Developing and utilizing a mission statement is a common practice for churches, businesses, and most any type of organization. A well-written mission statement clearly states the organization’s purpose and serves as a guidepost to help the organization remain true to that purpose.
Thus, the mission statement of the Kentucky Baptist Convention states the primary purpose of the KBC and ensures the ministry of our staff members remains true to that purpose. Our mission statement reads:
“The Kentucky Baptist Convention: Created by churches, for churches, to help churches reach Kentucky and the world for Christ.”
Why has the KBC chosen to elevate the role of helping churches as its primary purpose? Scripture, the foundation of our faith and practice, holds the answers. In Ephesians 5, Paul writes, “Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless” (v 25-27).
The KBC mission statement elevates the church because Scripture elevates the church. Ephesians 5 pictures the church as the bride of Christ, as does Revelation 19 and 21. Paul tells us Jesus died for the church to redeem, washed, and present her as radiant, without stain, wrinkle, or blemish, but holy and blameless.
Our mission statement also elevates the church because living for Jesus means living within his church. New Testament Christianity cannot be divorced from the local church. From Acts 2 onward, followers of Jesus are always seen investing their lives in a local church. Paul, in the Ephesians 5 passage, uses the relationship between a husband and wife to emphasize the intimacy, not between an individual and the Lord, but between the church and the Lord. Simply put, we cannot experience true intimacy with Christ if we choose not to connect ourselves to his bride.
Finally, our mission statement elevates the church because, in eternity future, only the Church remains. Jesus taught that we are not married at the resurrection (Matthew 22:30). Yet, the resurrection is pictured as a wedding: “For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear…. Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:7-9). An earthly marriage is “until death do us part” but, for those of us who are part of the church, our marriage to Christ is forever.
The Lord Jesus plans to bless his church. My prayer is that he continues to use the KBC one of his means to do so.
