Dear Friends and Prayer Partners,

Five years ago, Clinton Baptist Association adopted a mission statement that clearly expresses why we exist:

“The Clinton Baptist Association exists to equip churches in fulfilling the Great Commission.”

That mission has not changed.

What is changing is our opportunity to become even more effective in carrying it out.

Over the past several months, our leadership has prayed and worked toward a new season of ministry for our association. We are united in the conviction that the changes before us will strengthen our ability to equip churches, expand the ministries we can provide together, and increase our Gospel impact in Anderson County and beyond.

In July, our Executive Board voted unanimously to begin the process of changing our name from Clinton Baptist Association to The Great Commission Baptist Association. Following the required process, the final vote on the name change will take place at our Annual Meeting in October.

The proposed name says something important about who we are and why we exist. The Great Commission is not a new direction for our association. It has been our mission all along.

A major part of this new season will be the development of a Community & Ministry Resource Center where our churches can work together to strengthen churches, meet needs, serve our communities, and create opportunities to share the Gospel.

Ministries will include biblical counseling; a choice-based food ministry; financial and life-skills training; after-school ministry and mentoring; ministry to senior adults and caregivers; pastor and church-leader training; and a regional missions and disaster-relief ministry.

No single church can do all of these things. But through Kingdom cooperation, our churches can accomplish together what none of us could accomplish alone.

To help make this possible, our Executive Board also voted unanimously to purchase approximately six acres on Highway 61 in Clinton. The property includes a 12,000-square-foot church building that seats around 500 and a separate 9,000-square-foot gymnasium.

Our immediate challenge is to sell our present building and raise the funds necessary to purchase the new property. The purchase price is $800,000, and we are asking God to provide the resources necessary to make this vision a reality.

Some will give. Some will connect us with others who may want to help. And many will faithfully pray.

We need all three.

Paul wrote:

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Ephesians 3:20–21

Would you pray that God will provide every resource needed, give us wisdom, keep our churches united, and enable us to become increasingly effective in equipping churches to fulfill the Great Commission?

If God lays it on your heart to give, connect us with someone who may want to partner with us, or share this vision with others who will pray, we would be grateful.

To financially support this vision, checks may be made payable to Clinton Baptist Association and mailed to:

Clinton Baptist Association

P.O. Box 266

Clinton, TN 37717

If you have any questions or would like to talk with me personally about the vision, please feel free to contact me at 865-440-8085 or clintonbaptistams@gmail.com.

Our name may be changing. Our location is changing. Our capacity for ministry is growing. But our mission remains the same: to equip churches in fulfilling the Great Commission.

Thank you for standing with us.

In Christ,

Keith