July 2023 CBA News

A Word from Your Mission Strategist, Steve Laughman

 

In addition to the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting, Marni and I get to attend the Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders (SBCAL) in the two days prior to the SBC. Every time we get to be with other associational leaders from across the country, we are reminded of a few things. First, I am reminded that we are not alone in this work. Associations of all sizes and varying contexts are working with churches to accomplish this work of making disciples. Secondly, I am reminded that God is at work among His people all over the world. Finally, I am reminded that we get to serve in the best place with the best churches and the best people. You may think I am biased or that I am exaggerating, but the truth is that God placed us here, because this is the best place for us to serve. We are extremely grateful for you and for the privilege of serving you.

 

The SBC was held in New Orleans this year during Pride month. Talk about two very different groups of people. I witnessed preachers and drag queens walking down the same street all while the smell of someone smoking something of questionable legality was wafting through the air. (I’m fairly confident it wasn’t coming from the preachers.) In the middle of this mission field, Southern Baptists have a permanent presence in the form of churches and a seminary. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary students along with Baptists from around the country were among the 12,180 who participated in Send Relief Serve Tour and Crossover events in the days leading up to the Convention. They reported 3,487 Gospel conversations resulting in at least 336 professions of faith. If you heard anything negative about the convention, remember that God brought believers together, missionaries were commissioned, and souls were saved.

 

As Southern Baptist churches we have the opportunity to partner for missions and ministry in so many ways. Doctrinal Integrity is a hallmark of who we are, but so is the autonomy of the local body of believers. I am thankful that despite our differences, we get to serve together. I am thankful that I am not called to serve as the Bishop over local churches, but as the associational leader. When we have disagreements, we can and should be able to work through them for the sake of our Gospel witness and our love for one another. Even when our Convention has made the hard decision to part ways with churches over doctrinal issues or practices, we need to remember that we are to move on peaceably. Our only enemy is Satan, and he will use anything to gain a foothold. Let us not allow him to stir up strife among brothers and sisters.

 

As we enter the second half of 2023, I am thankful for what God has done through our churches this year and I look forward to more great reports of salvations and baptisms. “Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary.” (Galatians 6:9)

 

 

September CBA News

A Word from Your Mission Strategist, Steve Laughman

Let me take a few moments to thank our Steering Committee, Budget & Finance, and countless others who have helped as we have worked through the process of restructuring our association. The details will be shared at both the Executive Committee on September 6 and the Annual Fall Meeting on October 23. I encourage you to attend both of these meetings as we will be making some key decisions that will affect how we do ministry moving forward.

Some of you may say, “Why are we restructuring the association? Isn’t it working fine already?” My answer to you would be that we have accomplished so much together. God has blessed us with a spirit of cooperation and the resources to impact our communities with the Gospel. Proverbs 29:18 states that “Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is the one who keeps the Law.” As your Associational Mission Strategist, I believe it is my responsibility to always be asking whether we are doing everything with excellence, for the glory of God, and in the most effective way for the churches. We are compelled to continually examine our methods to ensure we are accomplishing our goal of “networking churches to make disciples.”

The churches of our association have graciously and consistently given to the work of Centennial. For that I am extremely grateful. I understand that you are entrusting us with your ministry dollars and expect us to steward those resources well. To that end, I believe we can do an even better job of impacting our mission field. This restructure will help us focus on some new areas of ministry while continuing to do many of the things that we have done in the past.

If you have specific questions, we would be more than happy to address them personally. We are here to serve you and your church family. Join us at Shiloh in Barnesville on September 6 and then again at Fellowship in Thomaston on October 23. Please make note that the Annual Fall Meeting will be held on a Sunday evening this year. We hope your church will plan to move your service to Fellowship that night so we can all worship together.

June 2022 Centennial News Article

A Word from Your Mission Strategist, Steve Laughman

 

Thank you for participating in REFOCUS! What an incredible time we had celebrating what God is doing through our missionaries! Our goal of being a blessing to the missionaries was met. You welcomed them with open arms and showed them how much you appreciate the work they do. I also believe we accomplished our second goal of helping churches engage in missions. I have heard reports of mission trips being planned and various groups adopting missionaries to pray for and support. It is a beautiful thing to see the body of Christ work together for the advancement of the Gospel.

 

As the school year ends and churches focus on summer activities like VBS, I am praying for you. I pray that God will give you the energy and resources you need to do the work he calls you to. I pray for souls to be saved and believers to be equipped. I pray that we will be a light to those who need to see the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

 

I also find myself praying for a change of heart in our culture. Whether the news is about a shooting or the abortion debate, I am broken for what seems to be a constant theme. People have lost sight of the value of a human life. Every child, every person is made in the image of God. When we treat people as disposable, it is no wonder people justify taking a life. As followers of Jesus, we understand better than most that human life is valuable. Not only did God create us in his image, but He sent His Son to redeem us with His own blood.

