Beginning in the mid 1600’s in England, Baptist churches have formed associations for fellowship, missions partnership, encouragement, and doctrinal accountability. Most likely the lines were drawn for relationship due to geography which would hinder or provide for ease of transportation between the partner churches. Such was the case for Baptist churches in the Florida Parishes on the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain when 100+ years ago the St. Tammany, Chappapeela (Hammond-Ponchatoula area), and LaTangi (Springfield-Albany area) Baptist Association were forming. Last night these three Associations went out of business and formed the Northshore Baptist Association, which spans 2/3 of the I-12 Corridor from Holden to Slidell. Lots of reasons to do this:

• Geography and Demography are no longer issues with ease of transportation and the entire region experiencing 20% growth each year.
• We can do more as an association of 90 churches than an association of 20-30 churches.
• Less meetings, less paperwork, less administrative hassle. From 3 to 1 All Come Annual Gatherings, From 9 to 2 Executive Board/Business Sessions, From 20+ Committees to 5 Ministry Teams, from 3 to 2 Monthly Ministers Conferences.
• Even better strategic partnerships across the I-12 related to Church Multiplication, Compassion Ministries, Church Health, Community Engagement, Disaster Response, and more.

And I believe all of this will result in healthier congregations and better communities on the Northshore and beyond. Get to know the Northshore Baptist Association on our website, connect on Facebook and Twitter. Or drop by a Ministers Conference the 2nd and 3rd Monday’s of each month.