Dr. Nathan Finn from North Greenville University writes in The Baptist Association: Assisting Churches, Advancing the Gospel (p.34), “Today, associations continue to play a strategic role in Southern Baptist life. They continue to foster fraternal relationships among pastors, offering pastors a natural pathway to building friendships with like-minded ministers. Many associations continue to provide a measure of doctrinal accountability, especially when a church begins to embrace views most Baptists consider beyond the pale. . . . Church planting has remained an important associational emphasis, often partnering with state conventions and/or NAMB.”

The core of the association remains in the 21st Century Baptist Association. I heard a statement recently that churches begin to make the method the mission and never accomplish the mission. There comes a time when methodology needs to change, but we must never forget that our mission never changes.  There needs to be a focus on relationships between pastors and churches. Relationships will bring encouragement, collaboration, serving, and celebration.  There needs to be an environment of continuous learning and growing as pastors, leaders, and disciples. There also needs to be an emphasis on reaching the thousands of lost people in the region and around the world and how the believers that make up the churches in the association will be empowered to be on mission in their communities and around the world.

Mission Statement

The Saluda Baptist Association of churches is a fellowship of Southern Baptist congregations who have organized as Kingdom Partners, to facilitate mutual encouragement and cooperation in fulfilling the Great Commission. 

Matthew 28:16–20      The Great Commission

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (ESV)