What Are We Planning for?
by Steve Scudder, Director of Missions
Moses was dead. God had brought the Israelite slaves from captivity to the edge of the Promised Land. Joshua was given the task of leading them into God’s promised future. Before they could get there, however, one obstacle lay in their way: Jericho.
Joshua did what any great leader would do: he sought direction from God. Nothing drives God’s leaders to their knees quicker than facing a massive, fortified city like Jericho! As Joshua strolled near Jericho, I imagine he talked to God about the situation. There is something about walking an area that God wants us to claim for Him and praying as we go that opens our eyes to opportunities we never imagined were possible.
On this particular prayerwalk, Joshua saw an armed guard standing before him. The guard was neither for the Israelites nor against them. He was for God! Again showing his leadership skills, Joshua humbly bowed before the captain of God’s army and asked for the message God had sent. The captain then relayed God’s step-by-step instructions on how to win Jericho for God’s Kingdom (Joshua 5:13-6:5).
The churches of Savannah River Baptist Association have been called by God to work together to capture a “fortified city” that stretches across Beaufort and Jasper Counties. Although there are no visible walls, there is a need in our area among the majority of our neighbors. It is estimated that nearly 150,000 of the 172,000 residents of our 2 counties have no personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. If we do not unite to tell them the hope we have in Christ, they will perish for all eternity. They will die and go to Hell.
But why plan? Hasn’t God already told us what to do?
Yes. But it is vital that we gather together as a community of churches and we make sure, as autonomous churches, that we agree on initiatives that are Kingdom-oriented, bless the community, and develop disciples (us) into the people God has called us to be.
It is important that we do not approach planning with a set of goals and tasks that we want God to bless! Rather, we must seek God’s face, asking for God’s direction, and following God’s leadership. To accomplish this, two things must happen:
1. Prayer. We must seek God’s face and listen to God’s instructions. Therefore, I am asking all of our churches to begin now asking for God’s direction for Savannah River Baptist Association and to continue praying throughout this year. If this becomes habit forming, well who can say how God will move among our churches, impacting our communities, country, and world.
To help with this, Ginny Yerden and I are developing a 28-Day Prayer Guide. The prayer focus will run March 14-April 10 and will strengthen messengers as they prepare to participate in the Collaborative Forum on Saturday, April 17. The guide will include a daily focus verse, a fact about our area, and prayer requests from our churches.
The association office will prepare electronic and paper versions of the prayer guide to disseminate them widely throughout our area.
2. Participation. It is vital that we have participation from ALL of our churches. A Baptist Association is a gathering of autonomous churches to accomplish more together than any one can do separately. Talk to your pastor to make sure your congregation is praying, your messengers are participating in the collaborative forum, and your Executive Board members are attending the July and September meetings. Even though we represent individual churches, we unite as the body of Christ, each equally important and needed to carry out the command of Christ (1 Corinthians 12).
This is a year to get ready to follow God into the promised future that He has for us. Our motto for the year, Cultivating an Environment in which God Can Work, reflects our hearts’ desire to be ready to follow the strategy that God lays before us. Will you commit to praying and participating in this collaborative adventure? Like Joshua, let’s fall before the Lord and humbly ask, "What does my lord say to his servants?" and then do what He says!
