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 …
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 …
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 …
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: …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Women’s Hobby Outreach
Do ladies in your church have special hobbies? Why not turn their hobbies into outreach opportunities? The format is simple: Women get together once or …
Intentional Training of Deacons
Often deacons begin serving in their office with little training or experience, nor do they possess a working knowledge of Baptist history and distinctives. As …
The Emerging Church Movement’s Impact on Worship
In this age of postmodernism, much has been said about the emerging church movement. This movement has influenced the way believers do church, read and …
Child Dedication Service
Recently my husband and I attended a child dedication service at Faith Baptist Church, Winfield, Illinois, in which our grandson and our daughter and her …
Observations during Interim Ministries
A well-respected and loved veteran pastor, Joe Bower, has spent the latter portion of his ministry career in helping churches during times between pastors. He …
Preaching Contemporary Issues
Many people today doubt the relevance of God’s Word. They would rather read USA Today, Time, or Newsweek than the Bible. They believe that the …
Dedication Letter for Child
Dear Olivia, Happy Birthday! I am writing this letter to you on the day of your Parent-Child Dedication at Faith Baptist Church. As you read …
5 Ways to Get Out of Your Rut and into Your Community
Everybody can do it! Is your church small? Does it have limited resources? That’s our church, but our bridge-building and outreach can go against the …
Dear Friends,
We are writing this note from home today due to an intense blizzard that has paralyzed the greater Chicago area. The GARBC Resource Center is …
Man to Man Ministry
Our Man to Man ministry is designed to provide accountability and encouragement to men in the church. We want men to have good friends and …
From My Heart to Yours
A greeting from Jeannie Vogel, GARBC women’s ministries coordinator: Hi! Allow me to introduce myself. I am a recent addition to the staff at the …
Effective Reading of Scripture
As I hear the Scriptures being read publicly, I shudder at the lack of preparation that sometimes precedes the oral reading of God’s Word. Paul …
Synergy: October 2007
Autumn Synergy is ready for your viewing! This GARBC e-newsletter for pastors and wives and ministry leaders provides great ideas for your ministry. Renew your …
Dear Friends,
What’s going on at your church? Probably a full schedule of ministry happenings! The fall brings busyness. We must ask ourselves, are we choosing that …
Learning Biblical Distinctives of Baptist Churches
How well do your church people know the Biblical Distinctives of Baptist churches? Biblical Distinctives of Baptists may not be well known among all of …
Answers to Biblical Distinctives of Baptist Churches Quiz
1. TRUE. When we use the term, Baptist Distinctives, we are not referring to church traditions that are rooted in cultural norms or individual church …
A Teaching Covenant
Do your Sunday School teachers communicate God’s Word clearly and accurately and live in a manner consistent with the content they teach? To help teachers …
Teacher’s Statement of Ministry
[YOUR CHURCH NAME] EDUCATIONAL MINISTRY TEACHER’S STATEMENT OF MINISTRY As a teacher in the ministry of [your church name], it is my desire that God …
Making the Church Budget Part of Your Sermon
Boring! That’s what many church members say about church budget presentations. Budgets contain lists of details that may seem tedious and complex to the average …
Chaplains Open Ministry Doors
Fire and police departments, hospitals, nursing homes, corporations, sports teams—all are venues that are many times open to the ministry of a chaplain. Help your …
Camper Gives Back
Have people in your church been blessed by the ministry of a Regular Baptist Camp? Encourage those people to give back to the camp by …
For Women (and Men who Cook!)
Need a quick recipe for the next church potluck? Try whipping up this easy-to-make moist cake. Happy Autumn! One Bowl Apple Cake 24 servings Cake …
Refreshing Retreat
Looking for a retreat get-away that’s affordable and in peaceful setting? The Rivendel Retreat in Deposit, NY, is available to pastors and missionaries (75% discount), …
Boosting a Missionary
On-field missionaries experience loneliness, fatigue, and ministry challenges—many of the same challenges as stateside pastors and wives experience. Missionaries could use a boost, a friendly …
GARBC Literature Items Available
The Regular Baptist Resource Center often receives requests from individuals desiring to obtain the Association’s Literature Items. These historical documents, written by former leaders of …
Biblical Distinctives of Baptist Churches Quiz
How well do you know the Biblical Distinctives of Baptists? Circle the correct answer. (Answers and rationales are available.) T F 1. Baptist Distinctives are …
Synergy: June 2007
Summer Synergy has arrived! This GARBC e-newsletter for pastors and wives and ministry leaders provides great ideas for your ministry. Renew your thinking by reading …
Dear Friends,
“When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.” Can you relate to this quote by President Franklin D. …
11 Ways to Encourage Traveling Missionaries
Pre-field and supported missionaries travel many hours, take great effort, and exert much energy in ministering to churches. Encourage traveling missionaries by extending the following …
Do They Love Me?
Do you ever want people to love you, but instead they are mean to you, or worse, don’t even notice you? I admit it—I like …
Open Cupboard Ministry
Our body of believers is a small church that reaches out to its community in a big way. On the third Saturday of every month, …
Gladness and Grief
“From the ends of the earth we have heard songs: Glory to the righteous! But I said, I am ruined, ruined! Woe to me!” (Isaiah …
7 Ways to Keep Love Alive
Lessons I’ve learned—sometimes the hard way! Those of us who are married recognize the tendency we have to become complacent, selfish, and even unloving in …
Karate for Christ
Capitalizing on our community’s interest in karate, our church has found a unique evangelism opportunity through the Karate for Christ program. Our mission is to …
Training Deacons
Deacons often need help in knowing how to provide leadership and effectively serve the church. The following paragraph from a newsletter by Pastor Roger Ridley, …
Love and Respect Seminar
Our church is using Love and Respect Seminars to facilitate a new ministry that provides help to husbands and wives for improving their marriage relationship. …
Synergy – Jan. 2007
Synergy, a GARBC e-newsletter, provides practical ministry ideas and helps. Written by ministry leaders and pastors and wives for their colleagues, Synergy articles are church-tested. …
Dear Friends,
Greeting We recently had the opportunity to share the gospel with a man with whom we were conducting personal business. We had listened to him …
Assimilating People into Your Church
Building Your Ministry At times it may be difficult for church visitors to know how to get started in their Christian walk or how to …
Serving in the Rain—Going All Out for Visitors
Reach Out Sneak Preview of a Baptist Bulletin article by Jeff Hodgin They were a young couple in their early-to-mid twenties. He carried the baby …