ABCNJ Vision Statement 

Pastoring the Region: ABCNJ’s Vision of Regional Ministry

The Biblical Basis for the Vision
The first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas exemplifies the pastoral nature of regional ministry by focusing on preaching, evangelism, “strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith” and overseeing local church leadership selection (Acts 14:21-22; see also Acts 18:23; 20:1). Paul traveled to churches in order to strengthen their spiritual life and witness (Acts 15:41). As he and Barnabas founded new churches and visited established churches, they emphasized “teaching them the word of God” (Acts 11:26; 13:5; 15:35; 18:11).

From these and other stories in Acts, we recognize that a pastoral heart expresses itself in regional ministry especially by teaching, encouraging and strengthening disciples and churches. Furthermore, this pastoral heart also manifests itself by the pastor modeling an authentic Christian life for the churches (Acts 20:17-31) and through the promotion of ministries of caring (2 Corinthians 8).

7 Key Principles of Regional Pastoring

What does it mean to be Christ-centered, mission focused and pastoral in spirit?

American Baptists are Christ-Centered

As disciples of Jesus Christ, American Baptists in New Jersey are called to follow Christ in how we live and serve. Jesus proclaimed that he is “the Way, the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6). Paul says, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Jesus alone is the Lord of our spiritual journeys.

If we follow Christ faithfully and grow in grace and righteousness, Christ will bless our ministries. Jesus is the source of Christian life and practice. Paul says, “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11). Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Paul prays that “Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith” (Ephesians 3:17). A region that is Christ-centered can be expected to do God’s will (mission) and express God’s love and grace (living in a way that is pastoral in spirit).

American Baptists are Mission Focused

Jesus called the Church to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20), and whenever Christians lose sight of or neglect this goal, we become side-tracked. Each church has a part to play in fulfilling our missionary mandate, and ABCNJ should help churches discover, embrace and fulfill God’s will in regard to their mission (locally, regionally and cross-culturally).

American Baptists are Pastoral in Spirit

Jesus commanded the disciples to express his sacrificial love for them by creating a community of faith that was pastoral in spirit: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you” (John 15:12). A pastoral community of faith encourages people to grow in Christ’s love, grace, mercy, holiness, and wisdom. As Paul says, “speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (Ephesians 4:15-16).

ABCNJ’s Purpose: May God’s Will Be Done Through Us!

Paul asks all of us to “live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (Ephesians 4:1) in light of the revelation that we have been “created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).

Furthermore, he tells us to forsake sinful lifestyles, and to “find out what pleases the Lord” so that we might better “understand what the Lord’s will is” for our lives” (Ephesians 5:10, 17). Elsewhere, Paul calls on the church to “test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).

In the Lord’s prayer, Jesus himself prayed “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Jesus’ sole desire was to fulfill God’s will in his life and ministry; he said, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work” (John 4:34).

As Jesus’ disciples, we should be able to say along with David, “I desire to do your will, O my God” (Psalm 40:8). If this is true of individual hearts, how much more so should it represent the collective desire of God’s people?

Accordingly, we affirm that the purpose for ABCNJ’s regional life and ministries is to do God’s will. We are called to work with our churches and pastors as they understand, embrace and fulfill their spiritual journeys.

More specifically, ABCNJ will seek to fulfill God’s will by organizing its ministries and activities to accomplish the following 4 regional priorities:

1. Promoting Faithful and Healthy Churches
2. Promoting Faithful and Healthy Pastors (and leaders)
3. Promoting Faithful and Healthy Regional Ministries
4. Promoting Faithful and Healthy Regional Staff