 

The report from the Sexual Abuse Task Force is another reminder of this same sin. When men called by God to proclaim the Gospel are able to not only commit these sins, but actively cover them up, they show a disregard for the value of those lives being abused. Although I am deeply saddened by the sin being exposed in this report, I am thankful that they have come to light. When Marni and I attend the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention this month, we hope to be part of a convention that is repentant and ready to face the challenges of righting these wrongs. We must protect the vulnerable and be a voice for the abused. As guidelines are suggested for implementation at the associational level, we will work to make sure we are doing our part to protect people.

 

The partnership we share as churches and fellow believers is strong. I am extremely grateful to serve the Lord by serving the churches of the Centennial Association. Let me know how I can help you and your church. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. It is my privilege to serve you.

May 2022 CBA News Article

A Word from Your Mission Strategist, Steve Laughman

This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. – Matthew 24:14

Why do we go to the ends of the earth to preach the good news of the Gospel? Aren’t there people right here in middle Georgia who desperately need Jesus? I wonder if the apostles wondered the same thing. As Jesus was talking to them about the Gospel being preached in the whole world, could they have ever imagined how big this world is or how many people would some day need to hear?

Believe it or not there are still placed in the world where the Gospel has not been preached. We call the people who live there “unengaged” or “unreached” people. Living where we do it is nearly impossible to imagine that there are places where people have never heard that there is a Savior who was sent to redeem us from our lost condition and reconcile us to our Creator who loves us. Aren’t you thankful that you have heard? Now, what should we do with this glorious message we have received.

Perhaps the Lord is calling you to go to the ends of the earth. Have you ever considered that? Colonel Sanders was 62 years old when he opened his first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant. Missions is not just for young people. Marni and I have friends who spent over 10 years in South Africa AFTER they retired. Although, God is also calling young people to missions. Perhaps you are just beginning your career or considering what life after college will be like. Have you thought about becoming a Journeyman and spending two years on the mission field? The opportunities are available for everyone.

I guess what I am saying is that none of us should answer the call to missions with an excuse. God may very well intend for you to spend your life serving Him right where you are. But He may also have other plans. Let’s not limit what He will accomplish through us. I can say with full confidence that there are plenty of fellow believers in your church and in your community who will do everything in their power to support you as you go.

As I write this note to you, we are three days away from REFOCUS. This event has once again reminded me of the value of missions. My prayer is that we will see many respond to the call to go.

April CBA News

A Word from Your Mission Strategist, Steve Laughman

After much anticipation Centennial will finally be able to host missionaries from around our state, nation, and world. Your mission team began planning FOCUS 2020 in the summer of 2019. The uncertainty that came with the pandemic caused us to reschedule several times. Unless the Lord returns or something crazy happens, we expect to host REFOCUS on April 30 and May 1, 2022. Praise the Lord!

Most of the information you need is on the front page of this newsletter, so I will not repeat it here. But I do want to emphasize that this only happens every five (or eight) years. Your mission team has worked very hard to make sure this is a worthwhile experience for not only our churches, but also our missionaries. We have two stated goals: 1) to show our churches how God is using our partnership in missions to reach the world, and 2) to be a blessing to the missionaries we invite to be here. We want them to know how much we love and appreciate them and the work they are called to do.

Every church in the Centennial Association has been given the opportunity to have a missionary speaker in the Sunday morning service on May 1. Be sure to support them as they come to share their stories. Then on the evening of May 1, we will all join together in a Celebration of Missions worship service at Mountain View. We hope your church will plan to join us that evening for a time of worship, testimonies, and Q&A with the missionaries.

I am so thankful that God is still calling people to missions. Perhaps there are some in your own church whom God is calling. This may be the spark that starts the journey for them. We are the Church, and if we are not going or sending, then who will? My prayer is that REFOCUS will help us prioritize missions in our churches, in our families, and in our individual lives. May the Lord find us diligently working when He returns.

January/ February 2022 Centennial News Article

A Word from Your Mission Strategist, Steve Laughman

If you’re a sports fan in Georgia, you have gotten pretty used to losing. Whether your team is the Bulldogs, the Braves, the Falcons, or any number of other teams, we all know how it feels to get our hopes up only to be disappointed once again. So, when our team wins the World Series or the National Championship, we are more than a little excited. We celebrate the achievement as if we were on the team and scored the winning points ourselves. It feels good to win.

I am often surprised that so many Christians seem defeated. We walk around with our heads down feeling as though all is lost. We focus on the darkness around us, allowing it to determine our attitude and our mindset. Let me tell you, that is exactly what the enemy wants. If he can convince us that there is no hope, we function as though we are already out of the fight.

