For weeks you’ve been reading my thoughts concerning the missional direction of GTBN. “We help the church make disciples today.” But what are we doing, now, today, to accomplish this? Let me share with you just a few of the projects currently in motion. I’ll describe them as they fall within our strategic framework, the PLAN.
P - Church Planting
The two new churches planted in 2020, Providence Church Beaumont and Brighter Day Ministries in Port Arthur, continue their progress. Providence recently completed the renovation of their facility. While we continue supporting these works, we are also working with several GTBN congregations to assist two struggling churches to re-plant themselves. The result, we pray, is a new bilingual Spanish-English congregation near Fletcher Elementary School in Beaumont.
L - Leadership
I hope you’ve enjoyed the Leadership Luncheons that launched in January. If not, you can view the videos at the GTBN YouTube channel. In addition to this and my ongoing work as “pastor to pastors”, GTBN’s investment in our leaders includes coaching and consultation, and a new Pastors’ Sabbatical Initiative that you can read about here. The latter comes in recognition of a simple truth, one I am often reminded of by one of our church planters, that healthy pastors lead healthy churches. Finally, Bro. Alfredo Ballesta and I are working toward a process for equipping pastors, church planters, and lay leaders for our Spanish speaking congregations. We look forward to the fruit of this endeavor.
A- Awakening
Efforts to revitalize, resource, and strengthen existing churches include continued assistance with pastor-search training, conflict resolution, church health and community assessment, and ministry development. Here we help churches remove impediments and develop pathways for healthy disciple making. And, of course, the upcoming Disciple Makers University is our signature event to this end.
N - Networking
This “catch all” category includes our missional work with Cross Media in Israel and Southern Baptists of Belize as we engage disciple making efforts in these places. It also involves our cooperative effort with East Texas Baptist Encampment for camps and with the Hot Hearts team. Next up is an effort to engage our local prisons. Working with Bill Glass Ministries, with several key congregations already committed, we hope the Lord works through GTBN to foster a disciple making movement within these units.
Conclusion
Now this is a just snap shot. Each activity described above serves a purpose toward the larger vision.
Of course the greatest thing we do is simply relate together. Our greatest assets are the people and churches that comprise GTBN. Through this partnership, we leverage the abilities of each congregation for the blessing of all. We help one another, sharpen each other, and move each other in fulfillment of the Great Commission.
The author of Hebrews says to “Stir up one another to love and good works…” (Heb. 10:24). This ultimately is what our fellowship is about. May God receive much glory as we stand faithful to the task.
Bro. Jim