Two pastors in the Southeast Area of ABC/CR. have put a proposal for missions forth; it is Friends in Mission.   It is a return to traditional Baptist polity of association for the purpose of mission.  To quote from a letter “Friends in Mission can become a sleek and effective “Mission society”.  Those who choose to covenant together will do so for the work of Christ’s kingdom amid a spirit of freedom and trust.  Each participant will prayerfully engage the group as equal partners endeavoring to share resources to do the greater work than any of us can do alone.” 

Friends in Mission is not a new denomination.  Nor is it a denomination-bashing collective of angry, reactionary people.  There is a great work that needs to be done and a short time to do it in.  To be part of Friends in Mission does not mean cutting of old ways of doing missions.  The planner encourage retaining whatever connections carry value.

For more information or to take part, contact either:

Pastor Joel Hahn, South Broadway Baptist Church, 1322 S. Broadway,

          Pittsburg KS 66762, 620-231-4248   sbbchurch@yahoo.com

Or

Dan DeWitt, First Baptist Church, 909 S. Ridgeway Str., Caney, KS 67333

          620-879-5220  fbccaney@cox.net

Their Mission Statement reads as follows;

¨     Friends in Mission shall foster and strengthen relationships between the           covenanting pastors.

¨     Friends in Mission shall foster and strengthen relationships between the           covenanting congregations.

¨     Friends in Mission shall collaboratively discern mission projects that God           would have covenanting pastors and congregation unite to           accomplish.

Friends in Mission shall consist of two tiers of covenant groups: Pastoral and Congregational.  Pastors may covenant with or without the corresponding congregation.  Likewise, congregations may covenant with or without the corresponding pastor.

Each group shall enter into a covenant of trust and love for the purpose of fellowship and cooperative mission.  Doctrinal and practical diversity will be handled through conscience, integrity, trust and the spirit of voluntary cooperation.

The covenant will endure only at the will of all parties involved and may be dissolved at any time, unless financial commitments require faithful participation until the obligation is fulfilled.

Selection of mission projects for which these friends untie shall be determined through collaboration.

Time and frequency of meetings shall be determined as is prudent for the fulfillment of the mission.

As a collaborative enterprise, Friends in Mission will function without officers except a treasurer and recorder.

Friends in Mission shall be construed neither as a denominational entity nor anti-denominational entity.