TOGETHER: Mission statement focuses on ‘doing’_90604

Posted: 9/03/04

TOGETHER:
Mission statement focuses on 'doing'

What shall we give ourselves to do the next few years in the Baptist General Convention of Texas? For the past five years, we have assisted churches and related ministries to be the presence of Christ in the world. Churches across Texas have asked themselves, “If Jesus came to our town, where would he go, who would he talk to, what questions would he ask, who would he comfort and who would he confront, what would make him cry, what would cause him to laugh?”

When you know the answer to those questions, you have a pretty good idea what the agenda for your church and your life needs to be. Churches begin to change when they realize they are the continuing presence of Christ in the world. If the church is, as Paul describes it, the body of Christ, then the church is the continuation of the incarnation of God in the world. The church is making visible and tangible the reality of Christ Jesus so people can get close, can experience the warmth, can know God. The effectiveness of a church in conveying that truth is dependent on two things–their obedience to God's call and commands as made known in Scripture and their sensitivity and openness to the Holy Spirit.

So, why am I suggesting we craft a new mission statement for the BGCT? Because the current one is more about “who” we are than “what” we are called to do. We need a better description of what we are to do to help churches achieve their goals.

The mission statement that is being proposed to the Executive Board this month says: “The Baptist General Convention of Texas encourages, facilitates and connects churches in their work to fulfill God's mission of reconciling the world to himself.”

This is a great biblical theme: “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). What Jesus did on the cross was break down the wall of separation that divides the world's peoples and offer to us all the peace that comes from being one in him.

God still is in the business of reconciling the world to himself. That is what he calls all of us to join him in doing. It includes evangelism, personal witnessing, Bible teaching and preaching, friendships, caring ministries, missions, Christian stewardship of the creation and the conviction in the church that we exist not for ourselves but for the world God loves.

The arrow words in the mission statement are “encourages,” “facilitates” and “connects.” The work of the BGCT will be to stand beside the churches so that we encourage them to see the possibilities around them; facilitate access to high-quality, cutting-edge, biblically sound and culturally appropriate resources and consultations; and connect them to one another for the most effective ministry and missions work ever before achieved.

What about related ministries? The institutions and associations are key players in our vision. Core strategies, to be outlined over the next few weeks, will describe our plans to work in dynamic cooperation and with increasing collaboration so the churches we all serve will be strengthened.

The developing news about our strategic planning initiative will be printed in the Baptist Standard. We will keep you informed about our progress and the prayers we need! Please don't forget to pray for me every time you read this column.

We are loved.

Charles Wade is executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas