By Brian Grout, Associate Director of Missions

A Word to Pastors of the Blue River–Kansas City Baptist Association

Everyone loves telling a great story about their life. Especially one where the Lord did something in your life and ministry. It is also just as encouraging to tell others about how God is working in our churches. Every year, the Annual Church Profile (ACP) is sent out by the SBC to each cooperating church. In the next 2-3 weeks your church will be receiving a copy of the ACP by mail. The ACP gives the convention a snapshot of what the Lord is doing in each local church.  So here are a few reasons why your church should complete the ACP.

  • To celebrate what God has done in and through your church

Every church asks the same question, “Are we making a difference?” The ACP allows Churches to see a change in attendance, discipleship, baptisms, and cooperative giving. While numbers alone do not tell the whole story, they do help us celebrate changed lives and gospel impact across our association, state, and convention.

Every baptism, salvation, ministry effort, and cooperative giving represents real people whose lives are being impacted by the gospel. The ACP helps tell the story of God’s work through your church.

  • The ACP shows trendlines of your Church

Every church goes through seasons of ministry. Seasons of abundance and blessing, as well of seasons of drought and difficulty. The ACP allows us to look at those seasons across a consistent timeline and see the trendlines in a church’s history. These trendlines tell the story of the Church.

  • The ACP encourages healthy evaluation

The ACP provides pastors and churches with an opportunity to reflect honestly on ministry health and direction.  Answering the questions such as:

  • Are we reaching people with the gospel?
  • Are we baptizing new believers?
  • Are people engaging in discipleship?
  • Are we growing spiritually, not just numerically?
  • Are we investing in missions and ministry?

Sometimes the numbers encourage us. Sometimes they challenge us. Either way, they help us evaluate where we are and prayerfully consider where God may be leading us next.

  • The ACP shows faithfulness matters more than size

Some pastors hesitate to complete the ACP because they feel their church is too small or because attendance has declined. But the ACP is not about comparison or competition. The kingdom of God is not measured merely by size, but by faithfulness.

Normative size churches that are faithfully sharing the gospel, discipling believers, serving their community, and cooperating in giving are deeply valuable to the Kingdom. Every church has a role in the mission of God. Reporting honestly and faithfully helps ensure every church is represented and valued.

  • The ACP strengthens our understanding and cooperation in ministry.

BRKC exists to encourage, strengthen, and support local churches and pastors. Accurate ACP information helps associational leaders understand the realities churches are facing and how we can best partner together. Whether it is pastoral encouragement, revitalization assistance, leadership development, Church planting, evangelism training, or networking opportunities, better information helps us better serve you. Your participation matters because your church matters!!!

Pastor, thank you for faithfully serving your church and community. Completing the ACP may seem like a small administrative task, but it is an important way to celebrate God’s work, evaluate ministry health, and contribute to the larger story of what God is doing through BRKC Churches.

Please take a few moments to complete your church’s ACP this year. If you need helping filling out your ACP, please contact the association office and schedule a time on a Tuesday or Wednesday, and we will help you fill it out.

“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9