CONNECTION POINT Gateway Baptist Association Newsletter September 2017

In This Issue

Are You Growing as a

Leader?

Training Seminars

Missions Report

Upcoming Events

Financial Snapshot

Pastorless Churches

Contact Information

Hosted by:

Crossroads Community Church

350 N. Maple, Brighton, IL 62012

Schedule:

10 am Messenger Registration

10:30 am Business Meeting

12 pm Lunch (Please RSVP)

1 pm Worship Event

Gateway Baptist Association’s

ANNUAL MEETING Saturday, Sept. 30

Please call us at 618-254-3953 by Monday, Sept. 25, to

make your meal reservations. Cost will be $5 per person and

can be paid at the door. We will be having pulled pork with

sides and dessert.

Now is the time for your church to elect its messengers.

Contact your pastor to volunteer to represent your church as

a messenger. Guests are always welcome!

We encourage you to come and experience what God is

doing in your association!

4867 Baptist Camp Road, Pinckneyville, IL 62274

Cost $50 double occupancy; $80 single occupancy

RSVP to (618)254-3953 or admin@gatewaybaptistassoc.org

Shooting (bring your own guns & ammo; rifles and handguns only), rest, relaxation, fellowship, prayer and food!!

PASTORS’ RETREAT October 16-17, 2017

ARE YOU GROWING AS A LEADER?

What makes us a leader? Is it being a father who sets rules and regulations and expects the kids to follow them without question? I am finding my children have grown to become men and women who face hardships and need love and friendship just like Lorna and I have experienced. When they were kids they needed someone to model how to live, but now they need a loving heart, a compassionate advisor and a spiritual friend. None of us stop growing as a person or a parent. At

least we shouldn’t!

We as pastors and church leaders should never stop learning either. We must never allow ourselves to stop imparting skills

and wisdom into those to whom we mentor. Have you found yourself getting stale? Have you gotten into a rut?

Consider joining a leadership improvement group (aimed at intensifying our skills and strategies). We are looking for a group of no more than 10 pastors/church leaders who would like to meet once a month to sharpen their skills and knowledge. We will start by discussing Robert D. Dale’s, Leadership for a Changing Church: Charting the Shape of the River. The time and location will be determined as soon as we have adequate interest. It could meet morning, noon or night and almost any day of the week – you will decide! Call or text me at 936-494-8455.

A FEW GBA TRAINING SEMINARS AVAILABLE TO YOUR CHURCH

Pastor Search Committee - Often members of the search committee are serving in this role for the first time. There can be many questions. Where do you go for answers? This course is will ease the search committee process. Intentional Interim Pastor Training – The intentional interim is the preaching and serving pastor for a short, specific time frame. Receive the training to lead with confidence and wisdom. Transitional Pastor Training – The transitional pastor serves as a guiding and rebuilding pastor for a period of no less than one year. Gain the tools to reevaluate and renovate present systems for the pastor to come. Assimilation – An approach to help marginally or uninvolved members and new members become fully-involved. Core Values Development – Help your church discover and minister according to the non-negotiables of your church body. Contact Amy for other options – 254-3953 or admin@gatewaybaptistassoc.org.

MIDWEST LEADERSHIP SUMMIT January 23-25, 2018

Crowne Plaza, Springfield, IL

We can take 10 leaders (registration, lodging and Wednesday lunch included) for free! Many have

raved about this event since I came, and it is only offered once every three years. Must have

commitments by Nov. 1. Call Amy or me today! More info coming soon.

“Sighting in your Ministry

Target”

Dr. Tracy W. Jaggers, ADOM

Please Pray for our Pastorless Churches

Crosspoint So. BC

4539 Wanda Road

Edwardsville, IL 62025

New Douglas BC

407 North First St.

New Douglas, IL 62074

FBC of Forest Homes

1437 Fourth Street

Cottage Hills, IL 62018

2017 Gateway Financial Report

May July Year-to-Date June

Budget Goal $19,640.44 $19,765.44 $138,357.80 $19,765.44

Total Receipts $20,571.49 $12,989.24 $102,022.48 $15,240.81

Expenses $18,205.22 $17,964.81 $124,178.14 $19,200.60

Net Income $2,366.27 $-4,975.57 $-22,155.66 $-3,959.79

Welcome Rev. John Horton, new Senior Pastor of

Greater St. James Baptist Church in Alton

“No Greater Calling”

