MINNESOTA BAPTIST ASSOCIATION

The President's Corner

(Apr-Jun 2007)

Allow me to greatly encourage you to attend this year's Minnesota Baptist Association Annual Meeting at Faith Baptist Church of St. Paul. Am I doing so because it is in St. Paul? No. I am encouraging you to attend because this is YOUR association.

The MBA exists because churches of like faith have banded together for the purpose of planting new Baptist churches and of promoting the general health and prosperity of our member churches. One the primary ways this is accomplished is through the annual meeting. While the board of trustees carries on the important work of month-to-month administration, it is the messengers who attend the annual meeting that bear both the ultimate voice and responsibility for the ongoing prosperity of the MBA. The trustees of both the MBA and Pillsbury Baptist Bible College are elected by those duly appointed representatives of our churches (messengers), thereby ensuring the ongoing participation and oversight by the local church.

Furthermore, it is the duty of those messengers to take back to their churches the information gleaned, the inspiration drawn, and the burden accepted from the annual meeting. The messenger serves a vital role as liaison between the local church and the association proper. Think of it as both voice and vote for all our churches as we gather together in St. Paul this year.

But, of course, the annual meeting is for everyone. All can attend. While only messengers have the authority from their local church to vote, every year many attend to simply enjoy the fellowship and be renewed by the faithful preaching of God's Word. What a wonderful opportunity for all our churches...and it only comes but once a year!

Won't you please consider answering the call to be a messenger from your local church? And even if you do not accept that extra mantle of responsibility, will you consider joining us June 25-26 this summer in St. Paul for a wonderful time of sweet fellowship and strategic planning for the ongoing work of Christ here in our great state of Minnesota

Indeed, we need you!