Executive Leadership

When the Lord called me to be an Executive Director, my brain really didn’t comprehend all that would include. The job description went a little like this:

The Executive Director is responsible to and relates directly to the ELT of the Association (EPBA) as appointed and directed by the EPBA Executive Board.

Administer the policies and instructions of the association as provided through the Executive Board.
Lead in the development of annual and long-range objectives and measurable goals that will challenge EPBA member churches to fulfill God’s calling; lead in the designing and adopting of procedures which will meet said objectives.
Correlate the work of ministers, ELT, and all other teams of the EPBA.
Supervise all employees of the EPBA.
Serve as ex-officio member of all Executive Leadership Teams, ministries and teams of EPBA, and provide supervision for said Executive Leadership Teams, ministries and teams.
Coordinate, oversee, and give assistance to budget preparation and expenditure of funds.
Work with all churches of the EPBA; build a trusting relationship with pastors and staff; regularly communicate with and visit such to keep abreast of needs and general conditions of the churches. Relate to local ministerial fellowships.
Serve as a public relations officer with El Paso and the surrounding communities.
Work and communicate with state and national Baptist conventions and other Baptist agencies and institutions as needed.
Report to EPBA Executive Board at all board meetings and at the EPBA Annual Meeting.
Seek and supervise fund grants for denominational agencies as needed.
Be responsible for the preparation and distribution of minutes of the Executive Board and Annual Meeting.
Communicate and interpret association membership provisions to petitioning churches.

As I have been in this position for nearly 3 years, 1/2 of the time through a pandemic and 2 interim pastorates, I can honestly say that the requirements to be a pastor to pastors, and a leader to over 80 churches is enormous. So, I have been reevaluating the actual duties of this position. I believe that without the proper people around you to help the success of an association, it is impossible to keep it going. Maybe that is why there have been so many associations that have become irrelevant to the local church; some have even shut their doors or consoldated with other associations creating an area association.

In El Paso, God has blessed us far beyond what we could ever imagine. I have a great staff that enhances the ministries we are implementing here. We are on the border with Mexico, so we have an influx of migrants entering our community. The Lord led us to begin the El Paso Migrant Center, where more than 3,000 migrants have passed through our facility located at Scotsdale Baptist Church. Of those 3,000, approximately 2,000 have given their heart and should to the Lordship of Jesus Christ! I am grateful to pastor Kelly Knott, who has led this ministry with great valor.

When the pandemic came to us, we had an opportunity to connect with the community of El Paso through a food ministry called Farmers to Families. We distributed more than 8 million dollars worth of fresh food to our community. We became a huge distribution hub for the the Southwest. God led us to do this for 1 year. As, we began connections to non-baptist churches and community entities, there became a need to connect as a like-minded body of believers. As a result, we have 5 non-denominational churches that are full fledged members of the El Paso Baptist Association. With that, we revamped our by-laws to reflect these new changes.

I am not sure what is next up for the EPBA, but rest assured, God has something up His sleeve for us. We are beginning a full-fledged focus towards planting new churches. God wants to reach Gen Z, along with the next-gen arriving called Gen Alpha. We believe new congregations without the constant drain of giant budget eating buildings are where then new wave of churches will be. The pastors won’t necessarily be new pastors, but even veteran pastors willing to be that new vessel towards a new creative church culture.

Stay In The Light, 1 John 1:7,

Pastor Larry