As we start the new year, like me, you likely at least gave a passing thought to your health, habits, and pace of life.  To that sentiment I want to share a blurb I recently read from the book, Resilient Ministry: 
Many in ministry quote Christmas Evans, a famous Welsh preacher from the early nineteenth century, who supposedly said, “I’d rather burn out than rust out in the service of our Lord.” One of Evan’s contemporaries, James Berkeley, is said to have retorted, “I admire the bravado. It sounds dedicated, bold, and stirring.  However, when I view the burnt-outs and the almost burnt-outs who lie by the ecclesiastical road, the glory fails to reach me.  Is there not a third alternative? In Acts 20:24, Paul stated, ‘I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me.’  Herein lies the model I choose to follow. I want neither to burn out nor rust out. I want to finish out the race.”
 
For the next several months, we’ll focus on a different aspect of healthy self-care. Let’s start with physical health.  Did you know that one study shows that 76% of clergy were either overweight or obese?
 
Since we all want to run our race well and finish out the race Jesus has given us, being a good steward of our bodies is essential to doing so.

• What is one habit to start or stop this year that would lend to a healthier you?
• Do you have a plan or partner to keep you on track and motivated?
• How will you track your progress?

May you and I steward our health well so we can run the race Jesus has marked out for us with perseverance!

May 3, 2026 at 3PM at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church

"Why should I come early?" you may ask.

Because we believe every church has an impact beyond its walls. We believe in Kingdom growth and the effectiveness of starting new congregations. We want to tear down the idea that only SOME churches or THOSE KIND of churches are the ones who do church planting.

Plan to come and to join the discussion with Dr. Benji Lavender, Missions Pastor at Lakewood, about how every church can be a part of a movement of multiplication for Jesus!

The 18th Annual New Work Foundation Golf Tournament is just around the corner, and we’d love for you to be part of it! Join us on June 1, 2026, at Royal Lakes Golf Course for a day of great golf, meaningful connection, and lasting impact. Every swing supports the work of planting and strengthening churches across our region, helping bring hope to communities that need it most.

We have been able to give away over $778,000 in grants to new congregations since 2007 because of the generous support of donors. We look forward to continuing to support to new churches to reach the lost in our area. Whether you join as a player or sponsor you’re helping move the mission forward in a tangible way.

April 30, 2026 at 10:30 AM at Lakewood Baptist Church

The Spring Senior Adult Rally is Thursday, April 30 at 10:30 AM at Lakewood Baptist Church. The Rally is a time for senior adults from all our churches to gather for a time to worship, fellowship together and hear about what is happening in our association. There will be worship and special music led by Lakewood’s Traditional Worship Pastor, Carter Reeves, his wife, Kelli, and Brass Ensemble.

The program is free but a love offering will be taken up. Lunch will be at 12:00 PM | $10 per person to be collected at the meal.

Churches, you can reserve your spot by calling our office (770) 532-3371 or email Connie at connie@cbamissions.org. Deadline to register: Monday, April 27, at 12:00 PM.

April 27th at 12:00 PM

Truett McConnell invites all Georgia Baptist Pastors to a special, free luncheon and meet and greet with Dr. Larry Lyon, the new president on April 27th at 12:00 PM at Carol Anne's Cafe. See the attached flyer for more details and QR code to RSVP. 

The CBA Strengthening Churches Foundation exists to help SBC churches in Northeast Georgia fulfill the Great Commission. Our primary function is providing funds to support ministry initiatives arising from local churches.

One such example is in the area of leadership development. Crossroads Church in Jackson County recognized a calling on the lives of two young men and in response, proposed a grant to Foundation for developing an internship and residency program to train the next generation of leaders and church planters.

The Foundation was able to help fund a Residency for Cristian Ramos, who is planting Crossroads Español on Easter this year to reach the growing Spanish-speaking community in Jefferson. With their help, Cristian has been able to receive training, coaching, and begin the church planting process with preview services of 40+ people in attendance.

The Foundation also provided funds for an internship for Brody Wooten, a student who is exploring God’s calling to ministry for his life. The Summer Internship at Crossroads allowed Brody to participate in student ministry leadership, evangelism, mission trips, discipleship training.  Since then, Brody has gone on to establish an outreach ministry at his local high school and assist his friend JC Acevdo (pictured to the right of Brody) in another Bible study at another high school.