Praise God that our reality is victory! The Bible tells us over and over through example and instruction that our God is victorious over this world. We are called “more than conquerors.” We are told that “our faith is the victory.” We read about God conquering sin and death. And in Revelation we read about how Jesus returns and defeats Satan with a word. When we feel defeated and broken by this world, we must be reminded that our reality is not what we feel. Will we have times of sadness and grief? Yes, but we are still victorious. Will we be disappointed and discouraged? Yes, but God is still on the throne. Is sin real and are people lost without Jesus? Unfortunately, yes, but we have a Savior and a Gospel message for them.

I do not know what this year holds for you. Centennial has big plans for 2022, and our hope is to reach every goal we set. But even if we don’t, we will not lose hope. Our success is based not on what we achieve, but whether we are faithful to the God we serve. To that end, let us focus our minds on being faithful to His calling and purpose.

November/ December News article

A Word from Your Mission Strategist, Steve Laughman

This morning I found myself thinking and actually saying out loud, “It’s November already.” When I was a child Christmas vacation could not get here fast enough. I remember my mother telling me not to wish my life away. Given that the passing of time seems to speed up as I get older, I now understand what she meant.

In October I got to have another birthday. In December I hope to celebrate nine years as your Associational Mission Strategist. In a few months Marni and I will be married for 28 years if the Lord wills. Time is a limited resource. Each one of us gets the same 24 hours in each day. We all have the same seven days each week. Some of us will finish this day or this week, and we will be thankful for all that was accomplished during that time. Others will look back and wonder where all the time went.

Scripture reminds us in Ecclesiastes 3 that there is a time for everything under heaven. Each season of life may include birth or death, weeping or laughter, mourning or dancing; each at their appointed time. The teacher then reminds us that God has set eternity in our hearts and that “there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime.” Regardless of our current season, we are to rejoice and do good. James tells us that life is just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Time is a precious resource, and yet we seem to forget that sometimes.

A wise man named Ferris once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” And while his example may not be the best one to follow, there is something to be said for being intentional about how we spend the time God has given us. Take the time today to call a friend you have not spoken to lately. Seek an opportunity to tell someone about Jesus today. Write a note or a text to a church member who needs encouragement. Read your Bible and hear from your Father. Walk around your neighborhood and pray for each household. Enjoy a meal with someone without checking your phone. Choose to make the most of every minute. Live today as if it is a gift from God, because it is.

AMS Report for 2021 Book of Reports

The Philadelphia Baptist Association was established in 1707 by five churches. They were committed to the principle that autonomous local churches should partner together for the cause of Christ. Out of those humble beginnings and following the pattern already set in England, other Baptist associations were formed throughout what would become the United States of America. In 1784 five churches in Georgia formed the first Baptist association in our state, appropriately naming it The Georgia Baptist Association. One hundred years later, ten churches from Flint River, Central, and Rehoboth Associations met in Barnesville to establish a new association with the blessings of their “mother” associations. This new association was named Centennial Baptist Association in honor of centennial celebration of the Georgia Baptist Association. This annual fall meeting will be our 138th, and we are not slowing down any time soon.

At a time when the future of the world, including the state of historic Baptist institutions, seems uncertain I can boldly state that the Centennial Baptist Association is strong and moving forward. We still have much work to do, and we understand that we are more effective when we work together. The spirit of cooperation among our churches serves as an example of how God’s Church impacts the lost world. We are making disciples together, and we intend to continue to do so until the Lord returns.

This year has not been without its challenges. One area of need that we recognize is that of Pastors and other ministry leaders to fill various ministry roles in our churches. For several years I have been talking with pastors about the need to raise up and equip called individuals from within our churches to serve. I see the fruit of that as God has called some from within our churches to serve in many leadership positions. We are blessed to have the Baptist Collegiate Ministries equipping students to serve and then encouraging them to serve the local church. The Preaching Teaching Lab provided tools this year for those wanting to become better proclaimers of God’s Word. Early 2022 we plan to provide a workshop for anyone interested in leading worship in the local church. There are still churches in need of key leaders, so the work is far from finished. But I am hopeful that God is still calling, and we are being more intentional about equipping the called.

Missions is another area of need. We can celebrate the record giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. Every dollar of these offerings goes to the mission field. Your Cooperative Program dollars support ongoing work of the International Mission Board and the North American Mission Board, as well as our state entity, the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. You also support our six seminaries, making a sound, affordable theological education possible for those called to ministry and missions. But while all of this is worthwhile, I know many of you want a more hands-on missions experience. We pray that 2022 will be a time when restrictions are lessened, and we can get back to going on mission. In the meantime, some of you have been very creative in your mission endeavors. The team of youth leaders who organized UNITY in the Community this summer thought outside the box to provide students with local mission projects. Several of our churches have provided countless meals and other resources to those in need locally. As we move forward, we will once again begin organizing an association-wide missions event. We are now calling it REFOCUS, and you will hear more in the coming months.

