathering of marketplace leaders. To learn more: https://saturatetheworld.com/2023/06/21/ice-cream-disciple-making Madera Marketplace Mission – Adrian Fernandez In August of 2023, Associate Pastor Adrian Fernandez, his wife Lindsay and mission partners launched a marketplace disciple-making group that shapes and equips Latino young men spiritually and vocationally through carpentry and wood working. Centerpoint Church at Remount commissioned the Fernandez family into this strategic mission of reaching and discipling unchurched Latinos. Adrian & Lindsay continue to serve as associational missionaries assisting churches to contextualize ministry and mission among Latino communities in Greater Charleston. To learn more: www.843maderallc.com / [email protected] M O S AIC MOSAICPATHWAYS Nations to Neighbors Since 2001, the United States has received an average of 50,000 refugees every year and is making provisions of 125,000 in 2024. An average of 60% of refugees arrive in the USA knowing little to no English.Refugees have 1 year to apply for permanent visas once coming to North America. In 2022, the United States government completed over 771,000 applications for long term migration into the United States. There are nearly 2 million people that moved to the United States with the intention of a long-term stay with little to no access to life and health resources. Nations to Neighbors is a Gospel centered non-profit working with churches, community organizations and non-profits to demonstrate the love of Jesus through hospitality and care for the sojourner in Greater Charleston. Nations to Neighbors provides educational opportunities for non-native English speakers and their families as well as skills training, workplace coaching and driving lessons. Additionally, there are programs for personal development through spiritual formation, recreation and counseling. Nations to Neighbors is in partnership with Send Relief Charleston and is led by CBA Pastor Jonathan Edney. For more information and ways to serve and support: www.nations2neighbors.org / [email protected] 24
What does the culture and demographics of Greater Charleston look like in 2042? If the trend of declining church attendance continues and the exponentially growing secularization and northern diaspora of our region, we may look more like Boston than a southern coastal city. How will our churches engage and impact the ever expanding and changing dynamics in our region? This spring the CBA initiated the first Future Church conversation with 40 church leaders representing 22 churches. We learned about how to connect with our new neighbors moving in from the north and how to begin praying and strategizing for church multiplication through strategic mapping. We are grateful for the equipping from one who is a practitioner from the north, Pastor JD Mangrum with Christ Church in Charlestowne, Massachusetts. Pastor Mangrum also serves as a missional strategist with the North American Mission Board / SEND City Boston. A team of CBA pastors travelled to the Charlestowne neighborhood of Boston to learn more about innovative ways of planting churches as well as mobilizing members as everyday missionaries. Over the next few years, we are fostering a shared missional learning lab between churches in Charleston, SC and churches in Charlestowne, MA. Conversing with church practitioners, praying over strategic areas and exchanging missional learning from both cities. There is much to learn from the renewed Gospel movement in Greater Boston that will help us here in Greater Charleston both contextually and strategically. In the same way that the Gospel has been at work through the Great Awakening, we believe the Gospel will continue to advance the Kingdom of God. For more information contact our Resource Associate, Clay Jernigan: [email protected] FUTURE CHURCH CONVERSATIONS 25
Every church has a growth cycle that encounters a season where movement is in neutral. This window of time is an opportunity to evaluate and innovate. When churches engage these windows proactively, future growth trajectory remains sustainable. When churches ignore these windows, churches inevitably become reactive and their future trajectory becomes a rescue mission in itself. As a result, the outward vision of the church shifts and the mission of making new disciples turns inward promoting insulation to control the loss. Many times this digression subtly changes the motivation of the church toward reaching others to replace what has been lost in the church over the urgency to reach others because they are lost and separated from God. RE:NEWAL is a learning process for church leaders and congregations that helps them explore, evaluate and engage a renewed or redemptive strategy that prevents the death or dissolution of a church; a corrective opportunity to help good willed congregations to root out selfish ambition for temporary results and recapture Kingdom ambition that leads to lasting results. CHURCH RENEWAL Over the past 7 years there have been 7 CBA churches that have engaged this process and have gone from loss of members to exponential growth. The common shared element between each has been an open-handed resolve to do whatever it takes and a readiness to take a willful next step.With each church, a radical faith was exercised by overlooking perceived loss in order to experience actual gain. For more information on engaging the process please contact us: [email protected] 26