My father once told me that there is “No Greater Calling” (Mt 5:14-16) than to do the LORD’s work. This past week, a pastor (friend of mine) thanked God in prayer for the “privilege of serving” HIM. These two thoughts seem to capture best what a team of six missionaries from four Gateway Baptist Association churches experienced and accomplished from 4-12 Aug 2017 in Magdalena, Guatemala. The 6-person missions team included team leader Pastor David Denton (Bethesda BC), Don Crone (Bethel BC), Phyllis Wooten (Holiday Shores BC), Matthew Wilson (FBC Bethalto), James Denton (Bethesda BC), and

Greg Gomez (Bethel BC).

The following is a list of how the Good News of Salvation was shared by our six missionaries: (1) showing of the Jesus film 4 times with four different age groups, (2) the preaching of The Word, (3) testimony during a worship service, (4) a chemistry/salvation object lesson, (5) distribution of ‘Hola’ cards, (6) painting of a senior adult home on the first and last day of the trip, (7) an ice cream social with students, (8) a pizza party with the church youth group, (9) assisting with teaching various academic subjects at Monte Sinai Elementary School, (10) singing special music (Yo Tengo Un Amigo Que Me Ama) during a Sunday worship service, (11) distributing bread and juice after the Jesus film, (12) blessed by the family & hospitality of two homes, (13) played games with children on the playground, (14) testimony while receiving haircuts at a local barber shop, (15) washing clothes with women in the street, (16) praying for the pastor’s hospitalized daughter, (17) prayer walking the streets of Magdalena, (18) praying with individuals at their place of business, (19) buying and giving out bread on the streets, (20) an airplane/cross object lesson, (21) testimony/harmonica music at a women’s gathering, (22) two home visits, (23) giving of special gifts of appreciation, (24) sharing the Gospel while waiting in the airport and while traveling on the airplane,

and finally … (25) ask Don Crone to tell you the story of how God answered his prayer in the ‘Red or Green Light’ situation.

‘Muchas gracias’ (thank you) to everyone who provided financial support for team members to make the trip, ‘muchas gracias’ to those who provided salvation crosses/bracelets, ‘muchas gracias’ to those who gifted crochet potholders, ‘muchas gracias’ to all of you who lifted our missions team up in prayer, and a very special ‘muchas gracias’ to the Mendez family & Monte Sinai Evangelical Church for being our hosts. Plans are being made to show a 25-30 minute slide presentation of the mission trip at the GBA offices during the monthly missions team meeting on Thursday, September 14, 2017, at 9:30 am and

everyone is welcome to attend.

Hundreds of Gospel Seeds were planted in people’s lives while on this missions trip to Magdalena during those 9 days.

Thank you, Dad … there is “No Greater Calling” than to Be On Mission With Jesus!

MISSIONS REPORT By Greg Gomez, Missions Facilitator

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage Paid

Edwardsville, IL

Permit # 73

Return Service Requested

“Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die . . .”

— Revelation 3:2 (NASB)

REVITALIZE — Hope for the Heartland seeks to “restore and revive” the local church. This

conference gives you the Kingdom tools needed to regain that VITAL ministry in your community!

For more information and to register, go to

www.ReVITALizeHeartland.com

Conference Location:

Bethel Baptist Church, 7775 Collinsville Road, Troy, IL 62294

Conference Cost:

$50 by Oct. 1; $75 after Oct. 1; $100 at the door

4539 Wanda Road

Edwardsville, IL 62025

Phone: (618)254-3953

Fax: (618)254-4132

Email: Dr. Tracy Jaggers, ADOM: tjaggers@gatewaybaptistassoc.org

Greg Gomez III, Missions Facilitator: ggomez@gatewaybaptistassoc.org

Amy Barnes, Admin. Assistant: admin@gatewaybaptistassoc.org

Staff Office Hours: Mon. – Thurs. 9 am – 2 pm

ADOM Office Hours: Mon. – Thurs. 8 am-4 pm; Fri. 8 am- Noon

Visit us on the web at www.gatewayba.org