JOURNEY WITH JEFF: Halfway Through

      We are halfway through the local associations for this year. It has been a joy to attend or have a representative attend and share about the ministry of the Trumpet in almost every local association meeting so far. Due to a scheduling conflict, we could not be at the North Arkansas Association. Still, I have been able to attend the Mount Calvary, BMA of the Ozarks, Mount Vernon, United, Central Arkansas and Columbia associations and Associate Editor Allan Eakin attended the Clark Association.

      I look forward to attending the Union, Judson, Greenbrier, Jonesboro, Arkansas Prairie, and Howard County association meetings, and Allan plans to attend the Harmony Association.

      We attend these association meetings to keep you updated about the ministry of the Trumpet. We work for you and want to be accessible and put faces with the names of those we serve as we meet our pastors and readers.

      At this past Sunday’s Columbia association, I talked with some fellow ministry leaders about how to let pastors know and understand the importance of what we are about as a ministry. We do our best to be your go-to source for the latest news and information about the Baptist Missionary Association on every level — local, state and national. We do our best to connect you with missionaries by printing their reports so you know how to pray and give to help them in their ministry. Our discussion led to the fact that, too often, those we reach at association meetings, whether local, state or national, are those who already know about the benefits and importance of keeping their people informed through the ministry of the Trumpet.

      I have said it before and strongly believe it to be true: “The best church member a pastor could ask for is an informed church member.” The implications of an informed and connected church body go far beyond the latest news and information. An informed church body understands its vital role and connection to the association of churches. That means they should support the pastor’s efforts as he leads them to do more together through the associated work.

      Again, if you are reading this, that means you also understand the importance of being informed, but could you please do me a favor? Will you be an ambassador for the Trumpet? If someone does not currently receive the Trumpet in your church, will you encourage them to try it out by adding them to your church’s church plan subscription or as an individual trial subscription? In your local association, do you know of a church not connected through the Trumpet? Will you share the importance of keeping everyone informed and ask them to check it out?

      Over the last few years, we have sought to focus on associational involvement because, as goes the association, so goes the ministry of the Trumpet. If you are a member of the Baptist Missionary Association of churches, you should want to be informed about what God is doing because of our associated work, and we are that connection for you and your church.

      Will you continue to pray for us as we prepare to make recommendations about the Trumpet moving forward at the November state meeting? Will you plan to attend the meeting to rejoice in what God is doing through the work of the BMA of Arkansas?

      Thank you for allowing me to serve. If I can do anything for you, or if you have any questions about this ministry, please don’t hesitate to contact me at editor@baptisttrumpet.com