Metro Columbus Baptist Association

Do you have a sponsor church? If so, just let us know at the associational office. If you don't have a church sponsor, we can help you find one.

We can file paperwork with the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio to potentially provide some start-up money.

What kinds of things might you need? For example, we had a new (big) keyboard donated that will go to one of our missions. If we know your needs, there's a possibility we can find an answer! This doesn't happen all the time, but, if we don't know the need, we cannot help.

We have a number of resources here at the associational office: block party trailer, video series, three projectors available for check out. Check out our resource list on the web site.

In addition to the block party trailer, we recently purchased a popcorn machine and hot dog machine. We already have an additional snow cone machine. Our churches use these items regularly. You can reserve them by contacting heather@metrocolumbus.org or by visiting the equipment page in the resources area of this web site. As a new mission, our assn. may be able to help you buy the ingredients for these things. We want to help you anyway we can.

As an associational church/mission, your pastor would get a discount on tuition @ Metro Columbus Bible Institute. See www.metrocolumbusbible.org for more information.

We have a lot of great commentaries, Bible resource books, other books and tapes (like focus on the family's pastor to pastor) available for check out to help with sermon prep, etc.

Instead of paying the $300 fee (used to be $500) to obtain your tax exempt status from the federal government, you can come under what the IRS calls a "group exemption" as part of the state convention of Baptists in Ohio. To do this, two guidelines must be fulfilled: 1] send in (it will come from our MCBA office) your ACP (annual church profile) that you will receive in the fall of the year. This is merely a report on how your church is doing. It can be completed in a matter of minutes. 2] give to missions through the Cooperative Program. You give to the Cooperative Program (includes International Missions [www.imb.org] and North American missions [www.namb.net] by sending a check, payable to SCBO (State Convention of Baptists in Ohio). Then send your missions giving to 1680 E. Broad Street, Columbus, OH, 43203. Our churches give a percentage of their undesignated [money given toward the general budget and not to a specific purpose like a building project] toward world-wide missions. We encourage you to do this! Your church chooses the percentage. How do you become part of the state convention? By being part of the local association! As a church/mission here in Metro Columbus association, you are part of a larger and stronger entity, the state convention. And we also encourage you to give to local, associational missions. In that instance, your check is made payable to MCBA and can be sent to the associational office (address at left). It's not unusual for a church to give 3% of their undesignated offerings to local missions. Through these two means, your church can help reach the world for Christ! The help and assistance you receive in terms of help from personnel (state & local), finances, resources and equipment are a result of other churches who have given to worldwide and local missions. It's great for a new church like yours to have the foresight and kingdom heart to do the same.

For added help, Gary Odom (SCBO) is the leader of the church planting area which would relate to your new church. To reach Gary, e-mail him @ GaryOdom@scbo.org. He can provide added insight and help.

Local Bank: As soon as you know your name is available (state of Ohio) and you have an EIN (federal government), it's important to open a bank account at a local bank, using your new church's name, address and EIN. Without getting into a lot of detail (that we can work on later), it's very important, at the beginning, that you have at least two people [who are not related by marriage or biology] handling each step of the giving, depositing, and writing checks for the church. It's easier to establish solid processes at the beginning than it is to change something later.

Overwhelmed? Don't be! That's why we're here to help. We're available to encourage, support and resource you in any way we can.