I know that you will agree with me that we are called to do the best with what resources we have. This year you have once again demonstrated through your faithful giving to Centennial that you believe in the work we do. In an effort to be a good steward of your resources, I have been examining how we are organized as an association, specifically how our ministries function. Our job is not to replace the church but to encourage local churches to work together when it is advantageous to do so. My hope over the next several months is to collaborate with our Steering Committee to restructure how we do ministry. Our core purpose of “networking churches to make disciples” will not change. But the way we make decisions, how we operate, and the approach we take toward reaching our goals may change to serve the churches more effectively. Pray with me as we seek to become more effective for the Gospel. If you have input or would like to be involved in this restructuring process, please let me know.

In December I will begin my tenth year as your associational leader. Marni and I are grateful for each of you. The very word “association” means we work together, we are in relationship with one another, and we share things in common. What a privilege it is to serve the churches of Centennial Baptist Association at this time in our history! Even after 137 years of ministry our best years are still ahead of us.

September/October News article

A Word from Your Mission Strategist, Steve Laughman

 

You are not alone.

 

As I speak with pastors and other ministry leaders both here in our association and throughout the state, there seems to be a growing frustration and sense of isolation. The past 18 months have challenged us in far reaching ways. Despite the hope that we would be past all of this by now, we are finding ourselves having to make hard decisions once again. Logistically we are better prepared now than we were at the onset of the pandemic, but that does not relieve the discouragement that comes from having to shut down aspects of our ministry that were just getting started again.

Of course, the human toll this has taken is the hardest part. We have all lost friends or family members. Our churches have lost leaders, Sunday School teachers, and even pastors. People who played vital roles in the life of our churches are no longer here, and we are feeling that impact. The challenges of pastoral care when we are not able to visit our folks weigh heavy on us. The struggle is real, and it has drained us.

But be encouraged. Hasn’t the Church faced bigger problems in the past? Didn’t Paul write that God’s grace is sufficient? Aren’t there believers in other countries facing persecutions that far outweigh any struggle we have? Doesn’t God prove His faithfulness daily to us in the midst of our pain? I am reminded that any trial I face is an opportunity for me to grow in grace. When I realize my own limitations, I more clearly see how limitless God’s power is. If I have learned nothing else, I have learned how very dependent we are on God each an every day. It is in that reliance on Him that we are most effective.

Brothers and Sisters, please hear my heart. I do not wish to belittle your struggle in any way. Some of you have gone through so much more than I have, and I grieve with you. I simply want to offer hope. When you feel alone, know that you are not. You have so many around you who care about you and what you are facing. You have a Father in heaven who is fully aware of your situation. You are loved, and your prayers are heard. As we walk this road together, I pray we will learn what God is teaching us, and we will be stronger, more faithful followers of Jesus. 

 

August Centennial News Article

A Word from Your Mission Strategist, Steve Laughman

 

Many of you have asked for my observations from attending the Southern Baptist Convention in Nashville. If you want a full breakdown, feel free to contact me, and we can sit down for a lengthier discussion. For now, here are my key takeaways:

·         Don’t believe anything you read in the national media. Controversy sells and gets people to click on links. A more accurate summary can be found at the Baptist Press or The Christian Index. The spirit of cooperation among those attending remains strong. As Baptists we are good at expressing how we think and feel about a matter, but when it’s all said and done, we agree on most things.

·         Good worship sets the tone for good business meetings. We handle discussion better when we have just met with the Lord in prayer and worship together.

·         Once again, the International Mission Board commissioning service was the highlight of the convention. What a joy it is to celebrate the sending of missionaries to the ends of the earth!

·         We can be thankful for the work being done at our six seminaries to equip men and women for ministry. The joint report from our seminary Presidents was very encouraging.

·         The Executive Committee expressed that they welcome accountability regarding their handling of issues related to sexual abuse. After the focus on this issue over the last few years a motion to conduct an audit of the EC’s response was overwhelmingly affirmed.

·         Another highlight of the convention was when our very own Pastor John Blackmon from Meansville introduced a motion to have NAMB and Lifeway research and produce materials to reach the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community. The motion was very well received and has resulted in much support from our national entities.

Thank you for allowing Marni and me to attend the convention and thank you for your support of the work through the Cooperative Program and gifts to CBA. We have the privilege of working together to accomplish so much throughout this world. As an association of churches, we at Centennial voluntarily partner together for ministry and missions. I pray we will continue to be effective both here where God has planted us and throughout the world as He allows.

May 2021 Centennial News Article

A Word from Your Mission Strategist, Steve Laughman

A few month ago I watched a movie that had quite a twist at the end. When the truth was revealed, I am sure I reacted like many others who had watched it – with surprise and a sense of satisfaction that I had been drawn in by the plot. But when I thought about it, the clues were there from the beginning. I probably should have seen the end coming. That’s the beauty of hindsight.

