Conference Addresses “Unpacking Forgiveness”
Memorial Baptist Church hosted the 2019 Church and Culture Conference on “Unpacking Forgiveness,” the name of a book by Chris Brauns.
Students Enjoy Baseball Theme Event at Kids4Truth Clubs
Olivet Baptist Church invited Marrena Ralph, Kids4Truth Clubs specialist, to lead a special Kids4Truth Clubs event.
Church Ministries Conference Equips Leaders
The Grand Rapids Association of Regular Baptist Churches held its Annual Church Ministries Conference at Calvary Baptist Church.
Camp Moose on the Loose a Hit at VBS
At Urbandale Baptist Church, Camp Moose on the Loose Vacation Bible School was a hit for “campers” and staff alike.
Now Available: RBP Adult Curriculum in Spanish
Regular Baptist churches and associations around the country have caught the vision of ministering to Hispanics. RBP and EBI are both contributing their strengths to provide such a curriculum for Spanish-speaking adults. EBI is now translating and contextualizing RBP’s Life Design curriculum. The result is a trustworthy curriculum line that has the potential for great influence.
Free Webinar: “The Question Churches Rarely Ask”
For churches that are committed to taking care of their pastors but are on tight budgets, there is always a hidden concern: “What if our pastor gets sick or injured and can no longer work? How could we take care of him financially and still have money in the budget to call a new pastor?”
Regular Baptist Web Community Discusses Ladies’ Ministry How-tos
An interactive series is for women to share ideas and challenges of ladies’ ministry.
Regular Baptist Web Community Kicks off with Pastors and Wives
Don’t just paste a smile onto your face when walking into church; stay genuinely fresh in ministry! John and Daria Greening, share their tips as they lead a practical discussion on Staying Fresh in Ministry in an upcoming cohort.
VBS Students Enjoy Week on Arrow Island
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill.—VBS at First Baptist Church “is a great time for us to connect with our community and share the love of God with …
The Top 6 Areas of Pastoral Search Evaluation
The task of a pastoral search committee in a church isn’t what it used to be. It was never easy, but it seems to be …
12 Turnoffs for Newcomers
Most church leaders are happy to see guests visit on Sunday. Sometimes they come as a result of a personal invitation. At other times, a …
How to Turn Workers into Leaders
Here’s what I’ve discovered about leadership development: some of the best leaders I’ve worked with as a pastor had their start as workers. They didn’t …
5 Things New Believers Need for Growth
The local church, by God’s design, has the responsibility of fostering spiritual growth. All that we do in worship, fellowship, service, and Bible study ought …
Top 10 People Skills for Church Leaders
Church ministry is people ministry, and those of us who seek to sharpen our skills in this area will reap the rewards of greater support …
12 Practical Ideas for Revitalizing the Sunday School
Although Sunday School ministry has been declining in recent decades, I’m not ready to give up on it. I still think the Sunday School is …
Synergy Newsletter–Ministry Helps for You
Synergy, a GARBC newsletter, contains practical ideas, helps, and encouragement–written for those in ministry by those in ministry. Though Synergy is out of print, it …
Replenishing Pastors
8 things deacons can do to help their pastors stay balanced, healthy, and effective Never have the demands been greater or the pressures more stressful …
Starting Points for Revitalizing Worship
12 Suggestions . . . First, a disclaimer: I’m not an expert on worship. I’ve had no significant training in music or the arts (although …
Inside-Out Leadership
Successful church leadership is rooted in spiritual commitment. People who are walking with God, growing in their faith, demonstrating godly character, and seeking God’s guidance …
7 Leadership Priorities for Churches in Pastoral Transition
Among my responsibilities as associate national representative of the GARBC is working with churches that are in pastoral transition. Much of that work focuses on …
10 Ways to Promote Outreach Events
Sometimes our church outreach events are our community’s best kept secret. We do a great job planning them—safety clinics, classic car shows, sportsmen’s dinners, sports …
Synergy: Benefits of Balance
GARBC Newsletter for Your Ministry SEPTEMBER 2011 BALANCE—what does that word mean to you? The teeter-totter of life presents us with work vs. rest, patience …
Building Your Ministry
Accomplishing More by Slowing Down Slowing down is difficult. For me, it actually seems counterintuitive because I often get praised for thinking well on my …
Home Front
Give Me a Break! Facing a fall schedule that is jam-packed with activities and responsibilities? As the wife of a pastor who is also a …
Ministry Toolbox
8 Mistakes in Recruiting and Keeping Volunteers Where would we be without those faithful workers who regularly give of their time to serve in our …
Reach Out
Bringing the Church to Your Community “If your church closed down today, would your town know that you were gone? Would they miss you?” When …
Student Ministries
Preparing Teens for an International Missions Trip Youth leaders Nikolai and Kristi Payne recently returned from taking a team of 14 teens on an ambitious …
Global Outlook
Books for Internationals Do you have Bible study references books or other books in your library that you really don’t use? Has a loved one …
Finding and Keeping Volunteers
8 Common Mistakes Church Leaders Make Where would we be without those faithful workers who regularly give of their time to serve in our churches? …
Honey, I Shrunk the Membership!
