When I was learning to drive, my Dad asked me, “Why do you stop at a stop sign?” When I said, “Because it’s the law,” he agreed, but said it wasn’t enough. He said, “We stop because we love people enough to not want to hurt them. If you blow through a stop sign, you might hurt someone.” There’s a strong principle there for living and for ministry. It’s not about me, but the welfare of others.
As an associational missions strategist, I often talk to church leaders who are thinking about joining our Baptist association. They typically ask, “What do we get out of it?” Pastors are probably being asked by their own church members, “If we join this church, what do we get out of it?”
The benefit to churches is a way of thinking that permeates our churches. Now, don’t get me wrong, CABA has some terrific benefits to churches! We have trained more than 1,000 church members in evangelism training, we provide free biblical counseling for pastors and paid staff, free church logos, Bibles in a number of languages, church revitalization consultation, pulpit supply, transitional revitalization interim pastors, overseas mission partnerships, and a number of valuable services to churches and church leaders.
But, what a blessing it is to meet a church that wants to be a blessing to others!
The Apostle Paul told the Christians at Philippi, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (2:4 ESV).
Looking out for others should permeate our churches. We should ask, “What can I do for the Lord?” And the church question then becomes, “What can my church do to collectively become a mobilized missionary sending and doing church?” A missionary in Chile once complained to me that missionaries should not just go, but do as well!
Pastors and church leaders must look out for the interests of others. As believers, God will take care of us. He is with us. He will never leave us or forsake us. But in the Great Commission, Jesus also tells us to make disciples as we go. How can we be on mission with God with everything we’ve got? How can He change us from focused inside our stained glass windows outward into a very messy cesspool of lostness?
At least two churches that I’ve helped shepherd into CABA have approached me saying that they want to be on mission in Cincinnati. Right now, I’m working with a church who is in another state that wants to reach into Cincinnati’s lostness and be on mission to the glory of God.
So, the next time you stop your car at a stop sign and look carefully right and left before you continue, be thinking about the interest of others. Then pray to the Lord to bring your outlook in alignment with His to see a world in need. And if you’re listening today as a church looking to be on mission, come over to help us in the Cincinnati Area.
--Mark Snowden serves as director for the Cincinnati Area Baptist Association
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