SOUTHGATE, MI – The Southeastern Baptist Association is a close knit group of eighteen Southern Baptist churches that have been serving the people of Monroe County for over six decades. It is my privilege to be the Association’s Ministry Director and, along with the Association Leadership Team and a Ministry Assistant, to work together in helping the SBC pastors and churches of the area to edify believers and reach out to unbelievers.
Among the ways that the mission of the Association is put forth include monthly Newsletters, monthly Pastors Luncheons, bi-monthly Leadership Team meetings, annual Association Picnics, annual Mission Trips to international and national destinations, as well as other activities such as Association Missionary Conferences, Sunday School/Small Group Seminars, YMCA Youth Nights, Marriage Enrichment Conferences, Pastors’ Wives Gatherings, and an Interactive Fellowship for young men who have been called into the Gospel ministry. Recent mission trips have been to Peru, Montreal, and the Navajo Nation in New Mexico. Future initiatives will include evangelistic events, church revitalization conferences, and church security seminars.
The community involvement of our pastors and churches in the community is another bright spot of our Association. In the last couple of years, we have been helping schools with supplies, tutoring, and teacher appreciation. Folks in our churches have helping at the local community center, homeless shelters, and the pro-life organization in the county. The churches worked together to collect 100 bed pillows for the local Salvation Army shelter. They also gave donations toward the purchase of 18 infant car seats for Heartbeat of Monroe, which will give them to mothers who have their babies and need safe transport home from the hospital.
The motto of SEBA is “For The Glory of God and For The Good of The Association”! And, with God’s help, we will continue to live up to this in the days, and months, and years ahead!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Dan Russell is the Ministry Director for the Southeastern Baptist Association of Michigan. Dan has been in pastoral ministry for 40 years and currently serves as the Executive Pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Southgate. He is also the Send Network Coaching Coordinator for church planters in Greater Michigan, as well as being on the NAMB Assessment Team for prospective church planters.