In the first year of one of my pastorates, I removed about 200 people from the membership! It’s true—but let me explain. Although the church …
Synergy: Working Together, Accomplishing More
How do you define synergy? According to the Encarta dictionary, synergy is the working together of two or more people, organizations, or things, especially when …
Global Outlook
Why Not a Multiethnic Church? Could your church be multiethnic? Check how many nationalities live in your community. Go to http://www.peoplegroups.info/; click on your state; then go …
Inward Look
A Quiet Getaway for Pastors “Jesus made it a regular habit to get away from the crowds so He could reconnect with His Father. If …
Reach Out
10 Tips for Welcoming Visitors Most churches are thrilled to see visitors attend services. Often we can reach these people with the gospel; other times …
Building Your Ministry
Pastoral Fine Points Correct theology, passionate preaching, a heart for God, an emphasis on Christ, and good people skills are big matters essential to quality …
Ministry Toolbox
Handling a Crisis Pastors, along with chaplains, are called to respond to crisis situations. When leaving to handle a crisis, you don’t have time to …
A Fourfold Foundation for Effective Preaching and Teaching
Good communication is a central part of a pastor’s role as a preacher and Bible teacher. It’s also an important skill in the ministry of …
6 Reasons Visitors Come Back
We have plenty of guests in our services,” a church-planting pastor recently told me. “But they don’t seem to want to come back.” I’ve heard …
Synergy: Sharpening Ministries by Sharing Ideas
A great thing about the GARBC is the opportunity to network ministry ideas. As you read the following ideas from your ministry colleagues, be open …
Building Your Ministry
“It’s a Kick!” Community Soccer Camp We decided to begin using a community soccer camp in the summer when our pastor, Jon Jenks, observed the …
Global Outlook
Internet Missions Conference Over the past year our church has experimented with conversing during occasional morning worship services with individual missionaries via Skype. This software …
Home Front
Need to get away? About two hours northwest of Chicago, between Madison and Milwaukee, lies a secluded wooded retreat known as Cedarly Retreat Center. After …
Ministry Toolbox
Cardboard Testimonies Cardboard testimonies is a powerful tool that churches across the country are using to present and illustrate the power of the gospel. The following …
Reach Out
Speedway Evangelism Pastor Laird Baldwin, Bible Baptist Fellowship, Brookville, Ohio, shares the following account that may be an idea starter for outreach in your church: …
Church Leaders and the Nursery
Wait! Don’t skip this page or merely pass it on to your nursery coordinator. Here’s why: While excellent child care has always been an important …
Guest-sensitive Ministry
Most churches are thrilled to see visitors attend services. Often we can reach these people with the gospel; other times we can minister to them …
8 Areas of Local Church Outreach
Every church should make evangelism a ministry priority. But getting organized and strategic is the challenge! Here’s my recommendation: Start with at least one initiative …
Reach Out with Synergy! Spring Vol. 14-1