Every year, our association is seeking to convene a table for church leaders and teams to better coordinate and collaborate on reaching every man, woman and child within shared geographies across Greater Charleston. The 4 regions (central, east, west and north) have been strategically identified due to similar demographics and organized municipalities.The 82 churches of the CBA exist within each of these regions. Cooperating together and learning how to engage the lostness of our region is more critical than ever. Here are some statistics from the Barna Research Group: One church on their own cannot reach, disciple and equip every person within their zip code Our denomination (largest protestant group in the U.S.) consistently reports membership decline across the nation Less than 20% of Americans actually attend on regular basis representing half of those who say they are engaged in a church 19.6% of the American population and growing considers themselves to have “no religion” professing to be agnostic, atheist or simply no beliefs (also known as the “nones”) 80% of church goers believe it’s important to share your faith and yet 61% have not done so in the last 6 months REACHING EVERY MAN, WOMAN, & CHILD The Cypress Project (www.cypressproject.org) is more than a conversation, it is a catalytic learning experience that fuels churches to strengthen and strategize their growth impact for multiplication of disciples and mobilizing members into everyday mission. Churches that have participated have experienced growth in membership engagement within the church and toward others in the community. Additionally, church leaders have renewed their commitment and calling and Kingdom movement has initiated prayer gatherings, mission partnerships and resource sharing. This 2 half-day experience serves to equip leaders and members in taking geographic responsibility for reaching people in the harvest where God has placed them. To learn more and to register for upcoming collaboratives in 2024, reach out to Clay Jernigan: [email protected]. 27
Total Assets (as of Aug 31, 2023) Total Bank Accounts $ 1,618,399.79 Total Current Assets $ 1,620,028.24 Total Fixed Assets $ 2,678,205.64 TOTAL ASSETS $ 4,298,233.88 FINANCIAL UPDATE Hanahan Church Property Update The trustees of Goodrich Baptist Church in Hanahan met with our associational leadership team last year to inform us of their formal closure as a church as well as the church’s legal dissolution to transfer their property to the CBA. The assets of Goodrich Church were willed to the CBA with the intention of serving and supporting church multiplication. Since there were discrepancies within the leadership of the church over this transition, the Administrative Team secured legal counsel as representation was necessary to formalize this transfer. The Bostic Law Firm has served with a posture of bringing closure to this transition and ensuring that the integrity of the will of the church would be fulfilled. The church property on Foster Creek Road was deeded to the CBA as well as a parsonage property in Goose Creek. In the fall of 2022 we sold the parsonage and applied the profit to legal fees incurred. The Bostic Law Firm is navigating a contested issue with the property and we anticipate reconciliation on these matters before the end of 2023. Meanwhile, a Brazilian Church is paying rent for use of the small sanctuary / social hall building. Upon closure of the remaining legal process, the Administrative Team has been empowered by the Executive Committee to enact a decision for this asset.Currently there is consensus to sell the property to finalize legal fees and place the balance into our vision reserves. 28 CHURCH GIVING NEEDED AS OF AUG 31: $240,000 CHURCH GIVING RECEIVED AS OF AUG 31: $239,636
2024 PROPOSED BUDGET 2024 Projected Revenue Church Gifts 360,000 Other (Rental, Bonnie Doone, Interest) 307,719 Ethnic Ministry Fund 20,000 TOTAL REVENUE 687,719.00 2024 Projected Expenditures Personnel (Salaries, Workers Comp, Payroll Taxes) 306,719 Operations (Office equip, Rent, Utilities, Ins, etc.) 104,500 Training/Mileage/Conference 5,000 Strengthening Churches 30,000 Strengthening Churches Grants 10,000 Strengthening Leaders 47,500 Strengthening Leaders Grants 10,000 Church Planting 20,000 Church Planting Grants 10,000 Mosaic Church Planting Initiative 100,000 Partner Ministries (BCM, WMU, Seafarers) 25,000 Pastoral Care & Support/Resources 9,000 Vision Expansion 10,000 TOTAL EXPENDITURES 687,719 *A printed copy of the budget breakdown is available upon request, please just notify a CBA staff member and we will get you a copy. You can also email [email protected] 29
30 2024 PROPOSED BUDGET BREAKDOWN EXPECTED REVENUE: $687,719 CHURCH GIFTS, RENTAL, INTEREST INCOME: $416,300 USE OF VISION RESERVE FUNDS (BONNIE DOONE INVESTMENT, ETHNIC MINISTRY FUND): $271,419 PERSONNEL/STAFF OPERATIONS INSURANCE RENT TRAINING/MILEAGE EXPENSES: $416,219 MINISTRY BUDGET VISION PATHWAYS MINISTRY GRANTS MOSAIC PARTNER MINISTRIES PASTORAL CARE VISION EXPANSION EXPENSES: $271,500
31 THANK YOU TO ALL OUR CBA PARTNER MINISTRIES www.charlestonbaptist.net NORTH AMERICAN MISSION BOARD INTERNATIONAL MISSION BOARD SOUTH CAROLINA BAPTIST CONVENTION