If you’ve ever run in a marathon, there are water stations every so many miles to help you get refreshed, get a burst of energy, get cooled down. That’s how we think of partnerships. Partnerships are important because they help encourage and sustain us as we keep moving in the way God is leading so this community will have a gospel presence. 
“They are there to help you get refreshed, get a burst of energy, get cooled down. That’s how we think of partnerships. Partnerships are important because they help encourage and sustain us as we keep moving in the way God is leading so this community will have a gospel presence.”


Highview is one of four Southern Baptist churches—including Northside Baptist Church in Indianapolis—that have taken on the two-year-old church plant as a partner. It’s been a win-win situation for families at Highview and the church plant, says Andy Crouch, who has been on family mission trips to help church planters four of the last five years. Although he doesn’t always see the long-term impact the trips make on the church plant or the community, it’s obvious the impact they make on the families who participate.


“You can see the difference that God is making in our kids’ lives through these trips,” says Crouch, who organized the recent marriage-conference mission trip. “You can see it in the questions they’re asking and the boldness they’ve shown in sharing their faith with their friends.”


While Crouch doesn’t see all the influence the team had on Hamilton Village Church, that influence has been real. For example, seven local families participated in last summer’s marriage conference; two of those came from outside of the church. The conference allowed families inside of the church a much-needed opportunity for support and recharging. The conference yielded evangelistic fruit as well. One of those new families who attended has become a regular at the church.


While Manning and Abney focused on helping the adults through biblical marriage principles for communication, finances and intimacy, the rest of the team—41 people of all ages—used Vacation Bible School material to teach the kids. On the Saturday afternoon of the conference, they gave the couples attending a night out by themselves to talk about what they’re learning. While the parents were out working on their marriages, Highview members set up a “block-party” atmosphere for the kids—complete with outdoor water games and food.


Call it fun with a purpose though—to help this young church plant strengthen its marriages and reach out into the community to bring new people in.


“Our commitment is not just to go on a week-long trip, share our faith and see people converted without a place for them to grow and be discipled,” Abney says. “We believe that where major concentrations of lostness exist, we need to plant churches where people who are being reached can grow and be discipled.” OM


Tobin Perry is online editor of On Mission.


ON MISSION • Winter 2012 21

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