Effective evangelism ideas are available to you in Synergy! This GARBC e-newsletter for pastors and wives and ministry leaders provides great ideas for your ministry. …
Dear Friends,
It’s spring! Chicks, calves, colts, kids, lambs, and bunnies–they’re all born in the spring. As you observe new life in the natural world, set your …
Coffee Giveaway
In everything our church plant does, we seek to implement our mission of putting God’s love in action by Biblically building worship, relationships, and churches. …
Outreach Top Ten
Would you like to jump-start your church’s evangelism efforts? Pastor Robert Cowman shares outreach ideas in which your church people can easily participate. Plan now …
Community Cookout
In a church-wide effort to reach and serve the community of Hobart, IN, Central Baptist Church hosts an annual Hobart Community Cookout. The event offers …
Outreach Webinar Coming Soon
15 Summer Outreach Ideas That Any Church Can Implement! Webinar will be presented by Jim Vogel, GARBC associate national representative, on June 3. Drawing from …
Dining Out Evangelism
God Space: Naturally Creating Room for Spiritual Conversations, a book by Doug Pollock, offers suggestions for everyday opportunities to open conversations. The following conversation idea …
Conversation Starters
Our church studied the book One Thing You Can’t Do in Heaven by Mark Cahill. In the chapter “If They’re Breathing, They Need Jesus,” the …
Together We Can Evangelize More!
Did you know you can access a multitude of evangelism ideas from past issues of the Synergy newsletter? Electronic issues of the Reach Out category …
7 Practical Suggestions For Encouraging Congregational Unity
If I have learned anything about working with people in local churches, I’ve learned this: congregational unity is a fragile thing! One minute everything is …
14 Questions to Assess Your Church’s Health
We all desire growing, healthy churches. But we know that such churches don’t automatically become that way. Healthy ministries result from the strategic efforts of …
Dear friends,
Teamwork– hard to live with it, but impossible to live without it! Our Resource Center staff is nearing the completion of a five-year RBP revision …
The Ministry of Church Greeters
Healthy churches recognize the need to welcome guests effectively as they arrive for Sunday services and special events. Many enlist and train a group of …
“Manhattan Declaration” as a Learning Exercise
The Manhattan Declaration drafted recently by “Orthodox, Catholics, and Evangelical Christians” and signed by many has attracted considerable attention. Many notable leaders have weighed in …
Helping Students Behave-Part 2
Do you have Sunday School students who delight in causing mischief? If so, think for a moment about your practices as a teacher. You might …
Phone Book Calling
Our church connects with our community by calling residents listed in our local phone book. During our conversations, we ask how we can pray for …
Ministering to Addicts
Our church became interested in helping people with addictions in 2005, when former Pastor Greg Stine became burdened for our county. At that time Barron …
Reaffirming the Church Covenant
As part of the church’s installation service for their new pastor, Faith Baptist of Salem, Oregon, read their church covenant, affirming their intent to live …
The Birth of Jesus was Right!
