As men gathered for the Council of Eighteen meeting on Nov. 17–19, the math didn’t add up—32 men at a Council of Eighteen meeting? Yes, that’s correct! It was unlike any meeting in Council history. In addition to the GARBC administrative team, young Baptist leaders attended as guests of Council members. These young men from the Association were not just observers, but participants. They came not as subversives, but as men who want to use our historic Association values to build a viable and effective network of churches for the future. Over a three-day period the participants tackled the challenge of developing an action plan to bring rejuvenation to the GARBC.
The conversation was enthusiastic. The men joked and laughed; they were frank and impassioned. Across the generations a humble spirit of listening, learning, and collaborating prevailed. The united desire of this intergenerational group was to chart a course forward.
The men identified several major components of a big-picture strategy. They began to address designing action plans for launching a Fellowship-wide church planting movement, revitalizing declining churches, providing online local church training, updating our conference format, integrating young leaders into the mainstream of activity, expanding the international network of partners, and developing a new generation of publications.
The meeting concluded with participants expressing a high level of optimism and a determination to take the next steps. The GARBC team and Council’s prayer is that this intergenerational discussion will take place across the country in regional, state, and local fellowships.
Young Baptist leaders attending the Council meeting were John Arnold, Mike Augsburger, Joe Earle, Scott Greening, Aaron Hand, Will Hatfield, Mike Hess, Nat Kealen, Mike Myers, Eric Puff, and Mark Vance. The meeting concluded with Council members, Association administrators, and young Baptist leaders expressing a high level of optimism and a determination to take the next steps. The GARBC team and Council’s prayer is that this intergenerational discussion will take place across the country in regional, state, and local fellowships.
To keep the discussion going, John Greening, GARBC national representative, invites young Baptist leaders from the Association to participate in an upcoming Webinar on Dec. 18. As the date approaches, check www.garbc.org for details. “Together we can accomplish more!”