The Foundation is actively taking proposals to help our CBA churches to move forward in ministry effectiveness in a variety of ways. You can submit your proposal application below.  The deadline for proposals is April 2nd, 2026.

I had this conversation this week with a pastor.  He said, “I’ve only gone on 2 vacations in 9 years.” When I asked why that was, the answer was not a surprise: “While raising a family, we haven’t had the funds to get away.” That pastor is not alone.  The financial hurdle keeps many of us working when we desperately need a break.  So let me shoot straight with you.  You need a break. It is not only okay to take a break, it is Biblical. We preach it to everyone else, except ourselves. If you agree, let me set your mind at ease.  There are several ways you can get that break for FREE.

Yes, you read that right. Free. Due to the generosity of others, there are several options for you to get away.  Follow this link to see how you can take advantage of a great opportunity afforded to CBA pastors.

And by all means, get that break.

Ready to lead your church beyond programs and into real multiplication?

Disciple Making Pastors is a powerful, hands-on training designed to equip pastors to build a culture of intentional disciple-making—modeled after Jesus Himself. Led by Ron Cansler and Rod Zwemke, and developed by Ken Adams, this course draws from 30+ years of real ministry experience to help you move from addition to multiplication.

Through seven interactive sessions, peer collaboration, and personalized coaching, you’ll gain a clear, strategic process to lead your congregation toward becoming a Disciple-Making Movement. And for our network pastors, the cost has been reduced from $350 to just $150.

Through the CBA Strengthening Churches Foundation, local churches in Northeast Georgia are receiving vital support to advance the Great Commission. From funding a residency that is launching Crossroads Español this Easter to investing in a summer intern now leading student outreach in local high schools, the Foundation is helping raise up the next generation of leaders and church planters.

Discover how your church can apply for funding and be part of what God is doing across our association.

I had this conversation this week with a pastor.  He said, "I've only gone on 2 vacations in 9 years." When I asked why that was, the answer was not a surprise: "While raising a family, we haven't had the funds to get away." That pastor is not alone.  The financial hurdle keeps many of us working when we desperately need a break.  So let me shoot straight with you.  You need a break. It is not only okay to take a break, it is Biblical. We preach it to everyone else, except ourselves. If you agree, let me set your mind at ease.  There are several ways you can get that break for FREE.

Somewhere along the way, knocking on doors for evangelism became ... uncool, or awkward (who else freaks out when the doorbell rings unexpectedly?), or was losing its effectiveness.  For whatever reason, we stopped doing it....

So what do we do?  We need a game plan for evangelism.

When I was attending a Baptist church in the 1990’s, Tuesday nights were one thing – evangelism training.  Raise your hand if that was you too!  I was so fired up about it that I signed my newlywed wife up to do it with me without her knowing.  And yes, we’re still married 30 years later.

Somewhere along the way, knocking on doors became … uncool, or awkward (who else freaks out when the doorbell rings unexpectedly?), or was losing its effectiveness.  For whatever reason, we stopped doing it. Churches largely didn’t replace it with another method for training people in evangelism, but with the “invite your friends to church” approach.  Now, there is nothing wrong with an invitation emphasis.  I’ve seen it work time and again.  BUT, we didn’t replace door-to-door with another method of teaching people to share their faith.  That is why evangelism is the exception in the church, no longer the rule.
So what do we do?  We need a game plan for evangelism.  To that end, I want to invite you to join me for a one-day training event:

What: Game Plan for Evangelism Training
Where: GBMB Office
When: March 12, 2026, 10:30 -1:30 PM
Description: Every church needs a plan for evangelism. Without one, efforts remain scattered, leaving members unprepared and churches inwardly focused. The Gameplan for Evangelism equips pastors with a clear, intentional, and comprehensive strategy that mobilizes every member to live daily on mission. Like a coach preparing a team, this tool unites your church around a shared vision, training and sending members to impact their families, communities, and the world with the gospel. It transforms evangelism from a random event into the heartbeat of your ministry—simple, intentional, and woven into the DNA of your church.

No cost but registration is required.

Here’s to developing a game plan for evangelism, then working that plan.

Across our communities, young families are searching for truth, belonging, and hope. They are navigating the pressures of careers, parenting, finances, digital overload, and a rapidly shifting culture. Many feel overwhelmed. And many are more spiritually open than we might assume.

