- Baptist Press - https://www.baptistpress.com -

‘Associations Then & Now’ to be directors of missions’ theme

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–An in-depth look at the history and purpose of Baptist associations will be featured during the June 19-20 meeting of the Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Directors of Missions.

“Associations Then & Now” will be the theme of the SBCADOM sessions at the Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville, Tenn., preceding the June 21-22 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Nodell Dennis, the organization’s president, said the meeting will focus on “how important associational life is to Southern Baptists … from the biblical basis to the historical basis to the contemporary need for associations in Baptist life.”

Associations -– regional organizations of Baptist churches for cooperative missions and ministry –- are the closest denominational entity to local churches, said Dennis, director of missions for the Blue River/Kansas City Baptist Association in Missouri.

Directors of missions thus have a tremendous opportunity to serve churches in communities across the country, he said.

Addresses related to the meeting’s theme will include:

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— “The Biblical Basis for Assocations” by D.L. Lowrie, pastor of First Baptist Church in Lubbock, Texas, and former executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

— “The Historical Basis for Associations” by James T. Draper Jr., president of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.

— “The Contemporary Basis for Missions” by George Bullard, associate executive director of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.

— “Putting Together an Association Missions Partnership” by Mike Haynes, director of missions for the Greene County Baptist Assocation in Springfield, Mo.

Lowrie and Haynes will speak during the SBCADOM’s Sunday afternoon session beginning at 1; Draper and Bullard will speak during the Monday morning session beginning at 8:30.

The conference will open with a worship service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday led by David Smith, director of missions for the Austin Baptist Association in Texas.
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Further information about the Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Directors of Missions and its annual meeting, including special activities for DOMs’ wives, is available at the organization’s website, www.sbcadom.net.