The Gospel writers knew before they penned their accounts that Jesus had already risen from the dead. By the time they wrote, they had been preaching about the resurrection and had probably been persecuted for it. But, to their credit, they repeatedly acknowledge their own lack of understanding as the events took place. Jesus told them a number of times that he was going to be arrested, beaten, and killed. He also told them that he would be resurrected. At least once he even said it would take three days just like Jonah’s time in the fish. But when it actually happened, they acted as though they didn’t see it coming.

The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is essential for our faith. We celebrate the resurrection every Sunday when we gather for worship. I am so thankful that we have the benefit of Scripture to guide us in our understanding of who Jesus is and what He has done for us. I cannot say for certainty that I would have picked up on the clues if I had been walking with Jesus during His time here on earth.

In the same way, He has clearly told us that He will return. He gave us signs and clues. He instructed us to be watching and waiting. He told us what to look for and even gave us the Lord’s Supper to remind us that one day we will celebrate together with Him. We can debate the sequence of events regarding His return, but we all know that He is coming. My prayer is that we will not be like the disciples, arguing about who is greatest in the kingdom while Jesus is trying to tell us His plans.

Until He comes again may we be found proclaiming the truth of the Resurrection and the Life. And like the apostle John wrote in the Revelation, “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.”

March 2021 CBA News Article

A Word from Your Mission Strategist, Steve Laughman

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.” – Jesus of Nazareth (John 15:1-2)

Jesus spoke these words to the apostles on the night He was betrayed and arrested. It appears He is referring to individuals, how we are to remain in Him in order to bear fruit for the kingdom. While this is absolutely true for each individual Christian, I believe we can apply the same principles to each local body of believers.

Pruning is no fun for the branch. It seems painful, harsh, and sudden. What seemed to be growth has now suddenly been taken away for the sake of the entire branch. Frankly, it seems a little counterproductive. Why would you cut away growth and expect it to help the branch? Yet that is God’s design for the vine and, evidently, for us as well.

It has now been one year since the pandemic began. Life has changed dramatically for us as individuals and for us as the church. Although things might be different now, I also believe God has used this year to prune us. He has taken away things, and in their place, we have found the resources to do something more productive. He has refocused our attention on priorities that may have been lost in the busyness of life. He has reminded us that our time on earth is limited and therefore valuable. He has expanded our vision and given us a hunger to do more than we ever did before.

If your goal is just to get back to the way we did church before, then I challenge you to rethink why we had to go through the struggles of this past year. Much of what we did before is worth doing again, but other things were pruned away for a reason. Take time to evaluate the health of your church body and to prioritize those things that matter most. I think you may find that God has made it possible for you to grow in ways you never thought of before.

February 2021 CBA News article

A Word from Your Mission Strategist, Steve Laughman

“And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.” – Psalm 39:7

The tendency for many of us frail humans is to place our hope in things that (more often than not) let us down. We hope our team wins or that we will get that raise. We hope our leaders will make wise decisions. We hope our plans will come to fruition. We hope things will get better when it seems like they are just getting worse. Most of the time, that kind of hope is just wishful thinking.

But, as followers of the one, true God, we have a hope that is without fail. He is Jesus Christ, our Lord. I understand that many of us have been frustrated with the state of our world. We make plans regarding our ministries only to have to change them. I have been reminded over and over that everything we do is dependent on God’s will. Long before any of us heard the word COVID, we made plans assuming those plans would come to pass. Now the Lord is reminding us that it has always depended on Him allowing it to happen.

So, we move forward with hope knowing that God is still at work. He is teaching us things we would have never learned otherwise. He is making us more flexible and resourceful. He is keeping our eyes on Him and not on our best efforts. He is strengthening our prayer lives. He is purging us from worthless things and focusing our attention on what matters. For this I am thankful.

Since the beginning of 2021 over a quarter of our churches have had to make the hard decision not to meet in person for worship at least once. Many of our pastors, staff members, and leaders are still dealing with illness. To accommodate this and to make sure we are taking into consideration your concerns, most of the events scheduled by Centennial over the next month or so will either be virtual or will have a virtual option. We pray this allows more participation. If you have any questions regarding anything on our calendar, please contact us directly. Also keep in mind that we do not always know what is going on with your church unless you let us know. If there is anything we can do for you, just ask. We are here to serve you.

CBA December Newsletter article

A Word from Your Mission Strategist, Steve Laughman

175 years ago, the Southern Baptist Convention established what we now call the International Mission Board. Reaching the nations with the Gospel is at the heart of who we are as Southern Baptists. We have always understood that we have been invited by God, in fact commanded by Him, to participate in His missional task. What role will you play?

A few months ago, we invited Doug and Dana Roberts to share with our pastors about how we can become more engaged in the work of the IMB. As Southern Baptists, we know that our Cooperative Program dollars support this work. We also know that every penny given to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goes to support the work on the field. But we wanted to know more. Here are some of the things we learned from them:

·         Although COVID has dramatically affected the way missionaries complete their task, even causing some to have to leave the field temporarily, the work is still being done all over the world.

