Our purpose

As an Association, we do not start churches but the Association comes alongside churches and church planters. The word which best describes what the Association does is paraclete or from the Greek paraklētos, which means to come alongside another as a helper, advocate, or comforter, providing active support and encouragement, often during times of crisis or weakness. The Association acts to strengthen and offer spiritual and practical counsel and assistance. Oftentimes this involves identifying communities in need of spiritual support and outreach. Starting a healthy church includes several steps. The process begins with an assessment by the 242 network. Then, the Desoto-Tate Baptist Association provides resources and guidance for church planters. One of the resources we help with is connecting the church planters with the county GIS office for all sorts of maps, providing a demographic study of the location where the planting is occurring to help the church planters build a strong foundation. Together, this helps lay the groundwork for a vibrant, productive, Kingdom-minded church plant or church replant. The Association also helps with financial support by entering into a 3-year agreement with the church plant after they pass the 242 assessment and provide the Administrative Team with a budget and prospectus.

Strengthening focuses on enhancing the existing churches through various forms of support and development. Not all 65 Desoto-Tate Baptist Association churches are in the same place when it comes to spiritual health. Sometimes strengthening may include leadership training, pastoral training, providing resources for spiritual growth, or facilitating community outreach programs. Strengthening includes encouraging churches by assessing their strengths and the areas which need improvement. We strengthen to promote a culture of continuous growth and health.

Sustainability is about ensuring that churches can maintain their vitality and relevance over time. This involves creating systems and practices that help the churches adapt to changing needs and environments. Sustaining also includes fostering partnerships with other churches within the community and encouraging an ongoing education and support system. The goal is to ensure that churches remain impactful and can weather challenges while continuing to grow and serve their communities. A movement of healthy churches.