In recognition (and celebration) that the work of the Kingdom happens within the context of the local church, the mission of the Alberta Baptist Association is…
To connect and to resource churches to impact communities for the growth and advancement of the Kingdom of God in Alberta and the world.
Given this stated (and historical) purpose, the ABA has clarified that the best way to accomplish its mission is to invest in the development of godly servants (within and among the local ABA churches) who will lead the way.
To say it most succinctly…
‘The ABA vision is to develop Kingdom leaders’
To outline its parameters…
‘The vision of the ABA is to develop ‘Kingdom’ leaders’... (who are)
Emerging leaders
Lay leaders
Pastoral leaders
To elaborate its focus…
‘The vision of the ABA is to ‘develop’ Kingdom leaders’… (by)
Identifying leaders
Praying for (potential) leaders
Challenging (potential) leaders
Recruiting (potential) leaders
Training leaders
Equipping Leaders
Resourcing Leaders
Mentoring/Interning Leaders
Deploying Leaders
Empowering Leaders
Encouraging Leaders
Monitoring Leaders
Protecting Leaders
Renewing Leaders
All of this is to say that ‘leader development’ has become the essential ‘plumb line’ by which we will measure the legitimacy and the direction, as well as the efficacy, of all ABA ministries, guiding us in terms of how we use the generous contributions from local ABA churches.
To that end, employing the ‘three-fold’ leader framework (emerging, lay, pastoral) is helping to provide balance in terms of leader development among the many ABA ministries. In this, some new leader development initiatives (in italics) have more recently been engaged.
ABA Emerging Leader Ministries
Student Ministry Retreats
Young Adult Retreats
Potential ‘Gap’ Year Feasibility Study
ABA Lay Leader Ministries
Women’s Retreats
Men’s Retreats
German Ministry Retreats
ReNew Events (for pastors & lay leaders)
Youth Ministry Workers Retreat (in conjunction with the Youth Pastors Retreat)
Board Chair (online) Quarterly Events
ABA Pastoral Leader Ministries
Ministry Workers Family Retreat
Youth Pastors Retreat
Banff Pastors Conference
Retired Ministry Workers Events
Pastors’ Connections
Touching Base (online) Monthly Events
ReNew Events (for pastors & lay leaders)
ABA Leadership Care Ministries
Some of the less visible, though very important (and very involved) aspects of ‘leader development’ unfold within the context of ABA Leadership Care.
Care for Pastors
Shepherding Pastoral Health and Concerns
Pastoral Crisis Mitigation
Conflict Resolution
Health & Benefits Matters
Sabbatical Preparations
Processing Ordinations & Licensure
Staff Performance Reviews
Care for Church Boards
Shepherding Lay Leader Concerns
Board Crisis Mitigation
Conflict Resolution
Church Transitional Ministries
Church Pastor Search Processes
Church Assessments
ABA Team Ministries
‘Leader development’ is being introduced as a primary (though not exclusive) question concerning the prayerful, strategic thinking within each of the ABA teams.
LC - Leadership Council
SMR Team - Student Ministry Resource Team
GO Team - Global Operations Team
CP Team - Church Planting Team
CPR Team - Crisis Prevention and Restoration Team
EL Team - Emerging Leader Team
ABA Church Multiplication Ministries
Leader Development Funding For ABA Multiplication Ministries
ABA Partner Ministries
‘Leader Development’ has become helpful for enhancing the rich, ongoing relationships with the various ABA partners.
NAB conference ministries (emerging, lay, pastoral)
Camp ministries (emerging)
Camp Caroline
Pine Lake
Sturgeon Lake
Educational Ministries (emerging & pastoral)
Taylor
Prairie
People Support Ministries
The Mustard Seed (lay & pastoral)
Salem Manor (lay)
South Country Village (lay)
Resiliency Ministries, Canada (pastoral)
On behalf of the ABA Regional Office and ABA Leadership Council, I want to share my deepest appreciation for your ongoing commitment to facilitate the development of Kingdom leaders in and among the 60 churches of the ABA.
Together with you, in His service!
Terry Fossen.