·         A large percentage of Southern Baptist churches did not report any giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas offering last year. The goal for 2025 is to have 75% of all SBC churches supporting LMCO.

·         There is a great need for missionaries. The goal for 2025 is to have 500 additional missionaries on the field. It should go without saying that these missionaries will come from our local churches. To that end, we need to be prayerful and intentional about equipping people for missions.

I am extremely thankful for the work being done throughout the world by our IMB personnel. If you want to be better informed of how we are proclaiming the Gospel, go to imb.org where you will find videos, statistics, and even links to start the process of becoming a missionary yourself. If I can help you navigate this process, please reach out to me. My prayer is that we will see a wave of people from our churches being called to missions. Let us help you.

This isn’t just a season for missions. It is most importantly the season where we celebrate the birth of Jesus. My hope for you this Christmas is that God’s peace will comfort you, that His joy will overwhelm you, and His presence will encourage you. As we think about our Savior who took on flesh and dwelt among us, may we experience all that He intended for us.

From our family to yours, Merry Christmas!

CBA News November article

A Word from Your Mission Strategist, Steve Laughman

“In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Most of us who have followed Jesus for any length of time have struggled with discerning God’s will at one time or another. Circumstances cloud our understanding. Limited knowledge makes us question our direction. Unconfessed sin can keep us from hearing what God is saying to us. Even when we fervently seek God’s wisdom there are times when He seems to remain silent. But He is never truly silent. God has spoken through His Word and through His Son, Jesus Christ. He spoke through the prophets and the writers of Scripture. He continues to speak through His Spirit and the written Word today.

Paul encouraged the church at Thessalonica to be thankful always. He even writes that this is the express will of God. Giving thanks in everything is not our natural reaction. When we experience a year like 2020, our first response is not often to thank God. Yet this is exactly what the Bible tells us is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus. It takes discipline to thank God when life is hard. We must die to that part of us that fights back and wants to complain. Why would God expect or even want for us to do something so difficult?

His desire for us is to treasure Christ above all. When we give thanks in everything, we acknowledge that God is still the Giver of good things, including His Son, Our Savior. Even when we have lost our faith, God is faithful. When our family member is sick, God is good. When we lose our job, God is our provider. When the world is in disarray, God is our peace. Giving thanks in everything requires a change in perspective – a necessary change for all of us. We do not give thanks to some nebulous universal force. We direct our thanks to the One who created us and sustains us. He is the object of all our thanksgiving.

Hopefully, you will have the opportunity to sit at a table with people you love and enjoy a Thanksgiving meal this month. You will be able to worship either in person or online with other believers as we give thanks to God for all He has done. As you do, remember that Thanksgiving is not a once a year event. Giving thanks is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus every day, in every situation. It is a discipline well worth the effort.

AMS Report Fall 2020

Associational Mission Strategist Report

Annual Fall Meeting 2020

Steve Laughman

In the words of Jerry Garcia, “What a long, strange trip it’s been.” The past year has been one of the most difficult for churches in my lifetime. At our crowded meeting last fall, no one would have ever expected the changes that would take place in 2020. We have all faced these challenges the best we know how, and I am thankful for every pastor, leader, and church member who remained faithful to the task and persevered through it all. Our challenges are far from over. We do not know what the next year holds, but I am certain that God will once again remain faithful. We will move forward in hope.

Despite the struggles Centennial Baptist Association continues to thrive. Thank you to every church who faithfully supported the work of the association. I realize that many of our churches have struggled financially, but God has met every need. At a time when it would be easy to focus on the state of your own church alone, you have worked with other churches to lift one another up. Many of us have lost people this year, and we have grieved together. We have renewed our focus on caring for one another, especially those who are most vulnerable among us. We have made sermons and Bible studies available online for those who cannot join us in person. We have been stretched and prodded to think of ministry outside the walls of the church, and we, the Church, have responded well.

The Centennial calendar was packed for 2020, but much of what we had planned was postponed or cancelled. Your church knows this reality all too well. However, we were able to continue with some of our vital ministries. The Dental Clinic was a success again this year. Pastor Roundtables continued both virtually and eventually in person. Ministers Connection was able to connect pastors to resources from our national and state entities. Baptist Collegiate Ministries at Gordon made necessary adjustments and took advantage of new opportunities. We are once again providing backpacks for children in South Georgia. And in a few weeks, students will gather for an abbreviated, outdoor EQUIP event. Centennial is moving forward with hope.