The question is not whether young families need the Gospel. The question is whether we are positioned to reach them effectively.

For many churches, this demographic represents both an incredible opportunity and a persistent challenge. We desire to see young parents discipled, marriages strengthened, and children grounded in biblical truth. Yet we often struggle with practical realities:

• Competing weekend schedules and youth sports
• Declining cultural familiarity with church
• Limited volunteer bandwidth
• Programming that unintentionally reflects a different generation

These challenges are real—but they are not insurmountable.

The encouraging news is that several churches in our association are learning how to adapt without compromising the Gospel. They are discovering practical ways to remove unnecessary barriers, build authentic relationships, and create environments where young families feel welcomed, supported, and spiritually challenged.

That’s why this upcoming training on “How to Reach Young Families” is so important.
This training isn’t about gimmicks or trends. It’s about clarity. It’s about understanding the mindset of today’s young parents. It’s about aligning ministry strategy with mission. It’s about equipping pastors and church leaders with practical, proven tools that churches of any size can implement.

Imagine your church five, ten, or twenty years from now—filled with young adults who were once the children of families you intentionally reached. Imagine baptisms that ripple through entire households. Imagine grandparents worshiping alongside grandchildren because someone decided it was worth the effort to adapt and engage.

Pastor, you are not alone in this mission. And you do not have to figure it out by yourself. This training is an investment, not just in attendance numbers, but in the future health and vitality of your church.

Sign up today and join us in building churches where young families don’t just attend, they truly belong and grow.

FACILITATORS
David Wenger, Pastor of Hopewell
Alex Gailey, Pastor of Sola City
Mark Thomas, Pastor of Hagen Creek

Registration for this fight club is closed.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course offered by Impact Disciples Ministry seeks to provide pastors with the tools to become influential disciple-making leaders in their churches.  The trainers will be Ron Cansler, from Crossroads Church in Newnan and Rod Zwemke.

Drawing on over 30 years of “on-the-job” disciple-making experience, we offer a strategic and intentional process for pastors seeking to lead their congregations toward becoming movements of multiplication. The course covers six crucial priorities of Disciple-Making Pastors, modeled after Jesus’ approach to disciple-making.

The course consists of seven sessions where pastors meet with a group of peers to discuss the strategic content developed by our team. Pastors will receive personalized coaching and accountability throughout the course to help them develop the necessary skills to fulfill Jesus’ mission of making disciples.

As a pastor, the course creator, Ken Adams, knows firsthand the challenges of leading a church to become a Disciple-Making Movement. He is committed to sharing the most important things he has learned about this ministry to help pastors progress as Disciple-Making Pastors.

Join us in “The Making of a Disciple-Making Pastor” group and take the next step towards leading your congregation to fulfill the mission of making disciples.

EQUIPPING BASICS
Our online pastor’s equipping groups consist of bi-weekly content developed over 30 years of “on-the-job” discipleship work. It consists of reading, video training, tailored projects, and online/in-person meetings with your trainer and peer group.

DATES
Interest meeting: March 5th
Sessions 1-6: March 12, 26; April 9, 23; May 7, 21

TIME AND LOCATION
Live at the CBA Office: 3:00-4:00 PM
Online: 6:00-700 PM

Registration for this Fight Club is closed.

Stop by and meet CBA's New Associational Missionary Strategist! You can come by the CBA Office Tuesday, February 3 at 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM or Wednesday, February 4 at 9:00 - 11:00 AM.

We want to support churches reaching their community, reaching the next generation, working to spread the influence of the gospel in our area, and developing leaders to do the same. Churches can apply for a grant from the Strengthening Churches Foundation to help support their ministry efforts.

Join us for a time of Hymn Singing at our Senior Adult Rally! Come worship, sing, and enjoy fellowship together.

• Thursday, January 30th at 10:30AM 
• Mt. View Baptist Church (3765 Mt. View Rd, Gainesville, GA 30507)
• Lunch at 12:00 PM – $10 per person (collected at the meal)

Reservations are required:

• Each church should RSVP by Monday, July 27 at 12:00 PM
• Call: The CBA Office at 770-532-3371
• Email: connie@cbamissions.org

The program is FREE, but a love offering will be taken.

Ministry is a marathon, not just a sprint. In the latest blog post, Rod Zwemke dives into how pastors and church staff can run healthy and run faithful in their ministry journey.