‘Equip the saints’ through various training opportunities

By David Lee, BCM/D Executive Director

The church is one of the few organizations that give vital and life-impacting assignments to its members without providing those members with adequate training and resources. I am seeing it happen more and more in our Maryland/Delaware churches.

Part of the issue is the challenge of time. People are busy. Discretionary time is limited. Part of the issue is the sheer frustration that often accompanies the responsibility for filling positions in our churches. Too frequently we are willing to settle just to have a warm body in a teacher’s or a team member’s seat.

Only God knows what could happen if we took the time to train and equip Sunday School teachers, discipleship leaders, spiritual coaches and mentors, deacons, decision-makers and other key leaders in our churches. I personally believe the results could be dramatic, if not revolutionary.

We can help. Among the Cooperative Program services available to you through the Baptist Convention of MD/DE are training resources and assistance. Here are three among many:

•Take time now to visit E-quip on our website. There you will find practical, online, on-demand training. Some of our best leaders provide video training you need to be more effective in your assignment at church. There is no charge for this 24/7service. The training is available when you have time to invest.

•Gather your leaders and come to Skycroft Conference Center in Middletown, Md., July 11-12, for the 2008 version of Horizons. Here leaders will have multiple opportunities to attend workshops, have one-on-one conversations with professionals and peers and fine-tune their skills and their spirit. Again, see the website for additional information and registration details.

•The Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware has professionally trained and experienced missionaries that are available to come to your church to provide training, consultation, and encouragement. All you need do is call or email.

Never before has our world needed so much of what we offer. Yet, to be effective, we must equip leaders and provide them with effective tools for service.

I encourage you as a church leader to give priority to “equipping the saints for the work of ministry.” And let us help!