Replanting churches has been a necessary focus for the last couple of years. As we reported at the Annual Fall meeting last year, The Rock Church had just begun meeting again after months of preparation for a relaunch. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, I am pleased to report that The Rock Church is going strong. The average attendance is over 40 with multiple generations being represented. Small groups meet regularly in host homes. The outside elders continue to function in an advisory and accountability role. Additional renovations have been made, and the church hosted her first wedding since the restart when Pastor Wesley Lassiter and his bride, Lindsey, were married. I believe The Rock Church is the first of many churches that will go through a restart process. It will look differently for each church, but we will continue to seek the Lord as He builds His Church.

What will we experience in 2021? My hope is that you look forward to this next year in anticipation of what God will do through you and your church. Will we continue to face a health crisis? Probably. Will our country come together and address our problems? Possibly. Will the Church still have a mission to reach the lost around us? Absolutely. Will we meet this challenge with the passion and commitment deserving of the task? I sincerely expect so. I have hope that our churches will continue to meet needs, continue to preach the Gospel, and continue to lift up the name of Christ. We will look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, to guide us no matter what this next year holds.

When you look at the Centennial 2021 calendar, you will notice some tentative scheduling. Our practice will be to move forward cautiously, especially as it relates to large events. Many of our meetings such as Steering Committee will continue to meet virtually. Please be patient and read your newsletter when it comes out each month. We will schedule events (and reschedule when necessary) to continue to provide opportunities for the church to be equipped to serve and grow. A date for the FOCUS missions event will be set once we are a little closer to the beginning of the year. Other events will be scheduled as we feel we can move forward with them. Please let us know how we can minister to your church specifically. The Centennial office has access to an abundance of resources to help you.

Thank you again for allowing Marni and me to serve you through the Centennial Baptist Association. We praise the Lord for using us to encourage you in the work He has for you.

October CBA News Article

A Word from Your Mission Strategist, Steve Laughman

As we approach the 137th Annual Fall Meeting of the Centennial Baptist Association I want to take a few minutes to thank you for allowing me to serve as your Associational Mission Strategist. 2020 has been a difficult year for all of us. Much of what we hoped to accomplish this year has been put on hold or abandoned in favor of more pressing tasks. We have been challenged to think about church in new and different ways. Some of those challenges have resulted in more people being reached and church members choosing to prioritize people over preferences. For those things, I am thankful. However, other challenges have left us frustrated and overwhelmed.

During times like these, I would be surprised if you have not thought of Jesus’ return. The subject has come up many times in our home. Regardless of your understanding of eschatology and the order of end times events, we can all agree on two things: 1) Jesus is returning and 2) His coming is closer now than ever. When I read through the book of Revelation, I am comforted by the heavenly perspective it gives us. I am reminded that if future events are planned out with such precision by our Father, then so are the events we are living through today. There is tremendous peace in knowing I can trust God no matter what happens.

As we move forward as an association of churches, I trust the Lord to order our steps. We will make plans knowing that everything we do is contingent on His allowing us to proceed. We hope that this next year will include the FOCUS missions conference, a return to Pennsylvania to continue our partnership with Riverbend Church, various equipping events like a preaching/teaching lab, and a continued emphasis on resourcing each church to accomplish what God has given you to do. We move forward with hope.

None of us knows exactly what the future holds, but this is not a reason to fear. We know the Source of all good things, and we call Him Father. We have been redeemed by His Son Jesus and filled with His Holy Spirit. “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?... Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?... But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:31, 35, 37-39

Centennial News Article September 2020

A Word from Your Mission Strategist, Steve Laughman

“This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20

James, the brother of our Lord, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit had a way of writing practical, punch-you-in-the-gut theology. If I am being completely honest, I have wrestled with James many times. His instructions are not easy, nor do they come naturally even to those who love the Lord passionately. So, let us wrestle with these words for a few minutes.

We know he is addressing believers from his salutation, “beloved brethren.” In other words, these instructions are for us, not the world. We cannot expect people who are dead in their sin to be slow to speak or slow to anger. Lower your expectations of how you think lost people ought to act, and you will be much less surprised when they sin openly. The sinfulness of man is on full display. This grieves the heart of God and should drive every one of us to our knees.

Being quick to hear is a learned skill. Too often we hear sound bites or one side of the story and jump to a conclusion. What would happen if we intently listened to all the information before responding? Would it change the way we process information? Would it give us the time to make sure we are filtering what we hear through a Christian worldview? Do we take into consideration who the information is coming from before we respond? As followers of Jesus we have a responsibility to become better listeners.

Being slow to speak is another skill we should all possess. I have heard that a pitfall of effective communication is when someone begins formulating his response as the other person is still speaking. As a debater in high school, I was taught to do this. It is a hard habit to break. Christians are to be slow to speak. We are to always speak the truth in love. Truth without love is condemnation. Love without truth is not genuine love. When we are slow to speak, we are able to guard against a purely emotional response. It also gives us the time to ensure our response honors God and respects people.

