Metro News & Notes

Pastors & Leaders,

As Christmas morning approaches and the year 2023 begins to draw to a close, I want to take a moment to highlight and mention a few things in our work together.  

February 5 - The First Metro Mission Quarterly of ’24

Whatever It Takes - Planting, Replanting & Strategic Partnerships

Our speaker for this quarterly is Mark Hallock.  Mark is well known via The Gospel Coalition and SEND Network.  He is a pastor in Englewood, Colorado and serves as president of Calvary Family of Churches, a family committed to planting and revitalizing churches for the glory of God.  Mark is passionate, experienced and as well respected as it comes in the areas of church health and replanting.

There will also be three focused breakouts for you and your team.  I would encourage you and your team to split up on these

Breakout #1 Pastors Leading A Family Of Churches -  These are local guys who lead a close knit group of churches working together. If you lead a church of 20 or 2000, you could get a vision of how YOU could lead a family of churches model in this breakout.  This is a model of creative partnership.  More than ever, we must be working together.

Breakout #2 Replanting Pastors In Our Area - come here and brainstorm with guys who are right now leading legit church replants in the St. Louis area.

Breakout #3 Resound Network - Marks of a Healthy Church

John Vernon from the Resound Network and a real mentoring friend of mine will lead this breakout and discussion around the marks of a healthy church.

These quarterlies are a great time for leaders to get together to learn, pray, and connect.  Don’t go it alone.  Be connected, feel connected.  Bring your spouse and team.  Registration and more details will go live on the website at the first of the year. 

February 26, Executive Board - Pastors Lunch

Church Health Seminar at 10a

Pastors Fellowship Lunch at 11:45a

Board Meeting: 1p-2:15p

Association Church Loans

Rik Maxedon gives leadership to association properties and loans.  He is currently working on two things.  One, he will be working with the executive committee to review our policies which guide us on loans to churches in meaningful membership with the association.  He is also working to ensure that liens are in place on current loans/properties in order to safely protect the investments of the association.  Pastor Care - Rik also leads pastor care.  This brother has such a heart for our Lord and the Lord’s men.  He also work with some retired pastors such as Mark Cline to help in this work.  I don’t have the words to say how thankful I am for these guys.  And you know that because of your church’s partnership dollar gifts to the association, we are able to provide 75% off vouchers for professional counseling for our pastors and full-time staff. If you need someone to talk to, someone to listen - reach out to Rik.  rmaxedon@stlmetro.org   

Metro Christian Academy - “education as mission

As you know, in our last board meeting you voted unanimously to move forward in what I would describe as step 2 in the process of the association partnering with Tower Grove Church in launching a new high school in the city. The school would be committed to high academic standards, uncompromising biblical values, and a fund for sponsorships to welcome as many students and families into Christian education. We are working hard in these six months so that the executive committee can come back to you at the May board meeting with a next step recommendation. An Education as Mission committee has been formed with Martin Winslow serving as the chair.  Martin has great experience in Christian Education.  His working alongside Pastor Mike Gregory is a real gift.

We are also forming an outside Advisory Board from believers with different areas of expertise from outside the association.  It’s an advisory role, but they all come with great passion and or hands on working experience successful Christian education.  

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting the new executive director for the MBC, Wes Fowler.  He indicated to myself and some pastors a strong desire to sponsor some students when the school begins. Kyle is also meeting with potential donors and partners.  There is truly a buzz about this new possible school across St. Louis.  My focus in early ’24 is to get things moving in the legal and marketing aspects.   Should things move forward, the Metro Christian Academy led by the association would begin in ’24 with the first freshman class beginning in the Fall of ’25.

SAVE THESE DATES! - THE SENT CONFERENCE 

This two night conference is all about calling out the called and sending.  It’s about equipping men and women, young and old to go and do where God is calling them.  

There will be great preaching, worship and a wide variety of breakouts. J.D. Greear is our guest speaker.  J.D. is the pastor of Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina and a recent president of the Southern Baptist Convention. Very few churches in America have planted more churches and sent out more short- and long-term missionaries throughout the world. 

This is a partnership event between St. Louis Metro and MBU.  I hope you will connect with your student and collegiate ministry leaders right now to lock in these dates and begin planning. 

September 30 and October 1, Monday and Tuesday evening at Missouri Baptist University. 

Faithful Men

Just a quick word here.  It was so good to see so many of our pastors at the last Faithful Men gathering.  There were about 65 men in attendance.  Faithful Men is led by African Men and aimed at African American men while being open to all.  It’s a place for men to get connected and feel connected.  Mike Byrd did a great job of organizing a great meal and challenging program with speaker Dhati Lewis of MyBLVD

Office Relocation

Finally, just a word here about office relocation.  As you know the Fee Fee property is under contract.  And we have officially moved offices to George Liele - SEND RELIEF Center in Ferguson.  And I’ve got to tell you, our team member Jen Maxedon has been a real champ.  She took the lead on the move and worked hard.  She made this transition happen. I know you join me in being grateful for Jen and her committed work to the association.  

Well I guess that’s it I suppose.  But it’s a lot isn’t it!  Don’t forget to lock in the date for the next quarterly on your calendar, February 5.  Myself and the team are very thankful to work for you and work with you to see the Kingdom advanced in our area.  I hope your Christmas parties, gatherings, celebrations and services are a wonderful time of sharing the never changing Gospel story of our King. The church where I serve will have a services throughout the day on Christmas Eve.  Metro will be taking some time off away from email and the offices for a few days but then back at it, hitting the work hard at the beginning of the year.   Grace and peace to you and yours this Christmas season.

DC

P.S. - Do you know someone who would like to receive email or texting updates from St. Louis Metro?  If so, please send that name, church name and contact info to Jen and jmaxedon@stlmetro.org

News & Noteworthy

Upcoming Events

February Quarterly - Monday, the 5th at Church of the Redeemer

Executive Board - February 26