The CMBA Visionary Leadership Community (VLC) met Tuesday, September 20, at NorthStar Center of Hope to conduct business and share ministry updates. NorthStar Christian Center Associate Pastor John Lakin welcomed VLC members to the church’s community center along with member Yvonne Murray, who also serves as the Center of Hope director, as previewed in CMBA’s VLC Member Spotlight last week.
During the meeting, VLC heard updates to the ongoing work of the association, which included the return of Cathy Locklear serving in an interim part-time capacity as Impacting Communities Coordinator. Locklear has been an active church member and employee of CMBA for more than 20 years before her 2021 retirement. Members are encouraged to contact Locklear to join ongoing CMBA church-led ministry efforts including the State Fair or food pantry, or looking to rent the Block Party trailer for evangelism and outreach events.
Additional reporting included collegiate ministry updates at Benedict College and the University of South Carolina. CMBA churches are invited to support these ministries to students by providing meals served before weekly worship times and through other relationship-building opportunities including transportation for international students to shop for groceries. Contact Lesley and JJ Josephs at LesleyJoseph@scbaptist.org for more information about supporting the new BCM ministries starting at Benedict and Allen University, and new Columbia area BCM Director Adam Venters at adamventers@scbaptist.org.
In other news, VLC members heard updates regarding the CMBA Annual Meeting, to be held Thursday, October 6, at 6:30 p.m. at Winnsboro First Baptist Church. Under the theme “Unleashed,” messengers and guests will experience a time of worship, prayer, and celebration with music led by praise teams from the host church and Columbia BCM. Rev. Jarrian “JayWill” Wilson, pastor of City of Refuge, will deliver the message. During a brief business session messengers will vote on new CMBA bylaws, the 2023 budget, and hear a report from Rogers. Immediately following the meeting, attendees are invited to a time of fellowship and celebration for Rogers.
In keeping with title changes adopted across other Southern Baptist institutions, Rogers announced he is now using “Associational Missions Strategist.” He updated VLC members on his working arrangements, which will soon include conducting office hours out of Temple Baptist Church. Rogers shared details about immediate plans to create pastoral cohorts to “hear from them, love, serve and encourage them.” He also announced his intent to begin visiting CMBA churches during Wednesday night worship, which will allow him the opportunity to build relationships with members across the Midlands. He also shared details for an upcoming CMBA-wide prayer initiative.
“Prayer is the work of the Christian’s life. We won’t see a movement of God in our area if we aren’t praying for it,” Roger says. “I encourage our members to pray for God to create an awakening in our area for the more than 390,000 reported lost individuals living here to come to faith.”
VLC members approved the proposed 2023 budget to be presented to messengers for a vote at the Annual Meeting. Treasurer Brenda Sheets reports CMBA continues to be in “great shape” financially. Despite being underbudget on income, it is also underbudget on expenses.
VLC will reconvene October 18 at Riverbend Community Church.