Being slow to anger flows from the other two skills. If we master being quick to hear and slow to speak, it will be much easier to avoid anger. However, this is the one that most of us struggle with. There is much in this world to be angry about. Constant lies being promoted as truth. Children being exploited. Violence erupting all around us. It is no wonder James warns against being quick to anger. Paul (Eph. 4:26-27) also warns that in our anger we are not to sin, because it gives the devil an opportunity. He relishes these opportunities to break fellowship, to ruin testimonies, to remind the world that we are sinful, and to create barriers to the Gospel. Be angry at sin, not at those who sin.

Why is all this important? James spells it out: our anger does not achieve the righteousness of God. If our singular goal is to glorify God as we point people to Jesus, we do not accomplish this by being quick to anger. Our anger is counter-productive to our primary task. So, when you read that social media post or view that news broadcast, or when you hear the latest political ad or conspiracy theory, check your response. Ask yourself if you are being quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.

Satan would love nothing more than to divide Christians into warring camps, so that our witness is no longer effective. The Gospel is bigger than this world’s conflicts. Find your identity in Christ alone, not a political party or ideology. And when someone disagrees with you, be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.

Centennial News article August 2020

A Word from Your Mission Strategist, Steve Laughman

Two steps forward, one step back. That might make sense on the dance floor, but it can be frustrating when you are trying to lead a group of people. As so many things become more uncertain, pastors are doing their absolute best to follow God’s lead as they lead the church.

Let me take a moment to speak to those of you who make up the majority of the church. You’re not the pastor or a staff member. Your name may not be printed on a sign or in the bulletin. But you do your part to pray, serve, and participate in God’s work in your local church. You have watched services online, even when it was a bit strange at first. You grieved the loss of fellowship with your Sunday School class. You may have even been able to return to in-person gathering for worship but questioned whether it was the smartest thing to do.

Let me say this to you: Thank you for loving your pastor and his family. He and the other leaders of your church are struggling just like you are. They are questioning the wisdom of every decision, trying to discern how to minister best to you. They crave worship like you do. They mourn over having to step back plans to reopen when the state of things change rapidly. They see how vital ministries have been put on hold and long for a day when they can begin again. Your pastor feels your pain more than you know. He bears your burdens even when you don’t notice. So, thank you for extending some grace to him as he seeks to follow God down this uncertain path.

There are so many things we could debate, and very often we do. Our world loves to draw lines in the sand and tell you to take a side. The election cycle elevates this tendency to ridiculous levels. This often leads to situations where church leaders are criticized no matter what decision they make. I trust your pastor and other church leaders to act in your best interest. Remember that they love you, and they love the Lord. Reserve judgement and assume they have stayed up late and risen early to pray over what actions to take.

August 3-9 has been set aside as a time to pray and fast for our state. Details can be found at gabaptist.org/prayerweek. Our region of Georgia has been asked specifically to fast on Wednesday, August 5. I would encourage you to lift up your pastor and other church leaders during this time. And if you are so inclined, take a moment to contact your pastor and let him know how much you appreciate him.

Summer 2020 Centennial News Article

A Word from Your Mission Strategist, Steve Laughman

Frank Perreti wrote a series of books when I was in college that scared the pants off me. They were about spiritual warfare and were all the rage in Christian circles. Sermons were preached and much discussion took place about what was happening in the unseen, spiritual realm. As trends go, this too faded, and we focused on other things. Over the last several months, I have been reminded many times that there are forces at work behind much of what we see with our physical eyes.

There is a battle raging in our world, and it is not between political parties or people of different races. It is not even us against a horrible pandemic. The only true enemy is Satan. He will use every tool he can to steal, kill, and destroy. His strategy is to divide and conquer. If he can convince us that our enemy is flesh and blood, he can use our tendencies toward hate and self-righteousness to make us destroy each other. All the while, he sits back and enjoys the carnage.

But we are better than that. We are children of the King, co-heirs with Christ Jesus, more than conquerors. Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against powers and principalities. Our weapons of war are prayer, faith, our testimonies, the blood of the Lamb, and the Word of God. Most importantly, our commander in this war is the all-powerful, undefeated, righteous, and just King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. The battle is His, and He is always victorious!

So, when the news has gotten you down, or the world seems to be falling apart around you, remember who you serve.  When you are tempted to argue with those who oppose you in every way, remember that they are not the enemy. When you are without answers to the very real problems that exist, remember that you know the One who is Truth personally. When you feel lonely and afraid, remember that you are never, ever alone.

My goal is not to minimize the challenges we are facing. We have monumental tasks before us. We often feel discouraged by our circumstances. We were never promised an easy journey. In fact, Jesus told us that it would be hard. But, be encouraged. Although the future seems uncertain, we can trust the One who orders our steps. At times like this, the Church has the opportunity to show the world that there is hope. Be faithful to follow Him and to lead others to do the same. May the God of peace bring you comfort and strength as you seek Him today.