By Marilyn Stewart
DALLAS (BP) – Two milestone anniversaries, a new Associational Mission Strategist award, and record membership numbers were celebrated at this year’s Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders (SBCAL), June 8-9.
The group’s annual meeting held prior to the start of the 2025 SBC Annual Meeting in Dallas drew from Titus 3:4 for its theme of “The Fruitful Mission Strategist.” More than 400 were in attendance.
“I pray that this conference will motivate and equip associational leaders to be even more fruitful leaders of leaders,” Gentry said. “I hope they will approach this conference humbly, with a teachable spirit, eager to learn, worship, and celebrate what God is doing in our midst.”
The SBCAL’s 65th anniversary was highlighted during the opening day’s luncheon, led by remarks and memories from James Risner, AMS, Greater Dayton Association, Dayton, Ohio.
Founded in 1960, the organization has grown to a record number of 750 members – including a 7 percent increase over last year’s numbers – and held its first-ever retreat earlier this year with more than 250 participants.
The SBCAL mission statement states its purpose as seeking to “equip, encourage and network associational leaders,” by providing resources, professional development, mentoring and fellowship.
Members include current associational leaders – regardless of paid financial status – as well as pastors, state convention and SBC entity personnel that work closely with associations and associational leaders.
Speakers for the event were Hance Dilbeck, GuideStone Financial Resources president (Sunday morning sermon); Brandon Moore, RePlant Specialist, NAMB; Jonathan Dodson, author and founder of Gospel-Centered Discipleship; Tony Wolfe, executive director, South Carolina Baptist Convention, and Will Heath, president of Sherpa, support for leaders and nonprofit organizations in transition.
More than 100 wives attended. Special breakouts sessions for the women focused on “Fruitfulness in Christ.”
Milestone anniversaries
Marking his 10th anniversary as president and CEO of the organization, Gentry was honored during the first day luncheon.
James Risner, SBCAL Development Pathway Team leader for large-size associations (90-plus churches), presented gifts to Gentry in acknowledgement of his contribution to SBCAL and praised him for his “Christ-like love, transparency and integrity.”
“We commend you, brother. We love you,” Risner said. “We cannot overstate your value.”
Allison Gentry, Ray’s daughter, was also presented gifts in acknowledgement for her “indispensable part” in serving SBCAL as communications director and event planner for 10 years.
David Bowman, chairman of the SBCAL executive board, added his thanks to Gentry praising “his deep abiding call of God” and adding that “he loves guys like us.”
In his presidential report, Gentry celebrated record-breaking membership numbers; the production of the 2025 Compensation Study to help Associational Mission Strategists (AMS) search teams craft compensation packages for prospective hires; a cohort program involving more than 80 AMS members, and other accomplishments.
AMS of the Year award
Perry Brindley, AMS, Buncombe Baptist Association, Ashville, N.C., was presented the SBCAL’s first-ever AMS of the Year award.
Ron Blankenship, AMS, Montgomery Association, Gaithersburg, Md., nominated Brindley.
Wesley Smith, current North Carolina AMS Fellowship president, endorsed Brindley for his work as the former North Carolina AMS Fellowship president calling Brindley “instrumental in making the state fellowship and retreat stronger.”
Brindley’s association was hit hard by Hurricane Helene last year, Smith said in his endorsement. He praised Brindley for his work with the state Disaster Relief efforts in helping his churches. As recipient, Smith said Brindley “would represent us well as the kind of AMS we should all aspire to be.”
A fourth-generation vision
Brandon Moore urged the more than 400 attendees to embrace a “fourth-generation vision,” as Paul did in 2 Timothy 2:1-2. Moore explained that as Paul mentored Timothy, Timothy mentored others, who in turn mentored other pastors (the fourth generation.)
“Associational ministers are the most strategically-positioned leaders in Southern Baptist Life … the need for church planting is massive,” Moore said. “We must invest now.”
Moore said a leader with a “fourth-generation vision” values every generation, champions the next generation, and “multiplies leader developers,” those who can impact generations to come by developing leaders who will develop leaders.
Measure of a ministry
Jonathan Dodson, author of “The Unwavering Pastor,” said in the first plenary session that ministry success cannot be measured by numbers or even by “mere” faithfulness, but by “fruitfulness.”
Drawing from Philippians 3, Dodson said a ministry’s worth is measured through “loss, calculations and gains.”
Noting that Paul counted his “pedigree, performance and zeal” as rubbish, Dodson said the successful minister must also remember that his accomplishments are worthless in light of Christ’s worth.
“Fruitful ministry grows in the soil of unfeigned humility,” Dodson said.
When a minister “calculates” his work and righteousness against that of Christ and realizes the true value of his accomplishments, he can then find rest, Dodson said. Dodson urged listeners to remember:
- Christ is present.
- Christ is praying and interceding for His followers.
- Christ is potent. One day “every knee, every king, every power” will bow to Him, Dodson said.
In a regularly scheduled business meeting, the SBCAL approved a budget for 2025-26 and elected three new officers: James Risner, chair; Ron Shepard; vice chair; and Steve Doyle, recording secretary.
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