Twelve years ago, God called us to serve at Beverly Hills Baptist Church (now The Church at Three Trails) in Independence, a church in our association that was near death. I will be honest, when God called us, it was an obvious call and yet there was hesitancy and worry about our future. After all, I would be taking a nearly 60% pay cut. We were also moving to a new community where we knew nobody, plus we had three kids from ages 7 to 1 year. I had dreams of grandeur that God would grow our church quickly and then I would move on to bigger and better things, however, God had something entirely different in mind.
The first meeting I ever had with Dr. Hammer he asked me if I “burned the ships.” He then asked me if I was committed to here or if I would give up when it got tough. I was completely committed to what God had called me, but I didn’t realize what all was ahead and how valuable relationships and partnerships were going to become in my life and the life of our church.
Since we didn’t have many relationships with people in the area, I began to connect with many of the pastors in our association. We gathered for revitalization Cohorts, lunches, and various training events. As a result, when the difficult times of ministry hit, I had relationships with other pastors who could encourage me. I had access to men who had pastored for years and could give me wisdom. I also learned the importance of working together. The truth is that we can’t serve, plant, or pastor alone. We need each other and that is the power of the association. Together we can!
As we continue to work toward fulfilling the Great Commission in our communities and beyond, I want to encourage you to take your next step in being a part of our association. We live in a season where collaboration among churches and ministries is not just beneficial, but essential. The challenges we face in our communities, whether social, physical, or spiritual, are increasingly complex and yet profoundly simple. We know that the Gospel is the answer to all these challenges. We also know the difficulties that come with pastoring, as well as the difficulties our church members face.
I believe now is the time for churches and ministries to come together for a greater Kingdom impact. There is no better time than now. Through our unity around the gospel and the networking strength of our association, we can see churches thrive in our current cultural climate.
Imagine all God can do in our churches when we network together to impact the greater Kansas City area with the gospel. Imagine the power of togetherness as we encourage each other to continue fighting the good fight and remaining faithful to the call. Imagine seeing disciples made and churches planted across the street and around the world. Imagine the great benefit of working together to fight back against the darkness and be the light.
I believe God has big plans for His Church, and through our association, we can strengthen our collective impact for His Kingdom. I am beyond grateful for the influence, leadership, service, and love of so many servant leaders who have invested in me. I look forward to walking alongside you in the work He has called us to. After all, we are always better together.
Brian Grout
Associate Director of Missions
