Set Your Hand to the Plough: Practical Advice for Gospel Ministers
#8 pursue inter-church communion
As I continue this series, my next piece of advice is simple, but often overlooked: be associational. In a time when ministry is increasingly privatized, isolated, and self-contained, this counsel may seem almost counterintuitive. But it’s not optional. It’s necessary. If you want to endure in gospel ministry—and help your church do the same—then seek association.
Honour What Already Exists
Now, it may be that you enter a church already connected to a biblical, confessional association of churches. If that’s the case—praise God. That’s gold dust. Treasure it. Support it. Strengthen it. Value it. And bring your whole congregation along with you into that shared life. Don’t just tolerate the connection—feed it, nourish it, encourage it. Associations like these are not merely administrative conveniences; they are channels of spiritual life and protection.
Build What Isn’t There
Sadly, it is very likely that you will find yourself in a different situation—one where no such structure is in place. Perhaps the church is entirely independent. Perhaps it has grown suspicious of denominational ties. Perhaps there’s simply no vision for shared life beyond the local congregation. If so, be associational anyway. That doesn’t mean forming a formal structure overnight. It means cultivating a mindset—a posture that says, we are not alone. You model this in your own heart first, then lead your church to think in terms of partnership and communion with other churches.
This starts small. It starts with relationships. It starts with prayer. It starts with seeking out other faithful churches and asking, how can we serve one another? Slowly, over time, those bonds strengthen. They form a foundation—something you can lean on when the storms come.
Expressing the Union of the Universal Church
When you enter gospel ministry, you are called to a particular local church. Yes, but that calling only makes sense in light of the universal church. Your flock is part of something much bigger, and your people need to see that from day one. Help them lift their eyes beyond their own walls. Show them what it means to care about the health of other congregations, to pray for sister churches, to weep with them in trial and rejoice with them in blessing.
The Second London Confession of Faith (1677/89) speaks of the glorious blessings God pours on His churches through their mutual fellowship. In 26:14, the writers state:
“As each church, and all the members of it, are bound to pray continually for the good and prosperity of all the churches of Christ, in all places, and upon all occasions to further every one within the bounds of their places and callings, in the exercise of their gifts and graces, so the churches, when planted by the providence of God, so as they may enjoy opportunity and advantage for it, ought to hold communion among themselves, for their peace, increase of love, and mutual edification.”
Pastors that lead their church in association cause peace, increase of love, and mutual edification. These are wondrous blessings for the people of God. If you’re in the ministry, you must not be found withholding such things from the flock. It is your task to teach, pursue and carefully foster association between your local church and other churches of like-mind.
A Shared Eldership Vision—Across Churches
Earlier in this series, I highlighted the necessity of biblical eldership—men who know you, love you, and hold the same convictions. Well, association is that same principle applied at the inter-church level. It’s mutual care across congregations. It’s shared prayer, shared ministry, shared burdens. It’s being able to say, “we are here for you”, and to hear that said back when you most need it. The reality is that you will need it. That day will come. Will you have inter-church fellowship to uphold you in those times?
A Safety Net You Build in Advance
I’ve seen churches melt down. I’ve watched pastors abandon the ministry—burned out, alone, and without help. I’ve seen how different the story could have been if only there had been real, established, gospel-centred association. The worst time to start building these relationships is when your church is already in crisis. A stranger cannot step in and do what a brother already present could have done.
Build now what you will one day need, because you will need it. The irony is that you can’t predict when. All you know is: the time will come. When it does, you won’t be able to fabricate meaningful inter-church fellowship on the spot. That’s something you prepare in advance.
Not a Denial of Congregationalism
Now, hear this clearly: this is not about undermining local church autonomy or smuggling in a Presbyterian polity. Association does not replace congregational government—it honours it. It strengthens it. What we see in Acts 15 is not top-down control, but mutual commitment. Churches working together, seeking the good of one another under the headship of Christ. That is what we’re after.
This post is part three of a ten-part series offering honest, practical advice for those stepping into gospel ministry. If you’re wrestling with the call or navigating the early days of serving a church, keep journeying with us through these reflections.
Oliver Allmand-Smith
Pastor of Trinity Grace Church, UK;
Trustee of International Reformed
Baptist Seminary, Mansfield, TX