JEFFERSON CITY – As catalyst (strategic leader) for Ministry Support for the Missouri Baptist Convention, Rob Phillips has served under the direction of Executive Director Dr. John Yeats to lead a multi-year effort to reorient the MBC staff around a restated vision and mission.
The vision of the MBC missionary staff is: “Transforming lives and communities with the gospel.” The mission for all MBC missionaries is: “Cooperating with Missouri Baptists to make disciples, multiply churches, and develop leaders.”
In this Q&A, Phillips addresses the role of Ministry Support in helping MBC missionaries carry out the convention staff’s vision and mission.
When we talk about Ministry Support, what does that mean?
Ministry Support consists of two groups: Creative Services; and Media, Technology & Events.
Creative Services provides the MBC staff with graphic design, video, web and social media services. This group also is responsible for the promotion of the Cooperative Program and the Missouri Missions Offering, as well as leading a statewide apologetics ministry.
Media, Technology & Events provides IT and live-event services that include staging, sound, and lighting at MBC-sponsored events.
How does Ministry Support tie into making disciples, multiplying churches and developing leaders?
Ministry Support supplies the creative and operational tools that enable our missionary staff to fully engage in making disciples, multiplying churches, and developing leaders.
We create a communications plan for each ministry service that aims to ensure that the goals of each event, resource, or service are met so that lives and communities are transformed by the gospel. And for events, we’re involved from start to finish to make them the most God-honoring events possible, carried out at the highest level of professionalism.
What is Ministry Support trying to accomplish in 2016?
This year in Creative Services, we have several top priorities: (1) raising the awareness of and participation in the Cooperative Program and Missouri Missions Offering; (2) creating and executing communications plans that enhance every ministry activity; (3) communicating the reorientation of the MBC staff to all Missouri Baptists; (4) doubling the impact of social media, primarily our Facebook and Twitter accounts; (5) simplifying navigation on our website; and (6) increasing the effective use of video in ministry.
For Media, Technology & Events, we have these goals: (1) improving IT efficiency and lowering costs; (2) continuing to update our database, which effects every form of communication between the MBC and our churches; (3) evaluating the technology needs of the MBC staff and implementing upgrades across the board; (4) investing in five young-adult summer interns; and (5) further increasing the quality of MBC live events such as Super Summer, mb125, Minister’s Juggling Act, and the Annual Meeting.
How will Missouri Baptists know if the MBC is successful in reaching these goals?
By the end of the year we will: complete a full cycle of upgraded promotions for CP and the Missouri Missions Offering; double our social media engagement; make our website easier on the eyes and easier to use; and use dozens of videos for promotional, training, and informational purposes.
We also will significantly lower our IT costs, vastly improve our database, mentor summer interns, complete upgrades of everything from laptops to networks to handheld devices.
Why is apologetics part of Ministry Support?
That’s my area of passion in ministry, so I have been assigned to lead it, and it’s my privilege to lead workshops and participate in events across the state. At the same time, the apologetics ministry aligns with the goals and objectives of making disciples and developing leaders and, to a lesser extent, of multiplying churches. Nothing is done in isolation from our vision and mission.
Next: Key terms in reorientation – an interview with Dr. Bill Victor.