Mobilizing someone to do missions is really just enabling and empowering them to seek the opportunities God has already provided.  The Lexington Baptist Association encourages its churches and church members to actively serve in their own mission fields. 

David Lee, director of lay mobilization at the Lexington Association, described the association’s role as one of helping church members and churches discover their passions and who they are in Christ.  “I am driven by seeing the greater body of Christ in churches across the association live out the DIME process.” 

The Lexington Association staff created an acrostic describing lay mobilization that they refer to as the DIME process – Discover a passion or gift for ministry; Invite someone to become involved in ministry; Mobilize by opening doors to ministry; and, Equip by teaching the “how-to” of ministry. 

Director of Missions Johnny Rumbough said that lay ministry multiplies the way an association can minister.  “If we limit what we do as an association staff, then we limit what we can do to reach our community.  There is great value in the specialized services that lay people can offer through ministry in the association.”

Lee pointed out that someone’s gifts – whether a talent or spiritual gift – do not always transfer into a passion for ministry.  “Sometimes passion can help someone acquire the skills for ministry,” Lee said.

For example, one group of ladies from a church within the association felt called to minister to other women.  Because they had a passion, the association was able to connect them with a local prison facility.  The ladies have “adopted” females within the facility by providing companionship and meeting some of their needs.

“We help people use their life experiences in ministry – like doctors or teachers who can mentor - and then help find a place of ministry for them.  Every member of the body of Christ is an important part of the body.  The diversity and impact of these ministries is exciting to see,” Lee said.

A Community Changers project held the last week of June was the most recent association-wide ministry effort, and involved students and volunteers from local churches.  The team of volunteers – one of eight such associational teams - worked to paint the Greater Faith Missionary Baptist Church building, in addition to other projects within the community. 

To those interested in becoming active in community or associational ministry, Lee offers several suggestions.  Consider season ministries such as a State Fair or local fair ministry which can involve hundreds of volunteers with all kinds of skills.  Lee encourages individuals and churches to contact their local association to inquire about existing local ministries and then join in them.  Other community or partnership missions opportunities are widely available through the South Carolina Baptist Convention, including Prisoner Packets, Christmas kits and Disaster Relief Teams. 

Other opportunities to serve exist through local association offices.  The Lexington Association has a wide base of volunteer workers from its churches who assist in special projects such as coordinating mailouts.  “If people become involved in associational work, they will become better involved church members,” Rumbough said.

Dave Rogers, director of Lay Ministry Development, South Carolina Baptist Convention, said that when associations like Lexington “empower” church members in ministry they are really transferring the responsibility for a ministry into another person’s hands.  “Empowering another person changes the role of church staff from ‘director’ of that ministry to ‘resource’ for that person and ministry. We support and resource the ‘empowered’ individual, and we help them to be successful but we transfer that ministry into their hands,” Rogers said.

According to Lee, the driving force behind lay mobilization is that a passion and love for a skill can be used to reach others for Christ.