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GARBC’s Council Gains Ground for Long-Term Planning

By December 15, 2014No Comments

Council_inlineSCHAUMBURG, Ill.—Every fall the GARBC’s governing body, the Council of Eighteen, meets to hash out strategies and make decisions that provide direction and oversight for the association. With the ground gained from this year’s council meetings, the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches is positioned to make good on plans that have been in the works for four years.

In 2010, the council began an intensive strategic planning initiative that resulted in the 20/20 Master Plan. This plan includes changes to the association’s business model, a realignment of administrative staffing, renewed commitment to church planting, adjustments to the association’s resource delivery system, and applying a “systems thinking” approach to the association’s various ministries.

Regarding church planting and administrative staffing, National Representative John Greening told the council, “In our fellowship, church planting is talked about and valued, but it’s not a driving force. Now if we, as leaders, decide that in the future it is going to be a driving force, we have an opportunity to grow in that direction through staff realignment.” Council member Sam Farlow, chairman of the church planting committee, says he has never been more excited and optimistic about church planting in the GARBC.

The GARBC values not only church planting but “church resourcing” as well. So it offers consultation services, church curriculum and books, online ministry training, network news, and perspective on current events and cultural trends. Council members agree that a more regionally focused communications model for delivering these resources is needed. Therefore, the council will be evaluating the possibility of developing a regional infrastructure to communicate quickly and directly with church leaders. The GARBC’s delivery of resources has already moved into the digital realm with the recent launch of its redesigned website. And Regular Baptist Press is expanding into new markets, beginning with the addition of Spanish curriculum to RBP’s offerings. More possibilities for resource delivery will be carefully explored in the days to come.

The council also recognizes the importance for GARBC ministries to acknowledge their interconnectedness. So the council has turned to a “systems thinking” approach for solving problems, long-term planning, and troubleshooting.

“The GARBC’s history is a testimony to the Lord’s faithfulness in bringing us this far, equipping us for the ministry with which we have been entrusted, and guiding our steps through complicated times,” writes David Gunn, managing editor of the Baptist Bulletin. “Our heritage is one of fidelity to God’s Word and passion to change lives with the gospel of Jesus Christ. The institutional leadership is absolutely committed to preserving that heritage, recognizing that the accomplishments of the past are due to God’s great faithfulness.” Read his full report, “Preparing for the Future: The Council of Eighteen Meets,” in the Jan./Feb. 2015 Baptist Bulletin.