The American Baptist Association began in 1924 and is a voluntary fellowship of churches working together for the glory of God. We are comprised of local, visible, independent churches that cooperate in missions, ministry, fellowship, and sound doctrine while remaining fully autonomous.

• Churches are completely self-governing. The association does not control local churches or tell them how to operate.

• There are no dues or membership fees to participate.

• Each church may send up to three voting messengers to the annual meeting each June, regardless of church size or financial contribution.

• Churches are encouraged to submit a yearly church letter and offering to help maintain accurate records, support annual meeting expenses, and ensure our directory information remains current.

• Churches that do not submit a church letter for five consecutive  years are removed from the directory. This does not necessarily mean they are inactive—only that they are no longer actively represented in our records.

• The ABA has no headquarters. While several officers maintain offices in Texarkana, Texas, the work of the association is carried out through churches serving together across the country and around the world.

PRESIDENT - Micah Carter 

VICE PRESIDENTS - Todd Dornan, Andrew McClung, Caleb Wood

RECORDING SECRETARIES - Roger Taylor, Mike Yoho

PARLIAMENTARIANS - David Butimore, Sr., Terry Parrish (Assistant)

DIRECTOR OF MEETING ARRANGEMENTS - Neal Sutton

SECRETARY-TREASURER OF MISSIONS - Justin Coburn

CEO - James A. Crain

EDITOR IN CHIEF - Nathan Luellen

MUSIC DIRECTORS - Jackson Heflin, Brad Rountree, David Wiersema

To Fulfill the Great Commission

Jesus commanded His churches to begin at home and take the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth. Churches accomplish this through evangelism, discipleship, church planting, and by sending and supporting missionaries.

To Produce Sound Biblical Literature

Through our publishing ministries and educational resources, we seek to provide sound, biblical material that strengthens families, equips churches, and encourages believers to grow in God’s Word.

Learn more about the Baptist Sunday School Committee (BSSC)

The Missionary Committee consists of twenty-five men from across the United States who serve as representatives and liaisons throughout the year.

The committee meets three times annually. Two meetings are open for visitors to attend, observe, ask questions, and voice opinions.

New missionary recommendations are reviewed during the May meeting, where churches and missionaries are encouraged to be present.

ABA Missions is churches voluntarily working together through prayer and finances to carry the gospel around the world in an organized and accountable way. Churches send offerings to the Missions Office, and those funds are distributed according to the decisions made by the messengers of the churches or according to donor designation. The Missions Office serves as a channel to facilitate this work in an orderly manner.

Several principles guide how ABA Missions operates:

• Missionaries are sent by churches—not by a mission board or committee.

• Missionaries remain accountable to their sending churches.

• The Missions Office, Missionary Committee, and ABA officers do not function as employers or supervisors over missionaries.

• Mission work is carried out through cooperation while preserving the authority and autonomy of the local church.

Mission Policy and Operation

Because mission work involves accountability and financial stewardship, ABA Missions operates according to policies approved by the messengers of the churches.

Mission Policy Preamble

“With faith in God, and unquestioning acceptance of the Bible as His Word and our rule of faith and practice, recognizing the Lordship and authority of Jesus Christ as the Head of His churches, and believing that the churches are the only authorized agents to do mission work by sending and supervising missionaries, we recommend to all New Testament churches the following Mission Policy with earnest prayer that the churches of the American Baptist Association might offer prayerful and financial assistance to each other as such help is sought in fulfilling the Great Commission.”

Purpose of Mission Policy

“The purpose of ABA Missions is to offer, in an associational capacity, procedural

recommendations from the messengers to the churches to assist in the Great

Commission of worldwide evangelism and the establishment of New Testament

churches.”

Salary Missionaries

Missionaries who receive an approved monthly salary recommendation voted on by the messengers. Current salary maximums for Interstate and Foreign missionaries are $4,200 per month.

Designated Missionaries

Missionaries approved by the messengers who receive no regular salary from the Missions Office but may receive funds specifically designated to them.

Missionary Classifications

• Interstate Missionary-A missionary who is a U.S. citizen living and serving within the United States.
• Foreign Missionary-A missionary serving outside the country of his citizenship.
• National Missionary-A missionary serving within the country of his citizenship outside the United States.
• Missionary Helper-An individual sent by a church to assist churches, missions, and missionaries in mission work. These workers receive designated support only.
• Mission Ministries-Individuals or groups sent by churches to provide ministries that assist churches, missions, and missionaries. These ministries receive designated support only.

• A missionary is recommended by his sending church.

• Churches submit recommendation forms to the Missions Office at least sixty days before the annual meeting.

• The Missionary Committee reviews recommendations during the May meeting.

• Messengers vote during the June meeting to approve or reject recommendations.

• The association provides 80% of the approved salary recommendation while the sending church provides the remaining 20%.

• Salary support runs from July through June.

• Support payments are sent to sending churches, who then support their missionaries.

• Missionaries must be actively serving on the field to receive salary support.

God is doing great things around the  World, and churches have an opportunity to participate together in something much bigger than themselves. When lives are changed through the gospel, every church that prays, gives, and participates shares in that work.

Prayer

Know missionaries personally.

Pray for them by name and for the  ministries God has entrusted to them.

Participation

Build relationships.

Visit mission works.

Get involved firsthand.

Provision

Allow God to use your church to support missionaries, their families, and the ministries He has called them to fulfill.

We encourage you to review the ABA Beliefs section, including the Articles of Agreement and Doctrinal Statement. If your church desires to participate in this associational work with the churches of the American Baptist Association, complete a Church Letter form and mail it to our office. Churches are encouraged to send an annual offering to assist with operating expenses and annual meeting costs.

Ways Churches Can Participate:

1. Pray – Pray for our missionaries and churches as they carry the gospel around the world.
2. Give – Support ABA Missions and other associational ministries and missionaries.
3. Send – Recommend and support missionaries from your church.
4. Go – Visit mission works, assist ministries, and serve as God leads.
5. Attend – Attend national, state, and local associational meetings to encourage others, be encouraged, and help further the cause of Christ.

We invite you to cooperate with our fellowship of churches as we work together to fulfill the Great Commission and bring glory to God! Together we can do more!