A Hope of Humble Collaboration for the Coming Decade
As I look out across the landscape of Northeast Florida, I see a region poised for profound growth and transformation. Families are moving in, neighborhoods are expanding, and communities are taking shape in ways that will define this area for generations. It’s a time of opportunity but also a moment of challenge—a moment that calls for the Church to rise in unity and purpose.
The reality is that the future of our region is moving faster than we can sometimes imagine. The population is growing, the demographics are shifting, and the needs of our neighbors are becoming more complex. At the same time, many pastors are aging, and fewer young leaders are stepping forward to take their place because of desire or financial strains. Those in ministry are facing unprecedented levels of burnout, navigating a cultural moment that is testing the limits of endurance and faith. These are hard truths, but they are not without hope.
As a Mission Strategist, I cannot make anyone take action, nor do I desire to do so. I do not have the authority to dictate a course for a single church within our family of churches. But I have hope—a picture of what could be—and a prayer that God would move among us, knitting our efforts together into a collaborative movement that echoes His Kingdom story in our community beyond what any of us can imagine.
What Could Be
Imagine a decade from now: A family of churches across Northeast Florida embodying the unity and diversity of the body of Christ.
Thriving Congregations: Churches large and small, urban and rural, working together to share resources, ideas, and opportunities for ministry. Congregations that not only meet the spiritual needs of their members but also become indispensable parts of their communities—feeding the hungry, supporting families, and offering hope to the weary.
Empowered Leaders: A pipeline of new leaders, equipped to step into roles of ministry and service. Young pastors, lay leaders, and church planters who have been mentored by those who came before them, ready to lead with wisdom, humility, and a deep love for God’s people.
A Gospel Presence in Every Neighborhood: From the burgeoning suburbs to the quiet corners of our region, a body of churches that reflects the love of Christ in tangible ways. Places where neighbors find connection, belonging, and the transformative message of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Shared Purpose: A sense of unity among churches—not uniformity, but collaboration. Churches joining hands to tackle the challenges of our day, from the loneliness of modern life to the spiritual hunger that so many feel but do not yet understand.
The Path Forward
This is not a hope any one church can achieve on its own. It will take a collective effort, rooted in humility and grounded in a shared commitment to God’s Kingdom. Here’s what I hope to see:
Faithful Stewardship of the Gospel: A commitment to upholding the unchanging truth of God’s Word, honoring the rich heritage of our Baptist tradition, and embracing innovative ways to share this timeless message with a world in transformation.
Collaboration Over Competition: Churches finding ways to partner, not just in word but in action. Sharing ideas, pooling resources, and cheering each other on in the work of ministry.
Raising Up Leaders Together: Experienced pastors mentoring the next generation, offering wisdom and encouragement to those who will lead the Church into the future. Churches investing in young people, giving them opportunities to serve and grow.
Reaching the Margins: A renewed focus on those who are often overlooked—the single parent struggling to make ends meet, the young professional searching for meaning, the family that just moved in and doesn’t know where to turn.
A Call to Join the Story
I don’t know what the next decade will hold, but I do know this: God is at work in Northeast Florida. He is moving in ways we can see and in ways we cannot yet imagine. The question is not whether He will accomplish His purposes; the question is whether we will join Him in the work.
So I invite you—pastors, leaders, congregations—to consider how your church can be part of His story in Northeast Florida. What gifts has God given you that could bless others? What needs in your community might you meet in partnership with another church? What step of faith could you take to invest in the next generation of leaders?
I believe the best days for the Church in Northeast Florida are ahead of us. Not because of anything we can do on our own, but because of what God will do when we come together for His glory. My prayer is that, as we look back a decade from now, we will see a family of churches united in mission, reflecting the beauty and power of the Kingdom of God in our region.
This is not about building our own kingdoms. It’s about being part of His.