Mission
The mission of the Delaware Baptist Association is to strengthen the disciple-making efforts of churches and pastors in our region. We seek to accomplish this mission through four simple and strategic emphases.
01.
Fellowship connecting pastors and churches in meaningful relationships
02.
Partnership encouraging and providing opportunities for Churches to Partner for Kingdom Work
03.
Scholarship equipping and resourcing Churches through grants.
04.
Membership we are committed to supporting and strengthening each other as churches.
History
Delaware Baptist Association was established on October 10, 1967, by eight Southern Baptist Churches located in the State of Delaware who were also cooperating churches in the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware. These original churches were:
The "Initial Covenant" of the Delaware Baptist Association, signed in Dover, Delaware, on 10 October 1967.
First Southern Baptist Church, Dover
Bethany Baptist Church, Newport
Harrington Baptist Church, Harrington
Grace Baptist Church, Seaford
Calvary Baptist Chapel, New Castle
Ogletown Baptist Church, Newark
Community Baptist Chapel, New Castle
Milford Baptist Chapel, Milford
The Susquehanna and the Eastern Baptist Associations in Maryland were also instrumental in our founding.
Over the last 50 years, we have had six full-time Directors of Missions (formerly called Associational Missionaries or Superintendent of Missions). They were:
John Tollison, 1969-1971
Joe Paul Turner, 1973-1980
Wesley M. Johnson, 1980-1989
James McBride, 1990-2008
Mal Utleye, 2009-2011
Mitch Dowell 2012-2015
Click Here to read An Excerpt from our Association's history.
Or click here to purchase the full history online.
Leadership Team for 2022/2023 for Christian Challenge at University of Delaware led by Nathan Walters.
In 2016, we moved to a part-time leadership structure, dividing the responsibilities between two Associational Church Catalysts:
Drue Matthews (2016 to 2018)
Champ Thornton (2016 to 2018)
We have transitioned since 2018 to a leadership team led by a Moderator and Vice Moderator. This allows the DBA to make the most impact by using its most significant resource: local churches partnering together to advance the Gospel!
Additionally, we value our partnership with Christian Challenge on the campus of the University of Delaware in Newark.