The CMBA Advisory Team met May 20 at New Heights Baptist in Columbia to share ministry updates and conduct regular business. Team members celebrated ways that God is at work throughout the association and heard updates on church assistance and resourcing. The team also voted to affirm two new church plants as official CMBA member churches.
Associational Missions Strategist Jamie Rogers presented the recommendation that Faith Revolution Church in Lugoff, pastored by Kenny Cole, and Palmetto Life Church in downtown Columbia, pastored by Matthew Phillips, be considered for membership in the association. Both churches have been approved by the SC Baptist Convention. Of note, Palmetto Life Church has been launched out of the former Park Street Baptist facility, and while they have already begun to meet for Sunday worship services, the church will officially launch on September 14.
“We’re so thankful God continues to call churches to create new congregations in our CMBA footprint. There are still so many unreached people in our area and the Church is God’s chosen tool for sharing the good news with all of them. More congregations help us to infiltrate our entire footprint with the good news of the gospel of Jesus,” Rogers says.
During the meeting, Advisory Team members voted to approve several other recommendations, including North Trenholm’s request for grant assistance to sponsor Windshape Camp, a community-wide children’s camp also receiving support from fellow CMBA churches; a grant request from Blaney Baptist to assist in relocating their new pastor; and, the replacement of the cotton candy machine in the block party trailer.
CMBA Huddle members gave reports on recent pastoral encouragement and congregational assistance, news articles and communications projects, and Acts 1:8 missions efforts through CMBA’s partnership with Central Spain. Huddle Member Robbie McAlister reminded Advisory Team members that CMBA’s missional goal is to “come alongside churches to have them actively involved simultaneously in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and throughout the world.”
Team members heard updates about recent gatherings for pastors, bivocational pastors and wives, and senior pastors’ wives. Rogers encourages all CMBA pastors to “become involved in our pastors’ gatherings, even if you don’t feel that you need it. There are other pastors who need your friendship, support, and encouragement.” Additionally, he expressed excitement at the number of ethnic pastors who are participating in these gatherings.
In his report to team members Rogers highlighted several items of interest to all CMBA churches, including news of a potential missional partnership between a Winnsboro couple and Rockton Baptist for an after-school ministry to middle school students. CMBA has begun collecting $50 Walmart gift cards for international teachers who will be serving schools in Richland Districts One and Two this fall. CMBA has a goal to collect 160 $50 Walmart gift cards through mid-July before distributing them at orientation events, and has planned several outreach events for these teachers during the upcoming school year.
Rogers announced that Shandon will host another One Night event on September 28, which is an “excellent time to engage middle and high school students.” More than 700 students attended, and 63 students gave their lives to Christ at the 2024 event last fall. All CMBA churches are asked to participate in the NAMB Serve Tour, held August 22-23 throughout the Midlands. Churches may sign up to serve through the Serve Tour website and are encouraged to promote this opportunity to all members.
Rogers announced that the next Executive Team meeting will be held on September 16 at 6:30 p.m., location to be determined, and will include a fellowship dinner celebrating the association’s ethnic diversity. Churches are encouraged to bring potluck dishes “to serve 10 people,” and Rogers sends a special invitation to CMBA’s ethnic congregations to bring foods native to their culture. The evening will be a time to “celebrate all that God is doing across our association,” Rogers says.
Finally, Rogers asks churches to pray for early discussions CMBA is having around creating a community outreach center, that God would raise up new pastors from within the CMBA member churches, and for the next GO Day, which will be on June 30.
The next Advisory Team meeting will be held virtually on August 5.