LifeWay Network Partnership: A Support System

Written by Linda Thompson

Support is a good word. It connotes help. Southern Baptist churches have a great support system made up of the local association, the state convention, and LifeWay Church Resources. These partners form a network of valuable help to the local church by providing leadership training, customized consultation, staff development, resource information, and many other valuable helps and solutions to strengthen the church’s ministry.

The Network Partnership Team
Leadership training.—As the link between LifeWay and the state conventions and associations, the Network Partnership ministry team at LifeWay works closely with state conventions to plan strategically. This includes providing leadership training to state multipliers, who serve as facilitators of state or association events. These events are planned and budgeted for at least one year in advance to allow for the best possible training opportunity for the churches.

To make sure your church takes advantage of these training opportunities, contact your local association and state convention office to see which leadership training events are coming to your area. Also watch for announcements in your state convention paper and other direct-mail pieces from your state or association informing you of these excellent events. If you need specific training events, please let your state or association office know well in advance. Doing so gives LifeWay and your state convention the opportunity to work together to meet your needs.

Advocacy.—The Network Partnership ministry team also serves as an advocate within LifeWay to represent the needs and concerns of state conventions and local associations. A team of five partnership specialists who work within assigned regions personally visit state convention offices to learn about needs and priorities of the churches. These needs and priorities are then relayed to LifeWay, who works to provide support to the states and associations.

Resources.—LifeWay works to provide resources that will help churches do kingdom work.

• LifeWay sends samples of their resources to each state and association office quarterly to keep these two support systems informed, so they can help local churches be aware of the many tools and resources available to aid in their ministry. Plan a visit to your association’s office to explore these resources.
• LifeWay supports new church starts by working closely with the association to provide the first quarter of resources without charge to new churches.
• Update seminars and seminars for new directors of associational missions are held annually in Nashville to train and inform these key partners about the mission and ministry of LifeWay and of the many helps available to both churches and associations.
• These same events are offered for associational leadership at both LifeWay Ridgecrest and Glorieta Conference Centers each summer.
• State leadership teams are brought to Nashville for meetings to dialogue, train, and plan together for the upcoming new year.

Funding.—LifeWay provides funding to each state convention for the purpose of assisting churches in a variety of ways. It’s a good support system. Urban churches in large metropolitan associations have opportunities to participate in events planned jointly by LifeWay, the state convention, the association, and the North American Mission Board as a part of the strategic focus emphasis.

Our Desire to Help Churches
LifeWay Church Resources exists to help churches. Our vision is clear and simple: “As God works through us we will help people and churches know Jesus Christ and seek His Kingdom by providing biblical solutions that spiritually transform individuals and cultures.” State conventions and associations are also important to LifeWay as we seek together to provide a support system that will strengthen our churches.

Southern Baptist churches are not in ministry alone; they have one of the strongest systems of support available. Get to know your director of missions and your state leadership. You’ll find a powerful network of people who are ready to assist you in doing kingdom work.