Let's Assemble for The Sake of All the Churches

By Tony Crocker, President • BMA of Arkansas

The 75^th annual meeting of the BMA of Arkansas will begin next Thursday, Nov. 7. Annual meetings, like church business meetings, are not glamorous, but they are necessary. I would like to take a few minutes to give you some reasons to attend the meeting:

• How about loyalty? If you know me, what I say here is not a surprise. Associational life has been my life. That is not an embarrassing revelation. In truth, all my life has been within the BMA of America, and 20 years of my ministry have been in the BMA of Arkansas. My father was an autoworker whose career was spent in the Chrysler Corporation. His father was a lead miner who spent his career with one company. My heritage is a multigenerational line of company men. Loyalty means something.

One thing I say to my children is that everything we have is because of God’s grace and the goodness of BMA churches. I have no other career except as a Baptist preacher. Every meal we’ve eaten, every stitch of clothing, every work endeavored and every pleasure enjoyed has been by the goodness of God and the provision of His churches. On a personal level, I can say this association matters greatly to me and my family.

• How about serving others? Associational life presents opportunities to serve churches across our state. Secular organizations rely on volunteers. At the risk of splitting hairs, I do not like using the word “volunteer” to describe the work of God’s people. We are servants of the living God. When we attend the meeting, there are tasks that need to be done voluntarily (meaning they must be done without remuneration), but the only way they will be done is if the servants of the Lord are willing to do them, even the inglorious ones.

As I write this, it comes to my mind that our editor, Bro. Jeff, and I started serving together about 30 years ago when the Central Arkansas Association elected us to the Enrollment and Finance Committee. I was the youngest pastor, and he was a youth minister. We showed up and learned the basics by attending the meeting, and elder pastors gave us something to do. In jest, it was to keep us young whippersnappers out of trouble, but in truth, it was our gateway of opportunity to do greater service for the Lord in the future. As they say, “Look at us now!”

• How about for those who are serving us? Our four departments and a number of auxiliary ministries depend on your presence to serve advisory roles and to perform a number of necessary organizational tasks. We have five elected officers for the state and at least three committees that serve important tasks for the churches.

Some of the more awkward moments in our meetings are nominations that constitutionally must be made from the floor. People search the room, and some will sink into their chairs, hoping not to be seen. How about this? Sit up. Sit up front. Help us all get the job done. If the Nominating Committee asks if you will serve one of our departments or on one of our associational committees, please do it. And do it joyfully.

• How about for the sake of souls? Do people get saved in church business meetings? Probably not. Do they come seeking Jesus in associational meetings? No. But do not discount the importance of this meeting for the lost in our state. We hear about souls saved through missions, student ministry and our college. Through the Baptist Trumpet, we hear about souls saved across our state, maybe even in your church. When it all comes down to it, the few hours we assemble each year takes care of a few necessary things so the rest of our year can be spent for the sake of souls.

• How about to see my pretty face? Sure, I’ll say it! Why not? I’m not getting any younger. I’m not growing any more hair (on my head anyway!). This may be as good as it gets.

Kidding aside, we do not get many opportunities to shake hands, look each other in the eye, hug one another’s neck, sit at a table together, sing together, hear the Word of God together… you get the picture? This is a good opportunity and an uplifting one. Even if you don’t have a direct responsibility to fulfill in coming, by encouraging a fellow pastor or servant leader, you will have fulfilled a greater purpose. You will have been there for the sake of all the churches.