The Birth of Jesus was Right, written by Pastor Stan Lightfoot of Rustic Hills Baptist in Colorado Springs, CO, is a good devotional thought that …
Community Education and Cable Broadcasting Outreaches
As a pastor, I have the responsibility of training and equipping our people with fresh ideas and utilizing technology that God has given to us. …
Synergy! Illustrated
“Together We Can Accomplish More” is the mantra of the GARBC. John Wooden, pastor of First Baptist in New Berlin, WI, shares the story of …
Large Print Bulletins
Recently I realized a couple of our elderly attendees could not read the bulletin, prayer notes, or other handouts. For the next printing of the …
Family Devotions
“What material do you and John use as a couple for devotions?” I received this email question from a young husband/pastor who was seeking suggestions …
Fix-It Ministries
Our little church is placed in the middle of an aging community. The local economy is worse than most, and the incident of single parents …
10 Benefits of Not Planning
Here’s a thought. With all the talk these days of strategic planning and organizational church ministry, what would happen if we did church work without …
Leader’s Digest: Don’t Miss This Holiday Outreach Opportunity
One of the most effective times for evangelistic outreach is Christmas Eve. Outreach pastors and evangelism ministry leaders agree on this: Unbelievers seem to be …
10 Crucial Commitments of Effective Deacons
No church can be successful without committed leadership. It starts with pastors who are committed to the Word and the people they serve, but it …
Summer Synergy for Your Ministry
Recharge with Synergy! This GARBC e-newsletter for pastors and wives and ministry leaders provides great ideas for your ministry. Written by ministry leaders for ministry …
Dear friends,
Recently our bathroom flooring gave way, requiring repair. Actually it became one of those projects that grew in scope beyond our imagination. Soon we realized …
Women’s Ministries: Once Upon a Time Theme
This year our women’s events are revolving around the theme, “Once upon a time….” Every six weeks we plan an event for women, which involves …
Women’s Ministries: Pampered, Pink, and Pretty Night
For an event to kick off and promote our fall Bible study, our women’s ministry hosted a Pampered, Pink, and Pretty Night. We had make-up …
Pastor and Deacon Commitment Statement
As a pastor I sought to affirm a commitment annually among our leadership team of pastors and deacons to our mutual ministry. This practice encouraged …
Book Look: Believer’s Baptism
Want a substantive book that addresses biblical material about baptism with precision and grace? Believer’s Baptism by Thomas Schreiner and Shawn Wright (B&H Academic, 2006) …
The Importance of Background Checks
Christ taught that children are important and that they need to be protected (Matt. 18:1-6). A church can never be too careful when it comes …
Pastoral perspectives. . .
In Praise of Little Places and Humble People Ever been to Omer, Michigan? It’s a town along Lake Huron not far from Tawas. I drove …
Life in the Parsonage Column
Pastor Laird Baldwin desires to encourage pastors and ministry leaders and their families. If you have a particular topic or dilemma related to pastors or …
Christmas Program Outreach
Now is a good time to start preliminary planning for your church’s Christmas program. Pastor Steve Poludinak describes the program used for outreach by Tri-County …
God’s Provisions for Pastors…and Other People Too!
In ministry certain periods of time may seem like drought experiences in our lives. However God’s Word reminds us of the Lord’s love and care …
Helping Students Behave
Do you have Sunday School students who enjoy poking their neighbors or making side comments? If so, you might help your students improve their behavior …
10 Things You Should Know about Primaries
Remember the old song, To Know You is to Love You? To know Primaries is to love them! Their enjoyment of small pleasures, enthusiasm for …
Football Team Dinner
Last fall our church hosted a team dinner for the local football team of Park Falls High School. Our people served chili to all the …
Engaging Kids in Missions
Are you looking for a way to get your children thinking missions? Gospel Literature Services is enlisting children to fill piggy banks and help send …
First Steps in Church Safety and Security
Studies have confirmed a dramatic increase in crimes against church ministries in recent years. Tragically, dangers such as arson, child abuse, vandalism, assault or threats …
7 Keys to a Great Marriage Ministry
Marriages are in trouble these days. Divorce rates remain high. Affairs and immorality abound. Many couples have unsatisfying relationships because of seemingly constant conflict, a …
Synergy for You! Winter Vol. 13-3
Start the New Year with Synergy! This GARBC e-newsletter for pastors and wives and ministry leaders provides great ideas for your ministry. Written by ministry …
Six Ways to Respond to a Budget Shortfall
During my years in the pastorate, I recall lots of financial ups and downs. At times the giving was great, and we ended the year …
Good Read for the New Year!
Energize with Synergy! View the Winter issue now. This GARBC e-newsletter for pastors and wives and ministry leaders provides great ideas for your ministry. Written …
Dear friends,
Happy New Year! As we ring in the new year, let’s improve with age! Older does not necessarily mean wiser. While gaining experience in serving …
Attaining Personal Fulfillment
“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). Today …
5 Basics for your Church Accounting Practice
In this day of well-publicized corporate financial misdealings, the church should be a shining model of integrity and precision in its financial record keeping. The …
Women’s Ministries: Making Connections
This women’s ministry idea shared by Grandview Park Baptist Church, Des Moines, Iowa, can be used as a tool to improve publicity and promote connections …
Improving Your Church’s Visibility from the Road
A well-designed church sign can result in increased visitor foot traffic to your church. Make sure your outdoor sign is an asset to your church, …
Student Ministries: Living Out Love (LOL)
A New Perspective on Junior High Bible Studies When I was in junior high, the last thing I wanted to do was sit in a …
Children’s Ministries: Good Teaching Practices
“Come in and learn about God!” You may not say those words as students enter your classroom, but your teaching practices should definitely communicate that …
Children’s Ministries: Your Classroom Teaches Too!
