Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders

What Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders does

The Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders (SBCAL) is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization founded in 1960 and headquartered in Hoschton, Georgia. It serves as the recognized networking, fellowship, and equipping body for associational leaders within the Southern Baptist Convention ecosystem, supporting the more than 1,000 Southern Baptist associations across North America. Its primary constituents are Associational Mission Strategists (AMSs) — whether full-time, bi-vocational, or volunteer — and the local associations and churches they serve. SBCAL is led by President/CEO Dr. Ray Gentry and operates with a small staff of 1-10 employees.

SBCAL's offerings are service- and content-based rather than technology-based. Its core product is a $50 annual membership, augmented by specialized programs including Succession Planning Cohorts, SBCAL Consultant Training, and an annual AMS Compensation Report. Additional offerings include publications (The Baptist Association Book, The Encourager newsletter), an online job board, a weekly podcast, downloadable templates and toolboxes, a Resource Network directory of subject-matter experts, and church safety/security resources. Distribution occurs through the SBCAL website, email newsletter, podcast, blog, and the annual conference.

The business model is a low-friction membership subscription ($50 annually) augmented by donations, conference revenue, book sales, and partner-supported discount programs. SBCAL maintains strategic partnerships with NAMB (North American Mission Board), VisitorReach, LifeWay, RightNowMedia, Alliance Defending Freedom, and Ministry Insights, which provide bundled resources to members. No revenue figures are publicly disclosed, and the organization operates as a private nonprofit with no parent company, funding rounds, or institutional investors on record.

Name

Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders

Legal name

Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders

Website

https://sbcal.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SBCAL is a U.S. nonprofit founded in 1960 that provides networking, training, and equipping resources for Southern Baptist associational leaders (AMSs) across more than 1,000 associations in North America, primarily through a $50 annual membership supplemented by events, publications, and consulting programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hoschton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SBCAL is a non-profit professional association founded in 1960 that provides networking, fellowship, and equipping opportunities for Southern Baptist associational leaders (Directors of Missions and their spouses). The organization functions as a peer community for the leaders of regional Baptist associations across the United States, offering an annual membership, connection events, and resources to support their ministry roles.

Product overview

SBCAL offers a membership-based professional network for Southern Baptist associational leaders, providing educational resources, training programs, and peer support services. The core offering is the $50 annual membership, supplemented by specialized programs including Succession Planning Cohorts, Consultant Training, and an annual Compensation Report. Additional offerings include publications (The Baptist Association Book, The Encourager newsletter), downloadable templates and toolboxes, a job board, podcast, and a Resource Network connecting members with subject matter experts. The organization focuses on equipping, encouraging, and networking associational leaders rather than offering a technology product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Membership in SBCAL Annual membership in the Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders, priced at $50 per year, granting Directors of Missions and their spouses access to the association's networking, fellowship, and equipping resources.
• Networking Events for Associational Leaders In-person and community-based networking events for Southern Baptist Directors of Missions and their spouses, designed to build peer relationships across the Southern Baptist Convention.
• Fellowship Program for DOMs and Spouses Ongoing fellowship community for Directors of Missions and their spouses that provides encouragement and shared identity within the Southern Baptist associational network.
• Equipping Resources for Associational Leaders Training, resources, and equipping materials provided to Directors of Missions to support their leadership of regional Southern Baptist associations and the churches they serve.

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic partner, partner and resource partner.

• North American Mission Board (NAMB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing relationship with the Southern Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board. NAMB.net/associations is referenced as a partner resource for the Week of Prayer and archived resources.
• VisitorReachstrategic partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a Strategic Partner on the SBCAL website, providing resources and services to associational leaders.
• Succession Planning Cohortsstrategic partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as both a Strategic Partner and a program offering for helping associations with leadership succession.
• LifeWaypartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides an associational discount program for SBCAL members through LifeWay resources.
• RightNowmediapartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides discounted resources to SBCAL members through the RightNowmedia partnership.
• Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF)resource partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced in the Church Safety and Security resource as a partner providing legal resources for churches. Contact: 1-833-233-2559, [email protected]
• Ministry InsightspartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides a discount program for SBCAL members through Ministry Insights resources.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Baptist State Convention of North Carolina: A regional Baptist convention that supports local associations and church leaders within its geography. Comparable to SBCAL in mission of equipping and networking associational leaders, though at state rather than national level.
• The Church Network (formerly NACBA): A membership-based professional association for church administrators and business leaders. Directly comparable to SBCAL as a faith-based, dues-supported network providing training, certification, and peer support to church/association-level leaders.
• Association of Gospel Rescue Missions (AGRM): A faith-based membership association serving directors and leaders of rescue missions. Comparable to SBCAL as a niche, denomination-adjacent membership network providing training, conferences, and peer support to ministry executives.
• Converge (formerly Baptist General Conference): A Baptist network focused on church planting and leader development with association-style regional structures. Comparable to SBCAL in providing support and equipping services to affiliated church leaders and regional leaders.
• National Association of Free Will Baptists: A Baptist denomination body providing networking, equipping, and support services to local churches and associations. Highly comparable in mission and constituency to SBCAL, but operating in a separate Baptist tradition.

Others

• North American Mission Board (NAMB): A Southern Baptist Convention agency that provides missions and church-planting resources to associations. Listed as a strategic partner of SBCAL and serves overlapping constituencies, making it a partner and partial substitute.
• Christianity Today: An evangelical media and education organization publishing leadership content and resources. Comparable to SBCAL's podcast/newsletter strategy as a content-driven resource provider for evangelical church leaders.
• Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA): An accreditation body for evangelical nonprofits and churches. Comparable as an enabling organization that supports the governance and operational standards of SBCAL's member associations, though focused on financial accountability rather than leadership development.
• Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company: An insurance and financial services provider focused on churches and ministries. Comparable as an ecosystem partner serving SBCAL's member associations with risk-management and operational services.
• Church Law & Tax: A resource provider offering legal, tax, and operational guidance to churches and ministries. Comparable to SBCAL as an information and resource provider supporting the day-to-day operations of churches and associations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SBCassociations
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sbcal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders