Grace and peace be with you, and may the Spirit of Christ ever bless and keep you in His divine care.
Reverend Dr. Rene’ F. Brown
Moderator/President
he association is at a crossroad. Nevertheless, when at a crossroad, you can choose a direction or implement a plan to go in all directions. We must build a bridge. Wisdom tells us that every bridge needs to have pillars. Thus, the six pillars of the Fourth District are:
- People
- Education
- Resources
- Health
- Finances
- Business
Pillars serve as foundations and this association has had a great foundation as well as great foundational leaders.
I am humbled by the opportunity afforded me by the wonderful people of this Fourth District Association. We are blessed to be members of an association that built its foundation on the teachings of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, having a commitment to mission, starting at home, and expanding abroad. I am grateful for the blessing of serving the Historic Fourth District Missionary Baptist Association as its fifteenth president. This could not have been done without the leadership of the Holy Spirit and the willingness of the voting delegates to cast their convictions. Never has one person owed so much to so many.
I believe the church and the associations serve as our X-Factor in serving the 2eople within our community during this time of transformation to reach a new audience and expand our current capacity. The church is experiencing ever-changing social, political, moral, and spiritual dynamics. So, how should we engage those “X” Factors? Due to the over-reaching effects of the COVID-19 virus, we are seeking to begin to do even greater work through a technology ministry. Many of you are aware that our churches were challenged to stay connected through Facebook Live, YouTube, and Zoom to meet the needs of our congregation. We would love to be able to assist our churches and especially our senior members to stay connected. This site will assist us in training people to be skilled in technology and keep them on the cutting edge of ministry.
Whether urban, suburban, or rural, the reach and relevance of a church rely heavily upon the quality of pastoral leadership. The context of ministry in the 21st Century is one that presents a host of challenges and opportunities. It calls for leadership that is global in vision and understanding, missional in thrust, biblical in conviction, Christo-centric in orientation, whole and authentic in lifestyle and relationships; being cognizant of the fact that leaders are made and not born and that a crucial part of our association’s mandate is the development of its pastors, and constituent churches.
Your prayerful support is essential as we progressively, practically, and principally follow the Spirit of Christ. I ask you to pray for our association and God’s will to be done through us, and that He will give us the leaders He wants us to have. It is our desire to preserve the process that produces the product. It is important that we keep the association relevant and vibrant rather than preserving what could become a mausoleum. We must become innovative as well as adaptable to a shifting culture.
In His Service,
Rene’ F. Brown