ELYRIA, Ohio—The General Association of Regular Baptist Churches meets this week for its annual conference at First Baptist Church in Elyria, Ohio.
The GARBC has not held its annual conference in a church building since 1954, when the GARBC Conference was held in Chicago at the historic Moody Church.
“Some of this will be a challenge,” says Brad Quick, pastor of First Baptist Church. “We are a church, so we do not have all of the facilities of a conference center.” But he adds that the church has space for workshops, a gymnasium, and room outside for youth activities and a Wednesday night barbeque for conference guests.
Pastor Quick notes the minimal cost as a clear benefit to the GARBC in a year when careful finances are important. “We will have great help from our church volunteers, which means we don’t have to pay anyone by the hour to set up tables or move equipment.”
Because the fellowshipping churches have no denominational hierarchy, the annual meetings tend to emphasize Bible preaching, roundtable discussions, practical workshops, and social gatherings. Taking its theme from 2 Timothy 2:15, “Cutting Straight,” this year’s conference explores dispensational theology and its impact on hermeneutics. Guest speakers include Kevin T. Bauder, president of Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Plymouth, Minn., and Renald E. Showers, church ministries representative for The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry.
Two groups are meeting on Monday prior to the conference. The GARBC Council of Eighteen meets to review association business and initiatives, and Regular Baptist Chaplaincy Ministries meets for in-service training.
During the conference, a group of young GARBC leaders known as The Quest will participate in a workshop and sponsor a dinner for their families. In addition, the group plans to announce the rollout of its new website.
International guests from partnering organizations in India and the Philippines are attending the conference. During the business session on Tuesday, the association will welcome Spanish, Filipino, and Haitian congregations into the fellowship.
The conference participants represent about 1,450 GARBC churches in 45 states, Canada, and Saipan. Several related ministries will give reports during the conference:
- Regular Baptist Press, a church education publishing ministry that serves 12,000 churches;
- Gospel Literature Services, an international distribution network that reaches 111 countries;
- Regular Baptist Chaplaincy Ministries, which services the military, hospitals, prisons, professional sports, and corporations;
- Baptist Builders Club, a ministry of providing grants and loans to churches in the association; and
- International Partnership of Fundamental Baptist Ministries, a network of international organizations.
Later this week, high school students from across the country will participate in youth events and the annual Talents For Christ competition.
Read more about the background of the GARBC:
- The Necessity for the Formation of the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches by Robert T. Ketcham
- What Is the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches? by Robert T. Ketcham
- The GARBC—A Rich History and Heritage (Part 1) by George Houghton
- The GARBC—A Rich History and Heritage (Part 2) by George Houghton
- Read more historical literature of the GARBC
