Hardwick
Just beyond our neighborhood is an active train track. As the train rumbles closer, you clearly hear that rhythmic sound of the train’s wheels moving smoothly and steadily along toward its destination.
It’s amazing that just two rails guide these large trains forward throughout its journey. If either rail is breeched at any point on the journey, the train is in danger. Without the rails, the journey itself is impossible, and the destination never reached.
God has called Tennessee Baptists on a new journey toward a vision of being a collaborative network of spiritually healthy churches reaching Tennessee and beyond for Christ. To see that vision come to life, we are focusing our efforts on strengthening and multiplying gospel leaders, strengthening and multiplying evangelistic disciples, and strengthening and multiplying healthy churches … so that EVERY Tennessean hears the gospel. It’s a big vision!
Just like that train has no chance getting from points A-to-B without guiding rails, God’s vision for us, and to which we have said “yes” as a network of churches, requires two rails if we are to see and experience a movement of God in our state. And we all long to see it.
Rail 1 — Prayer. Without prayer, we risk operating in our flesh and in our own power. If we’re operating in our flesh, then we’re working for ourselves – our wants, preferences, and personal glory. Working in our own power falls short of what God wants to do through us if we rely on His power.
I don’t know about you; I don’t ever want to settle for what I can do in my own power. We began this visioning process by asking God what He wants for Tennessee Baptists. We must keep calling out to Him, depending on Him, and courageously following His lead.
Without prayer we risk compromising the vision God has given us. In prayer, and through the leadership of His Holy Spirit, we can realize the fulfillment of His vision through us for His glory.
Rail 2 — Collaboration. Without collaboration, we risk operating alone, missing possible impact available when we truly work together. Collaboration builds on our Baptist distinction of cooperation. As John Maxwell says, “Cooperation is working together agreeably while collaboration is working together aggressively.” Collaboration calls for and invites the shared participation and investment of many believing that we truly are better together.
We often say the Christian life is not a solo sport, but a team sport. We need the Body of Christ to grow in Christ. The vision God has given us works the same way. One church cannot reach every life in Tennessee or send missionaries to every nation. We need each other.
Without collaboration, we miss the impact of the unified and invested people of God. In collaboration, we advance together with greater effectiveness in accomplishing the Great Commission here at home and around the world.
The vision God has given us runs on the rails of prayer and collaboration. Will you pray personally, call your church to pray in unity, and begin meeting with leaders and others in your community to pray corporately? As you pray together, will you then strategically collaborate to strategically reach your community with the gospel, mobilize people in your church, develop new ministry leaders, and start/revitalize more healthy churches?
Tennessee Baptists, let’s pray and collaborate so we can advance God’s Kingdom through a passionate pursuit of the Great Commission in our state and from our state. B&R
