Some may suggest that the days of denominations are on the downward slide. But from my seat on the “family bus,” I see a great deal of work still being done that should get any evangelical leader excited. There are several reasons why I am excited to serve this family we call Southern Baptists.
California is the Greatest Mission Field in America – With nearly 40 million people, almost 10.6 million more than the next largest state, California is huge. But it’s not just population that makes it so important. Much of American culture is formed in and distributed from California. Population and influence make California the most important mission field in America.
The SBC has Amazing Resources – Southern Baptists are the most missionally invested Protestant denomination serving California. It takes a family, namely, the 47,000 SBC churches who invest money into the Cooperative Program across North America. A portion of those dollars come back to California by way of North American Mission Board church planting. There are 2,300 CSBC churches investing in the Cooperative Program and our state mission offering. Combining all that together, Southern Baptists are investing over $10.6 million annually to reach this state.
Doing Ministry Alone Stinks! – Ministry is demanding. Pastors are some of the loneliest people in America, even though they have such a prominent place in their community. Even surrounded by many people who love them, they often feel alone. Most pastors find the person they can be most honest with are other pastors, and that is why I love being a part of this SBC family. Many church planters who join us after growing up in a different faith family tell me they joined our network of churches because they did not want to do this alone.
Best Sending Church Culture I’ve Ever Witnessed – Before moving to California, I spent over two decades in two southern states. The South has been multiplying churches for decades. I honestly thought the culture of church planting was strong in the South, but it pales in comparison to the sending church culture I have seen in Southern California. It is amazing to listen to pastors in my city talk about church planting. They don’t need to be convinced; they get it and are acting on it every day.
If you want to plant a church in America’s greatest mission field, be resourced by the greatest sending family of churches, be adopted by a sending church who cares deeply about you, and be in healthy relationship with other pastors, there’s simply no competition. You should be a part of the work God is doing through Southern Baptists in California.
