I’ve said this sentiment frequently in recent days as I’ve spoken to other pastors and Christians and churches around the Illinois Baptist State Association and the Southern Baptist Convention. With the spiritual brokenness of our generation and culture, believers need each other more than ever. At the same time, pastors, Christians, and churches seem less connected than I’ve ever witnessed.
It seems we tend to diminish the value of missional cooperation. We appear less likely to build healthy relationships with each other. While we may know more about each other, we really know each other less. Is this a good trend? Is our mission more effective without the benefit of denominational unity? Is our ministry better served by social media followers than friendship connections?
Here are three reasons (of many) why we should connect with other pastors, Christians and churches.
- We can learn from each other. I recently spoke with a group of IBSA pastors who were very diverse. Some of them were young and some not so young. Some had planted the church they served while others were in churches more than a century old. We were in churches that served very diverse communities. But we learned from each other. We saw new perspectives and considered different strategies. We “sharpened each other as iron sharpens iron.”
- A strong partnership is more effective. We have a greater impact when we work together. I love that the churches of IBSA are independent. But I also love that we choose to cooperate to impact the world. This partnership has served us well. We are stronger in evangelism and missions and church planting and education and helping people in need and so many other things when we do those things together.
- We can help each other in hard times. When I am discouraged, I can talk to my friends and find encouragement. When I am perplexed, I can get their counsel. When I am grieved, I can find their comfort. Hard times come in life and in ministry. You will need others and others will need you. We help each other carry burdens. We care about each other and help each other persevere.
Let me encourage you to connect with some action items. After all, we have reasons to connect! I’ve recently talked to a host of pastors and leaders who have resonated with the need for connections. They all expressed a need for more and deeper relationships with others who share their same convictions and mission. Maybe we are beginning to see again how valuable our connections really are!
—Doug Munton is pastor of First Baptist Church of O’Fallon. He is serving as IBSA President.