Monthly Archives: October 2015

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October 26, 2015

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General Baptists, International Missions, Mission One Teams

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Forever Changed

By James Pratt

Jim and Kris Pratt - Forever ChangedI accepted my calling into the ministry in the summer of 1981. Since then, I have tried to share the Good News of Jesus Christ tasting death for everyone with as many people as I could. For 25 years, I have had the support of my lovely wife, Kris. God blessed us 23 years ago with a lovely daughter who is married to a minister, and they are actively involved in sharing the Good News as well.

It was with my daughter’s urging that we went on our first international mission trip to Honduras in 2007. We were forever changed. Now, after eight trips to Honduras, two trips to the Philippines, and one trip to Saipan, I have the privilege of serving as the new Mission One Coordinator.

My desire is to expand on the accomplishments of past coordinators. I want to expand the number, types, and location of teams. My desire is to equip each team with adequate pre-trip training and post-trip follow-up. I will also work with the missionaries and nationals to help them know what to expect from the teams.

It is my dream to place college interns at each of our mission locations with the hope that many of them will become career missionaries. I will also aid in recruiting people approaching retirement to serve as short-term missionaries.

I am humbled to be selected for this opportunity to take the gospel to the nations. Pray for me as I challenge others to also become forever changed.

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October 22, 2015

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Children's Ministry, Faith Home, International Missions, Leadership

Pete Leija Installed as Special Projects Coordinator for Honduras

Installation of Pete Leija as Special Projects CoordinatorPete Leija was installed as Special Projects Coordinator during the recent rededication of the Willingham Center at Faith Home in Honduras.

Pete serves as a deacon at the Morehouse General Baptist Church in Morehouse, Missouri.  He has made many Mission One MVP (M1) trips to Honduras and is well-regarded by the pastor’s and leaders in Honduras. Pete spent 40 years connected with the US Army dating back to the Vietnam Conflict and also serves as mayor of Morehouse, Missouri and as a general contractor.

The Special Projects Coordinator is a volunteer position responsible to coordinate capital improvement projects of Faith Home and the Honduran Churches with the Mission One Coordinator, Dr. James Pratt, and Mission One team leaders.

Pete Leija - Special Projects CoordinatorIn a very short time, Pete has already been able to complete several projects from money that had been donated by various teams over the last couple of years.

Raised in a migrant workers home in Texas, Pete’s father spoke English and Spanish but his mother spoke only Spanish.  From that background he made his way through the ranks of the Army National Guard, married, and made his way to Morehouse, Missouri. There he became connected with the local General Baptist Church and started a contracting business. He even became mayor.

Pete has a huge heart for Honduras and loves Faith Home and the ministry of our General Baptist Churches in Honduras. He will not only serve the churches in Honduras, but will host most of the Mission One teams coming to Honduras. Pete will be a great asset to our Faith Home Director, Christina Massey.

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October 19, 2015

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Christian Life, Christian Walk, Family, General Baptists, National Missions, Staying Connected, Staying Strong

An Interview with Gary Baldus – Part 2

This is the last of a two-part post of an interview with Gary Baldus, pastor of New Walk Church in Zephyr Hills, Florida.

General Baptist Ministries asked Gary several questions about his walk with Christ, his calling to ministry and church planting, the personal and ministry connections with General Baptists, and the ongoing work of New Walk Church.

General Baptist Ministries (GBM):  You served as Moderator/Host for the Mission & Ministry Summit in 2013. How did this experience impact you personally? How did it impact New Walk Church?


Gary Baldus (GB):  What an unbelievable experience!  Our church loved it.  They look back on that as one of the coolest things to be involved in that we have ever done by serving all those leaders who traveled to Florida.  It was like a New Walk Event.  We just watched our church rally to the cause. We told them, “We have all these people coming down and these are the General Baptist people who helped us get started.”  They just thought it was awesome that they could serve those people who had invested in New Walk from a distance.

Pastor Gary Baldus

GBM:  As you look to the future what do you see as the greatest challenges for our General Baptist network?

GB:  It all boils down to money and men.  Many are called and few are chosen.  God sifts through people and not all guys are capable to lead church work.  I have people tell me of their call so I give them ministry assignments.  It is not unusual that six months later they are crying because ministry is so hard and they quit.

GBM:  How did your connections with General Baptists aid in the construction of New Walk’s first permanent buildings?

GB:  Our building would not have happened if not for the General Baptist Investment Fund.  This was like when the Kingdom Expansion Campaign was involved at the outset.  This is a faith based thing for us so we had to have someone who believed in us to be the right kind of lender. We are going to spend the next 2-3 years on stabilization and taking care of things to maintain a healthy operational base but if it had not been for a group of people seeing the potential in New Walk we would probably still be in the YMCA setting up and tearing down every time we had a meeting. Continue reading →