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Connections
Ken Rhodes, Director of Missions Mobilization for the Mississippi
Baptist Convention, recently conducted a Connections Conference
for Agricola Baptist Church. The conference was requested by Agricola
Baptist pastor, Tommy Mitchell, as a means of identifying the interests
and natural connections already existing with Agricola members in
North America and internationally. This was the initial step in
Agricola’s discovering places the Father has already worked
to put in place potential engagement.
The conference, conducted on a Sunday evening, consisted of four
elements:
1. Biblical basis for a people group focus
2. Insight into vast lostness of our world
3. Dialogue with the congregation regarding existing connections
The following questions served to begin and guide dialogue:
a. What does it mean to be a missional active church?
b. Where are you already connected in the world? (Example: friendships,
family, prior mission experiences, relationship with a missionary,
visited or lived, an unexplained interest)
c. Which of the connections seems most natural offering real
opportunity for future connections?
d. How could a focus on the connections be developed?
Agricola discovered 38 existing international connections. The
conference closed with a time of commitment and the pastor sharing
his vision for Agricola’s mission impact.
This was a step toward discovering the heart of the Father for
a people group that Agricola can adopt.
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