When you hear the word “teacher,” what picture comes to mind? Perhaps you visualize a favorite teacher from your past or yourself with a lively …
The Bible in 50 Words
God made Adam bit Noah arked Abraham split Joseph ruled Jacob fooled Bush talked Moses balked Pharaoh plagued People walked Sea divided Tablets guided Promise …
8 Questions to Ask Deacons before They Serve
It’s hard to know specifically what Paul meant in 1 Timothy 3:10 when he said to let the deacons “first be tested.” As a pastor, …
Deacon Care Groups
Deacon care groups are a great way to get our families and individuals into smaller settings and develop friendships, as well as share joys and …
Don’t Miss This Holiday Outreach Opportunity
…Consider Doing Evangelism on Christmas Eve This year! One of the most effective times for evangelistic outreach is Christmas Eve. Outreach pastors and evangelism ministry …
The Top 5 Mistakes of Pulpit Committees
The process of finding the man of God’s choosing for pastoral leadership in a church is a challenging one. In independent churches like ours, the …
Synergy: July 2008
Summer sizzles with Synergy! View the July issue now. This GARBC e-newsletter for pastors and wives and ministry leaders provides great ideas for your ministry. …
Dear Friends,
Summer is sometimes associated with “summer reads”- books with lighter, fluffy content. While it is good to take time for rest and relaxation, the summer …
Planning toward Spiritual Growth
In my work as a United Parcel Service supervisor, I have seen that company leaders know the business they’re in and that they have measuring …
Women’s Fall Kick-off Banquet
Our Women’s Missionary Fellowship (WMF) ministry kicks off each September with our All Daughters Banquet. We enjoy a meal and a program in which we …
Multi-faceted Women’s Ministries
In the last three years, our ladies’ ministries have been brought under one umbrella called First Women’s Ministries. We have the following ministries by and …
How to Make a Great Church Website
In my technology role at the GARBC Resource Center, I oversee 25+ websites. Over the last several years there has been a shift in website …
Community Relationship-building Event
In my work as a Youth Summit community sponsor I help teens in the local school develop leadership projects that benefit our community. The students …
Prayer Boosters
As sisters in Christ, it’s good to prompt each other to pray. The following suggestions are two simple ideas that can multiply the prayer effort …
Using PowerPoint Effectively
Nothing kills an audience’s interest faster than spotting the words “Slide 1 of 101” on the first screen of a PowerPoint presentation. As a pastor …
Picturing the Flow of Scripture
It is always a challenge to get kids to see “the big picture” of God’s working throughout Biblical history. The Hero of each Bible story—whether …
LEGO MY Eggo Children’s Activity
Children at our church enjoyed a LEGO My Eggo activity and meal. We divided the children into three groups according to LEGO skill level. For …
The View from the Road
My top 8 suggestions about outdoor church signs Have one! The name of the church in big letters on the side of the building isn’t …
Do You See What They See?
How a Pleasing Exterior Attracts Your Community Real estate professionals know that initial impressions can be huge factors for potential buyers. What a home looks …
Ten Marks of Spiritually Mature Church Leaders
Perhaps you’ve heard the story about the pastor who got into an angry argument with a disgruntled deacon in the lobby after church one Sunday. …
Synergy: February 2008
Warm up your brain cells this winter! Synergy is ready for your viewing! This GARBC e-newsletter for pastors and wives and ministry leaders provides great …
Christmas Eve Services
During the recent Christmas season, many churches hosted Christmas Eve services in which they reflected on the gift of Jesus Christ, and shared the gospel …