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The most effective ministry takes place through the people of the local congregations. The Region exists to support the local church in making this ministry more effective.
Baptists take their heritage from the New Testament church which put its priority on the local church. In fact, it wasn’t until we discovered we had a missionary on the field—Adoniram Judson—that we determined to band together as churches to support a broader ministry through the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society. This grew into the denomination we know today at the American Baptist Churches of the USA, but local autonomy has continued to be a priority. This is important because this is the pattern we have taken from the New Testament.
Scripture gives us clear direction both for assuming the priority of the local church and for the role of a Region (or denomination) in relating to those churches. First, Acts 15 records the events of the Jerusalem Council. The issue was whether or not to require Gentiles to subscribe to the laws of Moses. This is the first case of churches banding together to address doctrinal issues. The result was that while certain admonitions were encouraged of the churches, it was determined that each church was to decide how it would address the law in the context of Grace.
In Romans 15 we learn of Paul’s collecting offerings from the churches to take to their Jerusalem brothers who were in great need. Churches banded together for a common need of supporting their brothers.
In listing The Priority of the Local Church as a core value of ABCRM, we recognize that ministry takes place most effectively in the local church. We also recognize that by banding together as a Region we can accomplish more and do it more effectively than we can as individual churches.
 The most obvious strength from our association comes from our mission roots. Of the approximately 90 churches in our Region less than a half dozen would be capable of sending out missionaries and supporting them on their own. As a Body of Christ we all can contribute to the support of our missionaries through our United Mission giving as well as the special offerings that take place through the year.
As a Region it has also become clear that we need to band together to strengthen one another in ministry. This can happen informally as one church shares their ministry successes with another. Our Region staff helps to facilitate this as they travel from church to church.
New opportunities to strengthen local churches are currently being put into place made possible only through your financial support of the Region.
First, seed money will soon be available from which churches can apply to begin an appropriate outreach ministry in their community. It is our hope that it will allow a church to launch a program that it will be able to continue with its own resources.
Second, a church transformation team is currently being trained. These leaders from around our Region will focus on assisting churches that desire to take a serious look at who they are and what the vision should be for their church. This will help churches which have reached a plateau and need to assess where God would have them go from here.
Finally, a church planting team is also currently in formation. It will be the task of this team to assess fertile locations in the Region where churches should be planted. Many of these areas have few or no churches. It is up to us to join together to carve out a niche where Christ’s message will be a beacon for a new community.
Richard Schweissing
ABCRM President from 2006-2008
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